- The Tyger
- The tiger embodies raw, destructive power and the fearsome aspects of life. In Blake's mythology, it contrasts with the lamb — one symbolizes innocence, while the other signifies experience and ferocity. Together, they imply that creation encompasses both gentleness and violence.
- Fire
- Fire permeates the entire poem — seen in the tiger's eyes, the furnace, and the very act of creation. It symbolizes energy that is both life-giving and destructive. Blake links it to a divine spark while also acknowledging its potential for danger and destruction.
- The Blacksmith / Forge
- The image of a divine blacksmith forging the tiger into existence implies that creation involves both strength and skill, rather than simply being an act of goodwill. It also brings to mind Prometheus, who stole fire from the gods—prompting us to wonder whether the creator of the tiger was acting in accordance with divine order or defying it.
- The Lamb
- Though the lamb isn't mentioned directly in this poem, it serves as a silent counterpart — Blake makes a clear reference to it in the fifth stanza. The lamb represents innocence and gentle divinity from *Songs of Innocence*. The poem's most thought-provoking question is whether the same hand created both beings.
- The Stars
- The weeping stars hint at a cosmic audience that is either horrified or deeply moved by the act of creation. They could symbolize angels or perhaps the universe itself, responding to the emergence of something wild and untamed.
- The Forest of the Night
- Darkness here isn’t just about the lack of light — it represents the unknown, the unconscious, and the morally gray. The tiger exists in this realm, setting it apart from the safe, sunlit world of conventional goodness.