Aunt Jennifer's Tigers by Adrienne Rich, Class 12 English CBSE (Summary, poetic devices, word meaning and stanza based question-answer)

AUNT JENNIFER’S TIGERS

By Adrienne Rich

(May 16, 1929- March 27, 2012)

DETAILED STANZA-WISE EXPLANATION, POETIC DEVICES, VOCABULARY, AND SHORT QUESTION-ANSWER OF THE POEM “AUNT JENNIFER’S TIGERS”.

ABOUT THE POET

Adrienne Rich is recgnised as one of the greatest English poets of the twentieth century. She always raised her voice against injustice and exploitation of women in the male-dominated society. She had been attached to various women's movements.

INTRODUCTION

"Aunt Jennifer's Tigers" is a poem by Adrienne Rich that explores the theme of feminine oppression and the struggle for freedom. Here Aunt Jennifer has been described as being "trapped" in her marriage. Moreover, the tigers represent Aunt Jennifer's desire for freedom.

DIFFICULT WORDS AND THEIR MEANING

Prance - Jump

Screen - Panel

Topaz - bright yellow colour stone

Denizen - dweller/inhabitant

Pace - walk/move

Sleek - smooth/elegant

Chivalric - brave/noble

Certainty - here it means confidence

Fluttering - quivering/shivering

Ivory - white/blonde / pearly

Massive - heavy

Band - strap /chain/ring

Terrified - frightened/alarmed

Ringed - enclosed/surrounded

Ordeals - nightmare/agony/testing or difficult experience

Mastered - here controlled

POETIC DEVICES USED IN "AUNT JENNIFER'S TIGERS"

ANAPHORA

1. They do not fear the men beneath the tree:

They pace in sleek chivalric certainty. (Repetition of they in the consecutive lines)

METAPHOR

1. Bright topaz denizens (here tigers have been compared to topaz)

2. Ringed with ordeals she was mastered by

ALLITERATION

1. Fingers fluttering

2. Prancing, proud

TRANSFERRED EPITHET

1. Terrified hands

PUN

1. ringed with ordeals (ring in her finger and difficult situation that always surrounded her)

PERSONIFICATION

Uncle’s wedding band sits heavily upon Aunt Jennifer's hand

IMAGES AND SYMBOLS USED IN "AUNT JENNIFER'S TIGERS"

1. Tigers - symbolic of terror and oppression, freedom and fearlessness.

2. Uncle's wedding band - symbolic of the exploitation of women in the male-dominated society

3. Ringed with ordeals is an image that shows Aunt Jennifer's suffering and oppression.

RHYME SCHEME

aa bb (same in all the three stanzas)

SUMMARY/DETAILED EXPLANATION & QUESTION-ANSWER OF "AUNT JENNIFER'S TIGERS"

Aunt Jennifer's Tigers prance across the screen……….

They pace in sleek chivalric certainty.

In the first stanza, the poet expresses how the tigers appear on the screen while Aunt Jennifer does the needlework. The sudden appearance of the tigers symbolises Aunt Jennifer’s innermost desire to be free and fearless. The poet expresses Aunt Jennifer's tigers as fearless, free, energetic, and full of confidence. Here the poet compares tigers to topaz. The tigers do not care about the men standing under the tree. They walk freely, fearlessly, and confidently. The line "They do not fear the men beneath the tree" possibly highlights Aunt Jennifer's resistance to her husband's control. Finally, the line "They pace in sleek chivalric certainty" emphasises the power and grace of the tigers and Aunt Jennifer's newfound sense of strength and self-assurance.

Q. How are Jennifer's tigers described?

Ans. Her tigers are fearless, free, brave, and full of energy and confidence.

Q. Why has the poet described the tigers as “denizens of the world of green”?

Ans. It is because the tigers live in the forest, their natural habitat.

Q. Which poetic device has been used in the expression “bright topaz”?

Ans. Metaphor (The poet has compared tigers to topaz)

Q. Which poetic device has been used in the third and fourth lines of the stanza?

Ans. Anaphora (Both the lines start with the same word ‘They’.)

Q. Why are the tigers not afraid of men beneath the tree?

Ans. The tigers are strong, brave, and full of confidence. Therefore, they do not fear the men beneath the tree.

Q. Explain the expression “they pace in sleek chivalric certainty”.

Ans. Here the poet has described the movement of the tigers which is elegant, majestic, and full of confidence.

Q. What is the rhyme scheme followed?

Ans. aabb

Aunt Jennifer's fingers fluttering through her wool………… sits heavily upon Aunt Jennifer's hand.

This stanza brings to light the difficulties Aunt Jennifer faces while doing the needlework. The lines "Aunt Jennifer's fingers fluttering through her wool" and "Find even the ivory needle hard to pull" suggest that simple needlework is an uphill task for Aunt Jennifer.
Here Aunt Jennifer has been portrayed as weak and submissive. The "massive weight" of Uncle's wedding band symbolises the burden of marriage on Aunt Jennifer. The poet expresses that Aunt Jennifer has been the victim of her husband’s oppression and tyranny. The wedding band is a symbol of Aunt Jennifer's surrender to her husband's authority. Here, the poet indicates Aunt Jennifer’s attempt to escape her situation through her needlework.

Q. Why are Jennifer's fingers fluttering?

Ans. Aunt Jennifer's fingers are fluttering because of the burden of marriage. She appears to be scared of her husband. She is under physical and mental stress

Q. What does the expression “massive weight of Uncle's wedding band” mean?

Ans. The expression “massive weight of uncle's wedding band” is symbolic of the burden of Aunt Jennifer's marriage and her subjugation to her husband's authority.

Q. What is Aunt Jennifer's state of mind?

Ans. Aunt Jennifer is nervous, shaky and lacks confidence.

Q. Why is it so hard for Aunt Jennifer to pull the ivory needle?

Ans. It is because of physical weakness and mental suppression.

Q. Which figure of speech has been used in the first line of the stanza?

Ans. Alliteration (fingers fluttering)

Q. What is the meaning of fluttering?

Ans. Shivering/quivering.

Q. Which poetic device has been used in the expression “Uncle's wedding band sits heavily”?

Ans. Personification

When Aunt is dead, her terrified hands will lie………..

Will go on Prancing, proud and unafraid

In this stanza, the poet projects Aunt Jennifer’s death. It is symbolic of her complete surrender. On the other hand, the tigers in the panel that she made" symbolise her desire for freedom. The poet reflects on the lasting impact of Aunt Jennifer's art, saying that even after her death, the tigers will continue to be proud and strong, representing a legacy of resistance against oppression.

Q. Why are Aunt Jennifer's hands terrified?

Ans. Aunt Jennifer's hands are terrified because of the bitter experience of married life. She has undergone so much suffering that even death will not be able to free her from the terror.

Q. What do you understand by the expression “ringed with ordeals”?

Ans. It means the suffering and exploitation that Aunt Jennifer has gone through after marriage. She will remain trapped in the chains of servility.

Q. What is Aunt Jennifer's death symbolic of?

Ans. It is symbolic of her complete surrender. It also indicates her helplessness.

Q. How will the tigers behave after Aunt Jennifer's death?

Ans. The Tigers will remain unaffected by Aunt Jennifer's death. They will continue to prance with full vigour and energy.

Q. Which poetic device has been used in the last line of the stanza?

Ans. Alliteration (Prancing, proud)

Q. Which poetic device has been used in the expression “ringed with”?

Ans. Pun (ring has a double meaning)

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The Rattrap

Indigo

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The Interview

Going Places

The Last Lesson

Flamingo Poetry

My Mother At Sixty Six .

Keeping Quiet

A Thing Of Beauty

A Roadside Stand

Vistas

The Third Level

The Tiger King

Journey To The End Of The Earth

The Enemy

On The Face Of It

Memories of Childhood

Writing Portion

Notice Writing

Invitations & Their Replies

Report Writing

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Letter To The Editor

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