The Tyger by William Blake

[SVZ]

Tyger! Tyger! burning bright

In the forests of the night,

What immortal hand or eye

Could frame thy fearful symmetry?



In what distant deeps or skies

Burnt the fire of thine eyes?

On what wings dare he aspire?

What the hand, dare sieze the fire?



And what shoulder, & what art,

Could twist the sinews of thy heart?

And when thy heart began to beat,

What dread hand? & what dread feet?



What the hammer? what the chain?

In what furnace was thy brain?

What the anvil? what dread grasp

Dare its deadly terrors clasp?



When the stars threw down their spears,

And water'd heaven with their tears,

Did he smile his work to see?

Did he who made the Lamb make thee?



Tyger! Tyger! burning bright

In the forests of the night,

What immortal hand or eye

Dare frame thy fearful symmetry?

[ourmaninBusan]

This is a surprise -- finding Blake posted here.

I found a HUGE pic of the poem -- Blake, unlike most poets,
was also an engraver and an illustrator, and depicted the
"tyger" of the poem at the bottom.

BIG version.

Smaller version:



The tiger at the bottom of the picture looks wide-eyed, timid --
although the language of the poem is very bold and aggressive,
the tiger looks apprehensive, even frightened. He is not even
roaring with an open mouth, showing his teeth. There is a curious
irony between the Tyger --godlike, "immortal" -- and the
tiger at the bottom of the engraving.

I was interested to know that British schoolchildren were all taught
this poem as if it were their Pledge of Allegiance.

[SVZ]

W.B. also has a poem entitled The Lamb, they were written at different times and in different volumes, but we're not actually sure if they were meant to be read together or not.

I think W.B. is trying to encapture that stunned feeling when we face something that ecompasses power, and because of that power danger. There's a certain calmness you attain the moment right before you think you're going to die.

[A*O]

William Blake was a (mad) visionary. He also wrote the words to one of Britain's most famous hymns, Jerusalem.

And did those feet in ancient time
Walk upon England's mountain green?
And was the holy Lamb of God
On England's pleasant pastures seen?
And did the countenance divine
Shine forth upon our clouded hills?
And was Jerusalem builded here
Among those dark satanic mills?

Bring me my bow of burning gold!
Bring me my arrows of desire!
Bring me my spear! O clouds, unfold!
Bring me my chariot of fire!
I will not cease from mental fight,
Nor shall my sword sleep in my hand,
Till we have built Jerusalem
In England's green and pleasant land.

He is speculating that Jesus could just have easily been born in England and lived/worked in a country in the throes of the Industrial Revolution (those dark, satanic mills). I think William Blake was the original surrealist.

In the ancient days when school pupils had to attend daily assembly we used to sing this hymn 2-3 times per week. That's why I know the words off by heart. I also know almost all the other popular hymns too for the same reason. If you go to any church ceremony and look around during the hymns I guarantee that the people who don't need to look at the words attended daily assembly at school LOL

[SVZ]

The tiger at the bottom of the picture looks wide-eyed, timid --
although the language of the poem is very bold and aggressive,
the tiger looks apprehensive, even frightened. He is not even
roaring with an open mouth, showing his teeth. There is a curious
irony between the Tyger --godlike, "immortal" -- and the
tiger at the bottom of the engraving.

You can't always read in too deeply with something, especially with a secondary medium. He may not have been skilled enough to carve out what he really wanted, wood is a very difficult medium and the blade is not forgiving, to tree or finger.

[A*O]

Remember - William Blake probably never saw a real tiger. He did not have the benefit of international travel or any other information apart from books written and illustrated by the explorers of the time. He did not have the internet, TV or any other accurate source.

[SVZ]

True, but how would he describe one or even mummer one out (Even if it does look a bit unskillful)

Besides that...I loved the hymns we sang in assembly at school. We boasted that we were a non-secular, non-denominational school, but the first line in our school hymn? "Bless us Lord or King of Heaven"

You'd also think that in an all male school everyone would get equal attention...but teachers always paid the most attention to the best looking. I even did a hack little 'study' and wrote an article about it in the school paper

[A*O]

Would that be
Praise our Lord the King of Heaven,
To his feet our tribute bring.
Ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven,
Who, like me, his praise would sing.
Praise him, praise him, etc

[SVZ]

Yup that's the one.

I guess I've been hearing it wrong all these years LOL, the people on stage don't sing...and on special days we wear cloaks.

[A*O]

Actually, I remember it as
Praise my soul the king of heaven,
To his feet thy tribute bring, etc

Funny how it all comes back to you - I was brainwashed! eeeeek

You wore cloaks - was this for Hogworts or KKK stuff???

[SVZ]

Hogwarts, they had different collars you would wear for events, and a special colour for your House, as well as different ties...I had every single tie possible - 11 house ties (because I slept around), athletics, arts, drama, academic, Survivor, and the steward one (When Harry Potter came out and everyone was like, "What's a House? Do they live there?" I'd sneer and call them pedestrian and crush them with my wallet)

[A*O]

I don't think I'd like to be on the wrong end of your sneer SVZ

[Lil]

William Blake was a (mad) visionary. He also wrote the words to one of Britain's most famous hymns, Jerusalem.

Jerusalem makes the hairs stand up on the back of my neck, and I come over all patriotic and want to stand up and bellow along whenever I hear it.

[A*O]

And did those feeeeeeeeeeeet, in ancient tiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiimes, walk upon England's mountains greeeeeeeeeeeeeeeen......... sniff

[SVZ]

Go discuss the other poems I posted O Captain! My Captain! is my personal favourite.