THE TYGER BY WILLIAM BLAKE

The Tyger, first published in 1794, is the product of a revolutionary age.  Societal transformations in Europe and North America were radically altering industry, statehood, philosophy, law and religion. In the vanguard of the Romantic movement that was to produce a generation of poets including Wordsworth, Byron, Shelley Keats and Clare, Blake was a master of the lyric form, finding connections between the natural world and the introspective workings of the heart and mind.

For many readers The Tyger is also woven into their earliest childhood, one of the first poems they were introduced to – heard before it was read. This may be due to the strange idea that any poem about animals must be suitable for children, overlooking the darker aspects of Blake’s masterwork.

Whether the Tyger is part of your personal canon or completely new, exploring the lyricism, imagery and Blake’s unique voice, we will uncover new and unexpected meanings through reading and discussing the poem.