Title of Aunt Jennifer’s Tiger
The title of the chapter “Aunt Jennifer’s Tiger” explains us about the tiger knitted by Aunt Jennifer with the colourful thread indicating bravery, freedom and a chivalric attitude. By creating Tiger she wants to express herself in an alternative world.
Central Idea of Aunt Jennifer’s Tiger
The Poem “Aunt Jennifer’s Tiger” point out the constraints of married life for a woman. The poet has shown a contrary between Aunt Jennifer (a married woman) and a Tiger. It exhibits the intense feeling of an oppressed woman being dominated by her husband who needs freedom so she creates an alternative world for herself.
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Introduction of Aunt Jennifer’s Tiger
In this poem, Poet has presented a picture of a world that is dominated by males and females like Aunt Jennifer being dominated by her husband longing for freedom and Independence. So by creating Tiger on a screen, she exhibits her desire for freedom and strength.
Stanza Wise Explanation of Aunt Jennifer’s Tiger
First Stanza: Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers prance ……………………………….. chivalric certainty.
The First Stanza opens with a description of a tiger that is Prancing (leaning forward) across the screen (canvas). Here Poet compares the Tiger with the Topaz (a yellowish bright colour gemstone) that signifies the shiny yellowish colour of the Tiger. Where Tigers live in the forest (green world / Tree) without any fear of hunters (men) and continue their walk of life in the same stylish and chivalric manner.
Important Meanings: Here Prance refers to the position of leaning forward, Topaz is the yellowish bright colour gemstone, Green World / Tree refers to the forest, Mens refer to the hunter who lived in the forest, and Chivalric refer to bravery.
Second Stanza: Aunt Jennifer’s finger ……………………………….. Aunt Jennifer’s hand.
In the second stanza poet shows the fluttered condition of Aunt. She is going through Physical and Mental Trauma due to which she is unable to pull an ivory needle having no weight because of the massive weight of her uncle’s wedding band. As wedding band signifies the dominance of the uncle towards the aunt which shows the example of an unsuccessful marriage and restrictions in doing things.
Important Meanings: Here Fluttering refers to an uncomfortable and nervous situation.
Third Stanza: When Aunt is dead ……………………………….. proud and unafraid.
The last stanza concludes the life of Aunt by describing her death. It states that even after the death she would not be free from the burden and her identity would not be lost. As she will then also be called the wife of uncle as her terrifying hand will still ring with the custom and tradition. She was controlled or dominated but her piece of art that is her tiger will go on jumping in the same fearless manner as earlier.
Read More: Keeping Quiet by Pablo Neruda Simplified Summary.
Poetic Device of Aunt Jennifer’s Tiger
- Irony: The irony of the poem is that the creator is oppressed and the creation is powerful.
- Alliteration: Finger Fluttering, Prancing Proud, Chivalric Certainity.
- Symbols: The Tiger symbolizes freedom and courage, the Bright Topaz symbolizes the colour of the Tiger’s fur, Uncle’s Wedding ring Symbolizes the constraints of marriage life for women.
- Personification: Sleek and Chivalric certainly Tiger in the panel will go on prancing.
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Conclusion of Aunt Jennifer’s Tiger
Aunt Jennifer’s Tiger tell us the several problems faced by women after marriage just like Aunt Jennifer so she wants to live her life freely and happily without any oppression of others.
Important Question of Aunt Jennifer’s Tiger
How has Aunt Jennifer created her Tiger? What traits of Tiger do they reveal?
Aunt Jennifer has created a Tiger by using colourful thread, pieces of cloth and a needle. The traits of Tiger have been shown like courage and fierce as they never get dominated.
What do you mean by the certainty that the tiger’s process?
The Tiger never change their walk of life but oppositely humans change their walk of life according to their situation and conditions.
What is the weight that lies heavy on Aunt Jennifer’s hand?
The weight that lies on the hand of Aunt Jennifer is her domination by uncle because she is oppressed and cannot lead her life freely.
How does Aunt Jennifer’s effort to get rid of her fear prove to be Futile?
The efforts of Aunt Jennifer to get rid of fear are futile because she is trapped in an unsuccessful marriage and patriarchal system and even after death she is still called to be an uncle’s wife.
in the poem Aunt Jennifer’s Tiger what is the contrary between the reality of Aunt’s life and her imagination?
The contrary part of the poem is that the creator is oppressed and the creation is powerful. That is why she created the tiger on the panel to express her feeling of soaring high in the sky.
Read More: The Enemy by Pearl S. Buck Detailed Explanations.
