The tone of William Blake’s poem “The Tyger” is both awe-inspiring and fearful. Throughout the poem, Blake uses vivid imagery and strong language to evoke a sense of wonder and terror in the reader.
The repeated question, “Tyger Tyger, burning bright, / In the forests of the night,” conveys a sense of fascination with the creature’s beauty and ferocity. The use of the word “burning” suggests both light and danger, hinting at the duality of creation—where beauty is intertwined with the capacity for destruction.
As the speaker contemplates the origins of the Tyger, the tone shifts to one of reverence and curiosity. Blake explores profound themes of creation, divinity, and the relationship between good and evil. The closing lines, which question the maker of the Tyger, leave the reader pondering profound existential questions. Overall, the tone is complex, balancing admiration with a deep underlying fear of the unknown.