Tuesday 11 December 2012
The Tyger: Bastian
Who made the tiger?
Such a fearful creature, this wandering image of fire, this slaughterer of lambs. Innocence does not pervade the tiger; though it does the lamb. And so Blake suggests that the tiger be the work of the devil, by the rough, violent way, as it were, of a blacksmith; and that the lamb, on the contrary, be the work of a pure God who, like the lamb, is "meek and mild" and innocent.
Yet Blake describes the tiger as a beautiful, majestic animal all the same. This is his song of experience.
Monday 10 December 2012
William Blake: The Tyger
2. Post a link to a piece of music which in your opinion captures the atmosphere in the poem. Explain your choice.
3. Write a text in which you sum up and conclude on the analysis of the poem. Use our work in class and the thoughts behind your choice of music and picture.
4. Put into perspective by comparing to The Lamb (p. E9)
Don't forget to put your name on the comment! It will count as a written assignment and must be posted before the Christmas break.
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because the poem was about a tiger, that was either good or evil. look into it eyes and decide for yourself.
2)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fktwPGCR7Yw
- We have choosen this piece of music, because it really captures the atmosphere in the poem. Its giving us the idea of a prowling tiger.
3)In the first stansa, Balke asks who has created the Tiger, which is described as a frightening beauty. He then goes on to talk about the distant location of the creation of the tiger and refers to both Icarus and Prometheus who, were characters in greek mythology, defiant to the gods. The greek god Hefaistos was the God of crafts and fire and helped Prometheus steal the fire and give it to the humans. Blake refers to this god when he asks where the tigers brain was forged. The stars that throw down their spears in the 5th stansa are in reference to Zeus' characterizing lightning-stick. When the heavens are watered with their tears it is the gods being replaced with new gods. God?
What Blake is using all these greek mythology references for, is to create a feeling of the tiger being of ancient origin (older than Gods meddling with man). When Blake asks if he who made the lamb also made the tiger, it may not be a rhetorical question. If God is as described in 'the lamb', how could he possibly have created something as frightening and wild as the tiger? It's not that Blake belives in greek mythology, but it is somthing that existed before the bible and serves well to create the atmosphere he wants to contrast 'the lamb'.
4) The lamb is the good side of god, and the tiger is the bad side of god. its a contrast to eachtoghter. in the lamb, we are told that god calls himself a lamb, but in the tyger poem, gods benevolense is questioned.
-Mikael, Dennis(?) og Troels.