Class 12 English — Chapter 13: Aunt Jennifer's Tigers

What you'll learn

• ▸Symbolism of Aunt Jennifer's Tigers
• ▸Characterization of Aunt Jennifer
• ▸The 'Massive Weight of Uncle's Wedding Band'
• ▸Contrast Between the Artist and Her Art
• ▸Theme of Patriarchal Oppression
• ▸Immortality of Art vs. Mortality of the Artist
• ▸Poetic Devices and Wordplay

Chapter Summary

--- PAGE 1 --- 5 Aunt Jennifer's Tigers 12074CH14 About the poet Adrienne Rich (1929–2012) was born in Baltimore, Maryland, USA. She is widely known for her involvement in contemporary women's movement as a poet and theorist. She has published nineteen volumes of poetry, three collections of essays and other writings. A strong resistance to racism and militarism echoes through her work. The poem Aunt Jennifer's Tigers addresses the constraints of married life a woman experiences. Before you read What does the title of the poem suggest to you? Are you reminded of other poems on tigers? 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. 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. When Aunt is dead, her terrified hands will lie Still…

Practice Questions from this Chapter

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1. Describe real tigers' lives. Get Solution →
2. Explain the poem's symbolic meaning. Get Solution →
3. Discuss women's historical struggles. Get Solution →
4. According to the 'About the poet' section, where was Adrienne Rich born? Get Solution →
5. What action are Aunt Jennifer's tigers performing across the screen in the first stanza? Get Solution →
6. The poem describes the tigers as being the color of what gemstone? Get Solution →
7. In the second stanza, what material are Aunt Jennifer's fingers working with? Get Solution →
8. Which object is described in the poem as having a 'massive weight'? Get Solution →

Did you know?

• 💡 No two tigers in the world have the exact same stripe pattern.
• 💡 Tigers can mimic the calls of other animals to attract prey.
• 💡 A group of tigers is surprisingly called an ambush or a streak.
• 💡 Tigers have false "eyes" on the back of their ears for defense.
• 💡 The tradition of wearing a wedding ring dates back to ancient Egypt.

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