Tiger in Zoo

Question 1

Plot/ Theme / Central Idea of the Lesson/ Literary Analysis of A Tiger in the Zoo/ Main Idea

Answer 1

The tiger is a proud creature. It is a shame that such a powerful, agile and untamable animal should be caged in a zoo. In his natural and wild habitat, he doesn’t need the help of any kind to hunt its own food. His hunting of deer at the water hole may seem rather cruel. He hunts not for pleasure but for food. His presence in the natural habitat is necessary to maintain the balance of the food chain. Sometimes, the tiger may stray into human habitation. He only displays his strength and ferociousness. But he doesn’t harm anyone till he is provoked. Even in the cage, he ignores all those who come to the zoo to see him as entertainment. Like human beings, the tiger too loves and values his freedom. He shows his anger, hatred and even defiance by walking about in rage in his cage. Human progress should not be at the cost of destroying the natural habitats of untamable and proud animals like the tiger.

Question 2

Style of A Tiger in the Zoo

Answer 2

The poem consists of 5 stanzas, each is made up of 4 lines. The rhyme scheme is: abcb; abcb; abcb; abcb; abcb. The poem has two distinct settings. The first setting is that of the zoo where the tiger is put in a cage. The second setting is that of the natural wild habitat of the tiger which should have been his real place. The personification of the tiger is evident as the poet calls him ‘he’, and not ‘it’. The metaphor ‘pads of velvet’ is used effectively in the third line of the first stanza. The tense tone represents the hidden rage of the tiger.

Question 3

How does the tiger feel in the cage?

Answer 3

In the cage, he is in an angry mood.

Question 4

How does the tiger walk in the cage?

Answer 4

In the cage, he walks with pride.

Question 5

How should the tiger walk through the grass?

Answer 5

He should walk with ease through the grass.

Question 6

Where should the tiger hide to himself?

Answer 6

The tiger should hide in the shadow.

Question 7

Who passes near the water hole?

Answer 7

The fat deer pass near the water hole.

Question 8

Where is the tiger’s strength locked?

Answer 8

His strength is locked behind the bars

Question 9

How does the caged tiger react to the visitors?

Answer 9

He ignores the visitors

Question 10

What sound does the tiger near at night?

Answer 10

The tiger hears the sound of the patrolling cars at night.

Question 11

How do the eyes of the tiger look?

Answer 11

His eyes look brilliant.

Question 12

At what does the tiger look at?

Answer 12

At night the tiger looks at the stars.

Question 13

What do you understand by `His strength behind bars’? What kind of a cage is he locked in?

Answer 13

The tiger is wretched in its cage. His power is confined behind the bars. He was locked in a small cage where he is devoid of freedom. He feels unhappy, frustrated, restless and angry.

Question 14

Is it safe to allow tigers to live in their natural habitat these days?

Answer 14

Although it is ideal for tigers to live in the wild, today, it will mean certain death for them. Fast diminishing jungles and danger posed by poachers have pushed tigers to the brink of extinction, making their natural home unsafe.

Question 15

3. The tiger in the poem ‘A Tiger in the Zoo’ has some obvious limitations, describe them in contrast to its natural habitat.

Answer 15

The tiger in the zoo was confined to a small space. He was angry that he couldn’t be free to move, hunt and do what he pleased forced to be a showpiece; and the cage’s bars obstructed his view of the starry night. This was all unlike his natural habitat where he hunted fiercely and slept fitfully.

Question 16

What is the theme of the poem?

Answer 16

The poet wants to convey that it is cruel to keep the wild animals in small enclosures of the zoo, away from their natural habitat. They feel angry, helpless and unhappy and remember their life and environment in the forest.

Question 17

Describe the movement of the tiger in the cage and in the wild.

Or

What difference do you find in the mood of a tiger when he is in a zoo and when he is in a forest?

Answer 17

In the zoo, in his small cage and devoid of freedom, the tiger feels unhappy rather frustrated, restless and angry. In the forest, he enjoys moving majestically wherever he wants, terrorizes the villagers by displaying his sharp teeth and claws. He is happy in the forest, enjoying his liberty and surroundings, but not in the zoo.

Question 18

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

Answer 18

The poet says that the tiger should be in the jungle. It is his natural habitat. In the jungle, he moves in the long grass near a water hole. He hides in shadow to hunt the deer for his food.

Question 19

Where is the strength of the tiger and how does he treat the visitors?

Answer 19

The tiger is imprisoned in a cage. So his strength is behind the bars. He paces to-and-fro the length of the cage. Visitors come to his cage. But he ignores those visitors.

Question 20

How does the tiger terrify the villagers?

Answer 20

The tiger prowls around the houses of the villagers. He terrifies them by snarling at them. Their houses are situated near the jungle. He terrifies the villagers by baring his fangs and showing his long claws.

Question 21

How does the tiger behave at night?

Answer 21

At night the tiger feels lonely. He hears the sound of the patrolling cars. He looks through the bars at the shining stars. His eyes are also shining.

Question 22

How does the tiger prepare himself for hunting when he is in his natural habitat — the jungle?

Answer 22

The mighty tiger roams freely in his natural habitat – the wilds. He knows how to ambush his prey. He waits for his prey lurking unseen in the shadow of trees. He slides through the long grass quite unnoticed. He comes to the water hole where he can find his favourite prey – plump deer.

Question 23

Freedom can’t be bargained at any cost. What message does Leslie Norris give to the readers in ‘A Tiger in the Zoo’?

Answer 23

Not only humans but animals too cherish freedom. Freedom can’t be bargained. In this case, a tiger may be well-fed and protected. However, the curtailment of his freedom keeps him in ‘quiet rage’. He resents being behind the bars. He is a different animal when he is in his natural habitat, the jungle. He roams around the water hole and ambushes his favourite plump deer.

Question 24

Who bears his fangs and how does he terrorise the village?

Answer 24

The tiger bares his white fangs. He terrorises the people of the village because he keeps snarling around houses.