Class 12 English Flamingo Poem 5
Question Answer
Aunt jennifer's tigers Question Answer
Here we are providing the question and answers for the 5th Poem of Class 12 English, “Aunt jennifer’s tigers”. This chapter studies the main Question Answer related to “Aunt jennifer’s tigers“.
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Class 12 English Flamingo Poem 5 Question Answer, Aunt jennifer's tigers Question Answer

Class 12 english Poem 5 Question answer
Aunt jennifer's tigers Summary/Explanation
1. Aunt Jennifer's fingers .......... Aunt Jennifer's hand.
Reference:
These lines have been taken from the poem Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers ‘ composed by the poetess Adrienne Rich.
Context:
In these lines the portess expresses the plight of Aunt Jennifer. The weight of uncle’s wedding band was lying heavy on “her hand.
Explanation:
Aunt Jennifer’s fingers are moving about her wool . But she is finding even the ivory needle hard to pull. The heavy weight of her husband’s wedding band still lies upon Aunt Jennifer’s hands. Her married life was not happy and pleasant. Aunt Jennifer highlights the struggle and problem a woman faces in male dominated society.
2. Aunt Jennifer's fingers .......... Aunt Jennifer's hand.
Reference:
These lines have been taken from the poem ‘ Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers ‘ composed by the poetess Adrienne Rich.
Context:
In these lines the poetess says that even after Aunt Jennifer’s death her terrified hands will tell the whole story of her unhappy life. The hardships and sufferings were the parts of her married life.
Explanation:
Aunt Jennifer will not be free from fear even after her death . Hard and unpleasant experiences of her past married life will not leave her even after her death. Their signs will still be seen on her old fingers. But the tigers she had made in the panel will go on jumping ahead, proud and unafraid. Aunt Jennifer will not live in this world. But her art and the tigers thatshe created in the panel will go on jumping as ever.
Think about it
Q.1 How do 'denizens' and 'chivalric' add to our understanding of the tigers' attitudes?
Ans. Tigers like all beasts of prey are the ‘denizens’ of the forest. They live far away from human settlements. They are called ‘chivalric’. This shows the majestic and honourable position that they occupy in the world of animals. So the use of ‘ denizens’ and chivalric’ for tigers add to our understanding of their attitude.
Q.2 What is suggested by the image 'massive weighto uncle's wedding'band?
Ans. ‘Massive weight of Uncle’s wedding’ is a suggestive imagery. It is symbolic of the weight of the harsh and difficult experiences of her married life. The wedding band represents the unbreakable bond of marriage between the husband and the wife.
Q.3 Of what or whom is Aunt Jennifer terrified in the third stanza?
Ans. Aunt Jennifer is referred to as ‘terrified hands’ in the third stanza. The old unhappy memories are still fresh in her mind. She had passed through many testing and horrible times during her married life. Those ordeals crushed and suppressed her. She fears that such or deals may crush her even after her death.
Q.4 How does the poet describe Aunt Jennifer's tigers?
OR
What is specific about Jennifer's tigers?
OR
Describe the tigers created by Jennifer?
OR
What are the tigers symbolic of in this poem 'Aunt
Jeniffer's tigers?
OR
How has Aunt Jennifer created here tigers? What
traits of tigers do they reveal?
Ans. The poet describes Aunt Jennifer’s tigers as ‘bright topaz denizens’ of the forest. They are fearless. They pace in ‘sleek’ chivalry.
Q.5 What will happen to Aunt Jennifer's tigers when she is dead?
Ans. Aunt Jennifer’s tigers will survive her. The tigers in the panel that she made with her hands will still remain there. They will go on prancing, proud and unafraid. She will die but her creations survive.
Q.6 Why did Aunt Jennifer choose to embroider tigers on the panel?
Ans. Aunt Jennifer was timid, nervous and scared. She was easily victimised by her husband. She choose to embroider tigers as a mark of confidence. Tigers were just opposite to her nature but her embroidered tigers who were gallant dominating and landlord masters of jungle. She expressed her desire which couldn’t’s get fulfilled.
Q.7 Why do you think Aunt Jennifer created animals that are so different from her own character?
Ans. Really Jennifer has created tigers so different from her own character. They don’t fear the men beneath the tree. They pace in sleek chivalric certainty. On the other hand, there is Jennifer herself who is encircled by heavy responsibilities of her married life.
Q.8 How will Jennifer's hands look when she is dead?
Ans. When Aunt Jennifer is dead, her terrified hands will remain in the grip of those harsh experiences which have suppressed her.
Important Question Answer
1. What is the theme of the poem 'Aunt Jennifer's Tigers' ?
OR
What is the message that the poetess wants to give through the poem?
Ans. The theme/message of the poem is that Aunt Jennifer was a simple and weak lady. She was afraid of her husband. She made tigers on a screen. The tigers were bright, fearless and confident. Through this poem the poetess wants to give a message that a woman should not fear and live like a tiger.
ncert Class 12 English Poem 5 question answer
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