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Questions - Answers, , English, , Term - 2, , Class - 12th, (Krishna Singh), , (Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers), Q1:, , How does the poet use the image of ‘fingers fluttering through the wool‘ to highlight, Aunt Jennifer’s victimisation?, , The poet highlights the victimization of oppressed Aunt Jennifer in his poem. According to him, she, is so terrified of her husband that her fingers tremble when she pulls out the needle through wool, which is very light. It symbolizes her physical as well as emotional weakness. The wedding ring, which she is wearing seems heavy to her, as she finds it difficult to go ahead as her married life, has taken away her freedom from her., Q2:, , Describe the tigers created by Aunt Jennifer., , Aunt Jennifer’s tigers are very brave and chivalric. They roam about confidently in the forest just, like the knights. They are the inhabitants of the forest and have no fear of the people sitting under, the tree., Q3:, , How are Aunt Jennifer’s tigers different from her?, , Aunt Jennifer’s tigers were different from her because she herself was a timid lady whereas her, tigers were symbolic of bravery, courage and fearlessness. They stand for power, strength and, confidence which she lacks in herself., Q4:, , Why do you think Aunt Jennifer created animals that are so different from her own, character?, , Aunt Jennifer created animals, i.e., tigers which were very different from her own docile character, because they represented the fearlessness and freedom which she was deprived of. They also, represented her secret longing to live a brave and fearless life like them., , Q5:, , Why is she ‘ringed with ordeals’? OR, What kind of ordeals is Aunt Jennifer surrounded by?, , Aunt Jennifer is surrounded by the constraints of married life. She was probably dominated by her, husband throughout her life. She was a timid woman and could never stand up to her husband, boldly. She remained a caged bird and bore her sufferings meekly. She is the embodiment of the, miseries inflicted by a patriarchal society., Q6:, , Aunt Jennifer’s efforts to get rid of her fear proved to be futile. Comment., , Aunt Jennifer lived in constant fear of her husband. She was very weak and frail. She could never, stand up boldly against her tyrannical husband. She revolted silently in her own way, i.e., by, creating tigers on a panel to symbolize her wishes to be strong, fierce and free like the tigers., There was no escape even after death. Her terrified hands still will be ringed with ordeals that she, was mastered with.

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Q7:, , Are Aunt Jennifer’s tigers truly free? Why/why not?, , Aunt Jenifer’s tigers symbolised freedom but they are not truly free themselves though they have, more freedom than Aunt Jennifer. They are not truly free because they too are restricted to the, fabric on which they are embroidered., , Q8: What is the theme of the poem?, The poet subtly brings out the contrast between the wonderful freedom of the work of art created, by Aunt Jennifer and the constraints of her married personal life. The Aunt has been subjected to, suppression at the hands of her dominating husband and it is only in the embroidery that she is, free and gives expression to her creativity., , Q9: What message does the poet want to convey through this poem?, The poet, Adrienne Rich, has tried to depict the theme of male chauvinism where a woman has no, liberty, not even self-expression. The poem emphasises the value of freedom and brings out the, message that women need to be respected and should have the liberty to develop their talents, according to their own desires., , Q10: Steeped in feminism, Rich presents a vivid criticism of a male-dominated societal, setup. Comment., The first few lines of the poem bring out the patriarchal attitude and discrimination against women., Aunt Jennifer has been reduced to a meek, terrified woman who weaves a world of her own. Aunt, Jennifer is unhappy because of the patriarchal system that confines all women. The poem really, wants us to condemn the system, not an individual like UNCLE.