Aunt jennifer's tigers

CLASS 12TH- FLAMINGO

1. AUNT JENNIFER’S TIGERS - Adrienne Rich Presented by: Shivani Singh

2. About the poet… Adrienne Cecile Rich was an American poet, essayist and feminist. She was called "one of the most widely read and influential poets of the second half of the 20th century", and was credited with bringing "the oppression of women to the forefront of poetic discourse.“ Rich criticized rigid forms of feminist identities.

3. Style of the poem Formal structure Lyrical pattern Rhyme and rhythm Vocabulary: simple , from everyday usage

4. THEME AND CENTRAL IDEA A description of a lady, aunt Jennifer’s pathetic plight as a wife who is suffering in her marriage. She is a victim of oppression by her dominating husband The poem gives the readers an insight into her ordeal and unpleasant experiences as a wife.

5. Stanza 1 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. This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA

6. Meanings: Prance=to move quickly with exaggerated steps Screen= frame used to do embroidery on a cloth to make a tapestry Tapestry=  piece of thick textile fabric with pictures or designs formed by weaving coloured weft threads or by embroidering on canvas, used as a wall hanging or soft furnishing. Topaz= a stone of a yellowish brown colour Denizens= inhabitants, residents Beneath= below: directly under Pace(verb)= moving fast Chivalric certainty= bravery coupled with confidence

7. Explanation: Description of the tigers- The poet informs her readers of Aunt Jennifer making tapestry where tigers are the main subjects. They are seen in a position of fast motion in their natural habitat, that is a green forest. ‘Prance’ and ‘pace’ are used to imply freedom and suggest the tigers as symbols and epitome of confidence and freedom in open spaces in contrast to Aunt Jennifer’s confinement in her marital home. The tigers walk about confidently as they are sure of their masculinity and courage as they do not fear the men who stand under the tree.

8. Poetic devices a. Imagery: ‘Bright topaz denizens’- vivid descriptions suggesting various images b. contrast: ‘ Tigers do not fear the men beneath the tree’- while the tigers are fearless , aunt Jennifer is terrified of her husband. c. symbolism: the tigers symbolise bravery, courage, freedom, self- confidence and strength. Aunt Jennifer symbolises women as a whole under subjugation and oppression in a patriarchal society.

9. Answer these: Are Aunt Jennifer’s tigers real? Give reasons for your answers. Why are the tigers called Aunt Jennifer’s tigers? How are they described here? How are they different from Aunt Jennifer? What does prancing symbolise? Why are they referred t o as ‘denizens of green’? Why are the tigers not afraid of the men beneath the trees? Explain: ‘ They pace in sleek chivalric certainty’.

10. Stanza 2: Aunt Jennifer’s fingers 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. This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND

11. Meanings: fluttering= moving about or behaving in an agitated aimless manner Massive= very large or heavy Ivory needle Wedding band= ring in the shape of a plain band worn in engagement or wedding This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA

12. Explanation: Description of Aunt Jennifer and her fears She is old and frail Is terrified of her husband. Her nervous fingers shake in fear as she stitches the panel she is making. Her mental state is reflected in the fact that she finds it difficult to even pull the light- weight needle. The wedding band is also very heavy. It is a symbol of the burden of oppression she has been carrying while being married to her husband. The band is also a symbol of the patriarchal society

13. ‘Fingers fluttering through her wool’: Being a victim of marital oppression at the hands of her husband, Aunt Jennifer is so nervous and terrified that her hands shake and flutter when she sits down to do her work with her ivory needles and wool. ‘Massive weight of Uncle’s wedding band’: The massive weight of Uncle’s wedding band means immense pressure that Aunt Jennifer bears while fulfilling her duties as a married woman. The wedding band gives the uncle an absolute authority over aunt’s mind, spirit and body. She is a suppressed woman.

14. Poetic devices Symbolism The wedding band symbolises oppression and patriarchal society. Her embroidery symbolises a. her innermost desires and is a manifestation of her feelings and b. that although she is mortal, her embroidery will live forever. Irony: ‘The massive weight of Uncle’s wedding band’- marriage is supposed to be happy union of two souls and should usher peace and joy. But for Aunt Jennifer her marriage is marred by brutalities and a miserable existence.

15. Answer these: What is Aunt Jennifer doing with her wool? Why were Aunt Jennifer’s fingers fluttering? What is the result of fluttering? Why does she find it hard to pull the ivory needle? What does the wedding band stand for? Describe the irony in the third line. Why is the wedding band described as ‘massive’? Explain : ‘ The massive weight of uncle’s wedding band’. What is Aunt Jennifer’s state of mind? How is Aunt Jennifer affected by the ‘weight of matrimony’?

16. Stanza 3: 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. This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA

17. . Meanings: 1. Mastered= managed or controlled 2. Ordeals= severe or testing experiences

18. Explanation: Prediction of the future Even when the Aunt is dead, she will still be subjected to the horrors of her marriage and be petrified of her husband whom she had been mastered by- both in life and in death. There is no escape for aunt as her hardships will follow her everywhere. But the tigers in the panel will continue to live on as they have been made immortal by their creator. Long after Aunt Jennifer is dead, the tigers will also be there, standing confident, strong, bold and fearless.

19. ‘ Terrified hands ’: Aunt Jennifer has been imprisoned not only physically but by customs and emotionally too. After a lifetime of suppression, she is frail and weak and is unable to take the burden of her marriage to a dominating man anymore. Thus she is terrified by the masculinity and patriarchal oppression. She has been suppressed to such a great extent that she will continue to remain terrified under the burden of her wedding even after her death. ‘Ringed with ordeals’: To be surrounded by severely harsh experiences… in this case even after her death

20. ‘ Terrified hands ’: Aunt Jennifer has been imprisoned not only physically but by customs and emotionally too. After a lifetime of suppression, she is frail and weak and is unable to take the burden of her marriage to a dominating man anymore. Thus she is terrified by the masculinity and patriarchal oppression. She has been suppressed to such a great extent that she will continue to remain terrified under the burden of her wedding even after her death. ‘Ringed with ordeals’: She will probably be buried with the wedding ring around her finger suggesting that her sad plight and suppression will not end even after her death. To be surrounded by severely harsh experiences… in this case even after her death

21. ‘ The tigers in the panel will go prancing, proud and unafraid’ This is symbolic of the dispassionate and unconcerned attitude of males towards the desire for freedom among females. The condition of Aunt Jennifer and other women will not change. They will live and die surrounded by a male- dominated society . But the tigers in the pane, which are an expression of freedom of women, will not be affected by domination of men. They will roam proudly and fearlessly, forever.

22. Answer these: What is Aunt Jennifer’s death symbolic of? Explain “ terrified hands”. Why are Aunt Jennifer’s hands terrified What does ringed with ordeals “imply’? What are the hands still ringed with? Is the society in any way affected by Aunt Jennifer’s death? Identify the poetic device employed in the last line if this stanza.

23. THANKYOU !