X-Eng.A Tiger In The Zoo Brief Summary "First Flight" Q/A

A Tiger in The Zoo 

      Brief Summary 

‘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. The poem provides a contrast in the mood and environment of a tiger when he is in the zoo and a tiger when he is in the forest. In the zoo, he has no freedom. He is kept in a cemented cell behind the bars. He feels angry, frustrated and helpless. This reminds him of his natural habitat, his hiding and sliding in the long grass near the water hole and pouncing upon the fat deer, the way he terrorized the villagers, displaying his sharp teeth and claws.At night in the zoo he hears the sounds of patrolling cars. The tiger in the zoo appears helpless as to be a mere showpiece and source of entertainment to people. The poet wants to convey that it is cruel to keep wild animals in small enclosures of the zoo, away from their natural habitat. They feel angry, helpless and unhappy in the cage. He pays no attention to the visitors who came to watch him. In the silence of the night, he stares at the brilliant stars with his bright eyes.

VOCABULARY/Word Meaning

1. Stalks -To move quietly

2. Vivid -Clear

3. Rage - Anger

4. Lurking - Hiding

5. Plump- Chubby

6. Snarling- To make angry sounds 

7. Fangs-Two long sharp teeth

8. Patrolling -To go around an area

9. Brilliant- Very bright

Question 1.

Read the poem again and work in pairs or groups to do the following tasks.

Q1. Find the words that describe the movements and actions of the tiger in the cage and in the wild. Arrange them in two columns.

Ans.

Cage	In the Wild
Stalks, Few steps of his cage, Quiet rage Locked in concrete cell, Stalking-the length of his cage Ignoring visitors. He hears the last voice Stares at the brilliant stars.	Lurking in shadow, Sliding through long grass, Snarling around houses, Baring his white fangs, his claws, Terrorising the village.

Q2. How does Tiger walk in the case?

Ans. The Tiger in the cage walks in a proud manner.His movement is quite but his eyes show that he is very angry at having been imprison in the cage but he is helpless and cannot do anything for his freedom.

Q4. What does the poet say about a tiger in his natural surroundings?

Ans.The poet says a Jungle is the natural habitat for a tiger. Here he moves proudly and fearlessly in the long grass near the water body.He hides in an ambush to hunt the prey like a plump deer for his food.

Q4- What is the message/ Central idea of the poem The Tiger in the Zoo?

Ans. The message of the poem is that no animal should be engaged forcibly The poet wants to convey that like human beings, animals also like freedom. They do not want to be caged, they cannot live a miserable life. If their habitat is destroyed by human beings, these animals cannot survive.

Animal feel frustrated, angry,helpless and unhappy and wish for their free life and suitable wild environment of  the forest. 

Q4.What is the justification of the title The tiger in the zoo?

Ans.The cage life has totally changed the tiger's personality. The poet is trying to say that the animal which is famous for its fearlessness and freedom is confined and sad due to the human beings who want to derive pleasure by looking at him in the zoo cage.

CL Gautam

PGT  English Confluence