Comparing Poems Sheet 1

Essay: Compare and contrast the ways in which the animals are presented
in ‘View of a Pig’ by Ted Hughes and ‘Tiger! Tiger!’ by William Blake

Use the chart below to brainstorm everything you have learnt about the animals in the poems.

The Pig The Tiger

What happens to
the animals in
the poems?

What words do
the poets use to
describe the way
the animals look?

What words do
the poets use to
describe the way
the animals act
or behave?

Are the animals

compared to
anything else?

This free resource is available at www.teachit.co.uk Comparing poems 1

Copyright  2000 Teachit
 Comparing Poems Sheet 2

This sheet looks at the poet’s view of the animal in his poem. Look at the
question in the speech bubble and use the shapes for your answers.
(Triangle for the tiger and square for the pig.)

What do you think the

poet likes about his
animal? Use quotations
from the poems to
back up your points.

Does the poet

compare the
animal to
anything else?

Do you think the poet

likes his animal? How
do you know this?

This free resource is available at www.teachit.co.uk Comparing poems 2

Copyright  2000 Teachit
Comparing Poems Sheet 3a

Now you need to look at the way the poets use language to describe their
animals. Brainstorm the similes and metaphors on the diagram below.
You might need to add some more lines!

‘A View of a Pig’

Similes and
metaphors in
‘A View of a Pig’.

Choose one simile and one metaphor.

Use the spaces below to say why you think the poet used them and what effect they have.

This free resource is available at www.teachit.co.uk Comparing poems 3

Copyright  2000 Teachit
 Comparing Poems Sheet 3b

Now you need to look at the way the poets use language to describe their
animals. Brainstorm the similes and metaphors on the diagram below.
You might need to add some more lines!

‘Tiger! Tiger!’

Industrial and
religious imagery in
‘Tiger! Tiger!’

Choose two images.

Use the spaces below to say why you think the poet used them and what effect they have.

This free resource is available at www.teachit.co.uk Comparing poems 4

Copyright  2000 Teachit