by Leslie Norris
An insight into the condition of the beast rendered helpless by captivity
“And stares with his brilliant eyes at the brilliant stars.”
Answer the following questions:
1) Find the words that describe the movements and actions of the tiger in the cage and in the wild. Arrange them in two columns.
In the cage | In the wild |
stalks | lurking |
quiet rage | sliding |
locked | snarling |
ignoring visitors | baring his white fangs |
hears the patrolling cars | terrorising |
stares at the stars | |
2) Find the words that describe the two places, and arrange them in two columns.
The Cage | The Wild |
|---|---|
few steps | shadow |
concrete cells | long grass |
behind bars | near the water hole |
| jungle's edge |
| in a village, around houses |
3) What do you think is the effect of using repetition?
(i) On pads of velvet quiet,
In his quiet rage.
Here, by repetition of the word ‘quiet’ the poet tries to highlight the helplessness of the tiger. The tiger is very angry, but he walks softly and he is suppressing his anger within.
(ii) And stares with his brilliant eyes
At the brilliant stars.
The word ‘brilliant’ is repeated here to describe both the eyes and stars. This indicates that the eyes of the tiger are hopeful as he looks at the stars above. As the stars twinkle, there is a glow of hope in the tiger’s eyes for his freedom.
Poem Analysis:
* Rhyme Scheme:
ABCB
* Figures of Speech:
1) Personification:
The tiger has been personified throughout the poem.
2) Imagery:
vivid stripes (visual)
hears the last voice (auditory)
3) Metaphor:
'pads of velvet' used to describe the soft paws of the tiger
4) Oxymoron:
quiet rage
5) Repetition:
velvet quiet / In his quiet rage
stares with his brilliant eyes / At the brilliant stars
6) Alliteration:
stalks, stripes, steps
should be lurking in shadow
plump deer pass
behind bars
7) Onomatopoeia:
snarl
8) Metonymy:
The word 'strength' is used to represent the whole body of the tiger.
9) Enjambment:
Line 1, 2
Line 6, 7, 8
Line 9, 10
Line 19, 20
10) Symbolism:
Tiger – Every person who is restricted or not able to enjoy total freedom of choices
Cage – Any limitation that the society imposes on an individual or an individual imposes on himself by not trying something
Wild – The place where the person would be truly free and would be leading the life he/she wants if he/she had tried something new and rose above the limitations of the society
Stars – Hope, light and freedom
Mind-map of Analysis
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