AUNT JENNIFER’S TIGERS QUES ANS FOR PRACTICE

Question 1.
Describe the tigers created by Aunt Jennifer. (Delhi 2009)
Answer: The poet describes Aunt Jennifer’s tigers as ‘bright topaz denizens’ of the forest.
They are fearless and ferocious in sharp contrast to their creator, Aunt Jennifer’s
nervousness and timidity. Gallant and confident, they are sure of their purpose and move
ahead undeterred by any kind of hindrance or obstruction.
Question 2.
Why did Aunt Jennifer choose to embroider tigers on the panel? (All India 2009)
Answer: Aunt Jennifer chose to embroider tigers on the panel because of the nature of the
tigers. They symbolise strength and splendour which was in sharp contrast to her own meek
nature. The massive weight of the wedding band that sits heavily on her finger symbolises
the ordeals and hardships of her married life so she creates tigers as they are a striking
contrast to the frail, meek old lady who created them.
Question 3.
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow: (Delhi 2010)
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.

1. How are aunt Jennifer’s tigers described?

2. Why are they described as denizens of a world of green?
3. Why are they not afraid of the men?

Answer: 1. Aunt Jennifer’s tigers are described as powerful, strong and fearless.
2. The tigers are inhabitants of the dense green forests so they are described as dwellers of
a world of green.
3. Their courage and fearlessness gives them a confidence due to which they are not afraid
of men.

Question 4.
What will happen to Aunt Jennifer’s tigers when she is dead? (All India 2010)
Answer: Aunt Jennifer’s tigers will survive even after she is dead. She has created the tigers
in a panel out of wool. These objects of art are immortal. They will continue prancing,
proudly and fearlessly. To express her desire for freedom she had created the chivalrous
tigers who will survive long after her death but her own longing for freedom will remain
unfulfilled.

Question 5.
How has Aunt Jennifer created her tigers? What traits of tigers do they reveal? (All India
2010)
Answer: Aunt Jennifer has created shining topaz yellow- coloured tigers who are denizens of
a dense, green forest. They are fierce, unafraid and fearless and pace in ‘sleek’ and ‘chivalric’
certainty.
Question 6.
Why are Aunt Jennifer’s hands fluttering through her wool? (Comptt. Delhi 2010)
Answer: Aunt Jennifer is a victim of gender oppression at the hands of her husband. She
lives a life of total domination and constant fear. So she feels nervous and terrified that the
hands shake and flutter through her wool as she sits down to knit.

Question 7.
Describe the contrast between Aunt Jennifer ‘ and her creation, the tigers. (Comptt. All India
2010)
Answer: Aunt Jennifer is totally victimised and suffers from oppression by her male
counterpart. So she creates an alternate world of freedom in her art. The tigers she creates
go on prancing menacingly, exhibiting their pride and fearlessness of any social group or
gender conflicts.

Question 8.
How do ‘denizens’ and ‘chivalric’ add to our understanding of the tigers’ attitude? (Delhi
2011)
Answer: ‘Denizens’ means that the tigers inhabit a green world. They live in the forests where
they are free from constraints. ‘Chivalric’ means they are brave and fearless creatures. This
helps us to understand that bravery and fearlessness are the basic nature of the tigers.

Question 9.
Why do you think Aunt Jennifer created animals that are so different from her own
character? (All India 2011)
Answer: Aunt Jennifer’s tigers possessed all the qualities that Aunt Jennifer did not have.
The tigers were free, fearless, confident and proud whereas Aunt Jennifer was meek,
submissive and without any identity. She was a rather indecisive woman unlike the confident
tigers she had created.

Question 10.
What do the symbols, ‘tigers’, ‘fingers’ and ‘ring’ stand for in the poem, ‘Aunt Jennifer’s
Tigers’? (Comptt. Delhi 2011)
Answer: The ‘tigers’ are symbols of bravery and courage and also of Aunt Jennifer’s desire
for freedom. The ‘fingers’ are symbolic of the nervousness and fear experienced by Aunt
Jennifer and the ‘ring’ symbolises a binding marriage that is full of oppression and curtails
one’s freedom.

Question 11.
Describe the tigers created by Aunt Jennifer. (Comptt. All India 2011)
Answer: The poet describes Aunt Jennifer’s tigers as ‘bright topaz denizens’ of the forest.
They are fearless and ferocious in sharp contrast to their creator, Aunt Jennifer’s
nervousness and timidity. Gallant and confident, they are sure of their purpose and move
ahead undeterred by any kind of hindrance or obstruction.

Question 12.
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow: (Comptt. All India 2012)
Bright topaz denizens of a world of green.
They do not fear the men beneath the tree;
They pace in sleek chivalric certainty.

1. Who are ‘They’? Where are ‘They’?

2. Why are They’ not afraid of men?

Answer: 1. ‘They’ refers to the tigers that Aunt Jennifer has knitted on the panel. They are
prancing jerkily in the forest (across a screen).
2. The tigers are not afraid of men because they are gallant and fearless creatures who are
undeterred by any obstacles or hindrances and thus are not afraid of the men.

Question 13.
Why did Aunt Jennifer choose to embroider tigers on the panel? (Delhi 2012)
Answer: Aunt Jennifer chose to embroider tigers on the panel because of the nature of the
tigers. They symbolise strength and splendour which was in sharp contrast to her own meek
nature. The massive weight of the wedding band that sits heavily on her finger symbolises
the ordeals and hardships of her married life so she creates tigers as they are a striking
contrast to the frail, meek old lady who created them.

Question 14.
How do the words, “denizens’ and ‘chivalric’ add to our understanding of Aunt Jennifer’s
tigers? (All India 2012)
Answer: Aunt Jennifer chose to embroider tigers on the panel because of the nature of the
tigers. They symbolise strength and splendour which was sharp contrast to her own meek
nature. The massive weight of the wedding band that sits heavily on her finger symbolises
the ordeals and hardships of her married life so she creates tigers as they are a striking
contrast to the frail, meek old lady who created them.

Question 15.
What kind of married life did Aunt Jennifer lead? (Comptt. Delhi 2012)
Answer: Aunt Jennifer’s wedding band lies heavily on her hand. It reminds her of her
unhappy married life. It is symbolic of male authority and power of her husband who had
suppressed her and made her a nervous wreck. He had dominated over her for so long that
she had lost her identity.

Question 16.
What will happen to Aunt Jennifer’s tigers when she is dead? (Delhi 2013)
Answer: Aunt Jennifer’s tigers will survive even after she is dead. She has created the tigers
in a panel out of wool. These objects of art are immortal. They will continue prancing,
proudly and fearlessly. To express her desire for freedom she had created the chivalrous
tigers who will survive long after her death but her own longing for freedom will remain
unfulfilled.

Question 17.
What lies heavily on Aunt Jennifer’s hand? How is it associated with her husband? (All India
2013)
Answer: Aunt Jennifer’s wedding band lies heavily on her hand. It reminds her of her
unhappy married life. It is symbolic of male authority and power of her husband who had
suppressed her and made her a nervous wreck. He had dominated over her for so long that
she had lost her identity.

Question 18.
Why has Aunt Jennifer made ‘prancing, proud and unafraid’ tigers? (Comptt. Delhi 2013)
Answer: Aunt Jennifer chose to embroider tigers on the panel because of the nature of the
tigers. They symbolise strength and splendour which was sharp contrast to her own meek
nature. The massive weight of the wedding band that sits heavily on her finger symbolises
the ordeals and hardships of her married life so she creates tigers as they are a striking
contrast to the frail, meek old lady who created them.

Question 19.
What is the meaning of the phrase, ‘massive weight of uncle’s wedding band’? (Comptt. All
India 2013)
Answer: Aunt Jennifer’s wedding band lies heavily on her fingers as she has been a victim of
gender oppression at the hands of her husband. She has been so physically and mentally
trapped for so many years that she lives in a perpetual state of mental fear which she has
never been able to overcome.

Question 20.
What are the difficulties that aunt Jennifer faced in her life? (Delhi 2014)
Answer: Aunt Jennifer faced great hardships in her married life. She led a terrifying and
oppressed life wherein she had never been free but a helpless victim of male chauvinism.
Dominated and terrorised by her husband, Aunt Jennifer struggled for an existence within
the deep conflicts of slavery.

Question 21.
How are Aunt Jennifer’s tigers different from her? (All India 2014)
Answer: Aunt Jennifer’s tigers possessed all the qualities that Aunt Jennifer did not have.
The tigers were free, fearless, confident and proud whereas Aunt Jennifer was meek,
submissive and without any identity. She was a rather indecisive woman unlike the confident
tigers she had created.

Question 22.
How does Aunt Jennifer express her bitter-ness and anger against male dominance?
(Comptt. Delhi 2014)
Answer: To express her bitterness and anger against male dominance, Aunt Jennifer
chooses to embroider tigers on the panel. The nature of tigers symbolizes strength,
fearlessness and splendour which is in sharp contrast to her own meek nature because of
which she has suffered endlessly.

Question 23.
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow: (Comptt. Delhi 2015)
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.
 1. Why are the tigers called ‘Aunt Jennifer’s tigers’?
2. What does the phrase,’ a world of green’ mean?
3. How are the tigers different from their creator?
4. Why are the tigers not afraid of the men beneath the trees?

Answer: 1. The tigers are called ‘Aunt Jennifer’s tigers’ because they are her creation. She
has knitted (embroidered) the tigers on a screen.
2. The phrase ‘a world of green’ means ‘the green forest to which the tigers belong.’
3. The tigers are brave, chivalric, confident and strong unlike their creator who is weak, timid,
frightened and meek.
4. The tigers are brave and fearless by nature. They are ferocious wild beasts so they are not
afraid of the men beneath the trees.

Question 24.
What is suggested by the phrase, ‘massive weight of Uncle’s wedding band’? (Delhi 2015)
Answer: Aunt Jennifer’s wedding band lies heavily on her fingers as she has been a victim of
gender oppression at the hands of her husband. She has been so physically and mentally
trapped for so many years that she lives in a perpetual state of mental fear which she has
never been able to overcome.

Question 25.
Why does Aunt Jennifer create animals that are so different from her own character? (Delhi
2015)
Answer: Aunt Jennifer’s tigers possessed all the qualities that Aunt Jennifer did not have.
The tigers were free, fearless, confident and proud whereas Aunt Jennifer was meek,
submissive and without any identity. She was a rather indecisive woman unlike the confident
tigers she had created.

Question 26.
Aunt Jennifer’s efforts to get rid of her fear proved to be futile. Comment. (Delhi 2016)
Answer: Aunt Jennifer has been a victim of oppression by the overbearing dominance of her
husband. Completely terrorised by her husband she struggled for an existence and was so
victimised that even after her death she will not be able to liberate her mind and spirit from
the fear of male-dominance.

Question 27.
What picture of male chauvinism (tyranny) do we find in the poem, ‘Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers’?
(All India 2016)
Answer: Aunt Jennifer faced great hardships in her married life. She led a terrifying and
oppressed life wherein she had never been free but a helpless victim of male chauvinism.
Dominated and terrorised by her husband, Aunt Jennifer struggled for an existence within
the deep conflicts of slavery.

Question 28.
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow: (Comptt. Delhi 2016)
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.

1. Name the poem and the poet.

2. What was the aunt’s ordeal?
3. Why did she ‘make’ tigers?
4. How were the tigers different from her?

Answer: 1. The poem is ‘Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers’ by Adrienne Rich.

2. The aunt’s ordeal was that she was dominated by her husband and was denied freedom.
3. Aunt Jennifer made tigers to give expression to her desire for freedom.
4. Aunt Jennifer was meek and submissive whereas the tigers she embroidered were strong
and courageous.

Question 29.
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow :(Comptt. All India 2016)
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.

1. Name the poem and the poet.

2. What is Aunt Jennifer doing with the wool?
3. Why are her fingers fluttering?
4. What does ‘wedding band’ mean?

Answer: 1. The poem is ‘Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers’ by Adrienne Rich.

2. Aunt Jennifer is embroidering tigers on a canvas with wool.
3. She has been tormented and dominated by her husband all her life, so her fingers are
fluttering due to nervousness.
4. ‘Wedding band’ means a wedding ring.

Question 30.
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow: (Delhi 2017)
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.

1. Why are the tigers called Aunt Jennifer’s tigers?

2. How are they described here?
3. How are they different from Aunt Jennifer?
4. What does the word ‘chivalric’ mean?

Answer: 1. The tigers are called Aunt Jennifer’s tigers because they have been created by
her, she has embroidered a panel of prancing tigers.
2. They are described here as yellowish brown (topaz) coloured inhabitants of the jungle.
They are fearless, ferocious and brave creatures.
3. Aunt Jennifer is a timid and terrified old woman whose nature is in stark contrast to the
fearless and chivalrous tigers she has created.
4. The word ‘chivalric’ means ‘brave’/ respectful towards women.

Question 31.
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow: (All India 2017 )
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.

1. What is Aunt Jennifer doing with her wool?

2. Why does she find it difficult to pull her ivory needle?
3. What does ‘wedding band’ stand for ?
4. Describe the irony in the third line.

Answer: 1. Aunt Jennifer is embroidering the tigers on a panel with her wool.
2. Suppressed under male domination, Aunt Jennifer has become a nervous wreck. As a
result, her fingers flutter and she finds it difficult to pull her ivory needle.
3. ‘Wedding band’ is a symbol of male authority and power. The band symbolizes her
unhappy marriage, her husband and the patriarchal society that limits the freedom of
women.
4. Even though Aunt Jennifer wears the wedding band, it is ironical that the poet describes it
as belonging to uncle.

Question 32.
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow: (Comptt. Delhi 2017)
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.

1. What is Aunt Jennifer’s mood?

2. Why are her fingers fluttering?
3. What is Uncle’s wedding band?
4. Why is it heavy?

Answer: 1. Aunt Jennifer is in a state of anxiety and nervousness.

2. Aunt Jennifer’s fingers are fluttering as she is nervous because of her husband.
3. Uncle’s wedding band is the wedding ring that Aunt Jennifer wears in one of her fingers.
4. It is metaphorically heavy because it is a symbol of her subjugation and oppression by her
husband.

Question 33.
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow: (Comptt. All India 2017)
‘Bright topaz denizens of a world of green.
They do not fear the men beneath the tree;
They pace in sleek chivalric certainty.’

1. Who are ‘bright topaz denizens’?

2. Where do you find them?
3. Why are ‘they’ not afraid of the men?
4. What does the word ‘sleek’ mean?

Answer: 1. The tigers embroidered on the panel by Aunt Jennifer are referred to as ‘bright
topaz denizens’.
2. They are found in the jungle, the world of green on a screen.
3. They are fearless and bold creatures so they are not afraid of the men.
4. The word ‘sleek’ means ‘elegant’ or ‘glossy’.