AUNT JENNIFER’S TIGERS

YEH PADHO AUR PURA CHAPTER ON TIPS:

Important Notes
 The poet is a feminist and she addresses the difficulties of a married woman.

 She spends good amount of time in embroidering panel of tigers prancing across the

screen.

 The tigers are fearless creatures pacing elegantly and majestically. They symbolize the

spirit of freedom. Aunt is a victim of male chauvinism (male domination).

 Aunt Jennifer is so oppressed and terrified that she finds it hard to pull the ivory

needle.

 The “weight of Uncle’s wedding band “expresses how victimized and oppressed she is.

 It implies that Aunt Jennifer has to work hard to meet his expectation.

 She spends her life in fear but she embroiders on the panel the fearless tigers to

express her secret longing for a life of freedom and confidence.

 Even her death does not end the problem and torture which a married woman

experiences

APNI KAKSHA 1
Multiple Choice Questions based on an extract.
Extract-1
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.
i ) Name of the poem.
a) My mother at sixty-six
b) An elementary school classroom school in a slum
c) keeping quiet
d) Aunt Jennifer’s tigers
Ans d)

ii ) Who is the poet of Aunt Jennifers tigers?

a) Adrienne Rich
b) Stephen Spender
c) Pablo Neruda
d) John keats
Ans a)

iii.) Which poetic device has been used in “Aunt jennifers tigers prance across a screen?
a) pun
b) Personification
c) Antithesis
d) Transferred Epithet
Ans b)

iv.) Why have the tigers been called Aunt Jennifer’s tigers ?
a) for aunt Jennifer is the owner of them
b) for aunt Jennifer has created them on a screen
c) for aunt Jennifer has bought them
d) for aunt Jennifer controls them in the ring
Ans b)

APNI KAKSHA 2
 Extract-02
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.
i ) Which poetic device has been used in ‘Finger fluttering’?
a) Metaphor
b) Personification
c) Alliteration
d) Transferred Epithet
Ans c)

ii ) Whom is Aunt Jennifer afraid of in this stanza?

a) Her husband
b) Her mother
c) Her father
d) Her father –in law
Ans a)

iii ) What is ivory needle?

a) Needle made of precious material (tusk)
b) Needle made of inferior quality material
c) Needle made of feathers
d) None of these
Ans a)

iv.) Which poetic device has been used in ‘Sits heavily upon Aunt Jennifer’s hands’?
a) metaphor
b) Personification
c) Alliteration
d) Transferred epithet
Ans b)

APNI KAKSHA 3
 Stand Alone MCQs
1. Who is the poet of the poem Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers?
A) Adrienne Rich
B) Jonathan Aaron
C) J. H. M. Abbott
D) Mark Abley
Ans: A) Adrienne Rich

2. What is the poet known for?

A) She is widely known for her involvement in contemporary women’s movement as a
poet and theorist
B) for her beauty
C) for her philosophy
D) for her poems
Ans: A) She is widely known for her involvement in contemporary women’s movement
as a poet and theorist

3. How many volumes of poetry has she published?

A) 18
B) 29
C) 39
D) 19
Ans: D) 19

4. What does echo through her work?

A) A strong resistance to racism and militarism
B) her love for poetry
C) her passion of essay writing
D) her wish to publish her work
Ans: A) A strong resistance to racism and militarism

5. What issue does the poem Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers address?

A) constraints of women
B) constraints of married life a woman experiences
C) constraints of women as a poet
D) None
Ans: B) constraints of married life a woman experiences
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6. What do you understand by the words ‘denizens’ and ‘chivalric’ in the poem?
A) The dominant and highly arrogant attitude of the wild animal-tiger
B) tiger is a wild animal
C) tiger is hungry
D) beauty of the tiger
Ans: A) The dominant and highly arrogant attitude of the wild animal-tiger

7. Which words depict the dominant and arrogant attitude of the wild animal in the
poem ?
A) dominant
B) arrogant
C) adorable
D) denizens and chivalric.
Answer: D) denizens and chivalric.

8. What do aunt Jennifer’s fluttering hands through her wool in the second stanza tell
us?
A) the lost freedom and fear of Jennifer’s mind because marital restraints
B) her old age
C) her love for embridery and knitting
D) her love for tigers
Ans: A) the lost freedom and fear of Jennifer’s mind because marital restraints

9. Why is she finding the needle so hard to pull?

A) because of fluttering fingers
B) because of trembling hands
C) because of her fears
D) because of the heavy weight of her marriage ring
Ans: D) because of the heavy weight of her marriage ring

10. What does the image ‘massive weight of the wedding band ‘ mean?
A) wedding bond of hard married life
B) fatty structure of uncle
C) fatty body of aunty
D) heavy body of tiger
Ans: A) wedding bond of hard married life

APNI KAKSHA 5
THINK AS YOU READ
Q1. How do ‘denizens’ and ‘chivalric’ add to our understanding of the tiger’s attitudes?
Ans: Like all beasts of prey, the tigers are the denizens of the forest. They live far away from
human settlements. They are called ‘chivalric.’ This indicates the majestic and honourable
position that they occupy in the world of animals. So, the use of the words ‘denizens’ and
‘chivalric’ adds to our understanding of the tiger’s attitudes.
Q2. 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: Aunt Jennifer is weaving tigers on the panel. Her hands are moving about her wool. She is
finding the needle quite hard to pull. The weight of years of her married life is lying heavy
on her hand. This makes the pulling of the neddle so hard.
Q3. What is suggested by the image ‘massive weight of uncle’s wedding band’?
Ans: It suggests the weight of the harsh and tough experience of Aunt Jennifer’s married life.
The image is quite suggestive. The wedding band is symbolic. It represents the
unbreakable bond of marriage between the husband and the wife.
Q4. Of what or whom is Aunt Jennifer terrified in the third stanza?
Ans: In the third stanza, the poet refers to Aunt Jennifer’s ‘terrified hands’. The old unhappy
memories are still fresh in her mind. She had passed through many testing and horrible
times during her married life. These ordeals crushed and suppressed her. Their effect is
still visible. So, she is still ringed with those ordeals that dominated her life.
Q5. What are the ‘ordeals’ Aunt Jennifer is surrounded by? Why is it significant that
the” poet uses the word ‘ringed”! What are the different meanings of ‘ringed’ in the
poem?
Ans: The poem addresses the experiences of marriage in the midst of constrictions. The word
‘ringed’ is significant. It suggests that the vicious grip or her unhappy married life is still
holding her tightly. The word ‘ringed’ has been used in two ways. First is the conventional
use. Here ring is a symbol of the sacred bond of marriage. The other is the figurative use
of ‘ringed’. It means encircled or surrounded.
Q6. 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?
Ans: The tigers are ‘prancing’. They pace in ‘sleek chivalric certainty’. They ‘do not fear’ the
men beneath the tree. Thus, they are symbols of strength, fierceness and beauty. Aunt
Jennifer, on the other hand, is weak and terrified. Her hands are finding it difficult to pull
through her wool. The massive weight of the wedding band sits heavily on her hand. Her
terrified hands are still ringed by the ordeals of married life. The contrast heightens the
intensity.
Q7. Interpret the symbols found in this poem.
Ans: Adrienne Rich’s ‘Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers, is rich in symbolism. ‘The massive weight of
wedding band’ symbolises ordeals, hardships and worries of married life. ‘Terrified
hands’, and ‘ringed with ordeals’ also indicate those unpleasant experiences that are still
clinging to Aunt Jennifer physically and mentally.

APNI KAKSHA 6
Q8. Do you sympathise with Aunt Jennifer? What is the attitude of the speaker towards
Aunt Jennifer?
Ans: Yes, we do sympathise with Aunt Jennifer. She has experienced hardships and ordeals
during her married life. The attitude of the speaker towards Aunt Jennifer is equally
sympathetic. The poet gives many suggestive images and symbols to present an old lady
who has passed through painful experiences as well as unpleasant and terrifying periods
during her married life.
Short Answer questions
Q 1. Describe the tigers created by Aunt Jennifer. (Delhi 2009)
Ans: 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.
Q 2. Why did Aunt Jennifer choose to embroider tigers on the panel? (All India 2009)
Ans: 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.
Q 3. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow: (Delhi 2010)
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.
1. How are aunt Jennifer’s tigers described?
2. Why are they described as denizens of a world of green?
3. Why are they not afraid of the men?
Ans:
1. Aunt Jennifer’s tigers are described as powerful, strong and fearless.
2. The tigers are inhabitants of the dense green forests so they are described as
dwellers of a world of green.
3. Their courage and fearlessness gives them a confidence due to which they are not
afraid of men.
Q 4. What will happen to Aunt Jennifer’s tigers when she is dead? (All India 2010)
Ans: 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.

APNI KAKSHA 7
Q 5. How has Aunt Jennifer created her tigers? What traits of tigers do they reveal? (All
India 2010)
Ans: 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.
Q 6. Why are Aunt Jennifer’s hands fluttering through her wool? (Comptt. Delhi 2010)
Ans: Aunt Jennifer is a victim of gender oppression at the hands of her husband. She lives a life
of total domination and constant fear. So she feels nervous and terrified that the hands
shake and flutter through her wool as she sits down to knit.
Q 7. Describe the contrast between Aunt Jennifer ‘ and her creation, the tigers. (Comptt.
All India 2010)
Ans: 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 menacingly, exhibiting their pride and fearlessness of any social group or
gender conflicts.
Q 8. How do ‘denizens’ and ‘chivalric’ add to our understanding of the tigers’ attitude?
(Delhi 2011)
Ans: ‘Denizens’ means that the tigers inhabit a green world. They live in the forests where they
are free from constraints. ‘Chivalric’ means they are brave and fearless creatures. This
helps us to understand that bravery and fearlessness are the basic nature of the tigers.
Q 9 Why do you think Aunt Jennifer created animals that are so different from her own
character? (All India 2011)
Ans: 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.
Q 10.What do the symbols, ‘tigers’, ‘fingers’ and ‘ring’ stand for in the poem, ‘Aunt
Jennifer’s Tigers’? (Comptt. Delhi 2011)
Ans: 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.
Q 11.Describe the tigers created by Aunt Jennifer. (Comptt. All India 2011)
Ans: 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.
Q 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.

APNI KAKSHA 8
 1. Who are ‘They’? Where are ‘They’?
2. Why are They’ not afraid of men?
Ans: 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.
Q 13.Why did Aunt Jennifer choose to embroider tigers on the panel? (Delhi 2012)
Ans: 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.
Q 14.How do the words, “denizens’ and ‘chivalric’ add to our understanding of Aunt
Jennifer’s tigers? (All India 2012)
Ans: 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.
Q 15.What kind of married life did Aunt Jennifer lead? (Comptt. Delhi 2012)
Ans: 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.
Important Long Question Answers
Q1. ‘What knitting was to Aunt Jennifer; poetry was for Adrienne Rich’. Do you agree?
Comment with reference to the poem ‘Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers’. (CBSE QB, 2021)

Ans: In a male-dominated society, women are silenced; Aunt Jennifer’s Tiger addresses this
topic subtly. The poet has explored the mechanisms of ‘male domination’ and ‘patriarchy’
in society in this poem. Adrienne Rich, a poet from a marginalized community, responds
to the dominant nature that shapes mainstream society. Rich saw poetry as a razor-sharp
beacon that could enlighten women’s lives and consciousness. The poem is an eye-opener
in terms of re-constructing women’s identities. The poet examines women’s positions in a
traditional society and makes a strong case for restructuring identity and rewriting
norms in order to envision a new world to come.

Hence, as Aunt Jennifer expresses her innate desires through her knitting, Adrienne Rich
displays her ideals through poetry.

APNI KAKSHA 9
Q2. Explain the stark difference in the death of Aunt Jennifer and the tigers prancing.

Ans: The tigers remain constant throughout the poem, only growing stronger as it progresses.
Aunt Jennifer, on the other hand, gradually fades away in her death. She is defeated in her
death as a result of her unfulfilled desires. She may accept the bond of domination
because her fingers are still ringed and she dies surrounded by her life’s difficulties.

The tigers are her cherished world of freedom, prancing in pride, a world she will never
be able to experience. It gives us a practical look at the reality that Aunt Jennifer never
wins and accepts defeat stoically as she conforms to the society in which she has lived.
She bears the weight of the ring, dead or alive, because she has already surrendered or
was forced to surrender her freedom by marrying.

Q3. Read the given quote. In your opinion, what silence does the poem ‘Aunt Jennifer’s
Tigers’ break?

Ans: The role of women in society and the language men use for social and political gain are
inextricably linked. Adrienne Rich’s personal life becomes political, and this short poem,
while not overtly political, foreshadows more radical work to come. Aunt Jennifer has
suffered for many years and is looking for a positive outlet for her artistic abilities before
it’s too late. She hopes that her tigers will outlive her and become a symbol of freedom
and independence. Aunt Jennifer is too afraid to openly oppose the oppression of which
she is a victim. She uses her art to express her resentment and rage at male dominance.
On her tapestry, she depicts tigers, which are symbols of bravery, fearlessness, and
strength. Her tigers are wild and free of any kind of enslavement, which presents a stark
contrast to her current state.

Q4. Analyse the symbols and poetic devices employed in the poem.

Ans: Adrienne Rich’s poem effectively conveys the theme by employing a variety of images,
symbols, and poetic devices. The tigers represent the spiritual freedom that Aunt Jennifer
longs for but only finds in her dreams and art. Aunt Jennifer is a metaphor for women in
general, women who are victims of male superiority and domination. Tigers represent
the true nature of a woman’s free spirit, which values strength and assertiveness.

The implied comparison of the tigers to the bright topaz denizens contains a metaphor, as
tigers are considered to be the inhabitants of the forests, the crafted green world on the
panel. In their confidence, tigers are also attributed with the quality of chivalry. The
alliteration in ‘fingers fluttering’ evokes the poem’s irony, as the fingers represent
Jennifer’s physical frailty. As a result, she has difficulty pulling the ivory needle. The
alliteration ‘prancing proud’ represents the tigers’ everlasting strength.

APNI KAKSHA 10
Q5. Would you say that the poem ends on a note of hope? Justify your opinion. (CBSE
QB, 2021)

Ans: The prancing, free-spirited tigers will continue indefinitely, which is one redeeming
feature of Aunt Jennifer’s life. This provides a ray of hope for those who believe there is
no way out of a relationship. Art, however fragile, can bring a sense of inner peace and
instill confidence in any individual. This provides a ray of hope for those who believe
there is no way out of a relationship. This is a feminist take on the classic signature tune
about art’s ability to outlive human life.

On the other hand, one could also think that the poem concludes on a depressing note,
because in the end of the poem also we find that in spite of a desire to liberate herself
from the dominance of the husband and Aunt Jennifer was not able to achieve that and
even after her death the oppression still continued which is reflected from the line “Her
terrified hands lay still ringed by the ordeals she was mastered by”.

Q6. 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?

Ans: The position of women like Aunt Jennifer in society can be improved by implementing the
following measures, which are currently lacking in society:

Education, particularly for girls, is still lagging behind, as girls are burdened with
domestic duties at a young age and also married at a young age.

Women are not given equal opportunities in life as men, whether in terms of upbringing,
education, or employment. Women should be treated equally with men in society.

Women should be given the ability to make their own life decisions. Aunt Jennifer is
afraid of her husband because he controls every aspect of her life; she is unable to make
decisions on her own. Thus, she expresses her suppressed desires through her knitting.

Q7. Read the given extract from an article published in The Independent:

“Turn your pain into art”: it’s a phrase most of us have heard before…

The theory that achieving something great requires suffering dates back to ancient
times…

Pain, however, is less an artistic necessity and more a result of “contagion” – a term
used for the spreading of a harmful idea or practice…In the context of the
struggling artist, it allows mental illness to fester; to be glamorized and admired;
even encouraged in the name of art.

APNI KAKSHA 11
 –Do you think Aunt Jennifer “turned her pain into art”? What kind of “contagion”
might her pain be a result of?

–Evaluate Aunt Jennifer and her artistry in light of the above extract (CBSE QB,
2021)

Ans: Aunt Jennifer was oppressed by her husband in the poem ‘Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers. She was
confined within the four walls of her husband’s home, unable to do as she pleased. Her
marital responsibilities added to her stress. Despite her best efforts to overcome her fear,
Aunt Jennifer was still traumatized and oppressed by her husband. Her embroidering
fearless, prancing tigers could only provide her with a temporary release of her pent-up
feelings of liberation.

Aunt Jennifer is submissive and weak, whereas the tigers are strong, bold, and powerful.
She is constrained by the constraints of her married life, whereas the tigers are free to
roam the green woods. Aunt Jennifer’s tigers are an expression of her desire to be free of
the constraints of her married life. She aspires to be fearless and daring like her tigers.
Aunt Jennifer uses her art to express her resentment and rage at male dominance. On her
tapestry, she depicts tigers, which are unafraid of men and represent bravery,
fearlessness, and strength.

Q8. Does Aunt Jennifer get to be an “artist”? Why or why not? Use examples from the
poem.

Ans: The poem revolves around Aunt Jennifer’s status as a creator. She can use her
embroidery skills to create an entire “green world” within the confines of her hoop. She is
not, however, a “artist” in the traditional sense. Adrienne Rich emphasized in her writing
that being a female artist is difficult because artistic creativity necessitates complete
freedom. Aunt Jennifer, on the other hand, is constrained by her marriage, even in her
role as a creator: she finds it difficult to even draw the needle through the fabric. Artistic
creation is frequently portrayed as a means of achieving a kind of immortality, because
the artist’s reputation lives on through their work.

In the third stanza, Aunt Jennifer’s tigers live on while she dies, Rich appears to allude to
this dynamic. Jennifer’s tigers live on in spite of her, rather than because of her art.
Jennifer’s lack of freedom, as a result, prevents her from reaping the benefits of being an
artist, despite her creative ability.

APNI KAKSHA 12
Q9. Discuss the symbol of the wedding ring. How does Rich use this object to speak
about marriage?

Ans: Jennifer’s wedding ring is one of the poem’s most significant objects. Rich uses its
physical characteristics to make several metaphorical points. She uses its weight, as a
small metal object, for example, to speak to the figurative weight of marriage on Jennifer’s
life. Similarly, the shape of the ring alludes to Jennifer being “ringed” by her marriage;
encompassed by ordeals in the same way that the ring encompasses her finger. The
position of the ring on Jennifer’s hand is also significant. Jennifer’s lack of freedom is
represented by the ring. By placing it on her hand, Rich suggests that marriage’s most
significant infringement on women’s freedom is the inability to freely use the hands—to
make things and act upon the world

Previous Year Questions

Q1. What do you learn about^Aunt Jennifer’s tigers on reading the poem?
Ans: Aunt Jennifer’s tigers were created in the panel by her own hands. They appeared to be
prancing (jumping) across a screen. They looked sleek. They were bright like yellow
topaz. They were majestic and courageous. They didn’t fear the men beneath the tree.
They paced in ‘chivalric certainty’.
Q2. How has Aunt Jennifer created her tigers? What traits of tigers do they reveal!
Ans: Aunt Jennifer’s tigers are her own creations. She works with wool and ivory needles. She
has created them in the panel. They have all the traits of the beasts of prey who are
denizens of green forests. They are well-built and well-groomed. They are chivalric and
full of confidence.
Q3. What difficulty does Aunt Jennifer face while making her tigers and why ?
Ans: Aunt Jennifer is making her tigers in the panels. She is using ivory needles. Her fingers are
fluttering through the wool. She finds it difficult (hard) to pull even the ivory needles. The
reason is obvious. The weight of unhappy and unfortunate experiences of her married life
sits heavily on her hands.
Q4. What is the weight that lies heavy on Aunt Jennifer’s hand? Hou: is it associated
with her husband?
Ans: Aunt Jennifer is working with ivory needles and wool. But she can’t move her fingers
freely in the wool. She finds it hard to pull even the ivory needles easily. The experiences
of her past married life are quite bitter. She has unpleasant memories of her married life
with her husband. The heavy weight of the wedding band sits heavily upon her hand.
Q5. How will Aunt Jennifer’s hands look when she is dead?
Ans: When Aunt Jennifer dies, her hands will still look terrified. Perhaps she has experienced a
lot of hardships and troubles in the past. Their effect has left its print on her hands. The
ordeals that crushed her married life had sorrounded and cramped her fingers and hands
too.

APNI KAKSHA 13
Q6. What will happen to Aunt Jennifer’s tigers when she is dead?
Ans: Aunt Jennifer’s tigers will survive her. She has created the tigers in a panel. They are
made of wool. These objects of art will survive their creator. The tigers will go on
jumping, proud and unafraid.
Q7. Describe the poetic devices used in the poem Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers’.
Ans: Adrienne Rich’s Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers’ a beautiful short poem rich in symbolism and
imagery. The mataphor ‘bright topaz’ depicts the shining yellow complexion of her tigers.
The effective use of alliteration in ‘sleek, chivalric certainty’ describes the pace of the
tigers effectively. ‘The massive weight of wedding band’ symbolises ordeals and
hardships of Aunt Jennifer’s married fife. The images ‘terrified hands’ and ‘ringed with
ordeal’ create the effect of oppression and terror as well as captivity.
Q8. How are Aunt Jennifer’s tigers different from her?[All India 2014]
Ans: Aunt Jennifer’s tigers are a picture of strength, beauty and certainty. They seem to be
jumping across a screen. They “pace in sleek chivalric certainty”. They are confident and
impressive. Aunt Jennifer is a weak, depressed and terrified person. Life has been a cup of
woes for her. She is still in the grip of those ordeals and terrors that she faced and
suffered from dining her married life. Her fingers are so ‘terrified’ that they find it hard to
pull even the ivory needle. Thus, the contrast is amply highlighted.
Q9. What are the difficulties that Aunt Jennifer faced in her life? [Delhi 2014]
Ans: The fife of Aunt Jennifer was overburdened by the duties of her married life. Hardships
and sufferings were the parts bf her married fife. She had to face oppression by her
husband even though she was old and weak.

APNI KAKSHA 14