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AUNT JENNIFER’S TIGER, Q1. How do ‘denizens’ and ‘chivalric’ add to our understanding of the tiger’s attitudes?, Ans: Like all beasts of prey, the tigers are the denizens of the forest. They live far away from human, settlements. They are called ‘chivalric.’ This indicates the majestic and honourable position that they, occupy in the world of animals. So, the use of the words ‘denizens’ and ‘chivalric’ adds to our, understanding of the tiger’s attitudes., 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?, Ans: Aunt Jennifer is weaving tigers on the panel. Her hands are moving about her wool. She is, finding the needle quite hard to pull. The weight of years of her married life is lying heavy on her, hand. This makes the pulling of the neddle so hard., Q3. What is suggested by the image ‘massive weight of uncle’s wedding band’?, Ans: It suggests the weight of the harsh and tough experience of Aunt Jennifer’s married life. The, image is quite suggestive. The wedding band is symbolic. It represents the unbreakable bond of, marriage between the husband and the wife., Q4. Of what or whom is Aunt Jennifer terrified in the third stanza?, Ans: In the third stanza, the poet refers to Aunt Jennifer’s ‘terrified hands’. The old unhappy, memories are still fresh in her mind. She had passed through many testing and horrible times during, her married life. These ordeals crushed and suppressed her. Their effect is still visible. So, she is still, ringed with those ordeals that dominated her life., Q5. Interpret the symbols found in this poem., Ans: Adrienne Rich’s ‘Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers, is rich in symbolism. ‘The massive weight of wedding, band’ symbolises ordeals, hardships and worries of married life. ‘Terrified hands’, and ‘ringed with, ordeals’ also indicate those unpleasant experiences that are still clinging to Aunt Jennifer physically, and mentally. ,, Q6. What do you learn about Aunt Jennifer’s tigers on reading the poem?, Ans: Aunt Jennifer’s tigers were created in the panel by her own hands. They appeared to be prancing, (jumping) across a screen. They looked sleek. They were bright like yellow topaz. They were majestic, and courageous. They didn’t fear the men beneath the tree. They paced in ‘chivalric certainty’., Q7. What is the weight that lies heavy on Aunt Jennifer’s hand? Hou: is it associated with her, husband?, Ans: Aunt Jennifer is working with ivory needles and wool. But she can’t move her fingers freely in, the wool. She finds it hard to pull even the ivory needles easily. The experiences, of her past married life are quite bitter. She has unpleasant memories of her married life with her, husband. The heavy weight of the wedding band sits heavily upon her hand., Q8. How are Aunt Jennifer’s tigers different from her?, Ans: Aunt Jennifer’s tigers are a picture of strength, beauty and certainty. They seem to be jumping, across a screen. They “pace in sleek chivalric certainty”. They are confident and impressive. Aunt, Jennifer is a weak, depressed and terrified person. Life has been a cup of woes for her. She is still in, the grip of those ordeals and terrors that she faced and suffered from dining her married life. Her, fingers are so ‘terrified’ that they find it hard to pull even the ivory needle. Thus, the contrast is amply, highlighted., Q9. What are the difficulties that Aunt Jennifer faced in her life? [Delhi 2014], Ans: The fife of Aunt Jennifer was overburdened by the duties of her married life. Hardships and

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sufferings were the parts bf her married fife. She had to face oppression by her husband even though, she was old and weak., Extract Based Questions, 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., (a)What were Aunt Jennifer’s fingers fluttering through?, (b)How was she pulling the needle?, (c)What was lying heavily? Where?, (d)What was upon Aunt Jennifer’s hand? How did it sit there?, Answers:, (a) Aunt Jennifer’s fingers were fluttering through her wool., (b) She was finding even the ivory needle hard to pull., (c) The weight of Uncle’s wedding band was lying heavily on her hand., (d) There was uncle’s wedding band upon Aunt Jennifer’s hand. It sat heavily there.