THE TIGER IN THE ZOO
This poem
contrasts a tiger in the zoo with the tiger in its natural habitat. The
poem moves from the zoo to the jungle, and back again to the zoo. Read
the poem silently once, and say which stanzas speak about the
tiger in the zoo, and which ones speak about the tiger in the
jungle.
He stalks in his vivid stripes
The few steps of his cage,
On pads of velvet quiet,
In his quiet rage.
Tiger is a majestic animal, lives at his own pride in the jungles. He always maintains his splendour. The colourful belts on his body are an attractive feature he is blessed with by the God. But now his condition has become like that of a prisoner. He doesn't like the life in cage. He is very angry with his present state. he is very rageful. but alas! he could not do anything and that's why is quiet. The tiger is very ferocious animal, his blow of paw can give thunderbolt to animals in jungle now also got quiet because he has not freedom at all.
Rhyme scheme: abcb
Who is 'HE' over here?
Where is 'he' at the moment?
what do you understand by 'VIVID STRIPES'?
What is referred as 'pads of velvet'?
why the word quiet has been used repetitively?
He should be lurking in shadow,
Sliding through long grass
Near the water hole
Where plump deer pass.
The poet feels pity for the wild beast. He feels him to be in his natural habitat, finding for his prey and walking majestic strides. He thinks that how dangerous a tiger is when it attacks on other animals in jungle from bushes. even his walking stance looks like royal. He could devour the fleshy deer by opening a deadly attack.
Rhyme scheme: abcb
Where 'he' should be?
What does he do there?
He should be snarling around houses
At the jungle’s edge,
Baring his white fangs, his claws,
Terrorising the village!
The poet wishes the tiger being in the wild, roaming free around human colonies, giving trembling terror to the villagers by exposing his bare white teeth and assaulting with the soft yet cruel paws. The villagers feel death threats at his roaring.
Rhyme scheme: abcb
Why should he be snarling around houses?
What is referred to as 'WHITE FANGS'?
What happens when this wild beast goes near human habitat?
But he’s locked in a concrete cell,
His strength behind bars,
Stalking the length of his cage,
Ignoring visitors.
But the poor creature now has been hunted down by the most cruel creature on earth(Man) and has been thrown behind the bars. The tiger has no solution to free itself. he could only walk down the corners of the cage and try to avoid the site of the treacherous human being,
Rhyme scheme: abcb
Where is he now and which condition?
why does he ignore the visitors?
Why happens when someone is banished from his/her natural place of living?
He hears the last voice at night,
The patrolling cars,
And stares with his brilliant eyes
At the brilliant stars.
At night, he listens to the whistles and movements of the rangers and keepers, who are always keeping an eye on him. they take intermittent rounds to make sure the tiger remains caged. The tiger though very smart, earnest eyes could only see at the keepers and the stars in turns.
Rhyme scheme: abcb
What does he here at night?
why does he stares at stars?
why the word brilliant used twice in this stanza? What does it tells more about the beast and the nature?
Study of the poem.
Poetic devices:
Alliteration:
He stalks in his vivid stripes
But he is locked in a concrete cell
Repetition:
on pads of velvet quiet,in his quiet cage.
and stares with his brilliant eyes, at the brilliant stars.
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