God, the Immortal Blacksmith

Abstract
William Blake’s poem “The Tyger” is analyzed in this essay, primarily focusing on his use of metaphor. The stanzas are discussed chronologically, and the individual words and questions that Blake uses are explained in a way that shows their relation to the overall metaphor. The entire poem is a single metaphor that likens the tiger to a blacksmith’s creation in order to reveal the awe-inspiring qualities of an immortal, omniscient, omnipotent, and glorious Creator God.  

God, the Immortal Blacksmith

“The Tyger” by William Blake is a metaphor that likens the tiger to a blacksmith’s creation in order to reveal the awe-inspiring qualities of an immortal, omniscient, omnipotent, and glorious Creator God. Even Blake’s choice of trochaic tetrameter, with the use of catalexis at the end of each line, puts in mind the rhythm of a hammer beating upon an anvil. This six quatrain lyric poem indeed sings of experience; it is a song that praises the Creator, in order that others would encounter the marvelous grandeur of God. The questions that are raised do not focus on the tiger, but kindle curiosity within the reader to learn more about the one who made this fearsome creature.
The metaphor begins as the Blacksmith designs the tiger. He, the Blacksmith, is described as “immortal,” a description which points to God as the Creator (3). His “hand” and his “eye” reveal his artistry, and the “symmetry” of the tiger shows forth the aesthetic balance of his creation (3-4). The tiger is portrayed as ‘fearful’ (4), and Fur says, in his article, “An Overview of ‘The Tyger,’” “‘fearful’ can mean ‘scary’—the meaning to which we're accustomed—or awe-inspiring. The speaker is in awe of whomever made the tyger and of the tyger as well. Perhaps the point of Blake's poem is to inspire us with awe of the tyger and its maker (Furr, n.d.).” With his line, “What immortal hand or eye | Could frame thy fearful symmetry (3-4)?” Blake queries, “Who could even dream to make something as visually pleasing and awe-inspiring as this tiger?”
And indeed, who could imagine planning such an awesome project, let alone putting his plan into action? This Blacksmith, in his omniscience, searched all of creation to find the substance to form the tiger’s eyes which, “burning bright” (1), are able to see in the darkest night of the forest. He not only finds this obscure material, but in his omnipotence, he is able to retrieve it. He shapes the tiger with his great strength and artistic skill, and when the tiger comes to life, he stands his ground and continues his work. He is fearless.
Certainly, this could only be God standing behind the anvil; the tools he uses are beyond the tools of mortal comprehension. Blake asks, “What kind of tool, and in what sort of furnace, could the brain of such a cunning beast have been formed?” Only with supernatural tools could this task have been accomplished – tools that work on the soul and spirit. These tools include tongs that are able to “grasp” hold of ethereal intelligence (14-16).
As the starlight illuminates the Blacksmith’s nocturnal masterpiece, and as dew settles upon the landscape, he displays his pleasure in the tiger and in the diversity of his creation – he who made the lamb has also now made the tiger. “Both the Lamb and the Tyger are parts of Creation. The question at the end of ‘The Tyger’ is not meant for discussion and answer, but as a challenge to awareness. ‘Did he who made the Lamb make thee (Stevenson, 1999)?’” says Stevenson in his essay, “Blake’s Progress.” From the meek and mild lamb to the mighty and ferocious tiger, God glories in the works of his hands.
In the final stanza, Blake repeats the opening lines of this poem with one noticeable difference: “What immortal hand or eye | Dare frame thy fearful symmetry (23-24)?” The switch of the questioning word “could” (4) to the more assertive word “dare” (24) portrays clearly the glory of the Blacksmith. Who dares to dream of making so magnificent a creation? With this question, Blake effectively answers all of the other questions he has posed, for only one Blacksmith possibly could – the immortal God.
It would be quite an injustice for any reader of “The Tyger” to walk away from this poem having only seen the fierceness of the orange and black striped tiger with brightly glowing eyes within the imagery of Blake’s poem. This metaphoric poem absolutely does lift up the tiger to be appreciated for its beauty, but it is the skillful craftsman, the Blacksmith, who is lifted up as the one who is truly worthy of all the praise and adoration. Where would the tiger be without the master Blacksmith? It is he who envisaged this mighty beast. It is he who fashioned him. And thus, by way of the Blacksmith and the tiger, Blake declares to us the incomparable glory of Creator God.

References
Blake, W. (1794). The tyger. Retrieved June 6, 2010, from Liberty University Online: Course
Content English 101
Furr, D. (n.d.). An Overview of "The Tyger." Poetry for Students . Detroit: Gale. Literature
Resource Center. Web. 12 June 2010.
Stevenson, W. (1999). Blake's Progress. Essays In Criticism , 49 (3/4), 197. Retrieved 12 June
2010 from http://eic.oxfordjournals.org.ezproxy.liberty.edu:2048/cgi/reprint/XLIX/3/195