Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers by Adrienne Rich

Introduction

The major theme of the poem “Aunt Jennifer’s Tiger reflects the the different brutalities and the struggle confronted by the Women of our society. The poetess depicted using some powerful words that how Women in a patriarchal society is being subdued with the responsibilities of their family thereby snatching away their freedom of living and are tyrannically exploited by the men.

Summary of the Poem

The main protagonist of this poem “Aunt Jennifer” have delineated a fearless society for Women through her embroidery skills.In the First stanza she has tried to portray by weaving tigers with the ivory needles. According to the poetess the Tigers were bright golden in colour and were dwelling green dense forests. The Tigers are here are definitely not a real one but an inner reflection of the poetic mind which represents Aunt Jennifer herself, her desire to be free and bold just like them.

In the second stanza she continues to weave beautiful and elegant Tigers with wool bearing the power of confidence with the ivory needle. But sometimes her hands shook as she was really outraged by the oppressive patriarchal society in which she was living. She was probably a bit scared of her father.

In the last stanza Aunt Jennifer was so depressed and anxious that her hands were wagging and she could not take the needle out of that beautiful crochet. Her wedding ring suddenly became an unnecessary burden filled with marital responsibilities which she has been doing since ages and probably she was bogged down by the dominance posed by her husband. But the beautiful Tigers created by Aunt Jennifer will be a memoir of a proud, confident and prerogative women that was portrayed by Aunt Jennifer as a self reflection.

About the poet

Adrienne Rich was a popular poet, essayist and an active feminist from USA. She own to be the most influential and popular poets in the middle of the 20th century. She used to actively participate in the contemporary women’s movement as a theorist and poet as well. Her work portrayed glimpses of strong resistance towards military culture and racism.

Conclusion

The poem conveyed a very strong message through the beautiful Tigers weaved by Aunt Jennifer about the freedom and independence of women in today’s society. The imaginary Tigers impacted by her depicted the subdued desire of Aunt Jennifer which she wished if she could owe it. But unfortunately she was entrapped in the cobwebs of the patriarchal society ,with the entanglement of the complex marital responsibilities.

 Question Answers

1. What does the word “Ordeals” depict in this poem?

Ans: The “ordeals” clearly depicts the different complexities posed by the marital responsibilities of Aunt Jennifer herself and also she has tried to portray that every woman has to be oppressed by bearing these responsibilities through their entire life.

2. Why did Aunt Jennier use Tigers as metaphors to depict her own desires?

Ans: The Tigers are fearless and strong and they rule the jungle.Hence the poetess wanted to weave Tigers who were prancing upon the dense green forests thereby exhibiting her subdued desire to be free and confident like them.They can be the memoir of a confidence and fierceness in a patriarchal society.

3.What are the different symbols used in this poem as metaphor to describe the difficulties faced by every Women of the society?

Ans: A lot of metaphors have been used in this poem as a symbol of anti feministic society-”ordeals,which means the different marital responsibilities,”Ringed”,which described the compulsory bondage that every Women have to pursue for the sake of their family to represent the every odds and turbulences she had faced and succumbed during her entire marital life.

4.Did the poet sympathise with Aunt Jennifer?

Ans: The poet sympathised with Aunt Jennifer as she  experienced  quite a lot of hardships  through her married life. The attitude of the poet towards Aunt Jenniferwas highly sympathetic as the poet depicted many suggestive imaginary symbols like “Tigers” to present a Woman who went through so many harsh experiences as well as unpleasant and terrifying periods during her married life.

Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers Class 12 Important Questions

1.  Why did Aunt Jennifer create the images of Tigers in her crochet?

Ans: Aunt Jennifer’s tigers were created by herself. The Tigers are fearless and strong and they rule the jungle. Hence the poetess wanted to weave Tigers who were prancing upon the dense green forests thereby exhibiting her subdued desire to be free and confident like them.

2. Did Aunt Jennifer face any difficulty while making the Tigers?

Ans: Aunt Jennifer continues to weave beautiful and elegant Tigers with wool bearing the power of confidence with the ivory needle.But sometimes her hands shook as she was really outraged by the oppressive patriarchal society in which she was living.She was probably a bit scared of her father.

3. Why does the Ring seem heavy on Aunt Jennifers’s hands?

Ans: Aunt Jennifer’s wedding ring suddenly became an unnecessary burden filled with marital responsibilities which she has been doing since ages and probably she was bogged down by the dominance posed by her husband. But the beautiful Tigers created by Aunt Jennifer will be a memoir of a proud,confident and prerogative women that was portrayed by Aunt Jennifer as a self reflection.

4.After Aunt Jennifer’s death what will be the fate of Tigers weaved?

Ans: Aunt Jennifer’s creation is a wonderful piece of art and it will remain immortal in all our hearts as the Tigers will keep on prancing selflessly  and fearlessly over the dense green forests. They will certainly sportray the deep desires of Aunt Jennifer of becoming an independent Women.