AUNT JENNIFER'S TIGERS( CLASS XII FLAMINGO)

Justification of Title

“Aunt Jennifer’s Tiger” is an appropriate title in that it refers to a tapestry Aunt Jennifer has made. It contains some ferocious tigers. The title also suggests the “tiger like terror” Aunt’s husband was. She was in constant fear of him and felt trapped and suffocated in marriage. She felt that her husband was her master and she was a tame animal who must carry out his command. It is a very suggestive title, indeed.

Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers

By Adrienne Rich

Glossary

·         Prance – to move quickly with exaggerated steps	·         Topaz – of a yellowish brown color
·         Denizens – inhabitants or residents	·         Beneath – below; directly under
·         Sleek – elegant; stylish or streamlined	·         Chivalric – gallant; honorable and brave
·         Fluttering – moving about or behaving in an agitated aimless manner	·         Massive – very large or heavy
·         Wedding band – a wedding ring in a form of plain band	·         Mastered – managed or controlled
·         Ordeals – severe or testing experiences

Aunt Jennifer's Tigers by Adrienne Rich

Aunt Jennifer, though she is "mastered by" an abusive husband, finds an artistic outlet in her needlework. The embroidered tigers stride proudly and without fear across the screen she designed. Through Aunt Jennifer's art, Adrienne Rich suggests that women who are not able to live freely do triumph in some way because their imaginations cannot be captured or controlled. Aunt Jennifer is able to imagine and create a world where men are nothing to fear. The poet depicts the pain of a woman who is living with a brutal husband who dominates her in all respects. She does not have her own freedom. She is more like a slave to him. She makes tigers by embroidering them on cloth. Her tiger appears to have life. They are bright, lively and are ready to prance. Their character is totally opposite to hers. They appear wild and free. They look like the denizens of the green forest. They are supposed to be fearless and jump around with confidence. But Aunt Jennifer is nervous. Her hands tremble as she tries to search for something in the wool. Her hands are so shaky that it is difficult for her to pull the ivory needle. It is due to her wedding. Her marriage has proved to be detrimental for her. It’s a doubt, that even after death will she be free? Still her tigers would continue to prance across the screen unafraid as usual, and this artistic vision outlives her small, "terrified" hands.

Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers.

Important Extracts:

(i)   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.

Comprehension Questions	Answers
1. Name the poem & the poet.	2. The poem is’ Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers’ and the poet Adrienne Rich.
2. What are Aunt’s tigers doing?	2. They are jumping across a screen.
3. How do the prancing tigers look like?	3. They look like shining topaz denizens.
4. What do the tigers do on seeing men?	4. They don’t fear the men beneath the tree.

(i)                 Aunt Jennifer's finger 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.

Comprehension Questions	Answers
1. Why are the fingers fluttering?	1. The fingers are fluttering because she is underweight to fear from the dominance of her husband as well as the family life.
2. What does ‘the massive weight of uncle’s wedding band’ depict?	2. It depicts Aunt’s suffering. The wedding band refers to the engagement ring and also the metal band that keeps her chained.
3. Why did she create animals which were so different from her own character?	3. She bore all the suffering very meekly. So, she created tigers that represent her silent revolt against uncle’s marriage bands and her suffering.

(iii)      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.

Comprehension Questions	Answers
1. Who is Aunt referred to and what she has mastered by?	1. She is Aunt Jennifer. She has mastered by her ordeals.
2. Where were the tigers made and who did so?	2. The tigers were made in the panel by aunt.
3. What will the tigers do when Aunt is dead?	3. They will continue jumping across the screen.
4. How do the tigers look?	4. They look like proud and unafraid.

i)                    What is suggested by the image massive weight of uncle’s wedding band?

ii)                  What are the ordeals Aunt Jennifer is surrounded by?

iii)                What is the meaning of ringed  ?

iv)                 Why do you think Aunt created animals that are different from her character?

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