Introduction
This essay aims to provide a detailed analysis and comparison of two significant poems: William Blake’s “The Tyger,” published in 1794 as part of his *Songs of Experience*, and John Dryden’s “To the Memory of Mr. Oldham,” written in 1684 as an elegy for the young poet John Oldham. Both works, though separated by over a century, engage with profound themes—Blake’s poem explores the nature of creation and divine power, while Dryden’s reflects on loss, legacy, and artistic kinship. The purpose of this analysis is to examine the thematic concerns, stylistic choices, and emotional resonance of each poem, comparing their approaches to the human condition and the role of the poet. By exploring these elements, this essay will highlight both the distinct historical contexts of the works and the shared poetic impulses that unite them.
Thematic Exploration: Creation and Mortality
Blake’s “The Tyger” centres on the awe and terror inspired by the titular creature, using it as a symbol to question the nature of divine creation. The speaker’s repeated inquiry, “What immortal hand or eye / Could frame thy fearful symmetry?” (Blake, 1794), reflects a fascination with the duality of beauty and destructiveness, implicitly asking how a benevolent creator could forge something so fearsome. This engages with Romantic ideals of the sublime, where nature’s power evokes both wonder and dread.
In contrast, Dryden’s elegy for John Oldham focuses on human mortality and the transience of talent. The poem mourns Oldham’s untimely death at thirty, lamenting that “too little and too lately known” (Dryden, 1684), his potential was cut short. Dryden intertwines personal grief with professional admiration, likening their bond to that of Nisus and Euryalus from Virgil’s Aeneid, emblematic of deep camaraderie (Dryden, 1684). Unlike Blake’s metaphysical inquiry, Dryden’s theme is grounded in the personal and immediate, reflecting a Restoration-era concern with legacy and remembrance.
Stylistic Choices and Poetic Form
Stylistically, Blake employs a rhythmic, almost incantatory structure in “The Tyger,” with its trochaic tetrameter and repetitive questioning creating a hypnotic intensity. The imagery— “burning bright” and “fire of thine eyes” (Blake, 1794)—is vivid and elemental, reinforcing the poem’s exploration of raw, untamed power. This contrasts with Dryden’s more measured, neoclassical approach. His use of heroic couplets in “To the Memory of Mr. Oldham” reflects the era’s preference for order and restraint, while still conveying emotional depth through allusions and direct address, as seen in “Farewell, too little and too lately known” (Dryden, 1684).
Furthermore, Blake’s language is symbolic, often ambiguous, inviting multiple interpretations of the Tyger as both a literal beast and a representation of revolutionary energy or divine paradox. Dryden, however, is more explicit, using precise classical references to elevate Oldham’s memory, fitting the elegiac tradition of his time. These stylistic differences highlight their respective cultural contexts—Blake’s Romantic individualism versus Dryden’s Restoration formality.
Emotional and Philosophical Resonance
Emotionally, both poems evoke a sense of loss, though in divergent ways. Blake’s speaker seems overwhelmed by the Tyger’s enigmatic existence, grappling with fear and reverence, while Dryden expresses a poignant, almost resigned sorrow for Oldham’s unfulfilled promise. Philosophically, Blake challenges the reader to consider the coexistence of innocence and experience (a central theme in his broader work), whereas Dryden contemplates the inevitability of death and the enduring value of art as a memorial.
Interestingly, both poets position themselves as observers of something greater—Blake as a witness to divine mystery, Dryden as a fellow artist preserving another’s legacy. This shared reflective stance arguably bridges their temporal divide, underscoring poetry’s role as a medium for grappling with the ineffable, whether it be creation or mortality.
Conclusion
In conclusion, “The Tyger” by William Blake and “To the Memory of Mr. Oldham” by John Dryden, though distinct in their thematic focus and stylistic execution, both engage deeply with existential questions of human experience. Blake’s exploration of creation’s paradox contrasts with Dryden’s personal lament for a lost talent, yet both poets use their craft to confront awe, loss, and the limits of understanding. Their works reflect the cultural and intellectual currents of their times—Romanticism’s fascination with the sublime for Blake, and Restoration reverence for order and legacy for Dryden. This comparison not only illuminates their individual genius but also highlights poetry’s enduring capacity to address universal concerns across centuries. Further study could consider how these themes resonate in broader literary traditions, offering insight into the evolution of poetic expression.
References
- Blake, W. (1794) *Songs of Experience*. London: Self-published.
- Dryden, J. (1684) *To the Memory of Mr. Oldham*. In: Kinsley, J. (ed.) (1958) *The Poems of John Dryden*. Oxford: Clarendon Press.
- Ackroyd, P. (1995) *Blake: A Biography*. London: Sinclair-Stevenson.
- Winn, J.A. (1987) *John Dryden and His World*. New Haven: Yale University Press.
