About the Poet
Adrienne Rich (1929–2012) was a distinguished American poet, essayist, and feminist thinker. She was known for her powerful poetry that explored themes of gender, oppression, and social justice. Rich’s work often challenged societal norms and advocated for women’s rights, making her a significant voice in modern feminist literature. Her poetry reflects deep emotions, personal struggles, and political consciousness, blending artistry with activism.
Theme of the Poem:
The poem Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers highlights the theme of women’s oppression and the desire for freedom. It contrasts the fearless and majestic tigers embroidered by Aunt Jennifer with her own subjugated and restrained life under patriarchal domination. The poem symbolizes the struggles faced by women, their silent suffering in a male-dominated society, and their unfulfilled longing for empowerment. However, the tigers represent strength, independence, and a legacy of resistance, suggesting that even though Aunt Jennifer remains oppressed in her life, her art will live on as a symbol of defiance and courage.
Poem
Aunt Jennifer’s tigers prance across a screen,
Bright topaz denizens of a world of green.
They do not fear the men beneath the tree;
They pace in sleek chivalric certainty.
Aunt Jennifer’s finger fluttering through her wool
Find even the ivory needle hard to pull.
The massive weight of Uncle’s wedding band
Sits heavily upon Aunt Jennifer’s hand.
When Aunt is dead, her terrified hands will lie
Still ringed with ordeals she was mastered by.
The tigers in the panel that she made
Will go on prancing, proud and unafraid.
Courtesy: ‘Students Heaven’ YouTube Channel
Questions-Answers:
1. Who is Aunt Jennifer, and what does she create in the poem?
Aunt Jennifer is a woman trapped in an oppressive marriage. She expresses her suppressed desires through embroidery, creating tigers on a panel. These tigers symbolize the freedom and strength she lacks in her own life.
2. Describe the tigers in Aunt Jennifer’s embroidery.
The tigers are described as bright, fearless, and confident. They move freely across the screen, unafraid of men. Their boldness contrasts with Aunt Jennifer’s timid and oppressed nature, symbolizing her unfulfilled longing for strength and liberation.
3. What does Aunt Jennifer’s embroidery symbolize?
The embroidery symbolizes her desire for freedom and power, which she cannot attain in real life due to societal and marital constraints. The tigers represent an ideal version of herself—strong, fearless, and independent.
4. How is Aunt Jennifer’s life different from the tigers she creates?
Aunt Jennifer’s life is burdened by patriarchal oppression, while the tigers she creates are free and powerful. She is weighed down by societal expectations and marital constraints, whereas her tigers symbolize the strength and independence she dreams of.
5. What is the significance of the phrase ‘prancing, proud and unafraid’?
This phrase describes the majestic and fearless nature of the tigers. They symbolize the confidence and power Aunt Jennifer lacks. The alliteration emphasizes their grace and freedom, contrasting sharply with Aunt Jennifer’s restricted life.
6. How does the poet describe Aunt Jennifer’s hands?
The poet describes her hands as fluttering through her wool. This suggests her physical weakness, trembling under the burden of life’s struggles. Her hands also symbolize the burden of gender roles and societal expectations that have made her timid and powerless.
7. What does ‘The massive weight of Uncle’s wedding band’ signify?
The phrase symbolizes the oppression of marriage. The wedding band, which should represent love, is instead portrayed as a heavy burden, indicating Aunt Jennifer’s subjugation in a male-dominated society.
8. Why does Aunt Jennifer feel burdened in her marriage?
Aunt Jennifer feels burdened because of societal expectations and the patriarchal dominance that restrict her freedom. She is unable to express herself openly and instead resorts to embroidery as an escape from her controlled life.
9. What will happen to Aunt Jennifer after her death?
Even after her death, Aunt Jennifer will remain trapped by the memories of oppression. The poet says, “her terrified hands will lie still”, indicating that even in death, her suffering will not be forgotten. However, her tigers will continue to exist as symbols of power and independence.
10. How does the poem highlight the theme of gender oppression?
The poem contrasts Aunt Jennifer’s weak and burdened life with the boldness of her tigers, symbolizing how women in patriarchal societies are often silenced and subjugated. The imagery of the heavy wedding band reinforces the idea of marital oppression.
11. Why does Aunt Jennifer choose to express herself through embroidery?
As a woman oppressed by societal norms, Aunt Jennifer does not have the freedom to voice her thoughts. Instead, she channels her feelings into her embroidery, creating tigers that symbolize her inner strength and desire for freedom.
12. What message does Adrienne Rich convey through this poem?
The poem conveys a strong feminist message, highlighting the restrictions placed on women in patriarchal societies. It shows how art and creativity become means of escape, and how women’s struggles often persist even after death.
13. What is the significance of the contrast between Aunt Jennifer and the tigers?
The contrast emphasizes the difference between oppression and freedom. Aunt Jennifer is weak and restrained, while the tigers are fearless and powerful. This highlights the reality of women’s suppression versus their unfulfilled desire for independence.
14. How does the imagery in the poem enhance its meaning?
The poet uses vivid imagery, such as ‘prancing tigers,’ ‘massive weight of Uncle’s wedding band,’ and ‘fluttering hands,’ to symbolize themes of power and oppression. These images contrast Aunt Jennifer’s reality with her dreams.
15. What does the phrase ‘ringed with ordeals’ mean?
This phrase suggests that Aunt Jennifer’s life has been full of struggles and hardships, mainly due to her marriage. The word “ringed” could also symbolize the wedding ring, implying that marriage itself has been a source of difficulty.
16. How does the poem depict marriage as a restrictive institution?
Marriage is depicted as a burden rather than a partnership. Aunt Jennifer’s life is controlled by her husband, as symbolized by the heavy wedding band. The poem critiques how traditional marriages often suppress women’s individuality.
17. What emotions does the poem evoke in the reader?
The poem evokes feelings of sympathy and frustration. Readers sympathize with Aunt Jennifer’s struggles but may also feel frustrated by the societal norms that prevent women from achieving freedom and happiness.
18. What does Aunt Jennifer’s art represent in the larger social context?
Her embroidery represents women’s creativity and silent resistance. It is a form of self-expression that allows her to depict the strength she cannot show in real life, reflecting the unspoken struggles of many women.
19. What is the significance of the poem’s ending?
The ending suggests that even in death, Aunt Jennifer’s suffering will remain in memory. However, her tigers will live on, symbolizing the endurance of female strength and creativity beyond oppression.
20. How is the tone of the poem reflective of Aunt Jennifer’s life?
The tone of the poem is melancholic and reflective, emphasizing Aunt Jennifer’s suffering, fear, and longing for freedom. The contrast between her weak hands and the tigers’ strength highlights the sadness of her reality.
Poetic Devices Questions & Answers:
1. Identify and explain the alliteration in the poem.
The phrase “prancing, proud” is an example of alliteration. The repetition of the ‘p’ sound highlights the tigers’ confidence and grace.
2. What is the significance of imagery in the poem?
The poem uses vivid imagery, such as ‘prancing tigers’ and ‘terrified hands’, to contrast freedom and oppression. The visual contrast strengthens the feminist message.
3. Explain the symbolism of the tigers in the poem.
The tigers symbolize fearlessness, strength, and the unfulfilled aspirations of women. They represent the freedom that Aunt Jennifer longs for but never achieves.
4. How does the poet use contrast in the poem?
The poet contrasts Aunt Jennifer’s weakness with the tigers’ boldness to highlight the restrictions placed on women versus the strength they desire.
5. What poetic device is used in ‘The massive weight of Uncle’s wedding band’?
This is an example of metaphor, where the wedding band symbolizes the burden of marital oppression.
6. How does the poet use personification in the poem?
The phrase “her terrified hands will lie” personifies her hands, emphasizing her lifelong fear and submission.
7. Identify an example of enjambment in the poem.
The poem flows across lines without a pause, such as:
“And the tigers in the panel that she made / Will go on prancing, proud and unafraid.”
This reflects the continuous movement of the tigers.
8. What poetic device is used in ‘ringed with ordeals she was mastered by’?
The phrase uses metaphor to describe how Aunt Jennifer’s life was full of struggles that controlled her.
9. Explain the significance of repetition in the poem.
The repetition of ‘proud and unafraid’ reinforces the idea of strength and resilience, in contrast to Aunt Jennifer’s weakness.
10. What poetic form is used in ‘Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers’?
The poem is written in rhymed couplets with a consistent AABB rhyme scheme, giving it a structured yet melancholic tone.
Other Poems:
| My Mother at Sixty-six |
| An Elementary School Classroom in Slum |
| Keeping Quiet |
| A Thing of Beauty |
| A Roadside Stand |
also see:
