Author: Ano Sensei
Format: Video
Structure: Rhyming couplets, Trochaic tetrameter
Related content:
The Tiger, The Lamb & The Marriage of Heaven and Hell: Introduction to the poems of William Blake #1
Drawing on Blake's own words from "The Marriage of Heaven and Hell" (1790-93), I explore how he saw attraction and repulsion, reason and energy, love and hate, good and evil, heaven and hell as necessary contraries. The video introduces the famous pairing of "The Lamb" and "The Tyger" as an example of how Blake expresses these opposing states throughout his Songs of Innocence and of Experience (1794).
What's covered:
Blake's philosophy of contraries from "The Marriage of Heaven and Hell"
The balance of positive and negative elements in poetry
Introduction to Songs of Innocence and of Experience
Preview of the analytical approach used throughout this series
Who it's for:
For students beginning to study Blake, A-Level/university literature courses, or anyone who wants to understand the philosophical foundation behind Blake's most famous poems.
0:00 Intro
0:12 Blake and the balancing of opposites
0:42: "The Marriage of Heaven and Hell"
1:20 "Songs of Innocence and of Experience"
1:30 "The Lamb" and "The Tiger"
2:34 Conclusion
This is the first of a series of videos on the poetry of William Blake (1757-1827). In this introductory video I focus on the way Blake emphasizes opposites, referring to Blake's "The Marriage of Heaven and Hell" ("without contraries is no progression") and to "The Lamb" and "The Tyger", two poems in "The Songs of Innocence and of Experience" (1794).
In this series, I will be analyzing a number of Blake's poems in detail, focusing mainly on the contrasting opposites in his poetry. Playlist link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQtMDbUsOwY&list=PLzVb6yL_jY69kJRNsa_3wE54b8Tf8jp-b&index=2
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The Tyger
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?
The Lamb
Little Lamb who made thee
Dost thou know who made thee
Gave thee life & bid thee feed.
By the stream & o'er the mead;
Gave thee clothing of delight,
Softest clothing wooly bright;
Gave thee such a tender voice,
Making all the vales rejoice!
Little Lamb who made thee
Dost thou know who made thee
Little Lamb I'll tell thee,
Little Lamb I'll tell thee!
He is called by thy name,
For he calls himself a Lamb:
He is meek & he is mild,
He became a little child:
I a child & thou a lamb,
We are called by his name.
Little Lamb God bless thee.
Little Lamb God bless thee.
#romanticpoetry #blake #williamblake #blaketiger #blakelamb #naturepoem #naturepoetry #nature #poetry #poetryloversShow More
3 Comments
0:00 Intro
0:12 Blake and the balancing of opposites
0:42: “The Marriage of Heaven and Hell”
1:20 “Songs of Innocence and of Experience”
1:30 “The Lamb” and “The Tiger”
2:34 Conclusion
This is so underrated. Great work!
Thank you for the feedback!