NCERT SOLUTIONS FOR CLASS 10 - ENGLISH NOTES - A TIGER IN ZOO - LESLIE NORRIS - QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS - CBSE

 

A TIGER IN ZOO

LESLIE NORRIS

 

THINKING ABOUT THE POEM

1) Read the poem again and work in pairs or groups to do the following tasks.
i)  Find the words that describe the movements and actions of the tiger in the cage and in the wild. Arrange them in two columns.

Answer (i)

In the 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, Terrorizing the village.

 

(ii) Find the words that describe the two places and arrange them in two columns. Now try to share ideas about how the poet uses words and images to contrast the two situations.

 

Answer (ii)

Cage	Wild
Few steps of his cage,	Shadow, Long grass, Water
Locked, Concrete cell,	hole, Plump deer,
Behind bars, Visitors,	Houses at jungle’s edge,
Patrolling cars	Village

 

2) Notice the use of a word repeated in lines such as these
i) On pads of velvet quiet, In his quiet rage.
ii)  And stares with his brilliant eyes At the brilliant stars.
What do you think is the effect of this repetition?

Ans: Repetition is a wonderful poetic device utilized by the poet to build the force of the tiger's rage and his helpless quietness. 'Velvet quiet' alludes to the quiet velvet pads of the tiger, which can't run or jump. They can just walk around the restricted space in the cage. The utilization of 'quiet rage' represents the outrage and savagery that is developing inside the tiger as it needs to run out into the timberland and attack a deer, however the fury hushes up in light of the fact that he is secured in the cage and is vulnerable. The repetition of 'quiet' has, accordingly, carried immense beauty to the poem. Essentially, the utilization of 'brilliant' for the tiger's eyes just as the stars also draws out the magnificence of these lines. The tiger gazes at the brilliant stars with his beautiful eyes dreaming about how wonderful his life could be in the forest. The repetition subsequently, gives an awesome impact to the poem.

 

3) Read the following two poems one about a tiger and the other about a panther. Then discuss: Are zoos necessary for the protection or conservation of some species of animals? Are they useful for educating the public? Are there alternatives to zoos?

The Tiger
The tiger behind the bars of his cage growls,
The tiger behind the bars of his cage snarls,
The tiger behind the bars of his cage roars,
Then he thinks.
It would be nice not to be behind bars all
The time
Because they spoil my view
I wish I were wild, not on show.
But if I were wild, hunters might shoot me,
But if I were wild, food might poison me,
But if I were wild, water might drown me.
Then he stops thinking
And…
The tiger behind the bars of his cage growls,
The tiger behind the bars of his cage snarls,
The tiger behind the bars of his cage roars.
                                                             – Peter Niblett

The Panther
His vision, from the constantly passing bars,
has grown so weary that it cannot hold
anything else. It seems to him there are
a thousand bars; and behind the bars, no world.
As he paces in cramped circles, over and over,
the movement of his p0werful soft strides
is like a ritual dance around a centre
in which a mighty will stands paralysed.
Only at times, the curtain of the pupils
lifts, quietly. An image enters in,
rushes down through the tensed, arrested muscles,
plunges into the heart and is gone.
                                           – Rainer Maria Rilke

Ans: A few types of animals are nearly extinction. Indeed, even tigers and lions are not safe in the forest because of poaching that is accomplished for trade, and so forth Zoos are, in this manner, fundamental for the insurance or preservation of these species. Zoos are protected and can also be utilized to teach the public about the significance of wild animals and their role in keeping up with the ecological system balance. Natural life sanctuaries, reserves and national parks are a few options in contrast to zoos. These not just assistance in the assurance and preservation of these species, yet in addition furnish them with a natural habitat