The poet expresses the inner feelings of a woman – Aunt Jennifer. The aunt is embroidering a motif comprising of energetic, fearless tigers moving freely around the bright greenery.She is living a life of submissiveness to her husband’s command.
Her acts are dominated by him and she fears him constantly. This pattern of the free and fearless tigers reflects her inner desire to live a free and fearless life. The tigers are graceful, elegant and bright.Aunt Jennifer’s fingers tremble as she embroiders.
She is old but still fears her husband. She does not enjoy the freedom to do anything as per her wish. She is scared doing the embroidery too and fears his wrath. Since the day she got married, she has been fulfilling the demands of her husband.
The wedding ring on her hand is a constant reminder that she belongs to her husband. The burden of the demandingmarriage has exhausted her. The torment will not end until her death. Even after her death, the ring will remain on her hand and she will never be free. On the other hand, the tigers that she is embroidering will continue to move around freely forever. Her desire of freedom and fearlessness will live on through her tigers.
Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers Summary in Hindi
कवि एक महिला की आंतरिक भावनाओं को व्यक्त करता है – आंटी जेनिफर। चाची चमकदार हरियाली के चारों ओर स्वतंत्र रूप से घूम रहे ऊर्जावान, निडर बाघों की एक आकृति बना रही है। वह अपने पति की आज्ञा के प्रति समर्पण का जीवन जी रही है।
उसकी हरकतें उस पर हावी हैं और वह लगातार उससे डरती है। स्वतंत्र और निडर बाघों का यह पैटर्न एक स्वतंत्र और निडर जीवन जीने की उसकी आंतरिक इच्छा को दर्शाता है। बाघ सुंदर, सुंदर और चमकीले हैं। कढ़ाई करते समय आंटी जेनिफर की उंगलियां कांपती हैं।
वह बूढ़ी हो गई है लेकिन फिर भी अपने पति से डरती है। उसे अपनी इच्छानुसार कुछ भी करने की आजादी नहीं है। वह कढ़ाई करने से भी डरती है और उसके क्रोध से डरती है। जिस दिन से उसकी शादी हुई है, वह अपने पति की हर मांग पूरी करती आ रही है।
उसके हाथ में शादी की अंगूठी लगातार याद दिलाती रहती है कि वह उसके पति की है। मांगलिक विवाह के बोझ ने उसे थका दिया है। उसकी पीड़ा तब तक ख़त्म नहीं होगी जब तक उसकी मृत्यु नहीं हो जाती। उसकी मृत्यु के बाद भी अंगूठी उसके हाथ में रहेगी और वह कभी आज़ाद नहीं होगी। दूसरी ओर, जिन बाघों पर वह कढ़ाई कर रही है, वे हमेशा स्वतंत्र रूप से घूमते रहेंगे। उसकी स्वतंत्रता और निडरता की इच्छा उसके बाघों के माध्यम से जीवित रहेगी।
Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers Summary in Assamese
কবিয়ে প্ৰকাশ কৰিছে এগৰাকী নাৰীৰ অন্তৰ্নিহিত অনুভৱ – জেনিফাৰ খুৰী। পেহীয়ে উজ্জ্বল সেউজীয়াৰ চাৰিওফালে মুক্তভাৱে ঘূৰি ফুৰা শক্তিশালী, নিৰ্ভীক বাঘেৰে গঠিত এটা মটিফ এম্ব্ৰয়ডাৰী কৰি আছে।
তাইৰ অভিনয়ত তেওঁৰ আধিপত্য থাকে আৰু তাই তাক অহৰহ ভয় কৰে। মুক্ত আৰু নিৰ্ভীক বাঘৰ এই আৰ্হিটোৱে তাইৰ মুক্ত আৰু নিৰ্ভীক জীৱন যাপনৰ অন্তৰ্নিহিত ইচ্ছাক প্ৰতিফলিত কৰে। বাঘবোৰ ৰূপৱতী, মাৰ্জিত আৰু উজ্জ্বল।এম্ব্ৰয়ডাৰী কৰি থাকোঁতে জেনিফাৰ খুৰীৰ আঙুলিবোৰ কঁপি উঠে।
তাই বুঢ়া হৈছে যদিও এতিয়াও স্বামীক ভয় কৰে। তাইৰ ইচ্ছামতে কোনো কাম কৰাৰ স্বাধীনতা ভোগ নকৰে। তাইও এম্ব্ৰয়ডাৰী কৰি ভয় কৰে আৰু তাৰ ক্ৰোধৰ ভয় কৰে। বিয়া হোৱাৰ দিনৰে পৰাই তাই স্বামীৰ দাবী পূৰণ কৰি আহিছে।
তাইৰ হাতত থকা বিয়াৰ আঙঠিটোৱে তাইক স্বামীৰ বুলি অহৰহ সোঁৱৰাই থাকে। দাবীদাৰ বিবাহৰ বোজাই তাইক ক্লান্ত কৰি পেলাইছে। তাইৰ মৃত্যুৰ আগলৈকে অত্যাচাৰ শেষ নহ’ব। মৃত্যুৰ পিছতো আঙঠিটো তাইৰ হাতত থাকিব আৰু তাই কেতিয়াও মুক্ত নহ’ব। আনহাতে, তাই এম্ব্ৰয়ডাৰী কৰি থকা বাঘবোৰে চিৰদিনৰ বাবে মুক্তভাৱে ঘূৰি ফুৰিব। তাইৰ স্বাধীনতা আৰু নিৰ্ভীকতাৰ আকাংক্ষা তাইৰ বাঘৰ মাজেৰে জীয়াই থাকিব।
Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers Literary Devices
Style
Language Most of the words are short and simple everyday words. The sentences are simple in structure and all take two lines.
Diction The unusual word ‘denizens’ stands out and it shows how special the tigers are, unlike how Aunt Jennifer feels about herself. The word ‘chivalric’ shows that the tigers are proud and charming. It means they treat women with respect. The repetition of ‘prance’ [parade] is interesting and emphasizes the happy, confident life of the tigers.
Comparison The tigers are compared to knights from the time of chivalry in the middle ages.
Imagery The main images are of Aunt Jennifer as a fearful wife and, secondly, the magnificent tigers she creates in her panel. Images of precious substances run through the poem: ‘topaz’, ‘ivory’ and the gold of ‘wedding band’.
Metaphor The poet compares the yellow stripes of the tigers to a precious stone, topaz.
Contrast [difference] The main contrasts are between nervous Aunt Jennifer and her confident tigers. Another contrast is between the strong yellow and green colours. The words ‘prancing’ and ‘fluttering’ contrast as well.
Mood/Atmosphere Fear is the main atmosphere in Aunt Jennifer’s life of ‘ordeals’ where her fingers tremble and show terror. An air of freedom and confidence dominates the atmosphere in her artistic creations. The men beneath the tree create an atmosphere of mystery. The image of Aunt Jennifer’s corpse from the future is a bit eerie or creepy.
Paradox [apparent contradiction] Here a trembling and ‘mastered’ woman creates free and confident creatures in her artistic endeavours. ‘Fluttering’ fingers produce something that has ‘certainty’.
Tone The tone appears to be positive and cheerful when the poet describes the tigers. The tone becomes sad and even creepy at times in describing the life of Aunt Jennifer.
Repetition The word ‘prance’ is repeated to emphasize the pride and freedom of the tigers. ‘Ringed’ echoes ‘wedding band’. There is repetition of various sounds as indicated in the next few bullet points.
Rhyme Every pair of lines rhyme, like the ‘een’ sound in ‘screen’ and ‘green’ at the end of the first two lines. The rhyme pattern for the poem is: aabb ccdd eeff. This rigid pattern mirrors the rigid life of Aunt Jennifer.
Alliteration [repetition of consonant sounds at the start of nearby words] e.g. ‘p’ in ‘prancing proud’ emphasizes the feeling of confidence expressed in the tigers’ movements.
Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers Themes
- Marriage is unequal due to male domination/Inequality
The woman at the centre of the poem, Aunt Jennifer, is a nervous and fearful wife. She lacks inner conviction or ‘certainty’, unlike the tigers she portrays. Aunt Jennifer is ‘mastered’ in her life. She lives a life of inequality. She is so nervous that her fingers ‘flutter’ through the wool she is using in her tapestry or panel.
The poet portrays the marriage of Jennifer as an unhappy one for her. Aunt Jennifer feels the burden of duty and obedience. This is shown by the symbol of the wedding ring that she wears. It is described as her husband’s property: ‘Uncle’s wedding band’. It ‘sits heavily’ on her hand because he dominates her life.
Her life with her husband is described as a life of ‘ordeals’. It is shown that Jennifer is terrified in her marriage. Her husband may be fiercer to her than the tigers she produces in her artwork. The poem therefore provides a negative picture of marriage. The poem is probably saying that the ‘Uncle’ or husband is behaving like a tiger, and the tigers are ‘chivalric’ like the husband should be.
- The world of art is happier than the real world/Dream versus Reality
Aunt Jennifer’s hobby is making designs and pictures from wool. Jennifer produces wool tapestries that she places on panels. The creatures she places there are free and proud, the opposite to herself. She is ‘ringed’ or mastered in marriage and therefore she is not free, but controlled.
It seems that she creates a happier looking world than the one she lives in. She makes precise and brightly coloured pictures like the sharp yellow tigers of the poem, pictured against a green background. These bright contrasting colours are probably much more vivid than Jennifer’s everyday world.
Her artistic work will live on after she dies, as, according to the poet, her tigers will ‘go on prancing’. The figures she creates are stronger and happier than she is. They are proud and ‘prance’ about, unlike their creator, who is nervous and fears her husband. The word ‘prance’ or parade contrasts sharply with ‘fluttering’, meaning trembling.
The tigers do not fear the men the aunt places under some trees in her tapestry. Therefore, the imaginary tigers produced by Aunt Jennifer live a type of proud and free life that she can only dream about. It is a ‘chivalric’ world, one where gentlemen treat women with great respect.
Yet this is also a false world, as real tigers live out a battle for survival of the fittest, where the strongest dominate. Perhaps Aunt Jennifer uses art as an escape from her troubles. In her artwork Jennifer imagines the kind of life she would have liked.
Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers Question and Answers
Q1. How do ‘denizens’ and ‘chivalric’ add to our understanding of the tiger’s attitudes?
Tigers are natives of wild forests. The word ‘denizen’ associated with tigers show that they are assured of their habitat and take pleasure in being the masters of their domain. The word ‘chivalric’ indicates the majestic and honourable position the tigers occupy in the world of animals. Moreover they are confident, intrepid and brave.
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?
Aunt Jennifer might have been a victim of gender oppression at the hands of her husband. So she must have felt so nervous and terrified that her hands shake and flutter as she knits.
Suppressed under the weight of male domination, she would have become a nervous wreck. Moreover she has grown physically weak. She is so weakened, both mentally and physically that she finds needle hard to pull.
Aunt Jennifer is victimized by the overbearing and dominant nature of her husband. Her life has become a torture due to her suppression by her atrocious husband. The fear of her authoritative husband has gone so deep into her being that she seems to have lost all strength and energy. Thus her hands shake and flutter so much that she is not even able to pull the needle through the tapestry.
Q4 What do you understand by “massive weight of uncle’s wedding band”?
Generally ‘wedding band’ is a symbol of joy and happiness. But in case of Aunt Jennifer, it has become a symbol of torture and oppression. Her relationship with her authoritative husband has become a painful burden to carry. Her ‘wedding band’ has brought her a world of pain, misery and torture. She has lost her freedom and entered a world of humiliation and oppression
Q5. Of what or of whom is Aunt Jennifer terrified with in the third stanza?
The Aunt is terrified about the fact that when she would quit the world and when she would be lowered into the grave, she would still remain afraid of her husband and would carry the marks of torture in the form of wedding ring even in her grave. She has suffered so much suppression in her life that even her death would fail to liberate her soul from the torturous memories of her life.
Q6. What are the ‘ordeals’ Aunt Jennifer is surrounded by, why is it significant that the poet uses the word ‘ringed’? What are the meanings of the word ‘ringed’ in the poem?
Although Aunt Jennifer’s ordeals are not explicitly mentioned in the poem, but we can easily judge that she suffers from matrimonial oppression and is a victim of patriarchy and male chauvinism. Her personal liberty and desires are constricted by her domineering husband. She might be burdened with heavy responsibilities towards the family and her husband.
The poet uses the word ‘ringed’ to signify that after her death also, Aunt Jennifer’s hands will still be affected by the dominance of a male, perhaps her husband. The word ‘ringed’ could have several shades of meaning. First of all, the ring refers to the wedding ring which symbolizes the sacred bond of marriage. In Aunt’s case, the marriage has proved to be burdensome and restrictive. So the word ‘ringed’ in the poem also refers to the confines, constraints and demands of marriage that bind a woman
Q7. Interpret the symbols found in this poem.
- Tiger is symbol of freedom, liberation and bravery which Aunt dreams of attaining but never achieves except in her dreams and art. It could also symbolize terror and oppression perpetrated on women like Aunt Jennifer by the male world.
- Wedding band symbolizes confines, constraints, oppression a woman faces in matrimony.
- Aunt Jennifer is symbolic of women as a whole who are victimized by patriarchy and gender oppression
- The “ivory needle” is characteristic of the hunting of elephants for their tusks. This is all symbolic of the male dominance over nature.
REFERENCE TO CONTEXT
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) How are Aunt Jennifer’s tigers described?
(b) Why are they described as denizens of a world of green?
(c) Why are they not afraid of the men?
Ans. a, b, c
d). Are Aunt Jennifer’s tigers real ? Give reasons for your answer
( No, • they are on a screen • can be seen on a panel)
e). What do you understand by ‘chivalric certainty’?
( they are sure of their power • and the strength they possess)
- f) . How does the poet portray the outer and inner qualities of the tigers?
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, unafraid.
(a) What is the time projected by the poetess? What does she suggest?
Ans: In the above stanza the poetess projects the future and suggests that
even after her death Aunt Jennifer will continue to be burdened by her marriage .
(b) What does ‘terrified hands’ symbolize?
Ans : Her ‘terrified hands’ symbolize that Uncle’s fear has transcended human limitations and that Aunt Jennifer will continue to be afraid of him even after her death.
(c) What is Aunt Jennifer’s death symbolic of ?
Ans :Aunt Jennifer’s death is symbolic of her complete submission to the
Suppression she was subjected to in her life.
SHORT QUESTIONS
Q1 Why are the tigers called ‘Aunt Jennifer’s tigers? (1)
The tigers are called Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers as they are her creation. She has embroidered them on a panel
Q2 How has Aunt Jennifer created her tigers?
- How do the prancing tigers look like?
- They look like shining topaz denizens.
Q4 Explain: ‘They pace in sleek chivalric certainty’ in the poem “Aunt Jennifer’s Tiger?
The movement of the tigers is sleek, stealthy, sure, majestic and elegant. They are sure of their purpose.
Q5What will happen to Aunt Jennifer’s tiger when she is dead?
- Explain ‘The tigers in the panel————proud and unafraid.’
Here the tigers symbolize the unquestioned authority of man enjoyed by him over his woman counterpart. The lines suggest the dispassionate and unconcerned attitude of the male towards the desire for freedom among women. Here, Aunt Jennifer tries to find an escape in her art but ends up portraying an image of her own suppression. While a woman can never free herself from the oppressive authority of her male counterpart, the male, on the other hand will go on enjoying his authoritative arrogance and ferocity without any fear of regrets. It also means that human beings die but their art survives.
Q7 Is the society in any way affected by Aunt Jennifer’s death?
Since the society is male dominated, it shows no concern for Aunt’s suffering, even her death. The loss of her freedom is her individual loss. The society is not affected by it and the state of women still remains the same.
Q8What character traits of Aunt Jennifer’s come to light in the poem?
Ans : Aunt Jennifer comes across as a terrified and feeble person totally lacking in confidence, who is a victim of her domineering husband. Her creativity finds outlet in her embroidery of prancing tigers which are a complete contrast to her own personality.
Q9How are Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers totally different from her own character?
Ans : Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers are a picture of strength ,certainty, fearlessness and confidence who prance across the screen whereas Aunt Jennifer is weak ,terrified and a submissive individual who is in the grip of the ordeals of her married life.
Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers MCQ
What is the primary color associated with Aunt Jennifer’s tigers in the poem?
- a) Red
- b) Topaz
- c) Green
- d) Ivory
Correct Answer: b) Topaz
According to the poem, what emotion do Aunt Jennifer’s tigers convey as they move across the screen?
- a) Fear
- b) Certainty
- c) Anxiety
- d) Confusion
Correct Answer: b) Certainty
What do Aunt Jennifer’s tigers not fear, as mentioned in the poem?
- a) Other tigers
- b) Men beneath the tree
- c) Aunt Jennifer
- d) Woolen fabric
Correct Answer: b) Men beneath the tree
What quality is attributed to Aunt Jennifer’s tigers as they move with certainty?
- a) Timidity
- b) Chivalry
- c) Fearfulness
- d) Restlessness
Correct Answer: b) Chivalry
What does Aunt Jennifer find difficult to pull through the wool with her fingers?
- a) Topaz
- b) Ivory needle
- c) Wedding band
- d) Woolen fabric
Correct Answer: b) Ivory needle
According to the poem, where does the massive weight of Uncle’s wedding band sit?
- a) On Aunt Jennifer’s head
- b) On Aunt Jennifer’s hand
- c) On the woolen fabric
- d) On the tiger’s panel
Correct Answer: b) On Aunt Jennifer’s hand
What will happen to Aunt Jennifer’s hands when she is dead?
- a) They will be free from the wedding band
- b) They will be terrified
- c) They will still be ringed with ordeals
- d) They will become ivory needles
Correct Answer: c) They will still be ringed with ordeals
In the last stanza, what is mentioned about the tigers Aunt Jennifer made?
- a) They will vanish
- b) They will go on prancing
- c) They will become afraid
- d) They will turn into men
Correct Answer: b) They will go on prancing
What is Aunt Jennifer’s emotion as described in the poem?
- a) Happiness
- b) Terror
- c) Sadness
- d) Confusion
Correct Answer: b) Terror
What will the tigers be even after Aunt Jennifer’s death?
- a) Fearful
- b) Proud and unafraid
- c) Timid
- d) Vanished
Correct Answer: b) Proud and unafraid
According to the poem, what material is mentioned in connection with Aunt Jennifer’s fingers?
- a) Topaz
- b) Wool
- c) Ivory
- d) Metal
Correct Answer: b) Wool
What is the significance of Uncle’s wedding band in Aunt Jennifer’s life, according to the poem?
- a) It brings her joy
- b) It is a symbol of oppression
- c) It is lightweight and comfortable
- d) It is made of ivory
Correct Answer: b) It is a symbol of oppression
What does the poem suggest about Aunt Jennifer’s ability to overcome challenges?
- a) She easily overcomes challenges
- b) She struggles with the ivory needle
- c) She is fearless
- d) She enjoys challenges
Correct Answer: b) She struggles with the ivory needle
What adjective is used to describe the tigers in Aunt Jennifer’s panel?
- a) Frightened
- b) Prancing
- c) Confused
- d) Motionless
Correct Answer: b) Prancing
What emotion is associated with Aunt Jennifer’s hands in the poem?
- a) Joy
- b) Terror
- c) Excitement
- d) Satisfaction
Correct Answer: b) Terror
According to the poem, what will the tigers be even when Aunt Jennifer is no more?
- a) Vanished
- b) Fearful
- c) Proud and unafraid
- d) Restless
Correct Answer: c) Proud and unafraid
What is Aunt Jennifer’s struggle with the ivory needle a metaphor for?
- a) Her love for tigers
- b) Her fear of men
- c) The weight of the wedding band
- d) The challenges in her life
Correct Answer: d) The challenges in her life
What is the dominant color associated with the world of Aunt Jennifer’s tigers?
- a) Red
- b) Topaz
- c) Green
- d) Ivory
Correct Answer: c) Green
According to the poem, what will Aunt Jennifer’s hands be ringed with after her death?
- a) Joy
- b) Ordeals
- c) Rings
- d) Tigers
Correct Answer: b) Ordeals
What is the symbolic meaning of the tigers prancing unafraid in Aunt Jennifer’s panel?
- a) Freedom
- b) Fearlessness
- c) Oppression
- d) Confusion
Correct Answer: b) Fearlessness
Founder of Englishfry.com, a captivating and knowledge-driven blog & Founder of Android app/website Studyfunnel.com, an online Mock Test Series Portal. With a wealth of experience spanning over 16+ years, he has excelled as an Ex-Asst.Professor, Teacher, Amazon published author, Website Developer, Graphic Designer,Blogger,Poet, and Creative academic content writer publisher of 4 academic books available Online on Amazon & Flipkart. His tryst in Literature helped him realize his love for writing and telling stories. A tech-savvy language nerd by day and, a passionate writer by night, he now translates his experiences into tales of wisdom served with a side of humor.His widely recognized profound insights ,captivating writing style of weaving words make him contribute to prestigious publications and a sought-after authority in the field that transport readers to extraordinary worlds.
