Aunt Jenifer’s Tigers | Poem 5 | Poetry | English 12th | Flamingo | Summary | Questions | Answers

 

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Aunt Jenifer’s Tigers | Poem 5 | Poetry | English 12th | Flamingo | Summary | Questions | Answers

 

Aunt Jenifer’s Tigers

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.

 

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.

 

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.

                    (Adrienne Rich)

 

Short Summary

Adrienne Rich's poem "Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers" explores themes of oppression, freedom, and the contrast between personal identity and societal expectations. The poem portrays Aunt Jennifer as a woman constrained by the patriarchal structure of marriage, expressing her longing for freedom through her embroidery.

Aunt Jennifer creates vibrant tigers on her tapestry, symbols of courage, confidence, and vitality. These tigers contrast sharply with her own life, which is characterized by fear, submission, and a lack of autonomy. Her hands, weakened by the weight of her wedding ring—a symbol of marital oppression—struggle to create the embroidery, reflecting her stifled existence.

Despite Aunt Jennifer's constrained life, the tigers she creates represent her inner strength and desire for freedom. They embody the qualities she cannot openly express in her own life, standing fearless and unbothered by the constraints that bind her.

The poem concludes with a poignant reflection: even after Aunt Jennifer's death, the societal pressures that dominated her life will continue to be remembered. However, the tigers she created will remain, representing her undying spirit and the freedom she longed for.

Rich uses rich imagery and symbolism to highlight the struggles of women in a patriarchal society, contrasting the oppression of Aunt Jennifer's reality with the liberation expressed in her art.

 

 

Think it Out

Question 1. How do ‘denizens’ and ‘chivalric’ add to our understanding of the tiger’s attitudes?

Answer: The word ‘denizens’ suggests that the tigers belong to the forest and are at home in their natural environment, embodying confidence and freedom. The term ‘chivalric’ conveys nobility, grace, and a fearless demeanour. Together, these words highlight the tigers’ majestic and unrestrained nature, contrasting sharply with Aunt Jennifer’s submissive and constrained life.

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’s hands are ‘fluttering’ because of her physical and emotional frailty, which may stem from a lifetime of oppression and fear. The difficulty in pulling the needle symbolizes the weight of her struggles, as the oppressive constraints of her marriage (symbolized by the wedding band) have sapped her strength and confidence.

Question 3. What is suggested by the image ‘massive weight of Uncle’s wedding band’?

Answer: The ‘massive weight of Uncle’s wedding band’ represents the burden of marital oppression and societal expectations. It symbolizes the dominance of Aunt Jennifer’s husband and the patriarchal system, which stifles her individuality and autonomy.

Question 4. Of what or of whom is Aunt Jennifer terrified with in the third stanza?

Answer: In the third stanza, Aunt Jennifer is terrified of the oppressive ordeals of her life, particularly those tied to her marriage and societal expectations. Even in death, the memory of these struggles remains with her, reflecting the deep and lasting impact of her subjugation.

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 meanings of the word ‘ringed’ in the poem?

Answer: The ‘ordeals’ refer to the emotional and societal challenges Aunt Jennifer faces in her oppressive marriage. The word ‘ringed’ suggests being encircled or trapped, symbolizing how Aunt Jennifer’s life is confined by the expectations and limitations imposed on her. It also alludes to her wedding ring, reinforcing the idea of marriage as a source of her suffering.

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: Aunt Jennifer creates tigers that embody the qualities she lacks—strength, courage, and freedom. This contrast suggests her inner yearning for these qualities, which she cannot express in her constrained life. The poet may be highlighting how creativity serves as an outlet for suppressed desires and a way to assert one’s spirit despite external limitations.

Question 7. Interpret the symbols found in this poem.

Answer: Tigers: Symbols of freedom, confidence, and fearlessness, representing Aunt Jennifer’s inner desires.

Wedding band: A symbol of marital oppression and societal constraints.

Needle and wool: Represent Aunt Jennifer’s attempt to create beauty and express her individuality despite her struggles.

Fluttering hands: Indicate her frailty and the toll of her burdens.

Ringed ordeals: Symbolize the cyclical and inescapable nature of her struggles.

Question 8. Do you sympathise with Aunt Jennifer. What is the attitude of the speaker towards Aunt Jennifer?

Answer: Yes, Aunt Jennifer evokes deep sympathy as a woman trapped by societal and marital constraints. The speaker’s attitude is empathetic and reflective, acknowledging Aunt Jennifer’s struggles while celebrating her spirit and creativity, which live on in her artwork despite her oppressive circumstances. The speaker admires Aunt Jennifer’s resilience and laments the societal structures that stifle her potential.