Narrator: [In the bustling 1950s, amidst the gathering of fierce feminist

movement, led by none other than the famous poet, Adrienne Rich, the
members delve into a deep discussion on the poem Aunt Jenniffer’s Tigers.]

Member 1: I came across your recent poem and I can’t help but wonder who
was the inspiration behind this work of yours.

Adrienne: it’s you, it’s me, it’s every one of us as we all can imagine ourselves
in Aunt Jennifer’s place, one way or the other.

Member 2: [interjects] Oh! I’m with you on that.

Member 3: Especially the line you wrote which goes like this

They pace in sleek chivalric certainty

Narrator: The animal Tiger here is personified, described specifically as

"chivalric."
Personification is when non-human things are described as having human
traits or actions.

Member 1: “Chivalric” is a term often used to describe the moral code of

knights and is used to refer to the courteous treatment of us women.

Member 2: In likening the tigers' lack of fear to a "chivalric certainty," the poem
thus ties their bravery and pride to masculinity.

Member 3: This may suggest that such carefree "prancing" is simply not
possible for Aunt Jennifer, who is a woman living in a patriarchal world. Such a
good way of telling it.

[everyone nodding]

Adrienne: Did you all notice my sly use of words in the sentence

Aunt Jennifer’s fingers fluttering through her wool

I’ve used it to draw attention to a sense of nervousness stemming from her

oppressive marriage.

[member 2 & 3 a little shocked]

Narrator: Here, finger fluttering is an example of Alliteration with the sound “f”
repeating.
Alliteration is characterised by the repetition of the same consonant sound
within closely positioned words.

Member 1: The use of the word flutter evokes the image of birds’ wings and
gentle movements trying to flee into the light blue sky! Am I right?

Member 2: I think so too! If we look carefully, this quite aptly explains Aunt
Jennifer's feeling as though her marriage has locked her up in a cage, unable
to fly and reach her personal goals.

Member 3: The irony in using the word "tiger" to describe Aunt Jennifer's
needlework is that it symbolises strength, power, and fearlessness—qualities
that Aunt Jennifer absolutely lacks in her married life. Isn’t that right Adrienne?

Adrienne: Absolutely, the contrast between Aunt Jennifer's meekness and the
boldness of the tigers highlights the disparity between her inner desires for
independence and the reality of her submissive existence.

Narrator: Here, the massive weight of Uncle’s wedding band is a tribute to the
symbolism represented. Symbolism is a literary device where an object,
person, situation, or action is used to represent an abstract concept or idea.

Member 1: This reminds me of your other poem Adrienne “The Trees”

Member 2: Oh yes! I remember that poem too signified an oppressive moment

of womanhood, seeking to escape.

Member 3: The poem was an extended metaphor, trees were people,

specifically females who require healing, ready for their true purpose. Right?

Adrienne: You lovely ladies are truly intelligent. Likewise, in this poem, “Aunt
Jennifer’s Tigers” expresses the theme of female subjugation within a
patriarchal society.
Member 2: Oh and the last stanza won my heart

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.

Narrator: Her terrified hands convey the discreet use of a transferred epithet.
A transferred epithet is when the whole emotion of the person, or a bigger
entity is represented by a small part of it. In the last line of the 3rd stanza,
prancing and proud again signify alliteration. This whole poem is an example
of Imagery. Imagery refers to the use of vivid, descriptive language that
appeals to the senses of the reader. Let’s not forget about the beautiful
rhyming scheme AABB which ties the entire poem together.

- written by Gaatha and Jiya