Episode 6: "The Tyger" by William Blake episode artwork

EPISODE · Jun 9, 2026 · 10 MIN

Episode 6: "The Tyger" by William Blake

from The Literature Observer · host James Kern

James finally reviews The Tyger by William Blake! The Tyger (or, The Tiger) is a beautifully haunting poem that he hopes you think of if every you come across the "fearful symmetry" of a tyger.Here is the poem: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?And here is a link to the original engraving of the poem by William Blake, courtesy of the William Blake Archive:https://www.blakearchive.org/images/songsie.n.p8-42.100.jpg

James finally reviews The Tyger by William Blake! The Tyger (or, The Tiger) is a beautifully haunting poem that he hopes you think of if every you come across the "fearful symmetry" of a tyger.Here is the poem: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?And here is a link to the original engraving of the poem by William Blake, courtesy of the William Blake Archive:https://www.blakearchive.org/images/songsie.n.p8-42.100.jpg

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Episode 6: "The Tyger" by William Blake

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James finally reviews The Tyger by William Blake! The Tyger (or, The Tiger) is a beautifully haunting poem that he hopes you think of if every you come across the "fearful symmetry" of a tyger.Here is the poem:Tyger Tyger, burning bright, In the...

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