The Tyger

Question 1

What do you think the poem is about?

Answer 1

The poem is about a tiger. The poet is questioning who could have created such a beautiful but
fearsome creature.

Question 2

Explain what you think the poet meant when he described the animal as ‘burning bright’.

Answer 2

Pupil’s own answers. This could be a reference to the colour of the animal’s fur or its ferocity.

Question 3

When and where might this anima! be found?

Answer 3

The poet writes that the animal can be located ‘in the forests of the night’.

Question 4

. Write down four examples of alliteration from the poem.

Answer 4

Examples given may include: ‘Tyger, Tyger’, ‘burning bright, ‘…frame thy fearful… ‘distant
deeps’, ‘On what wings…’. “…began to beat’, °…what dread grasp/Dare its deadly terrors clasp!

Question 5

What might ‘sinews’ be? Explain your reasoning.

Answer 5

Pupils own answers that may Include words such as tendons, veins or arteries in relation to the
heart.

Question 6

Inverse 4, Blake is suggesting that such a powerful animal must have been created by…
Option C - a blacksmith

Answer 6

Explain your reasoning.
An exampie of reasoning could be - ‘I think this because the poet uses words such as hammer,
furnace and anvil within verse 4, which are all tools used by a blacksmith.’

Question 7

. Whois ‘he’ in verse 5?

Answer 7

Pupll’s own answers. This could be a reference to God. Blake may be questioning whether ‘he’ who
created the tamb, could have also created the ‘tyger’.

Question 8

Is this a modern poem? Explain your answer.

Answer 8

Pupil’s own answers that should suggest that this poem isn’t a modern poem as there are words
within the poem that aren’t used today, such as thee, thy and thine.