Read the novel thoroughly and answer the following questions in 120 -150

Words:

1) Describe Raja’s life of his early days as a cave dweller.

2) How is Madan (Madhusudan), the Cine Director able to make Captain agree to spare
Raja for his film?

3) How does Captain tame the Tiger?

4) Write a brief note on the ‘unpleasant turn’ that forces Raja to leave the circus?

5) In what ways are the human characters in A Tiger for Malgudi, a sharp contrast to the
Tiger?

6) Captain is a victim of his own ignorance and spiritual inertia.Discuss

7) What is R.K. Narayan’s aim in creating the character of Raja?

8) “I was still a prisoner” is Raja’s feeling in spite of being well looked after by the Captain.
Discuss

9) Describe briefly the heated arguments between the Master [Swamiji] and the teachers
who surrounded the school room where the Tiger was locked.

10) Describe briefly the changes in the Tiger’s behaviour after he came into contact with his
Master.

Key Points

1.- used to live in a cave at the far end of Mempi range/hills

- used to frolic on the sandy bank and in the cool stream
- always protected by his mother
- suddenly his mother disappeared/vanished
- was chased, knocked down and hurt by bigger animals
- was starving in absence of the mother
- tried to catch rabbits, fox, cubs and squirrels for his food.
- grew up in course of time
- considered himself the supreme lord of the jungle
- every creature used to tremble when it sensed his approach in
the jungle.
- all living creatures started avoiding him
- himself was scared of porcupine
- started ignoring creatures like monkeys and leopards
- had freedom to move anywhere
- led a free life
- any other relevant point/points

2.- Madan contacted Captain

- told him that he wanted to make a film with him in the main role
- he had seen Raja in action with the goat
- Captain didn’t show any interest in the film
- later told by Madan that he had hired a wrestler called Jaggu for the
human side/role
- told him that he had already filmed the goat sequence inside the
circus sitting in VIP enclosures
- Captain did not agree in the beginning
- tried to put Madan off
- Madan made a very generous offer
- the deal was finally struck
- Captain agreed to spare Raja on certain specified days
- any other relevant point/points

3. - Captain tamed the tiger with his whip

- used to put him in a cage away from other animals
- Captain seemed to be a monster to the tiger
- used to make him run in circles for hours
- made him jump through a fire ring
- kept him hungry for hours
- Raja used to starve
- he used to get tired and almost fainted during exercise
- was lashed, felt miserable during training
- his nightmare began during training
- was whipped, chained and given electric shocks
- any other relevant point/points

4. As a circus animal is kept well by the captain but still feels a prisoner and helpless – when
pushed too far kills the captain and rediscovers his original nature – is forced to be a part of
the film.

5.The author aims to explode man’s principal delusion that he is all-important, that all else in
creation exists only for his sport, amusement, comfort, or nourishment. To this end, the
human characters are presented as trying to manipulate the natural world for their own ends
and failing miserably in the process. By using a tiger as his central character, and by
allowing the reader to see through a tiger’s eyes, Narayan portrays man as selfish and
insensitive to the world, as well as totally unaware of his role in the great scheme of things.
That Raja’s thoughts and activities are superior to anything he observes of humankind
affirms just how much the individual is immersed in egocentric ignorance.

6.Captain sees himself in total control of his own life and all that he touches. - consumed by
his own self-importance, which is manifested in the power he holds over both the animals
and the people with whom he comes into contact. The entire Grand Malgudi circus, which
Captain inherits, but then transforms to his own liking, is a central symbol of the fictional
reality with which he surrounds himself. Even tigers have purpose, something Captain fails
to realize. Captain also introduces Raja to the circus audience as not an ordinary,
commonplace tiger but an intelligent creature . . . almost human in understanding; Ironically,
what Captain says is true, as Raja possesses far more understanding than Captain himself.
Finally, Captain is presented as a skilled linguist, capable of speaking to the audience in
Hindi, English, and Tamil. The implication is that, while Captain speaks the words, he does
not understand what he is saying. He neither appreciates how language is inherently
deceiving, nor does he try to use it correctly. Captain’s self-importance is most revealed in
his relationship with Madan, the film director, who approaches Captain about having Raja
perform in his film. Captain has no interest in the film, except that it offers him another way of
controlling and manipulating others. Captain is doing little more than playing power games
with Madan, which give him a false sense of his own importance and enmesh him even
further in the deception coming from such selfishness.

7. Explore man’s delusion that he is all important – all other creatures exist for his sport,
comfort and amusement – man portrayed as selfish and insensitive, unaware of his role in
the scheme of themes – exposes man’s ignorance, pride and arrogance

8. Feels helpless about what captain inflicts on him – feels that one can’t drive from the tiger
in his basic nature – his wildness and ferocity are essential traits that are subjugate.

9.The tiger was called beast by someone in the crowd

- the master became angry hearing this word
- objected to use of words like beast or brute
- someone called him a reckless man
- a teacher asked him who he was
- why he was asking frivolous objection
- in anger the master replied that he did not understand/know who he was
- one teacher suggested that he should be avoided
- told the crowd to concentrate on safety of children
- children taken out of the hall
- the master advised to open the door and leave the children
- then suddenly someone called him a crazy beggar
- they asked master to leave the school premises.
- the master refused to leave
- asked the crowd if the tiger had come on their invitation
- he argued that his presence was the real problem and not the tiger
- then the master went out
- did not leave but kept sitting on the culvert
- any other relevant point/points

10. the master told the tiger that he was free to leave him
- could go to a place of his choice
- tiger refused to leave
- started listening to his master on life and existence and death
- his master was amused when tiger told him that God must be an
enormous tiger with a tail capable of encircling the globe
- Raja’s transformation;
- his keenness of hunger diminished
- regretted killing animals
- tried to attain some kind of purification by reducing the frequency of
seeking food
- stopped killing animals recklessly
- tried attaining merit through penance and making himself worthy of his
master’s grace
- any other relevant point/points