XII Science- MODULE 1- AUNT JENNIFER’S TIGERS

- ADRIENNE RICH
ADRIENNE RICH

Adrienne Rich (1929) was born in Baltimore,

Maryland, USA. Her claim to fame were her
feminist ideas and her wide involvement in
contemporary women’s movement as a poet and
theorist.

She received a number of awards including 1996

Tanning Award for Mastery in the Art of Poetry,
the Lennon foundation’s 1999 Lifetime
Achievement Award, The Commonwealth Award
in Literature and National Book Award
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.

{Footnotes: (This stanza highlights Aunt

Jennifer’s fears)
Prance – To move ahead like a spirited horse
Topaz – a golden coloured gem
Sleek – elegant
Denizen – an animal or a person found in a particular place
Chivalry – courageous and courteous behaviour, especially
towards women
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.

(FOOTNOTES:
fluttering: moving about in an aimless manner
Patriarchal society – A society where men hold the positions of
power and prestige, typically involved in decision making.)
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.

(FOOTNOTES:
Adrienne Rich's "Aunt Jennifer's Tigers", depicts a
woman trapped within the cultural constraints and
responsibilities of married life.

ordeals: severe or testing experiences)

 In the first stanza, Aunt Jennifer’s situation and character is
contrasted with her artistic creation that portrays her aspiration.

The tapestry on which she has knitted tigers are very symbolic of what
she wants to be in life - fearless, assertive, noble and powerful like the
tiger as expressed in the words "They pace in sleek chivalric certainty".

The word 'certainty' could portray the self-assuredness of the tiger or

the confident bearing of the tiger as it is fearless.

The tigers depicted as prancing across the screen bring to mind a

being that is confident, self-assured and happy; all things that Aunt
Jennifer is not.

The use of colours implies that Aunt Jennifer's tigers and their land are
more vital and enjoy a sense of freedom far greater than her. Yellow
(bright topaz) connotes the sun and fierce energy, while green reminds
one of spring and rebirth.
In the second stanza, Aunt Jennifer's present state is depicted.

Her fingers are "fluttering through her wool" showing both physical and
mental weakness. She finds it difficult to pull the needle.

 "The massive weight of Uncle's wedding band / Sits heavily upon Aunt
Jennifer's hand" reminds us that her marriage responsibilities weigh her down
which makes her unable to realize her full potential as a woman in a male-
dominated society.

She escapes from her difficult situation through art i.e. through knitting.
The final stanza contains imagery that reflects back on the first two
stanzas.

 The reference of the hands symbolizes Aunt Jennifer as a whole.

Though her death would free her from her present miserable state,
her hands will remain terrified with the wedding ring which binds her
to her ordeals that took complete control of her.

 The only sign of her freedom from her present life is the art work
which she escapes into by depicting the prancing, proud and unafraid
tigers which is what she really wants to be and which she attains
through her imagination.
IMAGES AND SYMBOLS USED IN THE POEM:

‘Tiger’…has been used as a symbol of the terror and oppression perpetrated on

women like Aunt Jennifer by the male world.
•It also symbolises the freedom of spirit which Aunt Jennifer dreams of but is never
able to achieve.
‘Fluttering ….wool’..highlights the extensive oppression of the women. Aunt
Jennifer is so victimized that her frail fingers are trembling and weak.

•Her struggling with the ivory needles tells us of the loss of her individuality under
the weight of Uncle’s domination and her terrorized state of mind.

‘Uncle’s wedding band’..symbolises the suppression of women in matrimony. It also

symbolises the so called male authority and dominance.

‘Ringed with ordeals ‘..it expresses the struggle of the spirit, injustice and
oppression that Aunt Jennifer suffers but never expresses.
 RHYME SCHEME….aabbcc

THEME OF THE POEM :

• The poem is a feminist poem and revolves around the theme
of male chauvinism and gender conflicts.
• It also highlights the theme of Patriarchy leading to
victimization of the women by their male counterparts.
• Highlights the women’s inner desire to free herself from the
clutches of abusive marriage and patriarchal society.
• Has portrayed a nervous and fearful housewife lacking inner
conviction unlike the tigers she creates. Jennifer is
domesticated and mastered by her husband.