I wonder whether Calvin has read The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling. If he has, he probably feels Kipling was unfair to tigers. He may have watched the 1967 cartoon which I first watched as a nine-year-old around Easter 1976. That cartoon first came out when I was just a few months old. He may also have watched the 1992 live-action version in which John Cleese had a supporting role and Shere Khan actually got to eat a human. He didn’t eat Mowgli, of course.
Samson caught 300 foxes, tied them to torches, and turned them loose on the Philistines. Maybe Blake was reading the Bible and came up with his story. Maybe not.
It’s really for the best that Bill Watterson retired this comic when he did. He seemed to like the characters less and less as the years passed, and that was reflected in the strip. It went from “best friends forever, buddy” to this.
Calvin should look into the thing about the path of excess. Then there’s “The Poison Tree.” Blake is perhaps the only poet ever to rhyme tears and fears successfully.
I remember a Phoebe And Her Unicorn Sunday strip in which Phoebe was reading the poem “My candle burns at both ends,” then Marigold Heavenly Nostrils tried to outdo the candle by making her horn and her tail sparkle. Phoebe replied, “I can’t believe you’re jealous of a candle!”
I commented that it reminded me of my favourite comic strip and then quoted the lines that Calvin quotes here.
I always saw that line as a reference to the quality of a feline’s eyes in the dark which seem to glow even in very low light situations. They have a reflective layer behind the rods and cones that sense light, allowing the photons a second pass past the sensors and thus increase their night vision. Or its just part of Blake’s own internal visions. It is unlikely that Blake himself had ever seen a tiger in real life.
Tyger Tyger, burning bright, In the forests of the night; What immortal hand or eye, Could frame thy fearful symmetry?
In what distant deeps or skies. Burnt the fire of thine eyes?On what wings dare he aspire?What the hand, dare seize the fire?
And what shoulder, & what art,Could twist the sinews of thy heart?And when thy heart began to beat.What dread hand? & what dread feet?
What the hammer? what the chain,In what furnace was thy brain?What the anvil? what dread grasp.Dare its deadly terrors clasp?
When the stars threw down their spears And water’d heaven with their tears:Did he smile his work to see?Did he who made the Lamb make thee?
Tyger Tyger burning bright,In the forests of the night:What immortal hand or eye,Dare frame thy fearful symmetry?
Blake, William. “The Tyger.” Songs of Experience. Facsimile reproduction of the 1794 illuminated manuscript, published by The William Blake Trust and the Tate Gallery, 2009, in William Blake: The Complete Illuminated Books.
Yep, the Tyger was on fire or was it a kathoga? See “Relic” (1996) to find out.
codycab over 1 year ago
Garfield can relate to Hobbes.
BE THIS GUY over 1 year ago
Before anyone criticizes Calvin for misinterpreting Blake’s poem, it’s still pretty impressive for a 6 year-old.
Templo S.U.D. over 1 year ago
Um… Blake who, Calvin?
hariseldon59 over 1 year ago
It’s actually Tyger, as Blake used the Old English spelling.
seismic-2 Premium Member over 1 year ago
“Tiger, tiger, burning bright
What has caused you to ignite?" – Richard Armour
scotta775 over 1 year ago
Maybe he read todays Heathcliff, with the fire breathing chihuahua.
Prescott_Philosopher over 1 year ago
A wise choice, Hobbs.
Robin Harwood over 1 year ago
What immortal hand or eye Could frame thy fearful symmetry.
in-dubio-pro-rainbow over 1 year ago
Tiger! Tiger! I wonder by that striped view
Are those grill marks from the BBQ?
Calvinist1966 over 1 year ago
I wonder whether Calvin has read The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling. If he has, he probably feels Kipling was unfair to tigers. He may have watched the 1967 cartoon which I first watched as a nine-year-old around Easter 1976. That cartoon first came out when I was just a few months old. He may also have watched the 1992 live-action version in which John Cleese had a supporting role and Shere Khan actually got to eat a human. He didn’t eat Mowgli, of course.
Zebrastripes over 1 year ago
Hobbes has the perfect get-away…..zzzzzzzzz
jagedlo over 1 year ago
“Flammable Felines”…sounds like an interesting name for a sports team!
westcarleton over 1 year ago
Spelt “tyger” apparently.
uniquename over 1 year ago
For anyone interested in the actual poem:
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/43687/the-tyger
James Deveney Premium Member over 1 year ago
I missWatterson’s ability to ‘tap in’ to the mind of a child and the harried life of the parents. Wouldn’t mind seeing some new stuff.
Redd Panda over 1 year ago
Oh, so you like poetry, huh?
The boy stood on the burning deck
His feet were covered with blisters
He started to cough
His pants fell off
And now he wears his sister’s
I got another about Nantucket, wanna hear it?
MS72 over 1 year ago
Judges 15
Samson caught 300 foxes, tied them to torches, and turned them loose on the Philistines. Maybe Blake was reading the Bible and came up with his story. Maybe not.
BigDaveGlass over 1 year ago
Just pounce, Hobbes…
agm8478 over 1 year ago
William Blake – British poet
g04922 over 1 year ago
William Blake, I guess. Wow, Calvin DOES pay some attention in school…
Ed The Red Premium Member over 1 year ago
It’s really for the best that Bill Watterson retired this comic when he did. He seemed to like the characters less and less as the years passed, and that was reflected in the strip. It went from “best friends forever, buddy” to this.
xsintricks over 1 year ago
I feel fulfilled. I’ve had my culture this morn.
mindjob over 1 year ago
Blake Edwards wrote poems about pink panthers
willie_mctell over 1 year ago
Calvin should look into the thing about the path of excess. Then there’s “The Poison Tree.” Blake is perhaps the only poet ever to rhyme tears and fears successfully.
mistercatworks over 1 year ago
Sleeping through the day is the hallmark of a famous poet. :)
jvevea over 1 year ago
Tyger, Calvin. It’s tyger.
wconer over 1 year ago
https://www.bing.com/ck/a?!&&p=95539f23207e7b5bJmltdHM9MTY3OTcwMjQwMCZpZ3VpZD0yNWEyYjc2MS04NDVhLTZlNmMtMzA2Yi1iYWJhODU4YTZmNDMmaW5zaWQ9NTE5Nw&ptn=3&hsh=3&fclid=25a2b761-845a-6e6c-306b-baba858a6f43&psq=the+tyger+paraphrase&u=a1aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubGl0Y2hhcnRzLmNvbS9wb2V0cnkvd2lsbGlhbS1ibGFrZS90aGUtdHlnZXI&ntb=1
Calvinist1966 over 1 year ago
I remember a Phoebe And Her Unicorn Sunday strip in which Phoebe was reading the poem “My candle burns at both ends,” then Marigold Heavenly Nostrils tried to outdo the candle by making her horn and her tail sparkle. Phoebe replied, “I can’t believe you’re jealous of a candle!”
I commented that it reminded me of my favourite comic strip and then quoted the lines that Calvin quotes here.
ArcticFox Premium Member over 1 year ago
Yes, you avoid a lot of flame-bouyancy.
adamgermanovich over 1 year ago
Blake?
Arghhgarrr Premium Member over 1 year ago
I always saw that line as a reference to the quality of a feline’s eyes in the dark which seem to glow even in very low light situations. They have a reflective layer behind the rods and cones that sense light, allowing the photons a second pass past the sensors and thus increase their night vision. Or its just part of Blake’s own internal visions. It is unlikely that Blake himself had ever seen a tiger in real life.
Night-Gaunt49[Bozo is Boffo] over 1 year ago
The Tyger
BY WILLIAM BLAKE
Tyger Tyger, burning bright, In the forests of the night; What immortal hand or eye, Could frame thy fearful symmetry?
In what distant deeps or skies. Burnt the fire of thine eyes?On what wings dare he aspire?What the hand, dare seize the fire?
And what shoulder, & what art,Could twist the sinews of thy heart?And when thy heart began to beat.What dread hand? & what dread feet?
What the hammer? what the chain,In what furnace was thy brain?What the anvil? what dread grasp.Dare its deadly terrors clasp?
When the stars threw down their spears And water’d heaven with their tears:Did he smile his work to see?Did he who made the Lamb make thee?
Tyger Tyger burning bright,In the forests of the night:What immortal hand or eye,Dare frame thy fearful symmetry?
Blake, William. “The Tyger.” Songs of Experience. Facsimile reproduction of the 1794 illuminated manuscript, published by The William Blake Trust and the Tate Gallery, 2009, in William Blake: The Complete Illuminated Books.
Yep, the Tyger was on fire or was it a kathoga? See “Relic” (1996) to find out.
Wilkins068 over 1 year ago
Wonder if I’d still be allergic to a charred cat.