Read the poem. The Tyger
by William Blake

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 seize the fire?

And what shoulder and what art
Could twist the sinews of thy heart?
And, when thy heart began to beat,
What dread hand and 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 watered 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?

The archetypal image of fire is used frequently in this poem. This archetype represents power.

Which statement best explains how this archetype creates meaning in the poem?

This archetype develops the idea that power is both dangerous and violent and should be feared.

The image of fire as “burning bright” reinforces the idea that power is also beautiful and enticing.

By uniting the image of a tiger with that of fire, Blake shows readers that powerful beings should not be feared but should be celebrated.

The archetypal image of fire illustrates that power is liberating.