Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers

Adrienne Rich
(1929 –2012)

OBJECTIVES :
• Critical/Thematic appreciation of the poem
• Developing values and sensitivity
• Identifying Figure of Speech, Rhyme Scheme
• Developing the skills of recitation
• Expressing thought, ideas, feelings, emotions through poems
• Enhancing Vocabulary
 Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers
Adrienne Rich
(1929 –2012)
Adrienne Rich  was an American poet,
essayist and a feminist. She was born in
Baltimore, Maryland on May 16, 1929. She
attended Radcliffe College, graduating in
1951 . She was called "one of the most
widely read and influential poets of the
second half of the 20th century. She was
credited with bringing the oppression of
women to the forefront of poetic discourse.
Her earliest work, including A Change of
World (1951) which won the prestigious Yale
Younger Poets Award.
 Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers

Adrienne Rich
(1929 –2012)

PREVIOUS KNOWLEDGE :
a. Can you name a few evil practices against women in our
country?

b. How is a woman treated in a male dominated society?

Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers
Adrienne Rich
(1929 –2012)
 Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers
Adrienne Rich
(1929 –2012)
BACKGROUND :
Adrienne Rich was brought up in a well off family. Rich felt dominated by her
father’s strong personality while growing up. It was he who most guided her as a
young poet. This wasn’t always to her liking as he expected her to write her
poems his way. When Rich was growing up men dominated and women were
expected to become dutiful wives in their adult lives. All these elements may
have influenced the picture of marriage Rich drew in this poem. At the heart of
the poem is an image of a husband who controls and frightens his wife. Rich
wrote a lot of poems based on everyday experience. One topic she often
featured was the tension, women felt due to being dominated by their husbands.
In ‘Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers’ Rich is mocking the weakness of Aunt Jennifer and the
clout and authority of Jennifer’s husband in their marriage.
 Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers
Adrienne Rich
(1929 –2012)
Theme – Racism and militarism against women
Sub-Theme – Male chauvinistic society
The speaker/narrator – Aunt Jennifer

Vocabulary : Prance, topaz, denizen, beneath, sleek,

chivalric, flutter, massive, ordeal, panel, timid
 Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers
Adrienne Rich
(1929 –2012)

In the poem ‘Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers’ a woman expresses her suppressed

feelings through her art. Aunt Jennifer is the victim of the male dominated
society. She has no one to tell her mental and physical pain. She makes a
picture to convey her deep feelings. The poet addresses the constraints of
married life, experienced by a woman. Aunt Jennifer weaves tigers into the
panel. These tigers are brave & have no fear of men.

The speaker describes the tigers which her aunt produced on the panel.
They are set in motion. They are moving quickly by raising the front legs
and jumping forwards on the back legs. In the green jungle they look free,
bright, brave, fearless and magnificent. There are men sitting under the
tree, but the tigers do not. They move on to their goal boldly and smoothly.
 Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers
Adrienne Rich
Jennifer finds it difficult to make pictures by using the ivory needle. She is
tired of doing the household work after she got married. She can’t get herself
involved in her artistic work. She has to do it in her leisure time. Even then she
has to be sure whether her husband is watching her or not. So her hands are
terrified. She will not be free from fear until she dies. She will be dominated
by her husband. She will die, but her art will express her desire to move
proudly and fearlessly like the tigers she has made. Aunt Jennifer is terrified by
her dominating husband. Her finger flutters due to the mental suppression.
She is not happy with her married life. She will die but her art will express her
desire to move proudly and fearlessly like the tigers she has made.

The poem reveals the plight of women in our society. They are suppressed and
deprived of their basic rights. It is indeed a matter of grave concern that
despite a growing consensus regarding women empowerment, crimes against
them are increasing at an alarming rate. It is the need of the hour to create
adequate awareness among public for introspection and necessary action.
 Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers
Adrienne Rich
(1929 –2012)
Figure of Speech used :
Personification
Symbol
Imagery
Synecdoche
Hyperbole
Alliteration

Rhyme-Scheme : AABB, CCDD, and EEFF.

 Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers
Questions to Test Comprehension :
1. What do the tigers on the panel signify?
2. Describe the tigers on the panel.
3. How do ‘denizens’ and ‘chivalric’ add to our understanding of the tiger’s attitude?
4. Interpret the symbols found in the poem.
5. Why are the tigers not afraid of the men beneath the tree?
6. Explain : “They pace in sleek chivalric certainty.”
7. Why does Jennifer find it hard to pull the ivory needle?
8. What is the significance of ‘Uncle’s wedding band’?
9. What does the ‘ring’ symbolise?
10. Why does Aunt Jennifer choose to embroider tigers on the panel?
11. Why will the tigers go on prancing?
12. Justify the title of the poem.
13. What are the ordeals Aunt Jennifer surrounded by?
14. What is the attitude of the speaker towards Aunt Jennifer?
15. What is suggested by ‘massive weight of uncle’s wedding band’?
16. Why do Aunt Jennifer’s fingers flutter?

Video Link : https://youtu.be/F_1YqgUBqKw

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