New
New
Year 5

Reading and responding to 'The Tyger' by William Blake

I can describe the imagery and themes in the poem and give some evidence to justify my ideas.

New
New
Year 5

Reading and responding to 'The Tyger' by William Blake

I can describe the imagery and themes in the poem and give some evidence to justify my ideas.

Lesson details

Key learning points

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

Common misconception

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).

Keywords

  • 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

Depending on the cohort, pupils could text mark examples of imagery prior to doing this as a whole class.
Teacher tip

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

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6 Questions

Q1.
True or false? William Blake's writing was influenced by the Industrial Revolution.
Correct Answer: True, true
Q2.
Where was William Blake born?
Clarendon, Jamaica
Correct answer: Soho, London
Mytholmroyd, Yorkshire
Q3.
Which two creatures are mentioned in the poem 'The Tyger'?
Correct answer: tiger
wolf
rabbit
Correct answer: lamb
Q4.
Which of the following words from the poem rhyme?
fire
Correct answer: bright
heart
Correct answer: night
Q5.
True or false? The poem describes a hunt between a tiger and its prey.
Correct Answer: False, false
Q6.
Which themes are frequently found in William Blake's poetry?
Correct answer: innocence
money and possessions
Correct answer: human nature
Correct answer: spirituality
everyday chores

6 Questions

Q1.
Match the following keywords to their definitions.
Correct Answer:theme,a big idea, topic or message that recurs within a text

a big idea, topic or message that recurs within a text

Correct Answer:symbolism,the use of objects, actions or ideas to represent deeper meanings

the use of objects, actions or ideas to represent deeper meanings

Correct Answer:imagery,the use of language to create a mental picture or sensory experience

the use of language to create a mental picture or sensory experience

Q2.
Another word for the atmosphere of a poem is the ...
Correct answer: mood
environment
structure
Q3.
Which of the following traits can be associated with the lamb?
powerful
Correct answer: innocent
Correct answer: peaceful
fierce
Q4.
True or false? The tiger is described as weak.
Correct Answer: False, false
Q5.
Match each theme to how it is conveyed in the text.
Correct Answer:nature,the tiger is depicted in its natural habitat

the tiger is depicted in its natural habitat

Correct Answer:danger,the tiger's presence evokes feelings of fear

the tiger's presence evokes feelings of fear

Correct Answer:creation,questions are used in the poem about the origin of the tiger

questions are used in the poem about the origin of the tiger

Q6.
True or false? The questions raised in the poem are all answered.
Correct Answer: False, false

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