Reading and responding to 'The Tyger' by William Blake | English

Starter quiz

True or false? William Blake's writing was influenced by the Industrial Revolution.
- True ✓
- False
Where was William Blake born?
- Clarendon, Jamaica
- Soho, London ✓
- Mytholmroyd, Yorkshire
Which two creatures are mentioned in the poem 'The Tyger'?
- tiger ✓
- wolf
- rabbit
- lamb ✓
Which of the following words from the poem rhyme?
- fire
- bright ✓
- heart
- night ✓
True or false? The poem describes a hunt between a tiger and its prey.
- True
- False ✓
Which themes are frequently found in William Blake's poetry?
- innocence ✓
- money and possessions
- human nature ✓
- spirituality ✓
- everyday chores

Match the following keywords to their definitions.
- theme
  
  ⇔
  
  a big idea, topic or message that recurs within a text ✓
- symbolism
  
  ⇔
  
  the use of objects, actions or ideas to represent deeper meanings ✓
- imagery
  
  ⇔
  
  the use of language to create a mental picture or sensory experience ✓
Another word for the atmosphere of a poem is the ...
- mood ✓
- environment
- structure
Which of the following traits can be associated with the lamb?
- powerful
- innocent ✓
- peaceful ✓
- fierce
True or false? The tiger is described as weak.
- True
- False ✓
Match each theme to how it is conveyed in the text.
- nature
  
  ⇔
  
  the tiger is depicted in its natural habitat ✓
- danger
  
  ⇔
  
  the tiger's presence evokes feelings of fear ✓
- creation
  
  ⇔
  
  questions are used in the poem about the origin of the tiger ✓
True or false? The questions raised in the poem are all answered.
- True
- False ✓

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‘The Tyger’ is a poem written by William Blake in 1794 as part of the collection titled ‘Songs of Experience’.
Imagery may be interpreted differently depending on the reader or listener's experiences.
The poem uses symbolism; the use of symbols that represent ideas beyond their literal meaning.
The poem references two animals: the lamb and the tiger; these can symbolise a range of emotions and themes.
A take-away idea within a text may link to themes that are explored and developed in it.

Pupils may find some examples of imagery and language challenging to understand.

It may be useful to provide a visual sheet accompanying the poem, exploring some of the more complex terms (anvil, furnace).

Theme - a big idea, topic or message that recurs within a text
Symbolism - the use of objects, actions or ideas to represent deeper meanings or concepts
Imagery - the use of language to create a mental picture or sensory experience for the reader or listener
Atmosphere - the mood created in a section or whole of a text