AUNT JENNIFER'S TIGER

Density Experiment

By Your Name -ADRIENNE CECILE RICH

 Adrienne Cecile Rich May 16, 1929 – March
How does the
27, 2012) was an American poet, essayist and
feminist. She was called "one of the most
density of an
widely read and influential poets of the second
half of the 20th century”
object affect
She is widely known forits
her
involvement in
ability to
contemporary float?
women's
movement as a poet amd
theorist.
 Theme
The theme of the poem “Aunt
Jennifer’s Tiger” relates to the
The Experiment
issue and subject of male
dominance in society. The theme
wants to highlight the conflicts,
issues and struggles that a woman
has to face in the male
chauvinistic society.
 Stanza 1
2 drinking glasses
The first stanza introduces us to Aunt Jennifer and her
Table salt
passion for embroidery. She is weaving a piece of
2 eggs she weaves
Materials
cloth to be used as a screen. The pattern
Water
depict tigers jumping around in a world of green. They
are bright yellow in colour like the topaz stone
(metaphor). The dense green jungle is the backdrop of
the scene. The tigers, full of the gentlemanly
mannerisms,
Found around are brave majestic rulers of the forest
the house!
who are unafraid of men. Here the poet gives a sense
of contrast between Aunt Jennifer and her tigers.
Unlike the tigers Aunt Jennifer is fearful of the man in
her life.
Procedure STANZA 2
1. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet,
Aunt Jennifer’s
consectetur adipiscing fingers tremble
elit, sed do with fear as she embroiders the
fearless
eiusmod tigers
tempor on the ut
incididunt cloth. She is weaving something that is
labore
absolutely
et dolore magnainaliqua
contrast with her character so she is both excited and
afraid. ut
2. Incididunt She is afraid
labore that her husband would not approve of her
et dolore
embroidering
3. Consectetur fearless
adipiscing tigers
elit, sed do that are proud of their existence. Her
burdensome
eiusmod marriageuthas
tempor incididunt worn her out, and she is so tired that
labore
she finds
et dolore magna it difficult
aliqua to pull the ivory needle. Her fingers are also
weighed
4. Incididunt down et
ut labore bydolore
‘uncle’s wedding band’. She does not consider
the ring as hers even years after her marriage. Burdened by the
obligations of married she is now crushed and worn out.
 Stanza 3
The third stanza is a projection of the future. The poet says
that when aunt is dead, her hands which were a part of her
terrified existence shall lie by her side. They will also be
lying about her existence as a subservient wife as the
fingers had created brave tigers in contrast to her real
character. The poet here wants to convey that although her

Hypothesis
husband’s torture had been able to cower her down
superficially, but it could not kill her mind which pined for
freedom. Unfortunately her ordeal will not end with her
death as the burdensome ring will remain on her even after
death. However, her desire for freedom will remain alive
through her tigers which will continue to prance about on
the screen.
 Word meanings
Tell the audience
Prance – move with high springy steps.

Topaz – a yellow precious stone.

what you expect

Denizens – people or animal that live in a particular place.

Sleek – smooth and glossy.

to happen...
Chivalric – gallant and courteous, displaying gentlemanly behaviour.

Fluttering – moving unsteadily.

Ringed – surrounded, wearing a ring

Ordeals – hardships or unpleasant experiences.

Prancing – moving around in energetic manner.

 LITERARY DEVICES
Hypothesis support Anaphora – Paragraph 1 - use of same word in two
consecutive lines (they do not … and they pace in…)

I think this is what’s

Metaphor going to 1 - Use of topaz
– Paragraph Variables
to describe that may affect the
the yellow
color of tigers (Bright topaz)
happen because… outcome...
Lorem ipsum dolorAlliteration
sit amet,–consectetur Lorem
Paragraph 2 - ‘f’ sound is repeated ipsum dolor sit amet,
in finger
adipiscing elit, sedfluttering
do eiusmod tempor consectetur adipiscing elit
incididunt ut labore et dolore magna
Synecdoche aliqua.
– Paragraph 3 - terrified hands Sed
(part do
for eiusmod
whole) tempor incididunt ut
Ut enim ad minimher veniam,
hands quis nostrud
represents Aunt Jennifer labore et dolore magna aliqua
exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip.
Pun – i) lie implies that it would be lying by her side; ii) the
fingers which made the tigers would give a false impression
about her character.

Pun – i) ringed refer to the ringed finger; ii) her entrapment in

marriage.

Alliteration – Paragraph 3 - ‘p’ is repeated in prancing proud

 Question 1
‘Terrified hands’ of Aunt Jennifer
means
(a) hard and bitter experience of
married life
(b) scared hands
(c) un-manicured hands
(d) soft and nice hands
The experiment
Conclusion
Question 2
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor
incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud
What
exercitation dolaboris
ullamco the tigers represent in the poem?
nisi ut aliquip.
a) Aunt Jennifer’s fear
b) Aunt Jennifer’s artistic skill
c) Aunt Jennifer’s desire for freedom and
fearlessness
d) Aunt Jennifer’s love for wildlife