Aunt Jennifer's Tigers

Aunt Jennifer;s Tigers

Textual Questions

Q1 : What does the title of the poem suggest to you? Are you reminded of other poems on tigers?

 Answer : 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

 Q1 : How do 'denizens' and 'chivalric' add to our understanding of the tiger's attitudes?

Answer : Animals naturalised in a region or the inhabitants of a particular region are called denizens. Since the natural habitat of the tigers is forest, the poet has correctly defined it as 'denizens of a world of green'. Tigers are characteristically masters of their own domain. The poet also refers to the tiger as being 'chivalric'. The exceptional heroic courage when facing danger is termed as chivalry. To explain this, the poet goes on to say that the tigers were not afraid of the men standing under a tree and went on prancing with 'certainty'. Since tigers are brave, ferocious and gallant creatures, the poet has used the term 'chivalric'.

 Q2 : 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 : Aunt Jennifer's hands are 'fluttering through her wool' because she is an old lady on whom age has taken its toll. The fluttering of Aunt Jennifer's fingers also signifies her oppressed mental condition which makes it difficult for her to even pull an ivory needle while embroidering.

Q3 : What is suggested by the image 'massive weight of Uncle's wedding band'?

 Answer : The 'wedding band' that the poet talks about was the wedding ring worn by Aunt Jennifer. The image 'massive weight of Uncle's wedding band' suggests that she was overburdened with duties and responsibilities, post her marriage.

Q4 : Of what or of whom is Aunt Jennifer terrified with in the third stanza?

 Answer : Aunt Jennifer is, probably, terrified of the oppression of her chauvinist husband. She lives her life under constant pressure of duties and responsibilities of a married lady. The image of the wedding ring, even after her death, suggests that there is no escape whatsoever from the conventions of her marriage and that she had to succumb to them.

Q5 : 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 : Aunt Jennifer has been living her life in accordance with the rules laid down by her husband. Her life lacks expression and is overburdened by the demands and duties of her married life. Although old and weak, she still has to face oppression by her husband. These are the ordeals that the poet talks about. The use of word 'ringed', in the poem, is significant and appropriate because it correctly represents the vicious circle from which Aunt Jennifer is unable to free herself. The word 'ringed' not only indicates that she is wearing her wedding ring but also that she is bound by the responsibilities, fear and oppression of her marriage for entire life and, probably, after it too.

Q6 : 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 : In creating animals that are different from her own character, Aunt Jennifer found a means of living an alternate life that is denied to her: a life that is proud, free, fearless and sure of itself. The tigers denote her yearning for power, freedom and fearless living. Through this difference, the poet may be indicating the prejudices of the patriarchal society that is unfair to females, especially the married ones

 Q7 : Interpret the symbols found in this poem.

 Answer : The poet has expressed his views and concerns in the poem through a number of symbols. These include tigers, the men, a screen and, the most importantly, a ring. Aunt Jennifer has created tigers on a screen. These tigers symbolise Aunt Jennifer's silent yearning for a life of freedom and power. The screen on which she knitted the tigers may represent the world in general. The men beneath the tree may represent people like her husband. She makes her tigers fearless, proud and free to prance about the screen or the world. The symbol of the heavy wedding ring she wore on her finger represents the ordeals and burdens of her married life which caged her in a vicious circle that, the poet indicates, will continue even in her death just as in her life.

Q8 : Do you sympathise with Aunt Jennifer? What is the attitude of the speaker towards Aunt Jennifer?

Answer : Yes, the character of Aunt Jennifer wins our sympathy as a reader. Her ordeals and sufferings move the reader. Even the speaker in the poem shows sympathy and pity towards her. The speaker says that even after Aunt Jennifer's death, she will be terrified of her husband and the ordeals of her marriage. 

Extract Based Questions (4 Marks)

Question.1. Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow.
When Aunt is dead, her terrified hands will lie 
Still ringed with ordeals she was mastered by 
The tigers in the panel that she made 
Will go on prancing, proud and unafraid
(a) Who is the aunt mentioned here?
(b) Why is she “ringed with ordeals”?
(c) What is the difference between her and the tigers?
(d) Why has Aunt Jennifer created the tigers so different from her own character?
or
(a) Why are Aunt Jennifer’s hands terrified?
(b) Why did she make the tigers? 
(c) What will happen to her tigers after her death? (Delhi 2012; Modified)
(d) How are Aunt Jennifer’s tigers different from her?
Answer.(a) The aunt mentioned here is Aunt Jennifer, the protagonist of Adrienne Rich’s poem ‘Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers’; she is a woman going through unpleasant experiences in her married , life.
(b) The ‘ring’ here refers to her wedding band or ring, which has brought with it a host of family responsibilities. She feels so surrounded (i.e. ringed) by her marital constraints that it seems like an ordeal to her.
(c) Aunt Jennifer is quite weak and submissive, whereas the tigers are strong, bold and powerful. She is bound by the constraints of her married fife, while the tigers are free to move about in the green woods.
(d) The tigers created by Aunt Jennifer are an expression of her desire to free herself from the constraints of her married life. She wants to be bold and fearless like her tigers.
or
(a) Her hands are ‘terrified’ (actually she is terrified) as she is passing through the very hard and bitter experience of married life. Here the poet has used her hands to represent her.
(b) She made the tigers because they are beasts of prey. They are chivalric and confident and do not fear men, which is totally contrasting with her own nature.
(c) The tigers will still keep prancing over the panel even when Aunt is dead. They will
outlive her.
(d) Aunt Jennifer’s tigers provide a striking contrast to her. The old lady is weak and- scared of men, whereas the tigers symbolise strength, power and fearlessness.

Question.2. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.
Aunt Jennifer’s tigers prance across a screen,
Bright topaz denizens of a world of green 
They do not fear the men beneath the tree,
They pace in sleek chivalric certainty
(a) How are Aunt Jennifer’s tigers described?
(b) Why are they described as denizens of a world of green?
(c) Why are they not afraid of the men? (Delhi 2010; Modified)
(d) What are her tigers symbolic of?
Answer. (a) Aunt Jennifer’s tigers have been described as golden yellow in colour. The prance fearlessly across a screen in sleek chivalric certainty.
(b) They have been called as denizens of a world of green because they are the natives of dense green forests.
(c) They are not afraid of men because they are brave, strong, fearless and full of confidence.
(d) Her tigers are symbolic of Aunt Jennifer’s desire for freedom. They are also symbols of strength and self-confidence.

Short Answer Type Questions (3 Marks, 30-40 words)

Question.1. What are the difficulties that Aunt Jennifer faced in her life? (Delhi 2014)
or
What are the ordeals that Aunt Jennifer faced in her life? (Foreign 2009)
Answer. Aunt Jennifer was probjbly a victim of oppression at the hands of the patriarchal society. She was subjugated by her husband and the weight of the wedding band i.e. her wedding ring, felt heavy on her hand. She was so terrified that her hands fluttered even when she carried something so light as wool.

Question.2. How are Aunt Jennifer’s tigers different from her? (All India 2014)
or
How are the tigers different from her? (Foreign 2009)
Answer. Aunt Jennifer’s tigers are created by her on the tapestry. However, they present a sharp contrast to their creator. While the Aunt is weak, meek and submissive and is scared of expressing her feelings openly, the tigers are strong, fearless and confident. They are bold creatures and are scared of no one. The aunt is in bonded in matrimony and faces several restrictions. Qn the other hand, the tigers move about freely.

Question.3. How does Aunt Jennifer express her bitterness and anger against male dominance?
(Compartment 2014)
Answer. Aunt Jennifer is too terrified to openly resist the oppression that she is victim of. She expresses her bitterness and anger against male dominance silently through her art. She creates tigers on her tapestry; animals that are symbolic of bravery, fearlessness and strength. Besides, she portrays these tigers as creatures unafraid of the men around them. The tigers she creates are wild and free from any kind of bondage.

Question.4.What will happen to Aunt Jennifer’s tigers when she is dead? (Delhi 2013)
Answer. The tigers created by Aunt Jennifer are eternal. They will keep on prancing even after her death. She probably wants to convey that the tigers which represent the Aunt’s inner sense of freedom will stay forever.

Question.5.What lies heavily on Aunt Jennifer’s hand? How is it associated with her husband?
(All India 2013)
or
What is the weight that lies heavy on Aunt Jennifer’s hand? How is it associated with her husband? (Foreign 2010)
Answer. The weight that lies heavy on Aunt Jennifer’s hand is the wedding band, which symbolises the weight of her married life. Probably, the weight has burdened her so much that she feels subjugated. Aunt Jennifer had a troubled married life with a dominating and oppressive husband.

Question.6. Why did Aunt Jennifer choose to embroider tigers on the panel? (Delhi 2012, All India 2009)
Answer. Aunt Jennifer chose to embroider tigers on the panel because for her, the tigers were the symbols of bravery, fearlessness and strength. These creatures are not afraid of the men around them. Her embroidering the tigers is perhaps an expression of her own bitterness and anger against male dominance.

Question.7. How do the words, ‘denizens’ and ‘chivalric’ add to our understanding of Aunt
Jennifer’s tigers? (All India 2012)
or
How do ‘denizens’ and ‘chivalric’ add to our understanding of the tiger’s attitudes?
(Delhi 2011)
Answer. ‘Denizens’ denotes occupants or citizens and ‘chivalric’ points to fearlessness, honour, bravery and majesty. Tigers are very possessive about their territory. They live on their own terms and fear none, as they regard themselves superior in their own domain, The poet finds similarities between the propensity-of tigers and men.

Question.8.Why do you think Aunt Jennifer created animals that Die so different from her own
character? What might the poet be suggesting through this difference? (All India 2011)
Answer. Aunt Jennifer is a weak and terrified person who, all through her life, was suppressed by the constraints of marriage. The animals that she is creating in her panel are very different, as they are chivalric and do not fear men. They are a symbol of strength, fierceness and beauty. They represent Aunt Jennifer’s suppressed desire to become bold and fearless, and free from oppression. The poet wants to emphasise the spirit and desire for freedom which is innate in all human beings.

Question.9. How does the poet describe Aunt Jennifer’s tigers?(Delhi 2008)
or
Describe the tigers created by Aunt Jennifer. (All India 2008, Delhi 2009)
Answer. According to the poet, Aunt Jennifer’s tigers are golden-yellow in colour. He describes them as prancing across the screen. They are denizens of a world of green. The tigers are sleek, chivalric, majestic and elegant. Also, they are brave and fearless.