English-12th Jayshree Periwal High School (2024-25)

SAQs
Q. 1 How might the message of the poem, ‘Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers’ be different, if the following
last four lines were omitted?
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.
Ans. By ending the poem on these lines, the author achieves a sense of hope and transcendence.
The image of the tigers continuing to prance, proud and unafraid, suggests that there is a way to
transcend the oppression and suffering of women, even if it is only through art. The poet suggests
that art can provide a kind of liberation, even in the face of social and cultural constraints.
If the last four lines were omitted, the poem would have a more sombre tone, without the image of
the tigers continuing to prance, the poem would end on a note of despair, with Aunt Jennifer's
hands still ringed with the ordeals she was mastered by.
The message of the poem would refer to the oppression and suffering of women, without any
hope for liberation.

Q2. Why were Aunt Jennifer's fingers fluttering ? What does this speak of her married life ?
(Aunt Jennifer's Tigers)
Ans. Aunt Jennifer is expressing herself through the creation of her tigers. But her fingers are
fluttering because of nervousness. She is repressed by the weight of marriage, gender roles, and a
dominating society. 'Uncle's wedding band" represents the patriarchal society in which she lives.
Her married life is an unhappy one, where she is oppressed and burdened by the ordeals of
married life as the band is described to sit “heavily” on her hand.

Q3.How are Aunt Jennifer's tigers different from her? (SQP2020)

Ans. Aunt is weak, meek, submissive, and is scared of expressing her feelings openly. The Aunt is
bonded in an unpleasant marriage and faces several restrictions. Whereas the tigers are strong,
fearless, and confident. They are bold creatures and are scared of no one. The tigers
move about freely.

Q4. How can we say that marriage was a compromise for Aunt Jennifer? Support your response
with two justifications. (SQP2023)
Ans. Marriage was only a compromise for Aunt Jennifer because she could not live the way she
wanted to. Her marriage was an ordeal for her as she was oppressed by her husband. She was
burdened by the responsibilities of her married life. Living in an oppressed marriage she seems to
have lost her identity.

Q5. What picture of male chauvinism (tyranny) do we find in the poem, 'Aunt Jennifer's
Tigers'? (AI2016)
Ans. The picture of male chauvinism, tyranny or dominance can be observed throughout the
poem by Aunt Jennifer. The weight of uncle's wedding band, her trembling fingers and her
terrified hands are enough to prove that her life is troubled by the patriarchal system. She
feels that even after her death, she will remain troubled and oppressed.

Q6 What are the tigers symbolic of?

The embroidered tigers that give the poem its title are a symbol of pride and fearlessness, as they
prance with "chivalric certainty." These are qualities Aunt Jennifer is not able to exercise in her
own life but can grant to her creations. Through her art, these positive qualities not only exist in
her life but live on after she has died. This pride in her artful tigers allows her to leave behind a
legacy that highlights her dreams and aspirations rather than just her suffering.

Q7. Justify the title of the poem 'Aunt Jennifer's Tigers'.

The title, 'Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers' is appropriate as it suggests that the poem is about Aunt
Jennifer’s knitted tigers. With their chivalrous, ferocious, bright and carefree attitude, she creates
an alternate world for herself. The tigers are the only means of free expression in her life, which is
otherwise burdened by fear and struggles of the married life.

Q8. Why do Aunt Jennifer's tigers not fear the men beneath the tree? (2023)
The Tigers are not afraid of the men who are standing under the tree, since they are bold, fearless,
and strong. Aunt Jennifer is scarred and traumatized by the ordeals of male-dominated society
and her marital life. Even after her death, the tigers made by her will continue to prance across the
screen and will live on. The tigers will not die and go to the grave with a band resting upon their
fingers which would remind them of their duties. The tigers will remain free and bold even after
aunt Jennifer's death.
9. What will happen when Aunt Jennifer is dead? (AI2018C)

The tigers that Aunt Jennifer made will remain the same even when she is dead, and will continue
to prance across the screen and will live on. They will still remain on the panel prancing with
confidence and chivalry. Here, it also may refer to the masculine world which suppressed her will
continue to enjoy the freedom which was denied to her.

10. Aunt Jennifer's efforts to get rid of her fear proved to be futile. Comment. (D2016)
Aunt Jennifer’s efforts to get rid of her fear seem to be futile. The speaker expresses this idea by
questioning whether the aunt will get rid of fear after death. The answer she arrives at is that even
after death she will remain fearful and bound by the shackles of matrimony.

LAQs
Q1. Discuss the significance of the final stanza of the poem and its implications for Aunt
Jennifer's life
The final stanza of "Aunt Jennifer's Tigers" underscores the enduring impact of Aunt Jennifer's
artistic expression despite her constrained life. It symbolizes her yearning for liberation and
defiance against patriarchal oppression. The image of the tigers "prancing" with "chivalric
certainty" suggests a sense of strength and vitality that Aunt Jennifer may have lacked in her own
life. Despite her struggles, her creation transcends her existence, embodying her unfulfilled desires
for freedom. The stanza implies that while Aunt Jennifer may not have achieved autonomy in life,
her legacy will persist beyond her, inspiring future generations to resist societal constraints. Thus,
the final stanza serves as a poignant reminder of the resilience and enduring spirit of those who
strive for liberation in the face of oppression.
Q2. In what ways does "Aunt Jennifer's Tigers" critique traditional gender roles and societal
expectations?
"Aunt Jennifer's Tigers" critiques traditional gender roles by portraying Aunt Jennifer as a victim
of patriarchal oppression. Through her embroidered tigers, Aunt Jennifer expresses a longing for
freedom and autonomy that is stifled by her marital bonds. The heavy ring symbolizes the weight
of societal expectations and the dominance of her husband. The contrast between Aunt Jennifer's
subdued existence and the boldness of the tigers highlights the disparity between societal norms
and individual desires. Adrienne Rich challenges the notion of women as passive and subservient
by presenting Aunt Jennifer's artistic expression as a form of resistance against oppressive gender
roles. The poem prompts reflection on the limitations imposed on women within patriarchal
societies and calls for the recognition of their agency and autonomy in defining their own
identities and aspirations.