AUNT JENNIFER’S TIGERS

Short Answer Type Questions (3-4 Marks)

1.Describe the tigers created by Aunt Jennifer.
The poet describes Aunt Jennifer’s tigers as ‘bright topaz denizens’ of the forest. They are fearless
and ferocious in sharp contrast to their creator, Aunt Jennifer’s nervousness and timidity. Gallant
and confident, they are sure of their purpose and move ahead undeterred by any kind of hindrance
or obstruction.
2.Why did Aunt Jennifer choose to embroider tigers on the panel? (All India 2009)
Aunt Jennifer chose to embroider tigers on the panel to express her desires and the kind of life she
wished to lead. Tigers symbolise strength and splendour which was in sharp contrast to her own
meek nature. She wished to be as happy and confident like the tigers, not afraid of the men in her
life. She also wished the men in her life to be as chivalric as the tigers she embroidered.
3.
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?
Aunt Jennifer’s tigers are described as powerful, strong and fearless.
b. Why are they described as denizens of a world of green?
The tigers are inhabitants of the dense green forests so they are described as dwellers of a world of
green.
c. Why are they not afraid of the men?
Their courage and fearlessness give them a confidence due to which they are not afraid of men.
4.What will happen to Aunt Jennifer’s tigers when she is dead? (All India 2010)
Aunt Jennifer’s tigers will survive even after she is dead. She has created the tigers in a panel out of
wool. These objects of art are immortal. They will continue prancing, proudly and fearlessly. To
express her desire for freedom she had created the chivalrous tigers who will survive long after her
death but her own longing for freedom will remain unfulfilled.
5.How has Aunt Jennifer created her tigers? What traits of tigers do they reveal? (All India 2010)
Aunt Jennifer has created shining topaz yellow- coloured tigers who are denizens of a dense, green
forest. They are fierce, unafraid and fearless and pace in ‘sleek’ and ‘chivalric’ certainty.
6.Why are Aunt Jennifer’s hands fluttering through her wool? (Comptt. Delhi 2010)
Aunt Jennifer is a victim of gender oppression at the hands of her husband. She lives a life of total
domination and constant fear. she feels nervous and terrified as for the first time she is expressing
herself. This is why her hands shake and flutter through her wool as she sits down to knit.
7.Describe the contrast between Aunt Jennifer ‘and her creation, the tigers. (Comptt. All India
2010)
Aunt Jennifer is totally victimised and suffers from oppression by her male counterpart. So, she
creates an alternate world of freedom in her art. The tigers she creates go on prancing happily,
exhibiting their pride, confidence and fearlessness. They are neither afraid of anyone nor do they
use their power to harm or dominate anyone.
8.How do ‘denizens’ and ‘chivalric’ add to our understanding of the tigers’ attitude? (Delhi 2011)
‘Denizens’ means that the tigers inhabit a green world. They live in the forests where they are free
from constraints. ‘Chivalric’ means they are valiant, courteous and gentlemanly. This helps us to
understand that bravery and fearlessness are the basic nature of the tigers.
9.Why do you think Aunt Jennifer created animals that are so different from her own character? (All
India 2011)
Answer:
Aunt Jennifer’s tigers possessed all the qualities that Aunt Jennifer did not have. The tigers were
free, fearless, confident and proud whereas Aunt Jennifer was meek, submissive and without any
identity. She was a rather indecisive woman unlike the confident tigers she had created.
Question 10.
What do the symbols, ‘tigers’, ‘fingers’ and ‘ring’ stand for in the poem, ‘Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers’?
(Comptt. Delhi 2011)
Answer:
The ‘tigers’ are symbols of bravery and courage and also of Aunt Jennifer’s desire for freedom. The
‘fingers’ are symbolic of the nervousness and fear experienced by Aunt Jennifer and the ‘ring’
symbolises a binding marriage that is full of oppression and curtails one’s freedom.
Question 11.
Describe the tigers created by Aunt Jennifer. (Comptt. All India 2011)
Answer:
The poet describes Aunt Jennifer’s tigers as ‘bright topaz denizens’ of the forest. They are fearless
and ferocious in sharp contrast to their creator, Aunt Jennifer’s nervousness and timidity. Gallant
and confident, they are sure of their purpose and move ahead undeterred by any kind of hindrance
or obstruction.
Question 12.
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow: (Comptt. All India 2012)
Bright topaz denizens of a world of green.
They do not fear the men beneath the tree;
They pace in sleek chivalric certainty.
Who are ‘They’? Where are ‘They’?
Why are They’ not afraid of men?
Answer:
1. ‘They’ refers to the tigers that Aunt Jennifer has knitted on the panel. They are prancing jerkily in
the forest (across a screen).
2. The tigers are not afraid of men because they are gallant and fearless creatures who are
undeterred by any obstacles or hindrances and thus are not afraid of the men.
Question 13.
Why did Aunt Jennifer choose to embroider tigers on the panel? (Delhi 2012)
Answer:
Aunt Jennifer chose to embroider tigers on the panel because of the nature of the tigers. They
symbolise strength and splendour which was in sharp contrast to her own meek nature. The massive
weight of the wedding band that sits heavily on her finger symbolises the ordeals and hardships of
her married life so she creates tigers as they are a striking contrast to the frail, meek old lady who
created them.
Question 14.
How do the words, “denizens’ and ‘chivalric’ add to our understanding of Aunt Jennifer’s tigers? (All
India 2012)
Answer:
Aunt Jennifer chose to embroider tigers on the panel because of the nature of the tigers. They
symbolise strength and splendour which was sharp contrast to her own meek nature. The massive
weight of the wedding band that sits heavily on her finger symbolises the ordeals and hardships of
her married life so she creates tigers as they are a striking contrast to the frail, meek old lady who
created them.
Question 15.
What kind of married life did Aunt Jennifer lead? (Comptt. Delhi 2012)
Answer:
Aunt Jennifer’s wedding band lies heavily on her hand. It reminds her of her unhappy married life. It
is symbolic of male authority and power of her husband who had suppressed her and made her a
nervous wreck. He had dominated over her for so long that she had lost her identity.
Question 16.
What will happen to Aunt Jennifer’s tigers when she is dead? (Delhi 2013)
Answer:
Aunt Jennifer’s tigers will survive even after she is dead. She has created the tigers in a panel out of
wool. These objects of art are immortal. They will continue prancing, proudly and fearlessly. To
express her desire for freedom she had created the chivalrous tigers who will survive long after her
death but her own longing for freedom will remain unfulfilled.
Question 17.
What lies heavily on Aunt Jennifer’s hand? How is it associated with her husband? (All India 2013)
Answer:
Aunt Jennifer’s wedding band lies heavily on her hand. It reminds her of her unhappy married life. It
is symbolic of male authority and power of her husband who had suppressed her and made her a
nervous wreck. He had dominated over her for so long that she had lost her identity.
Question 18.
Why has Aunt Jennifer made ‘prancing, proud and unafraid’ tigers? (Comptt. Delhi 2013)
Answer:
Aunt Jennifer chose to embroider tigers on the panel because of the nature of the tigers. They
symbolise strength and splendour which was sharp contrast to her own meek nature. The massive
weight of the wedding band that sits heavily on her finger symbolises the ordeals and hardships of
her married life so she creates tigers as they are a striking contrast to the frail, meek old lady who
created them.
Question 19.
What is the meaning of the phrase, ‘massive weight of uncle’s wedding band’? (Comptt. All India
2013)
Answer:
Aunt Jennifer’s wedding band lies heavily on her fingers as she has been a victim of gender
oppression at the hands of her husband. She has been so physically and mentally trapped for so
many years that she lives in a perpetual state of mental fear which she has never been able to
overcome.
Question 20.
What are the difficulties that aunt Jennifer faced in her life? (Delhi 2014)
Answer:
Aunt Jennifer faced great hardships in her married life. She led a terrifying and oppressed life
wherein she had never been free but a helpless victim of male chauvinism. Dominated and
terrorised by her husband, Aunt Jennifer struggled for an existence within the deep conflicts of
slavery.
Question 21.
How are Aunt Jennifer’s tigers different from her? (All India 2014)
Answer:
Aunt Jennifer’s tigers possessed all the qualities that Aunt Jennifer did not have. The tigers were
free, fearless, confident and proud whereas Aunt Jennifer was meek, submissive and without any
identity. She was a rather indecisive woman unlike the confident tigers she had created.
Question 22.
How does Aunt Jennifer express her bitter-ness and anger against male dominance? (Comptt. Delhi
2014)
Answer:
To express her bitterness and anger against male dominance, Aunt Jennifer chooses to embroider
tigers on the panel. The nature of tigers symbolizes strength, fearlessness and splendour which is in
sharp contrast to her own meek nature because of which she has suffered endlessly.
Question 23.
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow: (Comptt. Delhi 2015)
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.
Why are the tigers called ‘Aunt Jennifer’s tigers’?
What does the phrase,’ a world of green’ mean?
How are the tigers different from their creator?
Why are the tigers not afraid of the men beneath the trees?
Answer:
1. The tigers are called ‘Aunt Jennifer’s tigers’ because they are her creation. She has knitted
(embroidered) the tigers on a screen.
2. The phrase ‘a world of green’ means ‘the green forest to which the tigers belong.’
3. The tigers are brave, chivalric, confident and strong unlike their creator who is weak, timid,
frightened and meek.
4. The tigers are brave and fearless by nature. They are ferocious wild beasts so they are not afraid
of the men beneath the trees.
Question 24.
What is suggested by the phrase, ‘massive weight of Uncle’s wedding band’? (Delhi 2015)
Answer:
Aunt Jennifer’s wedding band lies heavily on her fingers as she has been a victim of gender
oppression at the hands of her husband. She has been so physically and mentally trapped for so
many years that she lives in a perpetual state of mental fear which she has never been able to
overcome.
Question 25.
Why does Aunt Jennifer create animals that are so different from her own character? (Delhi 2015)
Answer:
Aunt Jennifer’s tigers possessed all the qualities that Aunt Jennifer did not have. The tigers were
free, fearless, confident and proud whereas Aunt Jennifer was meek, submissive and without any
identity. She was a rather indecisive woman unlike the confident tigers she had created.
Question 26.
Aunt Jennifer’s efforts to get rid of her fear proved to be futile. Comment. (Delhi 2016)
Answer:
Aunt Jennifer has been a victim of oppression by the overbearing dominance of her husband.
Completely terrorised by her husband she struggled for an existence and was so victimised that even
after her death she will not be able to liberate her mind and spirit from the fear of male-dominance.
Question 27.
What picture of male chauvinism (tyranny) do we find in the poem, ‘Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers’? (All India
2016)
Answer:
Aunt Jennifer faced great hardships in her married life. She led a terrifying and oppressed life
wherein she had never been free but a helpless victim of male chauvinism. Dominated and
terrorised by her husband, Aunt Jennifer struggled for an existence within the deep conflicts of
slavery.
Question 28.
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow: (Comptt. Delhi 2016)
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.
Name the poem and the poet.
What was the aunt’s ordeal?
Why did she ‘make’ tigers?
How were the tigers different from her?
Answer:
1. The poem is ‘Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers’ by Adrienne Rich.
2. The aunt’s ordeal was that she was dominated by her husband and was denied freedom.
3. Aunt Jennifer made tigers to give expression to her desire for freedom.
4. Aunt Jennifer was meek and submissive whereas the tigers she embroidered were strong and
courageous.
Question 29.
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow :(Comptt. All India 2016)
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.
Name the poem and the poet.
What is Aunt Jennifer doing with the wool?
Why are her fingers fluttering?
What does ‘wedding band’ mean?
Answer:
1. The poem is ‘Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers’ by Adrienne Rich.
2. Aunt Jennifer is embroidering tigers on a canvas with wool.
3. She has been tormented and dominated by her husband all her life, so her fingers are fluttering
due to nervousness.
4. ‘Wedding band’ means a wedding ring.
Question 30.
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow: (Delhi 2017)
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.
Why are the tigers called Aunt Jennifer’s tigers?
How are they described here?
How are they different from Aunt Jennifer?
What does the word ‘chivalric’ mean?
Answer:
1. The tigers are called Aunt Jennifer’s tigers because they have been created by her, she has
embroidered a panel of prancing tigers.
2. They are described here as yellowish brown (topaz) coloured inhabitants of the jungle. They are
fearless, ferocious and brave creatures.
3. Aunt Jennifer is a timid and terrified old woman whose nature is in stark contrast to the fearless
and chivalrous tigers she has created.
4. The word ‘chivalric’ means ‘brave’/ respectful towards women.
Question 31.
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow: (All India 2017 )
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.
What is Aunt Jennifer doing with her wool?
Why does she find it difficult to pull her ivory needle?
What does ‘wedding band’ stand for ?
Describe the irony in the third line.
Answer:
1. Aunt Jennifer is embroidering the tigers on a panel with her wool.
2. Suppressed under male domination, Aunt Jennifer has become a nervous wreck. As a result, her
fingers flutter and she finds it difficult to pull her ivory needle.
3. ‘Wedding band’ is a symbol of male authority and power. The band symbolizes her unhappy
marriage, her husband and the patriarchal society that limits the freedom of women.
4. Even though Aunt Jennifer wears the wedding band, it is ironical that the poet describes it as
belonging to uncle.
Question 32.
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow: (Comptt. Delhi 2017)
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.
What is Aunt Jennifer’s mood?
Why are her fingers fluttering?
What is Uncle’s wedding band?
Why is it heavy?
Answer:
1. Aunt Jennifer is in a state of anxiety and nervousness.
2. Aunt Jennifer’s fingers are fluttering as she is nervous because of her husband.
3. Uncle’s wedding band is the wedding ring that Aunt Jennifer wears in one of her fingers.
4. It is metaphorically heavy because it is a symbol of her subjugation and oppression by her
husband.
Question 33.
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow: (Comptt. All India 2017)
‘Bright topaz denizens of a world of green.
They do not fear the men beneath the tree;
They pace in sleek chivalric certainty.’
Who are ‘bright topaz denizens’?
Where do you find them?
Why are ‘they’ not afraid of the men?
What does the word ‘sleek’ mean?
Answer:
1. The tigers embroidered on the panel by Aunt Jennifer are referred to as ‘bright topaz denizens’.
2. They are found in the jungle, the world of green on a screen.
3. They are fearless and bold creatures so they are not afraid of the men.
4. The word ‘sleek’ means ‘elegant’ or ‘glossy’.
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.
a) Why is Aunt Jennifer doing with her wool?
Answer : Aunt Jennifer is embroidering beautiful images of tigers by using wool.
b) Why does she find it difficult to pull her ivory needle?
Answer : She finds it difficult to pull her ivory needle as she is terrorised and traumatised by the
constraints of her married life.
c) What does ‘wedding band’ stand for?
Answer : The wedding band stands for her martial responsibilities but she feels burdened by them as
she is not able to express herself.
d) Describe the irony in the third line.
Answer : The irony in the third line is that her marriage instead of proving blissful has overburdened
her with responsibilities and her wedding band symbolises her bondage to her husband and his
overpowering nature.
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) Why are the tigers called Aunt Jennifer’s tigers?
Answer : The tigers are called Aunt Jennifer’s tigers as they were being embroidered on the tapestry
of Aunt Jennifer.
b) How are they described here?
Answer : The tigers have been described here as bold and fearless and they move across the screen
with confidence.
c) How are they different from Aunt Jennifer?
Answer : The tigers are different from Aunt Jennifer as they are shown as symbols of strength,
fearlessness and confidence. Aunt Jennifer has been described as a timid female who is burdened
with marital responsibilities and she is lacking in confidence.
d) What does the word, ‘chivalric’ mean?
Answer : The world ‘chivalric’ means ‘gallant’ or ‘brave’.
Question 3 : Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.
When Aunt is dead, her terrible 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?
Answer : The aunt mentioned here is Aunt Jennifer, the protagonist of Adrienne Rich’s poem ‘Aunt
Jennifer’s Tigers’.
b) Why is she “ringed with ordeals”?
Answer : 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) What is the difference between her and the tigers?
Answer : Aunt Jennifer is quiet 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.
d) 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
constraints of her married life. She wants to be bold and fearless like her tigers.
Question 4 : Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.
Bright topaz denizens of a world of green.
They do not fear the men beneath the tree;
They pace in sleek chivalric certainty
a) Who are ‘They’? Where are ‘They’?
Answer : ‘They’ refers to the tigers that Aunt Jennifer has knit on the panel. They are prancing in the
forest (across a screen).
b) Why are ‘They’ not afraid of men?
Answer : The tigers are not afraid of men because they are gallant and fearless creatures who are
not afraid of anyone.
c) What is the meaning of ‘sleek’?
Answer : The meaning of ‘sleek’ is ‘elegant’.
d) Who is the poet of this poem?
Answer : The name of the poet is Adrienne Rich.
3 Marks Questions (30 – 40 Words)
Question 1 : What picture of male chauvinism (tyranny) do we find in the poem ‘Aunt Jennifer’s
Tigers’?
Answer : In the poem, ‘Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers’, Aunt Jennifer was oppressed by her husband. She was
confined within the four walls of of her husband’s house and was not free to do what she wished.
She was also overburdened by her marital responsibilites.
Question 2 : Aunt Jennifer’s efforts to get rid of her fear proved to be futile. Comment.
Answer : Although Aunt Jennifer tried her best to conquer her fear, she continued to be traumatised
and oppressed by her husband. Her act of embroiding fearless, prancing tigers could only give her a
temporary release to her pent up feelings of liberation.
Question 3 : What is suggested by the phrase, ‘massive weight of Uncle’s wedding band’?
Answer : The weight that lies heavily on Aunt Jennifer’s hand is the wedding band, which symbolises
the harsh and difficult experiences of her married life. It is associated with her husband as he has
traumatised her.
Question 4 : Why does Aunt Jennifer create animals that are so different from her own character?
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 and fearless.
Through this difference, the poet suggests Aunt Jennifer’s suppressed desire to become bold and
fearless, and free from oppression.
Question 5 : What are the difficulties that Aunt Jennifer faced in her life?
Answer : Aunt Jennifer was probably a victim of oppression at the hands of the patriarchal society.
She was subjugated by her husband and was not free to do what she wished.
Question 6 : How are Aunt Jennifer’s tigers different from her?
Answer : Aunt Jennifer’s tigers present a sharp contrast to her. While the Aunt is weak, meek,
submissive and bound by restrictions, the tigers are strong, fearless, confident and free to move
wherever they wish.
Question 7 : How does Aunt Jennifer express her bitterness and anger against male dominance?
Answer : Aunt Jennifer expresses her bitterness and anger against male dominance silently through
her art. She creates tigers on her tapestry; animals that are unafraid of men and are symbolic of
bravery, fearlessness and strength.
Question 8 : Why has Aunt Jennifer made ‘prancing proud and unafraid’ tigers?
Answer : Aunt Jennifer lived a fearful and restricted life. She expressed her desire of being free,
unafraid and proud by knitting tigers that were ‘prancing, proud and unafraid’.
Question 9 : What will happen to Aunt Jennifer’s tigers when she is dead?
Answer : The tigers created by Aunt Jennifer would live forever. They will keep on prancing proud
and unafraid even after her death.
Question 10 : What kind of married life did Aunt Jennifer lead?
Answer : Aunt Jennifer was confined to live inside her husband’s house and was not free to do what
she wished. She was burdened with her marital responsibilities and led a traumatic married life.
Question 11 : Why did Aunt Jennifer choose to embroider tigers on the panel?
Answer : Aunt Jennifer chose to embroider tigers on the panel because for her, the tigers were the
symbols of bravery, fearlessness and strength. Unlike her, they were not afraid of men around them.
Question 12 : How do the words, ‘denizens’ and ‘chivalric’ add to our understanding of Aunt
Jennifer’s tigers?
Answer : ‘Denizens’ means that the tigers inhabit a green world where they are free from any
boundations. ‘Chivalric’ means that they are brave and courageous.
Question 13 : What do the symbols , ‘tigers’, ‘fingers’ and ‘ring’ stand for in the poem, ‘Aunt
Jennifer’s Tigers’?
Answer : The ‘tigers’ are symbols of bravery and courage and also of Aunt Jennifer’s desire for
freedom. The ‘fingers’ are symbol of fear experienced by Aunt Jennifer and ‘ring’ symbolises an
oppressive and binding marriage.
Question 14 : How has Aunt Jennifer created her tigers? What traits of tigers do they reveal?
Answer : According to the poet, Aunt Jennifer’s tigers are golden-yellow in colour and are prancing
across the screen. They live in a forest and are sleek, chivalric, majestic, elegant and unafraid of men.