The Tyger

The question being addressed in the poem is if the “:tyger” is holy. Clearly from the and last stanza, like the introduction and conclusion of an essay, there appears to be a thesis question.” What immortal hand or eye could frame thy fearful symmetry?” The author chooses to use the word immortal. This is often used to describe a supernatural being, or a God. Using metonymy like other poems, he chooses hand or eye, not an actual being.
It also appears that the author is implying a binary of good and evil but referring to the tyger to being something else. The fifth stanza appears to have biblical allusions. The line “ when the stars threw down their spears” closely relates to the reference in the book of revelations when Satan was cast out of heaven and the archangels lead the fight. In this reference the binary of good and evil relates the tyger to an angel that is dark.
Also, another indicator of the biblical context is the use of the image of fire. Throughout the poem, the tyger is burning, has fire in its eyes, and a furnace of a brain. Fire in some cases is associated with the image or idea of hell in the Christian religion. By describing the tyger with images of fire and death, the author could be trying to give evidence of the tyger symbolizing a devil-like being in this poem.
In addition to the tyger relating to evil forces, it could also be an indicator of the author’s feelings about industrialism and how it relates to his spirituality.
In conclusion, the author could be perceiving the industrial age as an act of evil. As Satan was created by the same one who created the Lamb, a symbol for Christian servant ,some would say that just because he was an angel or creation of good, he could be deemed holy. In comparison, as the people used resources to industrialize the world, most would deem this as being a positive step whereas Blake sees this as being related to the questionably “holy” rebel angel.