GSEB Class 12 English Flamingo Chapter 6 Aunt Jennifers Tigers Solutions

Think It Out

Question 1. How do 'denizens' and 'chivalric' add to our understanding of the tiger's attitudes?
Answer: Similar to other predatory animals, these tigers are inhabitants of the forest. They reside distant from human homes. They are referred to as 'chivalric'. This shows the grand and respected place they hold among all animals. Therefore, using these words, 'denizens' and 'chivalric,' helps us better grasp the tigers' behavior.
In simple words: These words help us understand that the tigers are free forest creatures with a strong, noble presence.

Exam Tip: When analyzing words, always explain their specific meaning and how they contribute to the overall impression of the subject.

Question 2. 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?
Answer: Aunt Jennifer is creating tigers on the fabric. Her hands are moving softly through her yarn. She finds it very difficult to pull the needle. The burden of her many years of married life presses heavily on her hand. This causes the needle to be very tough to draw.
In simple words: Her hands tremble because her marriage has been hard, making the needle heavy and tough to move.

Exam Tip: Connect physical actions to underlying emotional states to fully answer "why" questions in poetry analysis.

Question 3. What is suggested by the image ‘massive weight of Uncle's wedding band'?
Answer: This implies the burden of Aunt Jennifer's difficult and severe marital journey. The visual is very meaningful. The marriage ring holds a deeper meaning. It stands for the strong connection of matrimony joining the husband and wife.
In simple words: The big wedding ring shows the heavy, hard life Aunt Jennifer has faced in her marriage.

Exam Tip: When asked to interpret imagery, always explain both the literal object and its symbolic meaning within the poem's context.

Question 4. Of what or whom is Aunt Jennifer terrified in the third stanza?
Answer: In the poem's third section, the writer mentions Aunt Jennifer's 'frightened hands'. Her old sad recollections remain vivid in her thoughts. She had endured numerous difficult and dreadful periods throughout her marital journey. These hardships overwhelmed and held her back. Their impact is clearly apparent. Thus, she remains trapped by those challenges which controlled her existence.
In simple words: Aunt Jennifer is scared by her past, unhappy married memories that still affect her strongly.

Exam Tip: Identify key phrases like 'terrified hands' and link them to the character's past experiences to explain their fears.

Question 5. 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?
Answer: The poem talks about marital experiences surrounded by difficulties. The term 'ringed' holds importance. It implies that the cruel hold of her sad marital life still binds her firmly. The term 'ringed' has two uses. One use is the traditional meaning. In this sense, a ring represents the holy tie of matrimony. The second use is the metaphorical sense of 'ringed'. It implies being enclosed or encompassed.
In simple words: Aunt Jennifer is trapped by the hardships of her marriage. 'Ringed' means both the wedding ring and being surrounded by troubles.

Exam Tip: Look for double meanings or symbolism in key words, especially in poetry, to show a deeper understanding.

Question 6. 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?
Answer: The tigers are 'leaping' about. They move with a 'smooth, knightly confidence'. They 'show no fear' towards the individuals below the tree. Therefore, they represent qualities like power, wildness, and grace. Aunt Jennifer, however, is frail and frightened. Her fingers struggle to draw the ivory needle through the yarn. The huge burden of the marriage ring presses hard on her hand. Her frightened hands remain bound by the hardships of her marital existence. This clear difference makes the feeling stronger.
In simple words: Aunt Jennifer made tigers that are strong and brave because she herself is weak and scared, showing her deep wish to be free and powerful.

Exam Tip: Always compare and contrast characters or elements when asked about differences to highlight the poet's message effectively.

Question 7. Interpret the symbols found in this poem.
Answer: Adrienne Rich's 'Aunt Jennifer's Tigers' is a lovely brief poem full of symbolism and visual descriptions. The comparison 'bright topaz' portrays the brilliant yellow hue of her tigers. The skillful use of alliteration in 'sleek, chivalric certainty' captures the tigers' movement clearly. 'The heavy burden of the marriage ring' represents the trials and difficulties of Aunt Jennifer's marital journey. The phrases 'frightened hands' and 'bound by challenges' convey feelings of being crushed, fear, and imprisonment.
In simple words: The poem uses symbols like 'bright topaz' for brave tigers, and the 'wedding band' and 'terrified hands' for Aunt Jennifer's oppressed life.

Exam Tip: When identifying symbols, name the symbol, explain what it represents, and how it relates to the poem's themes.

Question 8. Do you sympathise with Aunt Jennifer? What is the attitude of the speaker towards Aunt Jennifer?
Answer: Certainly, we feel compassion for Aunt Jennifer. She has gone through many difficulties and trials throughout her marital journey. The speaker's view of Aunt Jennifer is similarly understanding. The writer provides numerous hinting images and symbols to show an elderly woman who has lived through painful, unpleasant, and frightening times in her marriage. Her fingers are so 'frightened' that she struggles to draw even the ivory needle through the wool. This difference is clearly emphasized.
In simple words: Yes, we feel sorry for Aunt Jennifer because of her hard marriage. The speaker also shows deep sympathy for her suffering.

Exam Tip: Express your personal reaction (sympathy) clearly and then support it with evidence from the poem showing the speaker's portrayal of the character.

Aunt Jennifer's Tigers Additional Important Questions And Answers

Answer The Following Questions In Three To Four Sentences Each.

Question 1. What do you learn about Aunt Jennifer's tigers on reading the poem?
Answer: Aunt Jennifer made her tigers on the fabric with her own hands. They seemed to be leaping or jumping over a tapestry. They seemed smooth and graceful. They shone brilliantly, similar to yellow topaz. They were grand and brave. They showed no fear towards the individuals under the tree. They moved with 'knightly confidence'.
In simple words: Aunt Jennifer's tigers are strong, brave, and beautiful creations, showing no fear and moving with confidence.

Exam Tip: Describe the tigers' physical characteristics and behavior as portrayed in the poem, using descriptive adjectives.

Question 2. How has Aunt Jennifer created her tigers? What traits' of tigers do they reveal?
Answer: Aunt Jennifer crafted her tigers herself. She uses yarn and ivory needles for her task. She made them on the fabric. They possess all the characteristics of predatory animals living in green woods. They appear strong and neatly kept. They are knightly and very self-assured.
In simple words: Aunt Jennifer made her tigers with wool and ivory needles. They show strength, bravery, and confidence, like wild animals.

Exam Tip: Specify the materials and method used for creation, then list the key qualities or characteristics displayed by the tigers.

Question 3. What difficulty does Aunt Jennifer face while making her tigers and why?
Answer: Aunt Jennifer is creating her tigers on the fabric. She uses ivory needles. Her fingers move nervously through the yarn. She struggles to draw even the ivory needles. The cause is clear. The burden of her sad and unlucky marital experiences weighs heavily on her hands.
In simple words: Aunt Jennifer finds it hard to pull the needle because the heavy burden of her unhappy marriage makes her hands weak and trembling.

Exam Tip: Link the physical difficulty directly to its emotional or psychological cause, as hinted at in the poem.

Question 4. What is the weight that lies heavy on Aunt Jennifer's hand? How is it associated with her husband?
Answer: Aunt Jennifer uses ivory needles and yarn for her task. However, she cannot easily move her fingers through the yarn. She struggles to draw even the ivory needles with ease. Her past marital experiences are quite difficult. She holds distressing recollections of her life with her spouse. The substantial weight of the marriage ring presses firmly on her hand.
In simple words: The wedding ring on her hand feels heavy, representing the difficult and sad memories of her marriage to her husband.

Exam Tip: Explain both the literal and symbolic 'weight', explicitly connecting it to the husband and the institution of marriage.

Question 5. How will Aunt Jennifer's hands look when she is dead?
Answer: Even after Aunt Jennifer passes away, her hands will continue to appear frightened. She might have endured many difficulties and challenges in her life. Their impact has left its mark on her hands. The trials that overwhelmed her married life had also enclosed and restricted her fingers and hands.
In simple words: When Aunt Jennifer dies, her hands will still show the fear and hardship from her tough married life.

Exam Tip: Focus on the lasting effects of her experiences, emphasizing that even death cannot erase the emotional scars.

Question 6. What will happen to Aunt Jennifer's tigers when she is dead?
Answer: Aunt Jennifer's tigers will live on after her passing. She made the tigers on a piece of fabric. They are formed from yarn. These artistic creations will outlast their maker. The tigers will continue to leap, showing pride and bravery.
In simple words: Even after Aunt Jennifer dies, her tigers will continue to live on the panel, leaping with pride and fearlessness.

Exam Tip: Distinguish between Aunt Jennifer's fate and the enduring nature of her art, highlighting the power of creative expression.

Question 7. Describe the poetic devices used in the poem ‘Aunt Jennifer's Tigers.
Answer: Adrienne Rich's 'Aunt Jennifer's Tigers' is a lovely brief poem full of symbolism and visual descriptions. The comparison 'bright topaz' portrays the brilliant yellow hue of her tigers. The skillful use of alliteration in 'sleek, chivalric certainty' captures the tigers' movement clearly. 'The heavy burden of the marriage ring' represents the trials and difficulties of Aunt Jennifer's marital journey. The phrases 'frightened hands' and 'bound by challenges' convey feelings of being crushed, fear, and imprisonment.
In simple words: The poem uses metaphors like 'bright topaz', alliteration in phrases like 'sleek, chivalric certainty', and symbolism such as the 'wedding band' and 'terrified hands'.

Exam Tip: Identify specific examples of poetic devices (metaphor, alliteration, symbolism) and explain their effect on the poem's meaning.

Question 8. How are Aunt Jennifer's tigers different from her?
Answer: Aunt Jennifer's tigers represent power, grace, and confidence. They appear to be leaping over a tapestry. They move with a 'smooth, knightly assurance'. They are self-assured and striking. Aunt Jennifer, however, is a frail, sad, and frightened individual. Her existence has been filled with sorrow. She remains trapped by the difficulties and fears she encountered and endured throughout her marital journey. Her fingers are so 'frightened' that she struggles to draw even the ivory needle through the wool. This difference is clearly emphasized.
In simple words: The tigers are strong, brave, and free, while Aunt Jennifer is weak, scared, and trapped by her difficult marriage.

Exam Tip: When comparing, create two distinct lists of characteristics for Aunt Jennifer and her tigers, showing a clear contrast.

Figures Of Speech

Choose The Figures Of Speech In The Following Lines:

Question 1. 'Bright topaz denizens of a world of green'
(a) Simile
(b) Metaphor
(c) Synecdoche
(d) Apostrophe
Answer: (b) Metaphor
In simple words: This is a metaphor because it directly compares the tigers to 'bright topaz' without using 'like' or 'as', suggesting they are the shining jewels of the green world.

Exam Tip: Remember that a metaphor directly equates two unlike things, while a simile uses 'like' or 'as' for comparison.

Question 2. 'They pace in sleek chivalric certainty
(a) Personification
(b) Internal Rhyme
(c) Alliteration
Answer: (c) Alliteration
In simple words: This line is an example of alliteration because of the repeated 's' sound in 'sleek' and 'certainty', creating a musical effect.

Exam Tip: Alliteration involves the repetition of initial consonant sounds in words close together, enhancing rhythm and mood.

Question 3. 'The massive weight of Uncle's wedding band'
(a) Alliteration
(b) Anastrophe
(c) Oxymoron
(d) Metaphor
Answer: (d) Metaphor
In simple words: This is a metaphor because it compares the 'massive weight' of the wedding band to the burden of married life without using 'like' or 'as'.

Exam Tip: Recognize metaphors that describe abstract concepts (like burden) using concrete images (like weight), even if 'like' or 'as' are absent.

Question 4. 'Aunt Jennifer's fingers fluttering through her wool'
(a) Alliteration
(b) Antithesis
(c) Synecdoche
(d) Simile
Answer: (a) Alliteration
In simple words: This line shows alliteration due to the repetition of the 'f' sound in 'fingers fluttering', giving a musical quality to the phrase.

Exam Tip: Pay attention to the starting sounds of words in a phrase; if they repeat, it's likely alliteration.

Reading Comprehension (Textual)

Read The Following Stanzas And Answer The Questions Given Below Them:

Question 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.
(1) What are Aunt Jennifer's tigers doing? How do they look like?
(2) Where do they live? Are they fearless? Give an example.
Answer:
(1) Aunt Jennifer's tigers are leaping over a tapestry or a partition. The tigers are proceeding with vigor, possibly with pride. They resemble brilliant yellow topaz in appearance.
(2) They reside within green woods. They exhibit no fear. They do not dread the individuals beneath the tree.
In simple words: The tigers are jumping brightly like yellow jewels across a fabric. They live in green forests and are brave, not afraid of anyone.

Exam Tip: For passage-based questions, find direct evidence in the given lines to support your answers about actions, appearance, and characteristics.

Question 2. 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.
(1) What was lying heavily? Where?
(2) What was upon Aunt Jennifer's hand? How did it sit there?
Answer:
(1) The burden of Uncle's marriage ring pressed hard on her hand.
(2) Uncle's marriage ring was present on Aunt Jennifer's hand. It rested with a great burden in that place.
In simple words: The heavy wedding ring from Uncle lay on Aunt Jennifer's hand, representing the great burden of her marriage.

Exam Tip: Be precise in your answers, directly stating what is asked (e.g., "what" and "where") and supporting it with details from the passage.

Question 3. 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.
1. Why are Aunt Jennifer's hands called 'terrified'?
2. What are they still ringed with?
Answer:
1. Her hands are named frightened because she has endured extremely difficult and painful marital experiences.
2. They remain bound by the challenging and trying problems that controlled her throughout her existence.
In simple words: Her hands are called 'terrified' because of her very hard married life, and they will always carry the marks of those tough challenges.

Exam Tip: Explain both the direct cause of her hands being 'terrified' and the symbolic meaning of them being 'ringed' to fully address the questions.

Aunt Jennifer's Tigers Summary In English

Aunt Jennifer's Tigers Introduction:

Adrienne Cecile Rich (May 16, 1929 – March 27, 2012) was a writer, essayist, and advocate for women's rights from America. She was known as 'one of the most popular and impactful poets of the latter half of the 20th century', and was recognized for placing 'the challenges faced by women and lesbians prominently in poetry'. Her initial poetry collection, 'A Change of World,' was chosen by celebrated poet W. H. Auden for the Yale Series of Younger Poets Award. Auden later authored the foreword for the released book. She notably refused the National Medal of Arts, showing disapproval of the decision by House Speaker Newt Gingrich to stop money for the National Endowment for the Arts.
In simple words: Adrienne Rich, a noted American poet and feminist, brought attention to women's issues in her work and was recognized for her significant contributions to poetry.

Exam Tip: When providing an author's introduction, include key biographical details and their major contributions or themes in their work.

Aunt Jennifer's Tigers Summary:

In the poem 'Aunt Jennifer's Tigers,' a woman shows her hidden emotions using her artwork. Aunt Jennifer is suffering under a society controlled by men. She lacks someone to share her emotional and bodily distress with. She creates a picture to communicate her profound emotions. The narrator talks about the tigers her aunt created on the fabric. They are shown as moving. They advance rapidly by lifting their front legs and springing ahead on their back legs. Within the verdant jungle, they appear unconstrained, glowing, courageous, bold, and splendid. Some individuals are seated beneath the tree, but the Tigers show no concern. They progress towards their aim with courage and grace. Jennifer struggles to create images using the ivory needle. She is weary from performing domestic chores after her wedding. She cannot fully engage in her art. She must complete it in her free moments. Even so, she needs to confirm if her spouse is observing her activities. Consequently, her hands are fearful. She will remain bound by dread until her passing. Her husband will control her. She will pass away, yet her creations will show her wish to live with pride and bravery, just like her tigers.
In simple words: Aunt Jennifer, oppressed by her marriage, expresses her longing for freedom and strength through the brave, fearless tigers she creates in her embroidery, which will outlive her.

Exam Tip: A good summary should cover the main characters, central conflict, key themes, and the overall message of the poem succinctly.