NCERT Solutions for Class 12 English Flamingo Poem 6 Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers

Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers NCERT Solutions for Class 12 English Flamingo Poem 6

Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers NCERT Text Book Questions and Answers

Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers Think it out

Question 1.
How do ‘denizens’ and ‘chivalric’ add to our understanding of the tigers’ attitudes?
Answer:
Tigers live in forests as free as air. They are known for their strength and fearlessness. The two words denizens and chivalric reveal the true status and attitude of these wild cats.

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:
Aunt Jennifer’s life, it is obvious, has been an unhappy one. She had to make do with a despotic husband. Naturally, she grew weak in body and spirit, so weak that it becomes a tough task for her to do the embroidery with a needle.

Question 3.
What is suggested by the image ‘massive weight of Uncle’s wedding band?
Answer:
The massive weight of marriage with an insensitive man has ruined Aunt’s life and happiness. The marriage has been like an iron band to curtail her freedom. She felt like a bird in a cage, like a slave. This told badly about her health.

Question 4.
Of what or of whom is Aunt Jennifer terrified in the third stanza?
Answer:
The Aunt, so the poetess thinks, will carry the marks of injury in her married life even to her grave. She will remain afraid of the Uncle and the iron bands of marriage, the rings of torture even after death.

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:
The word ringed refers to marriage or engagement ring, to circle like rings seen on a tree trunk showing its age, to dark. The Aunt carries rings or marks of torture on her frightened hands. Uncle like the ring master made her work like a tongueless maid.

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:
Aunt Jennifer is a timid woman who could never stand up boldly against her tyrant husband. She remained a caged bird or a domestic maid. She bore her suffering meekly. So she created tigers on woollens. These represented her silent revolt against Uncle’s marriage bands and her sufferings. She too wished to be as fierce, strong and free as the tiger.

Question 7.
Interpret the symbols found in this poem.
Answer:
The one prominent symbol in this poem is the tiger which represents sharp contrast to the Aunt’s own docile character. The tiger is heroic, self-confident and a free bird. But the marriage ring acted like an iron band and kept Aunt low. She danced to Uncle’s command all her life.

Question 8.
Do you sympathise with Aunt Jennifer ? What is the attitude of the speaker towards Aunt Jennifer ?
Answer:
Of course, the Aunt wins our heartfelt sympathy. Her silent suffering, the trials and torture of married life evoke our sympathy for her. The poet also highlights her suffering through the two symbols of the tiger and the ring. Her engagement ring turned her into a virtual slave. The overall image of the Aunt as created by the poet is that of a victim, mastered by a tyrant husband.

Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers Extra Questions and Answers

Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers Extra Questions Short Answer Type 

Question 1:
What is suggested by the phrase, ‘massive weight of Uncle’s weddinjg band?
What is suggested by the image, ‘massive weight of Uncle’s wedding band?
Answer:
The wedding band describes her marriage. It is ‘massive’ on her .hand because the weight of her marital responsibilities has burdened her so much that she feels subjugated and cannot express herself freely.

Question 2:
For Aunt Jennifer, what do the tigers symbolise?
Or
Why does Aunt Jennifer create animals that are so different from her own character?
Or
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:
Aunt Jennifer is creating tigers, which are a symbol of strength, fearlessness and confidence. These are the qualities that Aunt Jennifer lacks in herself. These tigers represent Aunt Jennifer’s suppressed desires to become bold and fearless, and free from oppression. The poet wants to suggest that women need to have these qualities to fight against their oppressors.

Question 3:
What will happen when Aunt Jennifer is dead?
Or
What will happen to Aunt Jennifer’s tigers when she is dead?
Answer:
The tigers created by Aunt Jennifer will keep on prancing even after her death, as she has created them on the tapestry. This means that art endures beyond human life. It also shows that her longing for freedom from male domination will endure forever, even after she dies.

Question 4:
How is Aunt Jennifer different from her tigers?
Or
How are Aunt Jennifer’s tigers different from her?
Answer:
Aunt Jennifer’s tigers are created by her on the tapestry. However, they present a sharp contrast to their creator. While 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 none, not even of men.

Question 5:
What are the difficulties that Aunt Jennifer faced in her life?
Answer:
Aunt Jennifer was a victim of oppression at the hands of the patriarchal society. She was subjugated by her husband and the wedding band lay heavy on her hand. She was so terrified that her hands fluttered even when she carried something so light as knitting needles and wool.

Question 6:
How does Aunt Jennifer express her bitterness and anger against male dominance?
Answer:
Aunt Jennifer is too terrified to openly resist the oppression that she is a 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. The tigers she creates are wild and free from any kind of bondage.

Question 7:
What is the weight that lies heavy on Aunt Jennifer’s hand? All India 2013; Foreign 2010
Answer:
The weight that lies heavy on Aunt Jennifer’s hand is the weight of Uncle’s wedding band, which
signifies her married life. Probably the weight of her married life has burdened her so much that she feels subjugated.

Question 8:
How do ‘denizens’ and ‘chivalric’ add to our understanding of the tigers’ attitudes?
Answer:
‘Denizens’ means occupants of a particular place and ‘Chivalric’ points to honour, bravery and fearlessness. The tigers occupy their territory after much struggle and are very possessive about it. They live on their own terms and fear none, as they regard themselves as superior in their domain.

Question 9:
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:
Her fingers are fluttering and she is finding the needle hard to pull because she is weak and feels afraid. She is traumatised by the ordeals of her marital life and a male dominated society.

Question 10:
Why did Aunt Jennifer choose to embroider tigers on the panel?
Answer:
Tigers represent strength and fearlessness. Aunt Jennifer is very oppressed. The burden of her marital life has traumatised her. She has an inner desire to be free from oppression and expresses this in her art.

Question 11:
Of what or of whom is Aunt Jennifer terrified with in the third stanza?
Answer:
Aunt Jennifer is terrified of her husband, who dominates her in her married life. She is the victim of exploitations at the hands of the male dominated society, particularly her own husband.

Question 12:
What are the ‘ordeals’ Aunt Jennifer is surrounded by? Why is it significant that the poet used the word’ringed? What are the meanings of the word ‘ringed’ in the poem?
Answer:
‘Ordeals’ refers to the oppression or painful experiences Aunt Jennifer has to face in a male dominated society. The poet uses the word ‘ringed’ in the context of the demands of society, which she is surrounded by. Throughout her life and maybe even after, she will be controlled by the society’s rules. ‘Ringed’ is also used here to mean ‘chained’ or ‘bonded’.

Question 13:
Interpret the symbols found in this poem.
Answer:
There are many symbols used in the poem. Tigers are a symbol of strength and fearlessness. They are
also symbolic of Aunt Jennifer’s inner desires to be free from oppression. ‘Ring’ is another symbol which represents bondage. ‘Wedding band’ is a symbol of oppression. ‘Aunt Jennifer’ herself is a symbol of women who are victimised.

Question 14:
Do you sympathise with Aunt Jennifer? What is the attitude of the speaker towards Aunt Jennifer?
Answer:
Yes, we do sympathise with Aunt Jennifer. Aunt Jennifer here represents those women who are victimised by the male dominated society. She feels oppressed and rules of society do not allow her to express herself freely. The poet herself is very critical of the treatment given to Aunt Jennifer. However, she wants women to fight for their rights, rather than being silent victims of oppression.

Question 15:
Describe the tigers created by Aunt Jennifer.
Answer:
Aunt Jennifer’s tigers are topaz-coloured. They are fearless and confident residents of dense green forests. The tigers represent strength, bravery and fearlessness. Aunt Jennifer yearns to be bold and confident like them.

Question 16:
What does the title of the poem suggest to you? Are you reminded of other poems on tigers?
Answer:
The title of the poem suggests that it is about Aunt Jennifer’s knitted tigers which become an alternate world created by her to free herself from the burden of married life. She is expressing her fear and struggle in married life and her desire to be free through her knitting. ‘The Tiger’ by William Blake and ‘Tiger’ by Alec D Hope are some other famous poems.

Question 17.
What, in your opinion, is the motivation of Aunt Jennifer behind creating tigers ?
Answer:
Aunt Jennifer’s pain is mute but insufferable. This is because of insensitive uncle. She could never feel free and happy. Her engagement ring kept her chained all through. She expresses her heartfelt resentment through the tigers. The tiger stands for all that she longs for.

Question 18.
Give the sum and substance of the poem Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers in about 80 words.
Answer:
Aunt Jennifer is working with her ivory needle on a woollen strip. She is creating a – forest scene where tigers move proudly, freely and fearless of men standing under a tree. Aunt’s weak fingers find the needle hard to pull. She is a victim of her husband’s wild nature. She cannot revolt because of the engagement ring. Her life is an ordeal. Even after death she will bear the marks of her suffering in her grave.

Question 19.
What kind of ordeals is Aunt Jennifer surrounded by ?
Answer:
Aunt Jennifer is a timid woman who could never stand up boldly against her tyrant huband. She carries rings or marks of torfure on her frightened hands. She bore her sufferings meekly for the sake of her family.

Question 20.
How will counting up to twelve and keeping still help us ?
Answer:
When all the people observe silence and standstill, there will be no need to save whales and other creatures. The poor salt gatherer will get a moment to see his bleeding hands. War industry will come to a standstill. People will get breathing space to go for a walk with their brothers.

Question 21.
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow :
They do not fear the men beneath the tree;
They pace in sleek chivalric certainty.
(а) Are Aunt Jennifer’s tigers real ? Give reasons for your answer.
(b) Who do the tigers not fear the man beneath the tree ?
(c) What do you understand by ‘chivalric certainty’ ?
Answer:
(a) No, Aunt Jennifer’s tigers are not real, they are on a screen. Moreover, they can be seen on a panel.
(b) The tigers don’t fe’ar the man as the formers are the symbol of chivalry.
(c) It means they are sure of their power.

Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers Extra Questions Long Answer Type

Question 1:
Explain the stark difference in the death of Aunt Jennifer and the tigers prancing.
Answer:
The tigers remain constant through the poem and only seem to become stronger as the poem ‘ progresses.However, it is Aunt Jennifer who in her death gradually fades away. She in her death gets defeated due to her unfulfilled desires. She perhaps accepts the bondage of domination as her fingers still remain ringed and she dies surrounded by the difficulties in her life.

The tigers are the cherished world of freedom for her, prancing in pride, a world she is never able to enjoy. It gives us a practical look at the reality that Aunt Jennifer never wins and she accepts her defeat stoically as she conforms to the society she has lived in. She bears the weight of the ring, whether dead or alive, because she has already given up her freedom by getting married.

Question 2:
Analyse the symbols and poetic devices employed in the poem.
Answer:
Adrienne Rich has aptly used a number of images, symbols and poetic devices in the poem to convey the theme. The tigers symbolise the freedom of spirit which Aunt Jennifer dreams of attaining, but never achieves except in her dreams and art. Aunt Jennifer metaphorically represents the women as a whole, women who are victims of male superiority and domination. Tigers symbolise the true nature of a woman’s free soul that values strength and assertion.

There lies a metaphor in the implied comparison of the tigers to the bright topaz denizens where tigers are considered to be the inhabitants of the forests, the crafted grean world on the panel. The tigers are also attributed with the quality of chivalry in their confidence. The alliteration in ‘fingers fluttering’ evokes the sense of irony in the poem, as the fingers signify Jennifer’s physical feebleness. She therefore finds it difficult to pull the ivory needle. The alliteration ‘prancing proud’ signifies the everlasting strength of the tigers.

Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers Value Based Type 

Question 1:
In a predominantly male dominated society, women have always faced oppression from men.
What changes can be brought about in society for uplifting the position of women like Aunt Jennifer?
Answer:
The position of women like Aunt Jennifer can be uplifted in society by implementing the measures given below, as these are still lacking in society:

1. Education, particularly the girl child’s education, is still lagging behind, as girls are burdened with domestic duties at an early stage in life and also married at an early age.
2. Women are not given equal opportunities equal to men in life, whether it is upbringing, education or employment. Society should change so that women are treated equally to men.
3. Women should be empowered to take their own decisions in life. Aunt Jennifer is afraid of her husband because he dominates all parts of her life; she cannot take any decisions on her own. Thus, she expresses her suppressed desires through her knitting.

Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers Extract Based Type

I. 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.”

Question 1:
How are Aunt Jennifer’s tigers described?
Answer:
Aunt Jennifer’s tigers have been described as golden yellow in colour. They are bold and fearless as they prance across a screen with confidence.

Question 2:
Why are they described as denizens of a world of green?
Answer:
They have been described as denizens of a world of green because they live in dense green forests.

Question 3:
Why are they not afraid of men?
Answer:
Aunt Jennifer’s tigers are a symbol of strength. They are not afraid of men because they are strong, bold and fearless.

Question 4:
Give the meaning of‘prance’.
Answer:
‘Prance’ means to move or jump over with large movements, in a joyous way.

II. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.

“Aunt Jennifer’s fingers fluttering through her wool
Find even the ivory needle hard to pull.
The massive weight of Uncle’s wedding band
Sits heavily upon Aunt Jennifer’s hands.”

Question 1:
Why are her fingers fluttering?
Answer:
Her fingers flutter because she is terrorized and traumatized by the constraints of her married life.

Question 2:
Why is the wedding band described as ‘massive? Why was it sitting heavily on her hand?
Answer:
Aunt Jennifer feels burdened by the weight of her marital responsibilities. She feels subjugated and is not able to express herself. The ‘massive’ wedding band exerts heavy pressure on her hands. It symbolizes her bondage. It ‘sits heartily’ on her hand, suggesting that she feels overburdened with her husband’s overpowering presence.

Question 3:
Why do you think Aunt Jennifer created images different from her character?
Answer:
Tigers are a symbol of strength. They are fearless and confident. Aunt Jennifer yearns for freedom , from a male dominated society. She wants to be free and fearless like the tigers in the forests, and therefore she creates images of the bright topaz tigers.

III. Read the extract 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.”

Question 1:
Who is the aunt mentioned here?
Answer:
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.

Question 2:
Why is she ‘ringed with ordeals?
Answer:
She is ‘ringed’ with ordeals because marriage has brought with it a host of family responsibilities by which she is ‘ringed’ or surrounded. She feels so burdened by her marital constraints that they seem like an ordeal to her.

Question 3:
What is the difference between her and the tigers?
Answer:
Aunt Jennifer is quite weak and submissive, whereas the tigers are strong, bold and powerful. She is bound by the constraints of her married life, while the tigers are free to move about in the green woods.

Question 4:
Why has Aunt Jennifer created the tigers so different from her own character?
Answer:
The tigers created by Aunt Jennifer are an expression of her desire to free herself from the constaints of her married life. She wants to be bold and fearless like her tigers.

Or

Question 1:
Why are Aunt Jennifer’s hands terrified?
Answer:
Aunt Jennifer’s hands reflect her terror due to the ordeals and hardships she has had to face in her marital life.

Question 2:
Why did she make the tigers?
Answer:
She has created tigers which are symbols of confidence and fearlessness because she wants to be like them. She wants to break away from the rules that have tethered her all her life.

Question 3:
What will happen to her tigers after her death?
Answer:
The tigers are eternal. They will keep on prancing even after her death. She probably wants to convey that the tigers i.e., men will still be fearless and the condition of women will not change.

Question 4:
How are the tigers different from her?
Answer:
Aunt Jennifer’s tigers provide a striking contrast to her. The old lady is weak and can’t move her terrified fingers without trembling. On the other hand, her tigers symbolise strength, speed and power.

Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers About the Poem

The poem Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers depicts the picture of a woman who suffers greatly at the hands of her husband but who takes her revenge by creating tigers on a woollen strip of cloth. She carries the heavy weight of the engagement ring which has also put metal bands on her movements. She has gone through the trials and torture of marriage. She naturally adopts tigers as her idol.

A tiger is a symbol of strength, self-confidence and freedom.Aunt creates such tigers who are unafraid of men. Her own fingers are too weak to pull the needle through the wool. Her terrified hands bearing the marks of marriage ring and the cheeks imposed by uncle will not change even in her grave. The tigers by contrast will continue to enjoy boundless freedom in the forest.

Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers Summary in English

Aunt Jennifer is creating animals that are so different from her own character. She is perhaps working on a panel or strip of woollen cloth. With an ivory needle she is making the figure of tigers, moving freely in the forest. They have bright yellow coat with stripes. They are fearless of the men standing under a tree. They are proud of their freedom and physical strength. Aunt Jennifer is weak, therefore, her feeble fingers fail to pull even the light needle.

She is creating mighty tigers on a panel but her own married life has been an utter failure. Uncle has perhaps been much too severe and insensitive to her feelings. The tiger symbolises what she has missed in her married life. Some day Aunt Jennifer will quit this world. She will be lowered in to the grave. Her weak and terrified hand will still have the circular marks of her suffering. She will remain a slave in her grave. The tigers, however, created by her, will go on playing merrily for ever, proud and fearless.

Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers Summary in Hindi

आंट जेनिफर कुछ वन्य जीवों की संरचना कर रही है जो उनके अपने स्वभाव से बिल्कुल भिन्न है। वह शायद किसी ऊनी पट्टी पर कसीदाकारी कर रही है। हाथी दाँत की एक सुई से वह बाघों का चित्र काढ़ रही है। जो वन में मुक्त विचरण कर रहे हैं। उनकी पीली चमकती खाल पर धारियाँ हैं। वे उन मनुष्य से डर नहीं रहे हैं जो वृक्ष के नीचे खड़े हैं। उन्हें अपनी आजादी तथा बल पर विश्वास है।।

आंट जेनिफर कमजोर हैं। उनकी कमजोर अंगुलियाँ तो हल्की सुई भी खींच नहीं पातीं। वह शक्तिशाली बाघों को एक चौखटे पर काढ़ रही है पर उसका अपना वैवाहिक जीवन विफल रहा है। अंकल शायद बहुत कठोर तथा उसकी भावनाओं के प्रति संवेदनशीलता से रहित थे। बाघ उन भावनाओं का प्रतीक है जिन्हें वह अपने वैवाहिक जीवन में कभी पैदा नहीं कर सकीं। किसी दिन आंट जेनिफर इस संसार से कूच कर जायेगी। उसे कब्र में उतार दिया जायेगा। उसके कमजोर भयभीत हाथों में तब भी उसकी यातना के घेरे बने रहेंगे। वह कब्र में भी दास बनी रहेगी। पर बाघ जिनको उसने काढ़ा है, सदा ही खुशी से उछलते-कूदते रहेंगे, गर्वपूर्ण और निर्भीक।

Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers Extracts for comprehension

Read the extracts carefully and answer the questions that follow :

Stanza I
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. (Page 103)

(आंट जेनिफर किसी परिधान पर कढ़ाई कर रही है, वह एक चौरस कपड़े या पट्टी पर बाघों के चित्र बनाती है, ये चमकीले पुखराज जैसे पीले, हरे-भरे जंगल के जीव उस चौखट में उछल-कूद करते दिखाई देते हैं। उन्हें वृक्ष के नीचे खड़े लोगों से भय नहीं लगता। वे तो अपने भव्य शूरवीर जैसे आत्म-विश्वास के साथ चित्र में चहलकदमी करते रहते हैं।)

Question:
(i) Name the poem and the poet.
(ii) What was Aunt Jennifer doing at the moment ?
(iii) What do tigers symbolise ?
(iv) How do the words like ‘chivalric certainty’ contrast with Aunt’s own life ?
Answer:
(i) The poem Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers is written by Adrienne Rich.
(ii) Aunt was creating embroidered tigers on a strip of woollen cloth.
(iii) Tigers are a symbol of bravery, fearlessness and self-confidence.
(iv) Aunt’s own married life had left her weak and timid. Uncle perhaps has been very very domineering. The tiger contrasts with the Aunt who bears her cross quietly.

Stanza II
Aunt Jennifer’s fingers fluttering through her wool
Find even the ivory needle hard to pull
The massive weight of Uncle’s wedding band
Sits heavily upon Aunt Jennifer’s hand. (Page 103)

(आंट जेनिफर की अंगुलियाँ ऊनी वस्त्र के बीच से कढ़ाई करते समय हाथी दाँत की बनी सुई को खींच पाने में भी कठिनाई महसूस करती हैं। उसका वैवाहिक जीवन सुखद नहीं रहा है। अंकल से विवाह का भारी बोझ उसके हाथ पर भारी पड़ गया है। वह जिन शेरों को पट्टी पर काढ़ रही है वे तो स्वच्छन्द, सगर्व और निर्भय घूम रहे हैं, पर आंट स्वयं को मुक्त और खुश महसूस नहीं कर पाती। यह है उसके वैवाहिक जीवन की विडम्बना!)

Question.
(i) What could be the cause of Aunt Jennifer’s hands fluttering ?
(ii) What is suggested by the massive weight of Uncle’s wedding band ?
(iii) What image of the Aunt comes out from the description ?
Answer
(i) Aunt Jennifer lives in constant fear of her husband. So she cannot work properly even with her frail fingers.
(ii) The massive weight of Uncle’s wedding band very accurately depicts Aunt’s suffering. The ‘wedding band’ refers to the engagement ring as also the metal band that keeps her chained.
(iii) The image of Aunt Jennifer is that of a persecuted woman, being treated as a dumb domestic maid by her husband.

Stanza III

When Aunt is dead, her terrified hands will lie
Still ringed with ordeals she was mastered by.
The tigers in the panel fhat she made
Will go on prancing proud and unafraid. (Page 103)

(जब आंट का निधन हो जायेगा, उसके भयभीत हाथ कब्र में निश्चल पड़े रहेंगे, उनपर उसकी यातनाओं या अग्नि परीक्षाओं के घेरे बने दिखेंगे। पर जिस वस्त्र या पट्टी पर उसने शेर बनाये थे, वे वन्य जीव सदा गर्वपूर्वक निर्भय उछल-कूद करते रहेंगे।)

Question.
(i) What is the status of the Aunt in her family in her lifetime ?
(ii) What will be her position after her death ?
(iii) How do the tigers symbolise her inner longing ?
Answers:
(i) Aunt Jennifer lives her life like a dumb driven cattle or menial maid. Her plight is too deep for tears.
(ii) Even after her death, she will carry the rings or marks of persecution on her hands. The tigers created by her will live a free and fearless life in the forest.
(iii) Tigers are the most powerful cats. Aunt creates them to express her suppressed personality and her natural longings.

<!– –>