Introduction

"A short fierce fuse" depicts the Jaguar's rage, which is far from depressing. Rather,
its aggressive and furious behavior shows that the Jaguar's inherent spirit cannot be
subdued by captivity, resulting in a remarkable impression of the Jaguar. Ted
Hughes in the poem “jaguar” takes us through a zoo where the majority of the
animals appear bored, worn down, and defeated, their vivacity and wildness
restricted by their enclosures. In stark contrast, a jaguar, whose soul is unbroken by
captivity, seems to dominate its surroundings with its ferocity and to represent
"freedom" itself. The poem uses anthropomorphism to illustrate how nature contains
untamed, wild life that is descended from primordial origins. This could be
interpreted as a symbolic celebration of those who oppose imprisonment and
servitude. Here, the jaguar is metaphorically shown as a "visionary" with an
unrestricted mind. Through the use of the theme of freedom v/s captivity, form and
structure and vivid imagery, Ted Hughes conveys striking impressions of the Jaguar.

1. Theme of captivity v/s freedom

Topic sentence; The central theme of the poem of captivity v/s freedom showcases
how all the animals in the zoo have given up in front of their confinement. However,
the jaguar refuses to bow down, portraying him as a great visionary.

Evidences:
● “The boa constriktor’s coil is a fossil”, “apes yawn”, “parrots shriek”, “Fatigued
with indolence, tiger and lion”- shows how all the animals in the zoo have
been exhausted and defeated. Even lions and tigers, two of the most
fearsome creatures to prowl the planet, have become exasperated. Captivity,
the poem thus implies, saps creatures of their joy, their vitality, their very
essences. The speaker says dismissively, that they might as well be found
painted on "the walls of a nursery" symbolizing their inactivity.
● “But who runs like the rest of the past arrives at a jaguar hurrying enraged”-
he is angry and is rebelling. Pounces back and forth in his cage which
mesmerizes the visitors coming there. This embodies his refusal to be cowed
by his confinement.
● The jaguar who’s “eyes satisfy to be blind in fire” is so consumed by his passion
for his natural habitat that he is purposefully blind to his literal, real situation.
The poet draws the reader’s attention to the jaguar, letting them marvel over
the fiery spirit of the jaguar.
Closing statement - Ted hughes effectively utilizes the theme of captivity v/s
freedom, to create an influential portrait of the jaguar in the poem.
2. Form and structure

Topic sentence: Through the use of form and structure, Ted hughes creates
impactful images of the jaguar.

Evidences.

● 5 quatrains: The poem is neatly divided into five quatrains. The quatrains
mimic the tight confinements in the zoo.
● Enjambment: “But who runs past these arrives/ At a cage” : creates suspense
and mystery in the reader's mind as till now we see that all the animals in the
zoo have been worn down, but the speaker spots an animal which has not
been exhausted and is running in his cage. This also depicts how Ted Hughes
creates an influential image of the jaguar
● “He spins from the bars, but there is no cage to him/more than to a visionary
his cell”: It captures the unexpected pace, tension and urgency with which the
previously bored strollers watch the enraged jaguar spinning in the cage. It
also speeds up the reading process. This enjambment merges with the next
stanza
● Irregular rhyme scheme but there are some half- rhymes “strut and “nut” ,
“arrives” and “eyes” : Resonates the inconsistent mood and atmosphere in the
poem. Poet starts with an atmosphere of indolence and degradation but
shifts to an energetic and hopeful one.

Closing statement - Ted Hughes creates powerful images of the jaguar by utilizing
form and structure.

3. Vivid imagery

Topic sentence- Ted Hughes cleverly uses vivid imagery in the poem to create strong
images of the jaguar in the reader's mind.

Evidences

● "The boa constrictors' coil Is a fossil. "

Analysis - cast of animals - This metaphor depicts even less movement, a fossil being
the hardened imprint of a creature. There is a stark contrast between an alert snake
that one imagines moving stealthily to catch prey and a bored creature with nothing
to do - conjures a strong image of the jaguar
● " As a child at a dream"
So the child in a dream-like state recognises, like the other staring visitors,
that the jaguar is still wild and has retained its essential nature - The fire inside the
Jaguar’s heart hasn’t been put off while other animals have given up on staying alive
- representing Jaguar as a powerful creature.
● "eyes satisfied to be blind in fire"
Analysis - So consumed by his passion for his natural habitat that he is purposefully
blind to his literal real situation. The poet draws the readers attention to the jaguar
letting them marvel over the fiery spirit of the jaguar. He continues to resist, at least
emotionally, against its captivity - creates a picture of Jaguar as a powerful creature.

Closing Statement - Through the use of incredibly detailed imagery, Ted Hughes
does a superb job of capturing the Jaguar’s power.

Conclusion - Ted Hughes has done a fantastic job of describing the encounter with
the powerful and cruel wind. He has skillfully incorporated the theme of captivity vs
freedom, uniform form and structure, and vivid imagery.