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
