Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers questions and answers: Ncert Solutions for Class 12 English flamingo Poem Chapter 5 Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers
| Textbook | Ncert |
| Class | Class 12 |
| Subject | English flamingo Poem |
| Chapter | Chapter 5 |
| Chapter Name | Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers ncert solutions |
| Category | Ncert Solutions |
| Medium | English |
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Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers Before you read:
Question 1: What does the title of the poem suggest to you? Are you reminded of other poems on tigers?
Answer 1: The title, “Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers”, suggests that the poem is about Aunt Jennifer’s knitted tigers that, with their chivalric, ferocious, bright and carefree attitude, become an alternate world of her creation. The tigers are the only means of free expression in her life, which is otherwise burdened by fear and struggles of the married life.
There are many other poems written about tigers, some of which are given below:
“The Tiger” by William Blake
“Tiger” by Alec Derwent Hope
“Tiger Drinking at Forest Pool” by Ruth Padel
Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers Think it out:
Question 1: How do ‘denizens’ and ‘chivalric’ add to our understanding of the tiger’s attitudes?
Answer 1: Like all beasts of prey, the tigers are the denizens of the forest. They live far away from human settlements. They are called ‘chivalric.’ This indicates the majestic and honourable position that they occupy in the world of animals. So, the use of the words ‘denizens’ and ‘chivalric’ adds to our understanding of the tiger’s attitudes.
Question 2: Why do you think Aunt Jennifer’s hands are ‘fluttering through her wool’ in the second stanza? Why is she finding the needle so hard to pull?
Answer 2: Aunt Jennifer is weaving the tigers on a panel. With her hands moving about the wool, she is finding it difficult to pull the needle. The heaviness of years of married life is lying on her hand, which makes it hard to pull the needle.
Question 3: What is suggested by the image ‘massive weight of Uncle’s wedding band’?
Answer 3: The image of ‘massive weight of Uncle’s wedding band’ suggests the weight of the tough and harsh experience of the married life of Aunt Jennifer. The image is suggestive, and the wedding band is symbolic. It indicates the marriage bond which is unbreakable between the wife and the husband.
Question 4: Of what or of whom is Aunt Jennifer terrified with in the third stanza?
Answer 4: Aunt Jennifer is undoubtedly horrified at her chauvinist husband’s oppression. She lives her life with the relentless burden of a married lady’s roles and obligations. Also after her death, the picture of the wedding ring shows that there is no escape at all from her marriage rules and that she had to surrender to them.
Question 5: What are the ‘ordeals’ Aunt Jennifer is surrounded by, why is it significant that the poet uses the word ‘ringed’? What are the meanings of the word ‘ringed’ in the poem?
Answer 5: Aunt Jennifer was still mentally surrounded by the ordeals she faced during her married life. The poem narrated the unhappy experiences of her married life. The word ‘ringed’ is significant. It made it clear that the vicious grip of her unhappy married life was still holding her tightly.
Question 6: Why do you think Aunt Jennifer created animals that are so different from her own character? What might the poet be suggesting, through this difference?
Answer 6: The timid and fearful Aunt Jennifer creates an alternative world of free and fearless tigers to express her longing for freedom, a medium of escape from her grim marriage.
The ironical contrast underscores a warning by the poet against acceptance of subjugation by women as it crushes their dreams, individuality and a full life.
Question 7: Interpret the symbols found in this poem.
Answer 7: ‘Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers’ by Adrienne Rich is rich in symbolism. ‘The massive weight of the wedding band’ symbolises the worries, hardships and ordeals of married life.
‘Ringed with ordeals’ and ‘terrified hands’ highlight the unpleasant experiences which are still clinging to Aunt Jennifer, both mentally and physically.
Question 8: Do you sympathise with Aunt Jennifer. What is the attitude of the speaker towards Aunt Jennifer?
Answer 8: We sympathise with Aunt Jennifer. Her marriage with Uncle would prove to be fatal. She lived in terror throughout her life. The speaker has no sympathy with her. She wanted that Aunt should have resisted to Uncle’s cruelty with courage. But the Aunt could not muster up courage. She suffered in silence. She could express it only with her needlework.