A Tiger in the Zoo
Thinking about the Poem (Page 30-31)
Question 1:
Read the poem again, and work in pairs or groups to do the following tasks.
(i) Find the words that describe the movements and actions of the tiger in the cage and in the wild. Arrange them in two columns.
(ii) Find the words that describe the two places, and arrange them in two columns.
Now try to share ideas about how the poet uses words and images to contrast the two situations.
Answer:
(i)
| In the Cage | In the Wild |
| Stalks | Lurking in shadow |
| Few steps of his cage | Sliding through long grass |
| Quiet rage | Snarling around houses |
| Locked in concrete cell | Baring his white fangs, his claws |
| Stalking the length of his cage | Terrorising the village |
| Ignoring visitors | |
| Stares with his brilliant eyes at the brilliant stars |
(ii)
| Cage | Wild |
| Few steps of his cage | Shadow |
| Locked | Water hole |
| Concrete cell | Long grass |
| Behind bars | Plump deer |
| Visitors | Houses at the jungle’s edge |
| Patrolling cars | Village |
Question 2:
Notice the use of a word repeated in lines such as these:
(i) On pads of velvet quiet,
In his quiet rage.
(ii) And stares with his brilliant eyes
At the brilliant stars.
What do you think is the effect of this repetition?
Answer:
This repetition is used by the poet to create a poetic effect to increase the intensity of the tiger’s rage and his silent helplessness from the concrete cell of the cage. ‘Velvet quiet’ refers to the velvet pads of the tiger which are quiet and unable to run or leap. The tiger could do nothing but just walk around the limited space of his cage. The use of ‘quiet rage’ signifies the anger and ferocious nature of the tiger that is building up inside him as he wants to run out freely into the forest and attack a deer. The tiger’s rage is quiet as he is locked inside the cage and is helpless. The repetition of ‘quiet’ has given a lyrical beauty to the poem. Similarly, the use of the term ‘brilliant’ for both the tiger’s eyes and the stars points to the majestic nature of both. The tiger stares at the brilliant stars with his brilliant eyes as he dreams about how he could have led a beautiful, free and pleasing life in the forest. Thus, the repetition creates a wonderful rhythmic effect and gives a kind of magnificence to the lines.
Question 3:
Read the following two poems — one about a tiger and the other about a panther. Then discuss:
Are zoos necessary for the protection or conservation of some species of animals? Are they useful for educating the public? Are there alternatives to zoos?
The Tiger
The tiger behind the bars of his cage growls,
The tiger behind the bars of his cage snarls,
The tiger behind the bars of his cage roars.
Then he thinks.
It would be nice not to be behind bars all
The time
Because they spoil my view
I wish I were wild, not on show.
But if I were wild, hunters might shoot me,
But if I were wild, food might poison me,
But if I were wild, water might drown me.
Then he stops thinking
And…
The tiger behind the bars of his cage growls,
The tiger behind the bars of his cage snarls,
The tiger behind the bars of his cage roars.
PETER NIBLETT
The Panther
His vision, from the constantly passing bars,
has grown so weary that it cannot hold
anything else. It seems to him there are
a thousand bars; and behind the bars, no world.
As he paces in cramped circles, over and over,
the movement of his powerful soft strides
is like a ritual dance around a centre
in which a mighty will stands paralysed.
Only at times, the curtain of the pupils
lifts, quietly. An image enters in,
rushes down through the tensed, arrested muscles,
plunges into the heart and is gone.
RAINER MARIA RILKE
Answer:
A zoo is a place where several species of animals are kept. Some of these animals are endangered or on the verge of extinction. Likewise, even endangered tigers and lions are not safe in the forest due to poaching for illegal trading. Therefore, zoos are necessary for the conservation and protection of such species. That way, zoos are a safe haven for animals, and the public should be educated about the importance of wild animals and their key role in maintaining the ecological balance in the environment. Some other alternatives to zoos could be wildlife sanctuaries, forest reserves, national parks, etc. These options will not only protect or conserve these species but also provide these animals with a habitat in the midst of nature.
Question 4:
Take a point of view for or against zoos, or even consider both points of view and write a couple of paragraphs or speak about this topic for a couple of minutes in class.
Answer:
Activity to be done by yourself.