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, & 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?

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Tyger Tyger By William Blake
Answer in full sentences.
1. What do you think the poem is about?

(a) Different animals which live in forests.

(b) An artist painting a picture of a tiger.

(c) The poet asking who has created an

animal as beautiful and fearsome as a tiger.
2. Explain what you think the poet meant when he described the animal as ‘burning bright’.

3. When and where might this animal be found?

4. Write down two examples of alliteration from the poem.

5. In verse 4, Blake is suggesting that such a powerful animal must have been created by…

(a) a sculptor

(b) a painter

(c) a blacksmith

(d) a carpenter

Tick one option.

6. Is this a modern poem? Explain your answer.

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Tyger Tyger By William Blake Answers
1. What do you think the poem is about?
Option c – The poet is asking who has created an animal as beautiful and fearsome as a tiger.

2. Explain what you think the poet meant when he described the animal as ‘burning bright’.
Pupil’s own answers. This could be a reference to the colour of the animal’s fur or its ferocity.

3. When and where might this animal be found?

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

4. Write down two examples of alliteration from the poem.

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!’

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

6. Is this a modern poem? Explain your answer.

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.

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Tyger Tyger By William Blake
Answer in full sentences.
1. What do you think the poem is about?

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

3. When and where might this animal be found?

4. Write down four examples of alliteration from the poem.

5. What might ‘sinews’ be? Explain your reasoning.

6. In verse 4, Blake is suggesting that such a powerful animal must have been created by…

(a) a sculptor

(b) a painter

(c) a blacksmith

(d) a carpenter

Tick one and explain your reasoning.

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Tyger Tyger By William Blake
7. Who is ‘he’ in verse 5?

8. Is this a modern poem? Explain your answer.

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Tyger Tyger By William Blake Answers
1. What do you think the poem is about?
The poem is about a tiger. The poet is questioning who could have created such a beautiful but
fearsome creature.

2. Explain what you think the poet meant when he described the animal as ‘burning bright’.
Pupil’s own answers. This could be a reference to the colour of the animal’s fur or its ferocity.

3. When and where might this animal be found?

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

4. Write down four examples of alliteration from the poem.

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!’

5. What might ‘sinews’ be? Explain your reasoning.

Pupil’s own answers that may include words such as tendons, veins or arteries in relation to the
heart.

6. In verse 4, Blake is suggesting that such a powerful animal must have been created by…
Option C - a blacksmith
Explain your reasoning.
An example 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.’
7. Who is ‘he’ in verse 5?
Pupil’s own answers. This could be a reference to God. Blake may be questioning whether ‘he’ who
created the lamb, could have also created the ‘tyger’.
8. Is this a modern poem? Explain your answer.
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.

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Tyger Tyger By William Blake
Answer in full sentences.
1. What do you think the poem is about?

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

3. When and where might this animal be found?

4. Write down five examples of alliteration from the poem.

5. Write down your favourite rhyming couplet from the poem and explain your reason for this
choice.

6. What might ‘sinews’ be? Explain your reasoning.

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Tyger Tyger By William Blake
7. In verse 4, Blake is suggesting that such a powerful animal must have been created by…

(a) a sculptor

(b) a painter

(c) a blacksmith

(d) a carpenter

Tick one and explain your reasoning.

8. Who is ‘he’ in verse 5?

9. Why do you think the word ‘tyger’ is spelt with a ‘y’ instead of an ‘i’?

10. Is this a modern poem? Explain your answer.

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Tyger Tyger By William Blake Answers
1. What do you think the poem is about?
The poem is about a tiger. The poet is questioning who could have created such a beautiful but
fearsome creature.

2. Explain what you think the poet meant when he described the animal as ‘burning bright’.
Pupil’s own answers. This could be a reference to the colour of the animal’s fur or its ferocity.

3. When and where might this animal be found?

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

4. Write down five examples of alliteration from the poem.

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!’
5. Write down your favourite rhyming couplet from the poem and explain your reason for this choice.
Pupil’s own answers.

6. What might ‘sinews’ be? Explain your reasoning.

Pupil’s own answers that may include words such as tendons, veins or arteries in relation to the
heart.

7. In verse 4, Blake is suggesting that such a powerful animal must have been created by…
Option C - a blacksmith
Explain your reasoning.
An example 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.’
8. Who is ‘he’ in verse 5?
Pupil’s own answers. This could be a reference to God. Blake may be questioning whether ‘he’ who
created the lamb, could have also created the ‘tyger’.
9. Why do you think the word ‘tyger’ is spelt with a ‘y’ instead of an ‘i’?
Pupil’s own answers, which could relate to it being an old spelling of the word.
10. Is this a modern poem? Explain your answer.
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.

visit twinkl.com.au