Adrienne Cecile Rich

Born -16 May 1929

Died - 27 March 2012

In Baltimore, Maryland, U S A

ABOUT THE POET

Adrienne Cecile Rich (1929 – 2012)

American poet, essayist and feminist.

One of the most widely read and influenced poets of the second half of the 20th century.

She talks about a woman’s experiences in her married life.

She has tried to explore the inner feelings of a woman who is living under the dominance of
men. Feminism was making its presence felt in the 1950s fighting for equal voting, and legal
and social rights for women. This poem is Adrienne’s voice against the emotional and
physical brutalities women face as part of their marriages especially, in a patriarchal society.

Adrienne Cecile Rich was an American poet, essayist, feminist, socialist, and theorist. She
was widely influential during the second half of the 20th Century. Widely acclaimed for her
erudite, lucid and plain writing style, Views against racism and voice for feminism.

She was brought up in a well-off family.

Adrienne was the elder of two daughters.

Her father was a doctor and her mother was a music composer.

She grew up with a Jewish father and a Protestant mother. As a result of this mixed marriage,
she was used to tensions between her parents. While Rich was growing up, she had to put up
with moments of tense silence in her household.

Rich felt dominated by her father’s strong personality while growing up. It was he who most
guided her as a young poet. This wasn’t always to her liking as he expected her to write her
poems his way.
When Rich was growing up men dominated and women were expected to become dutiful
wives in their adult lives.

All these elements may have influenced the picture of marriage Rich drew in this poem. At
the heart of the poem is an image of a husband who controls and frightens his wife.

Rich wrote a lot of poems based on everyday experiences. One topic she often featured was
the tension women felt due to being dominated by their husbands.

In ‘Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers’ Rich is mocking the weakness of Aunt Jennifer and the clout and
authority of Jennifer’s husband in their marriage.

Rich was also fascinated by how people could use a hobby like artwork to create a happier
and prettier world than their daily life.

Rich has been one of America’s most important female poets for the past fifty years.

Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers is a poem by Adrienne Rich illustrating her feminist concerns. In the
male dominant world, a woman of her time was only supposed to be a dutiful homemaker.
This poem through the world of Aunt Jennifer, tells us about her inner desire to free herself
from the clutches of an abusive marriage and patriarchal society. 

Aunt Jennifer's Tigers" is a 1951 poem, from her poetic collection “ A Change of World ”The
poem criticizes the traditional institution of marriage.

The theme of the Poem

The battle for a woman’s individuality and self-expression in a patriarchal culture is the
theme of the poem “Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers” from the Class 12 English Flamingo textbook.
The poem depicts Jennifer, the speaker’s aunt, and the motif of tigers that she embroiders on
a tapestry. The tiger motif is used to represent Aunt Jennifer’s ferocious personality and her
need for freedom and self-expression. The poem also considers the limitations and restraints
placed on women by society, especially in terms of gender roles and expectations. The
speaker implies that although Aunt Jennifer struggles to fully express herself in her daily life,
she can do so only through her embroidered art.
The theme of the Poem- expresses the constraints of marital life from a woman’s
perspective.- explores women’s experiences living under the dominance of men.- exposes the
desolating effects of patriarchy.

The poem is arranged In three quatrains(4 lined stanzas)The First Stanza talks of Aunt
Jennifer’s Dreams The Second Stanza talks about Aunt Jennifer’s Real World The Third
Stanza talks about The Narrative for the future of women

Aunt Jennifer makes an embroidery of her dreams to show how she should be in the world
wants to live in freedom and happiness and wishes to be like the tigers portrayed in the
painting

Tigers which Aunt Jennifer picturises here are-shiny topaz yellow denizens of the green-hold
their head with pride and assert themselves when they walk carrying a sort of confidence and
an untamed free spirit-bold, heroic, energetic, chivalrous uninhibited and unstoppable

Aunt Jennifer tries to work on it. But even the tiny ivory needle feels so heavy to pull and
not so smooth on the fabric. She is burdened by the band/bond overpowered by the
dominance of her husband.

-Weaving the tapestry finds it hard to pull even an ivory needle-a victim of gender
oppression at the hand of her husband-no liberty or even self-expression the deer pants for
still streams Aunt Jennifer was desperately seeking freedom which was lacking She
delineates the struggle for freedom of expression

"Anne Jennifers Tigers" is a poem written by Adrienne Rich. It is a complex and

metaphorical piece that requires careful analysis to fully understand its meaning. Here's a
line-by-line explanation:

Why did Aunt Jennifer Choose a tiger What does it symbolise?

The Tiger depicts willpower, personal strength and courage.

Shadow or part of you that you would normally try to hide or reject.
Aggression or anger directed at you or felt towards someone.

POEM FIRST STANZA

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.

Summary and Explanation 

 The poet is talking about a lady whom she addresses as Aunt, Jennifer.
 She is embroidering a piece of cloth. It could be a tablecloth or a wall hanging.
 The pattern shows tigers who are moving and jumping around all over the fabric.
 They are bright yellow in colour like the colour of the topaz stone (use of metaphor).
 The dense green forest background is their home.
 They are the proud and fearless citizens of the forest.
 Here is a contrast between Aunt Jennifer and her tigers. The tigers are fearless but this
lady, who is embroidering them is not so.
 The tigers look elegant, shining and full of gentleman’s grace.
 The reader is immediately taken into this highly visual and symbolic scene. The tigers
that Aunt Jennifer creates are topaz in colour, that is wine-red, yellowy-orange, and
live in a green world where their majestic movements express fearlessness.
 Green is often associated with the season of spring and rebirth. They prance (step
high), and are sleek (smooth and glossy) as well as chivalric. Chivalry is an ancient
knightly term and means courteous treatment, especially of women by men.
 So the tigers know exactly what they're doing, being confident and vital, thanks to
Aunt Jennifer's skill at sewing.
 

Explanation of the poem passage above The poet is describing a lady whom she addresses
as Aunt Jennifer. She says that Aunt Jennifer is doing embroidery on a piece of cloth which
could be a tablecloth or a wall hanging. She has designed it with beautiful tigers which are
running fearlessly in the green forest. She has described their beauty by comparing them
with a precious yellow stone known as topaz. She says that they appear bright yellow in the
green backdrop of the forest. They are fearless and they are not affected by the presence of
men. Here we can sense the contrast in behaviour between the tigers and aunt, though the
tigers designed by her are fearless she is afraid of her husband. Further, the poet says that
the tigers are proud and fearless citizens of the forests. They are very shiny and elegant.

POEM SECOND STANZA

Aunt Jennifer’s fingers fluttered 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.
Summary and Explanation 
 The lady’s fingers are trembling with the fear of her husband.
 She is pursuing her hobby in her free time but probably, she is still afraid of her
husband who could scold her.
 Her fingers are so tired of working endlessly all her life
 The needle is also heavy for her to pull out of the cloth.
 The words ‘uncle’s wedding band’ as the band was bought by her husband, it is his
till today.
 The lady is dependent on her husband.
 She is still burdened by the weight of the ring. ‘weight’ means the encirclement or
trapping that has fallen upon her by getting married to him, she has been burdened by
the obligations of married life, and has become the man’s property.
 She has been living a demanding life due to which she has worn out in her old age.
 The second stanza focuses on Aunt Jennifer's hands. Her fingers flutter as if she's
nervous, or a little feeble, and even the ivory needle seems too heavy as she works the
wool. Ivory is a luxury material, from the tusks of elephants. The wedding band (ring)
doesn't help either. It weighs heavily on Aunt Jennifer, perhaps as a result of the
emotional baggage associated with it via her marriage.
 There's a hint of hyperbole here, 'massive' seems over the top for a mere band. The
poet is reinforcing the idea that Aunt Jennifer isn't happy; the work is a challenge
even though it allows her a certain freedom.
  Note the contrasts between the first and second stanzas. The first is vibrant, light, and
sure of itself while the second is uncertain, a little dark, and hard work. Patriarchal
power is apparent in the second stanza, whilst the first highlights the creative drive of
Aunt Jennifer's tigers.
Explanation of the poem passage above: Here the poet describes the fear of Aunt Jennifer
towards her husband. She says that while she is doing embroidery, her fingers are quivering
(shaking) with fear of her husband.  Her husband doesn’t approve of her hobby of
embroidery. Therefore, she trembles while she is embroidering the piece of cloth. It has
become difficult for her to pull her needle up and down. Then she describes the wedding ring
which was given by her uncle to Aunt Jennifer on their wedding day. She says that it is a kind
of burden for her to wear this ring. She has been tortured by her husband so much that the
wedding ring which could have been a beautiful gift for her seems like a burden to her. She
has faced so many difficulties in her married life that the little ring is described as a heavy
band on her trembling fingers. This means that the ring is associated with some bad
experiences in the form of torture she has faced because of her husband’s dominating
behaviour.
POEM THIRD STANZA
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.

Summary and Explanation 

 Her wish to live a free, fearless life is indicated by her choice of design – tigers.
 It shows her innermost desire of being strong, and fearless which has been
overpowered by her husband.
 Probably, her ordeal will end upon her death.
 Her frightened, shaking fingers will be put to rest.
 But still, even after death, the ring shall remain on her hand, i.e. her husband’s rule
over her is not yet over!
 After her death, her desire for freedom and fearlessness shall remain alive in these
tigers which she has embroidered.
 A shift in emphasis, from the here and now to the possibility of what's to come. Again
the poet concentrates on the hands of Aunt Jennifer, using pretty extreme language:
 dead, terrified, ringed, ordeals, mastered. The hands that have been so creative are
now thought of in this negative way. An ordeal implies long-term experience so we
can take it that this woman had to endure a long-suffering marriage, oppressed by her
domineering husband.
 Even in death the submissive lifestyle she led shows through in her hands, the
workhorses of the woman at home. The one redeeming feature of her life, however,
is that the prancing, free-spirited tigers, will continue indefinitely. This gives a ray of
hope to those who see no way out of a relationship. Art can bring a sense of inner
peace and instil confidence, however fragile.
Explanation of the poem passage above: The poet says that one can easily sense the aunt’s
desire for freedom and fearlessness through her design of tigers. Further, she says that her
aunt can’t achieve this freedom during her lifetime. She will attain it only after her death but
here also the irony of her life is that still, she will be tied up with shackles in the form of her
husband’s wedding ring. The ring was the sole proof of the tortures which she had faced
from her husband. On the other hand, there are the tigers designed by Aunt Jennifer which
will always depict her desire of living a fearless life by jumping proudly and bravely on the
piece of cloth.

Line 1: "In the sleep of Anne's breathing" - The poem begins by introducing Anne, who
represents the speaker or a person closely connected to the speaker. The mention of sleep
suggests a state of vulnerability or unconsciousness.

Line 2: "Tigers move." - The presence of tigers in Anne's sleep symbolizes powerful and
untamed forces or desires lurking within her subconscious mind.

Line 3: "Under white light" - The tigers are described as being under white light, possibly
suggesting a sense of scrutiny or exposure.

Line 4: "She is drawn through the dark funnel" - Anne is being drawn, almost magnetically,
into a dark funnel, which can be interpreted as a metaphor for being pulled into a deeper,
hidden part of her psyche or the unknown.
Line 5: "of sleep, through the narrowing" - This line continues the metaphor of the funnel,
emphasizing the increasing intensity or concentration of Anne's dreams as she delves further
into her unconscious mind.

Line 6: "quietening channel" - The channel refers to the narrowing path through which Anne
is moving. It is described as quietening, suggesting a sense of stillness or calm.

Line 7: "Where blood slows" - Here, the slowing of blood suggests a decrease in vitality or
energy as if Anne's subconscious is taking her to a quieter, more subdued place.

Line 8: "Its tide paused" - This line further emphasizes the idea of stillness and suspension, as
if Anne's life force is momentarily halted or stagnant.

Line 9: "She sinks to the bottom" - Anne figuratively sinks to the bottom of this dream space
or her subconscious, reaching a deep and hidden part of herself.

Line 10: "Anne moves through that deepening water" - Anne continues her journey through
the metaphorical water, which represents the depths of her unconsciousness or the mysteries
of her inner self.

Line 11: "Into her desires" - Anne is delving further into her desires, exploring her hidden
passions, dreams, and possibly even repressed emotions.

Line 12: "Tigers brightening" - As Anne moves deeper into her desires, the tigers within her
become brighter, suggesting a growing intensity or power of her inner desires.

Line 13: "In their panthers' summer" - The tigers are now compared to panthers, possibly
signifying their increased strength, grace, and wildness as they embody Anne's deepest
longings during a season of abundance or intensity.

Line 14: "Anne incandescent in that flooding" - Anne herself becomes incandescent, radiating
intense light or energy as she is flooded with her desires and passions.

Line 15: "But what will she make in the morning?" - The poem concludes with a question
about the outcome of Anne's journey. Despite her deep exploration of desires and passions
during the night, there is uncertainty about what she will create or manifest in her waking life.
Overall, "Anne Jennifers Tigers" delves into the depths of the speaker's subconscious, using
the metaphor of tigers to symbolize powerful desires and passions. The poem explores the
journey of self-discovery and the potentially transformative power of embracing one's
innermost longings.

Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers Summary – The poet expresses the inner feelings of a woman – Aunt
Jennifer. The aunt is embroidering a motif comprising of energetic, fearless tigers moving
freely around the bright greenery. She is living a life of submissiveness to her husband’s
command. Her acts are dominated by him and she fears him constantly. This pattern of the
free and fearless tigers reflects her inner desire to live a free and fearless life. The tigers are
graceful, elegant and bright.

Aunt Jennifer’s fingers tremble as she embroiders. She is old but still fears her husband. She
does not enjoy the freedom to do anything as per her wish. She is scared doing the
embroidery too and fears his wrath. Since the day she got married, she has been fulfilling the
demands of her husband. The wedding ring on her hand is a constant reminder that she
belongs to her husband. The burden of the demanding marriage has exhausted her. The
torment will not end until her death.
Even after her death, the ring will remain on her hand and she will never be free. On the other
hand, the tigers that she is embroidering will continue to move around freely forever. Her
desire for freedom and fearlessness will live on through her tigers.

 
New words Meaning 
Prance: walk or move around with high springy steps.
Topaz: a bright yellow-coloured stone.
Denizens: here, an animal that lives or is found in a particular place.
Sleek: elegant.
Chivalric: being courteous esp. to women, an act of a gentleman.
Ordeals: extremely severe tests or experiences.
Prancing: to move around proudly.
Fluttering: to move in quick, irregular motions as if being agitated.
Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers Question Answers
Q. How do ‘denizens’ and ‘chivalric’ add to our understanding of the tiger’s attitudes?
Ans. The word ‘denizens’ means that they are proud of their home, they feel safe there and
have a feeling of belonging attached to it.
The word ‘chivalric’ shows that they have a majestic and worthy position like knights.
Q. 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?
Ans. Her hands are fluttering probably because she is scared of her husband who could come
anytime and scold her for sitting idly and wasting her time doing embroidery. She finds the
needle so hard to pull because her fingers are tired of working endlessly all through her life.
 
Q. What is suggested by the image ‘massive weight of Uncle’s wedding band’?
Ans. ‘Massive weight of Uncle’s wedding band’ suggest symbolically, that the bindings and
obligations of her marriage are so much that they have put a lot of burden and stress on her.
Q. Of what or of whom is Aunt Jennifer terrified within the third stanza?
Ans. She is terrified of her husband.
Q. 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?
A. The ‘ordeals’ are
 Obeying her husband’s orders.
 Fear of men.
 Giving in to his dominance and fulfilling his commands.
‘Ringed’ indicates entrapment. As the ring encircles the finger, similarly, her husband has
encircled her in his clutches. Her body and soul are both trapped, struggling for freedom and
fearlessness.
 
Q. Why do you think Aunt Jennifer created animals that are so different from her
character? What might the poet be suggesting, through this difference?
 I think that Aunt Jennifer’s intense desire for freedom and fearlessness came out
through her creativity.
 This is the time when she is with herself, and then, her innermost feelings are
expressed, here her medium of expression is the embroidery.
  Through this difference, it is shown that the lady is not what she is. Her circumstances
have made her so but even she has a desire to live life with respect and pride.
 
Interpret the symbols found in this poem.
 ‘denizens of a world of green’ means inhabitants of the forest.
 ‘massive weight of Uncle’s wedding band’ means the burden of marital obligations.
 ‘Sits heavily upon Aunt’ means has laid a lot of stress on her.
 ‘ringed with ordeals’ means to get entrapped in hardships and sufferings.
Q. Do you sympathize with Aunt Jennifer? What is the attitude of the speaker towards
Aunt Jennifer?
Ans. Yes, I sympathize with Aunt Jennifer. The speaker is also sympathetic towards her and
hates dominating men.