AUNT JENNIFER S TIGERS By ADRIENNE RICH
AUNT JENNIFER’S TIGERS By ADRIENNE RICH SUMMARY OF THE POEM:
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 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.. SOLVED QUESTIONS 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.”
a) What does the expression ‘Aunt Jennifer’s tigers imply?
Aunt Jennifer was embroidering a panel of prancing tigers. The poet refers to the tigers as Aunt Jennifer’s tigers because they are her creation, her work of art.
b) What does prancing tigers symbolize?
Prancing tigers are a symbol of the spirit of freedom within Aunt Jennifer which remains subdued. They also symbolize her fear of her male counterpart.
c) Why are they referred to as ‘denizens of a world of green’?
The tigers are the dwellers of the green forest so they are referred to as denizens.
d) What qualities of the ‘tigers’ are highlighted here? Fearlessness and ferocity of the tigers are highlighted here. Aunt Jennifer’s nervousness and timidity are in sharp contrast to wild ferocity of the tigers who are not afraid of hunting men. Unlike Aunt Jennifer, the tigers fear nothing.
e) Explain; “They pace in sleek chivalric certainty”.
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 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.. SOLVED QUESTIONS 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.”
a) What does the expression ‘Aunt Jennifer’s tigers imply?
Aunt Jennifer was embroidering a panel of prancing tigers. The poet refers to the tigers as Aunt Jennifer’s tigers because they are her creation, her work of art.
b) What does prancing tigers symbolize?
Prancing tigers are a symbol of the spirit of freedom within Aunt Jennifer which remains subdued. They also symbolize her fear of her male counterpart.
c) Why are they referred to as ‘denizens of a world of green’?
The tigers are the dwellers of the green forest so they are referred to as denizens.
d) What qualities of the ‘tigers’ are highlighted here? Fearlessness and ferocity of the tigers are highlighted here. Aunt Jennifer’s nervousness and timidity are in sharp contrast to wild ferocity of the tigers who are not afraid of hunting men. Unlike Aunt Jennifer, the tigers fear nothing.
e) Explain; “They pace in sleek chivalric certainty”.