Aunt Jennifer's Tigers is a compelling poem by Adrienne Rich that is widely studied in the Class 12 English curriculum. This poem is known for its rich symbolism and powerful themes of feminism and personal freedom.

The poem centers around the character of Aunt Jennifer and her creation of a tapestry depicting tigers. These tigers are portrayed as strong and fearless, contrasting sharply with Aunt Jennifer's own life, which is suggested to be constrained and oppressed. This contrast becomes a central theme of the poem, highlighting the struggle for personal expression and the escape from societal pressures.

For students in Class 12, Aunt Jennifer's Tigers offers a range of study materials to aid in understanding and analysis. Aunt Jennifer's Tigers Class 12 resources provide in-depth explanations and contextual information, helping students grasp the poem's themes and literary techniques.

The Summary of Aunt Jennifer's Tigers provides a concise overview of the poem, outlining its main points and themes. This is especially helpful for students needing a quick revision or an introduction to the poem.

For a more detailed study, Explanation of Aunt Jennifer's Tigers and Aunt Jennifer's Tigers explanation delve into the poem line by line, offering insights into the symbolism and imagery used by Rich. This detailed analysis is crucial for a deeper understanding of the poem's complex themes.

Students looking for exam preparation materials will find Aunt Jennifer's Tigers questions and answers and Aunt Jennifer's Tigers question answers beneficial. These resources typically include a variety of questions with comprehensive answers, covering different aspects of the poem.

Additionally, Aunt Jennifer's Tigers NCERT solutions provide answers and explanations that align with the National Council of Educational Research and Training guidelines, making them an authoritative resource for exam preparation.

In conclusion, Adrienne Rich's Aunt Jennifer's Tigers is not just a poem but a profound commentary on the themes of personal freedom and the societal constraints faced by women. It serves as an important educational tool for Class 12 students, offering rich material for study through various summaries, explanations, and question-answer resources. The poem remains a significant work in English literature, resonating with its readers for its deep emotional impact and its portrayal of the human struggle for self-expression.

CHAPTER 6: AUNT JENNIFER'S TIGERS

Summary of aunt Jennifer's tigers

-by Adrienne Rich

Stanza- 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."

Explanation: Aunt Jennifer's tigers prance and move across a screen or panel. The poet describes them as bright-coloured like the shining golden-yellow jewel topaz free inhabitants of the green forests, and are not scared of the men standing under the tree. These tigers move about with grace, elegance and confidence. Aunt Jennifer's tigers are not real or living tigers. They are images created by her on tapestry. Aunt Jennifer, who is held captive by the oppressive hand of a patriarchal society, creates in her art an alternate world of freedom. The tigers represent her dreams, her desire to be free from constant fear and oppression that govern her life These majestic and fearless tigers also present a sharp contrast to Aunt Jennifer herself, who is bound by the constraints of married life.

Stanza- 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."

Explanation: In the second stanza, Aunt Jennifer appears to be creating beautiful images of the tigers by using wool. But she finds it quite hard to pull even the ivory needle. She is so terrorized and tortured that she is unable to carry the weight of the wool. Her fingers flutter. The uncle's wedding band seems heavy on her hand. It suggests that she feels burdened with her marital responsibilities.

Through this stanza, the poet wants to convey the fact that a woman throughout her lifetime works to glorify the tiger', i.e., her husband, but she feels so much subjugated that the marital bond becomes a burden on her. This is also the reality of Aunt Jennifer's life.

Stanza- 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."

Explanation: The final stanza reveals a sad truth. The poet says that even death will not be able to release Aunt Jennifer from the trauma she had to undergo during her lifetime. Her life will be a story of her ordeals and the oppression that she was subjected to. However, the tigers created by her will be eternal. They will always be proud and unafraid." Here we get a glimpse of an oft-quoted conventional theme in poetry that art endures beyond human life.

Perhaps the poet wants to say that the women themselves are creating these tigers. They need to break their shackles and be unafraid like the tigers themselves. One more thing that can be inferred from the poem is that Aunt Jennifer, who for long has borne the miseries she was subjected to, now longs for freedom from dominance and male chauvinism.

NCERT SOLUTIONS FOR CLASS 12 ENGLISH POEM 5

Questions (Page No. 104)

(Think It Out)

Aunt jennifer's tigers question answers

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

Answer: Like the beasts of prey, the denizens of the forest are the tigers. They lead their lives far from the human settlements and are known as ‘chivalric’. This highlights the honourable and majestic position they occupy in the animal world. So, the usage of words ‘chivalric’ and ‘denizens’ adds to our knowledge of the attitude of the tiger.

Question 2. How do ‘denizens’ and ‘chivalric’ add to our understanding of the tiger’s attitudes?

Answer: Like the beasts of prey, the denizens of the forest are the tigers. They lead their lives far from the human settlements and are known as ‘chivalric’. This highlights the honourable and majestic position they occupy in the animal world. So, the usage of words ‘chivalric’ and ‘denizens’ adds to our knowledge of the attitude of the tiger.

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

Answer: The image of ‘massive weight of Uncle’s wedding band’ suggests the weight of the tough and harsh experience of married life of Aunt Jennifer. The image is suggestive and the wedding band is symbolic. It indicates the marriage bond which is unbreakable between the wife and the husband.

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

Answer: The poet refers to the ‘terrified hands’ of Aunt Jennifer” in the third stanza. The unhappy memories which are old remain fresh in her mind. During her married life, she has gone through many horrible times and tests. These ordeals suppressed and crushed her, the effect of which is still visible. She is stuck with the ordeals which dominated her life.

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 marriage experiences are addressed by the poet in the middle of constrictions. The word ‘ringed’ suggests that her unhappy married life or vicious grip is still holding her tightly. The word ‘ringed’ is used in two ways. First way is the conventional use where the ring symbolises the sacred bond of marriage. The second way is the figurative use of ‘ringed’ which means surrounded or encircled.

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 ‘prancing’. In ‘sleek chivalric certainty’ they pace and ‘do not fear’ the men under the tree. So, they are the symbols of beauty, fierceness and strength. On the other side, Aunt Jennifer is terrified and weak. Her hands are finding it hard to pull the needle through the wool. The huge weight of her wedding band is heavy on her hands. Her terrified hands are still ringed by the ordeals of her married life. The intensity is heightened by the contrast.

Question 7. 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 ‘prancing’. In ‘sleek chivalric certainty’ they pace and ‘do not fear’ the men under the tree. So, they are the symbols of beauty, fierceness and strength. On the other side, Aunt Jennifer is terrified and weak. Her hands are finding it hard to pull the needle through the wool. The huge weight of her wedding band is heavy on her hands. Her terrified hands are still ringed by the ordeals of her married life. The intensity is heightened by the contrast.

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

Answer: Yes, we sympathise with Aunt Jennifer as she has gone through ordeals and hardships during her married life. The speaker’s attitude towards Aunt Jeniffer is sympathetic. Many suggestive symbols and images are given by the poet to present a lady who has gone through terrifying and unpleasant periods and painful experiences during her married life.