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

What you'll learn

• ▸The Character of Aunt Jennifer
• ▸The Symbolism of the Tigers
• ▸Contrast Between the Artist and Her Art
• ▸The Theme of Marital Oppression
• ▸Art as a Form of Escape and Expression
• ▸Feminist Perspective in the Poem
• ▸The Pun on the Word 'Ringed'
• ▸Immortality of Art vs. Human Suffering

Chapter Summary

--- PAGE 1 --- 12074CH14 5 Aunt Jennifer's Tigers 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 different tiger species. Get Solution →
2. Explain marital symbolism historically. Get Solution →
3. Discuss embroidery as an art form. Get Solution →
4. Who is the author of the poem 'Aunt Jennifer's Tigers'? Get Solution →
5. What are the tigers doing across the screen in the first line? Get Solution →
6. What color are the tigers described as in the poem? Get Solution →
7. According to the poem, what object 'sits heavily upon Aunt Jennifer's hand'? Get Solution →
8. What does Aunt Jennifer find difficult to pull through her wool? Get Solution →

Did you know?

• 💡 Tigers have striped skin, not just striped fur covering their bodies.
• 💡 Each tiger's stripe pattern is unique, much like human fingerprints.
• 💡 Embroidery has been a practiced art form for thousands of years.
• 💡 Ancient Romans believed a vein in the fourth finger led directly to the heart.
• 💡 Tigers are the largest wild cats found anywhere in the world.

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