Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers
THINK IT OUT
1. How do ‘denizens’ and ‘chivalric’ add to our understanding of the tiger’s attitudes?
Ans: The word “denizens” shows that the tigers are natural inhabitants of the forest. The word “chivalric” suggests bravery, confidence and nobility. Together, these words help us understand that the tigers are fearless, majestic and proud animals.
2. Why are Aunt Jennifer’s hands ‘fluttering through her wool’? Why is the needle hard to pull?
Ans: Aunt Jennifer’s hands are fluttering because she is old and nervous. She finds it difficult to pull the needle due to the emotional burden of her unhappy married life. The painful experiences of her marriage make her feel weak and fearful.
3. What is suggested by the phrase ‘massive weight of Uncle’s wedding band’?
Ans: The phrase symbolises the heavy burden of Aunt Jennifer’s married life. The wedding band represents the oppressive and controlling nature of her husband and the difficulties she faced in marriage.
4. Of what or whom is Aunt Jennifer terrified in the third stanza?
Ans: Aunt Jennifer is terrified of the painful memories and hardships she experienced during her married life. These memories still affect her even in old age.
5. What are the ‘ordeals’ Aunt Jennifer is surrounded by? Why is the word ‘ringed’ significant?
Ans: The “ordeals” refer to the hardships and suffering Aunt Jennifer faced in her married life. The word “ringed” suggests that she is completely surrounded and trapped by these painful experiences. It also symbolically connects to the wedding ring.
6. Why did Aunt Jennifer create animals so different from her own character? What might the poet suggest?
Ans: Aunt Jennifer created strong and fearless tigers because they represent qualities she lacks in real life. The poet suggests that through her art she expresses a desire for freedom, strength and courage which she could not achieve in her married life.
7. Interpret the symbols found in the poem.
Ans: The poem contains several important symbols:
Tigers: Strength, freedom and courage.
Wedding band: Burden and oppression of marriage.
Terrified hands: Fear and suffering experienced by Aunt Jennifer.
Ringed with ordeals: The painful experiences surrounding her life.
8. Do you sympathise with Aunt Jennifer? What is the speaker’s attitude towards her?
Ans: Yes, we sympathise with Aunt Jennifer because she suffered greatly in her married life. The speaker also shows sympathy and compassion towards her and highlights the difficulties she faced as a woman in a male-dominated society.
SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS
1. Describe the tigers created by Aunt Jennifer.
Ans: Aunt Jennifer’s tigers are bright, strong and fearless. They are described as “bright topaz denizens of a world of green.” They walk confidently and proudly, symbolising strength and courage.
2. What difficulty does Aunt Jennifer face while making her tigers and why?
Ans: Aunt Jennifer finds it difficult to pull the ivory needle while embroidering the tigers. This is because the emotional burden of her unhappy married life makes her hands weak and trembling.
3. Why did Aunt Jennifer choose to embroider tigers on the panel?
Ans: Aunt Jennifer embroidered tigers to escape from the sadness of her real life. The strong and fearless tigers represent the freedom and courage she wished to have.
4. What is the weight that lies heavy on her hand and how is it associated with her husband?
Ans: The “weight” refers to the wedding ring and the painful memories of her married life. It symbolises the oppression and dominance of her husband which made her life difficult.
5. Why did Aunt Jennifer’s efforts to get rid of her fear prove futile?
Ans: Aunt Jennifer could not escape the painful memories of her married life. Even when she tried to express freedom through her embroidery, the emotional burden of her past continued to trouble her.
6. What will happen to Aunt Jennifer’s tigers when she is dead?
Ans: Even after Aunt Jennifer dies, the tigers she created will continue to exist. They will keep prancing proudly and fearlessly. This shows that art survives even after the artist’s death.
7. What picture of male chauvinism do we find in the poem?
Ans: The poem shows that Aunt Jennifer’s husband was dominating and insensitive. His authority and control made her life unhappy. This reflects the male-dominated society where women often suffer under male power.
8. Describe the poetic devices used in the poem.
Ans: The poem uses several poetic devices such as:
Alliteration: “sleek chivalric certainty”
Symbolism: Tigers, wedding band and terrified hands.
Imagery: Vivid descriptions that create strong pictures in the reader’s mind.
9. Highlight the contrast between Aunt Jennifer and her tigers.
Ans: Aunt Jennifer is weak, fearful and oppressed by her married life. In contrast, her tigers are strong, confident and fearless. This contrast highlights her inner desire for freedom and strength which she cannot achieve in real life.