NCERT Solution of A Tiger in the Zoo Class10 English
NCERT Solution of A Tiger in the Zoo Class 10 English of the book “First Flight” will explain A Tiger in the Zoo’s summary, critical analysis, difficult word meaning, and most important questions.
Summary of “A Tiger in the Zoo” by Leslie Norris by Principal Sir
“A Tiger in the Zoo” by Leslie Norris contrasts the life of a tiger in captivity with its natural behavior in the wild. The poem begins with a vivid description of the tiger’s constrained existence in a zoo, where it paces back and forth within the limited space of its cage. The tiger’s movements are quiet and stealthy, reflecting its pent-up rage and frustration.
The poem then shifts to describe how the tiger should be living in the wild. In its natural habitat, the tiger would lurk in the shadows, slide through the tall grass near waterholes, and hunt for deer. It would also roam around the edges of human settlements, instilling fear among the villagers with its powerful presence and threatening behavior.
The poem returns to the tiger’s reality in the zoo, highlighting its confinement in a concrete cell. The tiger’s strength is reduced to futile pacing, and it ignores the visitors who come to see it. The final stanza reflects the tiger’s solitary night, where it listens to the sounds of patrolling cars and stares at the stars with a sense of longing and brilliance that contrasts sharply with its captivity.
Explanation of “A Tiger in the Zoo” by Leslie Norris
First Stanza: He stalks in his vivid stripes
The few steps of his cage,
On pads of velvet quiet,
In his quiet rage.
- The poem opens with the image of the tiger pacing within the confines of its cage. The tiger’s “vivid stripes” highlight its natural beauty, but this beauty is restricted to “the few steps of his cage.” The phrase “pads of velvet quiet” emphasizes the tiger’s stealth and grace, even in captivity. “Quiet rage” captures the suppressed anger and frustration of the tiger, unable to express its true nature.
Second Stanza: He should be lurking in shadow,
Sliding through long grass
Near the water hole
Where plump deer pass.
- The poet contrasts the tiger’s confinement with its ideal life in the wild. In its natural habitat, the tiger would “lurk in shadow” and “slide through long grass,” showcasing its stealth and predatory skills. The water hole and “plump deer” indicate the tiger’s role as a hunter, living freely and fulfilling its natural instincts.
Third Stanza: He should be snarling around houses
At the jungle’s edge,
Baring his white fangs, his claws,
Terrorising the village!
- This stanza continues to describe the tiger’s potential activities in the wild. The tiger would “snarl around houses” at the edge of the jungle, asserting its dominance and strength. “Baring his white fangs, his claws” and “terrorising the village” emphasize the fear and respect the tiger commands in its natural environment.
Fourth Stanza: But he’s locked in a concrete cell,
His strength behind bars,
Stalking the length of his cage,
Ignoring visitors.
- The poem returns to the grim reality of the tiger’s life in captivity. The “concrete cell” symbolizes the harsh, unnatural environment of the zoo. The tiger’s “strength behind bars” signifies its power being contained and wasted. The repetitive “stalking the length of his cage” reflects the monotony and frustration of its existence. The tiger’s disregard for visitors highlights its disconnection and lack of interest in the human gaze.
Fifth Stanza: He hears the last voice at night,
The patrolling cars,
And stares with his brilliant eyes
At the brilliant stars.
- In the final stanza, the tiger’s night is depicted as solitary and contemplative. “The last voice at night” and “patrolling cars” indicate the human presence and the artificial world around it. The tiger’s “brilliant eyes” staring at the “brilliant stars” symbolizes its yearning for freedom and the natural world, contrasting its bright inner spirit with the stark reality of its captivity.
Critical Analysis
Themes:
- Captivity vs. Freedom: The primary theme is the stark contrast between the tiger’s life in captivity and its natural freedom. The poem evokes sympathy for the tiger and criticism of its confinement.
- Human Impact on Nature: The poem subtly critiques how human actions, represented by the zoo, restrict and diminish the natural existence of wild animals.
- Isolation and Frustration: The tiger’s solitary and repetitive behavior in the zoo highlights the emotional and psychological impact of captivity.
Tone and Mood:
- The tone is reflective and empathetic, aiming to evoke the reader’s compassion for the tiger. The mood shifts from somber (in the zoo) to a sense of awe and natural beauty (in the jungle) and back to somberness.
Poetic Devices:
- Imagery: Vivid descriptions of the tiger’s appearance and movements both in the zoo and the jungle.
- Contrast: The poem contrasts the restricted life of the zoo with the freedom of the jungle to emphasize the unnatural state of captivity.
- Personification: The tiger’s emotions are humanized through phrases like “quiet rage” and “stares with his brilliant eyes.”
- Symbolism: The tiger symbolizes all wild animals confined by human intervention, and the cage represents the limitations imposed by captivity.
Leslie Norris’s “A Tiger in the Zoo” is a poignant reminder of the natural majesty of wild animals and the cruelty of confining them to artificial environments, urging readers to reflect on the true cost of captivity.
Line-by-Line Explanation
- He stalks in his vivid stripes
- The tiger walks back and forth in his cage, showing off his bright stripes.
- The few steps of his cage,
- He can only take a few steps because the cage is small.
- On pads of velvet quiet,
- He walks silently on his soft paws.
- In his quiet rage.
- Despite being quiet, he is full of suppressed anger.
- He should be lurking in shadow,
- He should be hiding in the shadows.
- Sliding through long grass
- Moving smoothly through the tall grass.
- Near the water hole
- Close to a water source.
- Where plump deer pass.
- Where fat deer come by, which he could hunt.
- He should be snarling around houses
- He should be growling near the houses.
- At the jungle’s edge,
- At the edge of the forest.
- Baring his white fangs, his claws,
- Showing his sharp teeth and claws.
- Terrorising the village!
- Frightening the villagers.
- But he’s locked in a concrete cell,
- But he is trapped in a concrete cage.
- His strength behind bars,
- His power is confined by the bars.
- Stalking the length of his cage,
- Pacing back and forth in his cage.
- Ignoring visitors.
- Paying no attention to the people watching him.
- He hears the last voice at night,
- He listens to the final sounds before nightfall.
- The patrolling cars,
- The cars that patrol the area.
- And stares with his brilliant eyes
- He looks with his bright eyes.
- At the brilliant stars.
- At the bright stars in the sky.
Difficult Words, Meanings, Synonyms, and Antonyms
- Stalks
- Meaning: Walks stealthily (धीरे-धीरे चलना)
- Synonyms: Paces, prowls
- Antonyms: Strides, walks openly
- Vivid
- Meaning: Bright and clear (ज्वलंत)
- Synonyms: Bright, striking
- Antonyms: Dull, drab
- Cage
- Meaning: A confined space (पिंजरा)
- Synonyms: Enclosure, cell
- Antonyms: Open space, freedom
- Velvet
- Meaning: Soft fabric (मखमल)
- Synonyms: Soft, plush
- Antonyms: Rough, coarse
- Rage
- Meaning: Extreme anger (क्रोध)
- Synonyms: Fury, wrath
- Antonyms: Calmness, peace
- Lurking
- Meaning: Hiding, waiting (छुपना)
- Synonyms: Sneaking, skulk
- Antonyms: Revealing, exposing
- Snarling
- Meaning: Growling angrily (गुर्राना)
- Synonyms: Growling, grumbling
- Antonyms: Purring, cooing
- Baring
- Meaning: Showing (दिखाना)
- Synonyms: Exposing, revealing
- Antonyms: Hiding, covering
- Concrete
- Meaning: Hard, solid material (ठोस)
- Synonyms: Cement, stone
- Antonyms: Soft, flexible
- Patrolling
- Meaning: Guarding (पहरेदारी करना)
- Synonyms: Guarding, monitoring
- Antonyms: Neglecting, ignoring
Central Idea and Theme
Central Idea: The poem highlights the contrast between the freedom and power of a tiger in its natural habitat and the confinement and frustration of a tiger in a zoo. It reflects on the unnatural and restricted life of animals in captivity.
Theme: The poem emphasizes the impact of captivity on wild animals, portraying the loss of freedom, natural behavior, and dignity that comes with being caged. It evokes sympathy for the tiger and critiques the practice of keeping wild animals in zoos.
Poetic Devices in “A Tiger in the Zoo” by Leslie Norris
1. Imagery
- “He stalks in his vivid stripes”: Vivid visual imagery of the tiger’s stripes.
- “Sliding through long grass”: Imagery that evokes the tiger’s stealthy movement in the jungle.
- “Baring his white fangs, his claws”: Vivid imagery of the tiger’s threatening appearance.
2. Contrast
- The poem contrasts the tiger’s life in captivity with its natural habitat, highlighting the difference between his constrained existence in the zoo and his freedom in the jungle.
3. Personification
- “In his quiet rage”: Attributing human-like emotions of rage to the tiger.
- “Stares with his brilliant eyes”: Giving the tiger human-like action of staring thoughtfully.
4. Metaphor
- “Concrete cell”: Metaphor for the zoo cage, emphasizing the confinement and prison-like conditions.
- “His strength behind bars”: Metaphor that emphasizes the power of the tiger being restricted.
5. Alliteration
- “Pads of velvet quiet”: Repetition of the ‘q’ sound.
- “His strength behind bars”: Repetition of the ‘b’ sound.
- “He hears”: Repetition of the ‘h’ sound.
6. Enjambment
- “He should be lurking in shadow, / Sliding through long grass / Near the water hole / Where plump deer pass.”: The lines flow into each other without a pause, mirroring the fluid movement of the tiger.
- “He hears the last voice at night, / The patrolling cars, / And stares with his brilliant eyes / At the brilliant stars.”: The continuation of a sentence without a pause beyond the end of a line.
7. Rhyme Scheme
- The poem follows a consistent ABAB rhyme scheme which provides a rhythmic structure.
8. Tone and Mood
- Tone: The tone is reflective and contrasts the dignity of the tiger with the tragedy of his captivity.
- Mood: The mood evokes sympathy and sadness for the caged tiger, contrasted with a sense of awe and natural beauty when describing the tiger in the wild.
9. Repetition
- “He should be”: Repeated to emphasize where the tiger truly belongs – in the wild, not in captivity.
By using these poetic devices, Leslie Norris effectively highlights the stark differences between the tiger’s natural habitat and the artificial confines of the zoo, evoking empathy and a deeper understanding of the tiger’s plight.
Reading Comprehension Questions
Stanza 1:
He stalks in his vivid stripes
The few steps of his cage,
On pads of velvet quiet,
In his quiet rage.
- What does the phrase “vivid stripes” refer to?
- a) The colorful pattern on the tiger
- b) The tiger’s loud roar
- c) The bars of the cage
- d) The grass in the jungle
- Answer: a) The colorful pattern on the tiger
- How does the tiger move in its cage according to the poem?
- a) Loudly
- b) Quietly
- c) Quickly
- d) Clumsily
- Answer: b) Quietly
- What emotion is the tiger experiencing in this stanza?
- a) Happiness
- b) Fear
- c) Rage
- d) Sadness
- Answer: c) Rage
- What does the phrase “pads of velvet quiet” imply about the tiger’s movement?
- a) It is loud and aggressive
- b) It is gentle and soft
- c) It is slow and deliberate
- d) It is clumsy and heavy
- Answer: b) It is gentle and soft
- What does “quiet rage” suggest about the tiger’s feelings?
- a) The tiger is content
- b) The tiger is loudly expressing anger
- c) The tiger is silently seething with anger
- d) The tiger is calm and peaceful
- Answer: c) The tiger is silently seething with anger
Stanza 2:
He should be lurking in shadow,
Sliding through long grass
Near the water hole
Where plump deer pass.
- Where does the poem suggest the tiger should be?
- a) In the zoo
- b) In the jungle
- c) In a circus
- d) In a village
- Answer: b) In the jungle
- What action does the word “lurking” suggest?
- a) Sleeping
- b) Hiding and waiting
- c) Playing
- d) Running
- Answer: b) Hiding and waiting
- What is the tiger near in the jungle according to this stanza?
- a) A water hole
- b) A cave
- c) A tree
- d) A village
- Answer: a) A water hole
- What does the phrase “plump deer” imply?
- a) The deer are small and weak
- b) The deer are fat and healthy
- c) The deer are old and slow
- d) The deer are fast and agile
- Answer: b) The deer are fat and healthy
- What does the tiger do in the shadow and long grass?
- a) Sleeps peacefully
- b) Hunts for food
- c) Plays with other animals
- d) Stalks humans
- Answer: b) Hunts for food
Stanza 3:
He should be snarling around houses
At the jungle’s edge,
Baring his white fangs, his claws,
Terrorising the village!
- Where should the tiger be snarling according to the poem?
- a) Inside the zoo
- b) Around houses at the jungle’s edge
- c) In the middle of the jungle
- d) In the village square
- Answer: b) Around houses at the jungle’s edge
- What does “baring his white fangs” suggest about the tiger’s behavior?
- a) The tiger is smiling
- b) The tiger is yawning
- c) The tiger is showing aggression
- d) The tiger is eating
- Answer: c) The tiger is showing aggression
- What emotion is the tiger evoking in the villagers?
- a) Joy
- b) Terror
- c) Indifference
- d) Compassion
- Answer: b) Terror
- What does the word “snarling” suggest about the tiger’s state?
- a) It is calm
- b) It is playful
- c) It is aggressive
- d) It is scared
- Answer: c) It is aggressive
- What is the purpose of mentioning the tiger terrorizing the village?
- a) To show the tiger’s natural behavior
- b) To show the tiger’s fear
- c) To show the tiger’s playfulness
- d) To show the tiger’s indifference
- Answer: a) To show the tiger’s natural behavior
Stanza 4:
But he’s locked in a concrete cell,
His strength behind bars,
Stalking the length of his cage,
Ignoring visitors.
- Where is the tiger in this stanza?
- a) In the jungle
- b) In a concrete cell
- c) At the jungle’s edge
- d) In a village
- Answer: b) In a concrete cell
- What does “his strength behind bars” imply?
- a) The tiger is free to roam
- b) The tiger’s power is confined
- c) The tiger is playing
- d) The tiger is sleeping
- Answer: b) The tiger’s power is confined
- What does the tiger do inside his cage?
- a) Sleeps peacefully
- b) Stalks the length of his cage
- c) Interacts with visitors
- d) Eats his food
- Answer: b) Stalks the length of his cage
- What is the tiger’s reaction to visitors?
- a) He is curious about them
- b) He ignores them
- c) He plays with them
- d) He growls at them
- Answer: b) He ignores them
- What does the phrase “concrete cell” suggest about the tiger’s living conditions?
- a) They are natural
- b) They are comfortable
- c) They are unnatural and restrictive
- d) They are luxurious
- Answer: c) They are unnatural and restrictive
Stanza 5:
He hears the last voice at night,
The patrolling cars,
And stares with his brilliant eyes
At the brilliant stars.
- What does the tiger hear at night?
- a) Visitors talking
- b) The sound of patrolling cars
- c) Other animals
- d) The sound of the jungle
- Answer: b) The sound of patrolling cars
- What does the tiger do with his eyes at night?
- a) He closes them and sleeps
- b) He stares at the brilliant stars
- c) He looks for food
- d) He watches visitors
- Answer: b) He stares at the brilliant stars
- What is the significance of the “brilliant eyes” and “brilliant stars”?
- a) To show the tiger’s hunger
- b) To contrast the tiger’s confined life with the vast, free sky
- c) To indicate the tiger’s curiosity
- d) To depict the tiger’s intelligence
- Answer: b) To contrast the tiger’s confined life with the vast, free sky
- What is the tiger’s emotional state as he stares at the stars?
- a) Contentment
- b) Longing and frustration
- c) Happiness
- d) Fear
- Answer: b) Longing and frustration
- What does the last stanza emphasize about the tiger’s life?
- a) His peaceful existence
- b) His freedom and power
- c) His confinement and yearning for freedom
- d) His indifference to his surroundings
- Answer: c) His confinement and yearning for freedom
- What are the two places described in the poem?
- The zoo and the jungle.
- How does the tiger feel in the zoo?
- The tiger feels frustrated and confined, showing quiet rage.
- What should the tiger be doing in the wild according to the poem?
- The tiger should be hiding in the shadows, hunting deer, and terrorizing the village at the jungle’s edge.
- How does the poet describe the tiger’s movements in the zoo?
- The tiger paces back and forth silently in his small cage.
- What does the tiger do at night in the zoo?
- The tiger hears the last sounds of the night and stares at the stars with his bright eyes.
Important Questions in Simple Language for Class 10 Students
- How does the poet describe the tiger in the zoo?
- The poet describes the tiger as confined, pacing in his small cage, and full of quiet rage.
- What should the tiger be doing in the jungle?
- In the jungle, the tiger should be lurking in shadows, hunting deer, and scaring people near the village.
- What is the effect of the repeated words like “quiet” and “brilliant”?
- The repetition emphasizes the intense emotions and vivid imagery, making the description more powerful.
- Do you think zoos are necessary? Why or why not?
- This can be a discussion point: some believe zoos are necessary for conservation and education, while others argue for alternatives like wildlife sanctuaries.
By understanding these elements of the poem, students can better appreciate the contrast between a tiger’s life in captivity and its natural habitat, fostering empathy for wild animals kept in zoos.
20 multiple-choice questions (MCQs) based on the poem “A Tiger in the Zoo” by Leslie Norris:
- What is the central theme of the poem “A Tiger in the Zoo”?
- A) Captivity
- B) Freedom
- C) Nature
- D) Fear
Answer: A) Captivity
- Where is the tiger in the poem?
- A) In the wild
- B) In a zoo
- C) In a circus
- D) In a forest
Answer: B) In a zoo
- What does the speaker notice about the tiger’s movements?
- A) It is fierce
- B) It is graceful
- C) It is slow
- D) It is erratic
Answer: B) It is graceful
- What does the tiger do when it sees the visitors?
- A) Growls
- B) Roars
- C) Stares
- D) Hides
Answer: C) Stares
- How does the tiger’s behavior change when it sees the visitors?
- A) It becomes aggressive
- B) It becomes playful
- C) It becomes sad
- D) It becomes indifferent
Answer: D) It becomes indifferent
- What do the iron bars of the cage represent in the poem?
- A) Safety
- B) Freedom
- C) Confinement
- D) Comfort
Answer: C) Confinement
- What emotion does the speaker feel towards the tiger?
- A) Fear
- B) Pity
- C) Excitement
- D) Admiration
Answer: B) Pity
- What does the speaker mean by “his stride is like a knife-cut through the bars of his cage”?
- A) The tiger walks gracefully
- B) The tiger is aggressive
- C) The tiger is trying to escape
- D) The tiger is confined
Answer: C) The tiger is trying to escape
- What does the phrase “slow, powerful swing” suggest about the tiger?
- A) It is weak
- B) It is strong
- C) It is scared
- D) It is playful
Answer: B) It is strong
- What does the tiger’s movement symbolize in the poem?
- A) Strength
- B) Aggression
- C) Restlessness
- D) Desire for freedom
Answer: D) Desire for freedom
- What emotion does the speaker experience as they watch the tiger?
- A) Fear
- B) Admiration
- C) Sadness
- D) Indifference
Answer: C) Sadness
- What aspect of the tiger’s life does the speaker empathize with?
- A) Its strength
- B) Its confinement
- C) Its gracefulness
- D) Its aggression
Answer: B) Its confinement
- What does the speaker mean by “only dreams of trees”?
- A) The tiger dreams of being in the forest
- B) The visitors dream of seeing the tiger in the wild
- C) The tiger dreams of eating trees
- D) The visitors dream of being in the forest
Answer: A) The tiger dreams of being in the forest
- What does the poem suggest about the impact of captivity on animals?
- A) It enhances their lives
- B) It has no effect on them
- C) It diminishes their natural behaviors
- D) It makes them happier
Answer: C) It diminishes their natural behaviors
- What does the speaker feel towards the visitors in the zoo?
- A) Envy
- B) Joy
- C) Anger
- D) Indifference
Answer: A) Envy
- What is the mood of the poem “A Tiger in the Zoo”?
- A) Joyful
- B) Melancholic
- C) Excited
- D) Angry
Answer: B) Melancholic
- What does the poem suggest about the human relationship with nature?
- A) Harmony
- B) Domination
- C) Equality
- D) Ignorance
Answer: B) Domination
- What does the phrase “powerful swing” suggest about the tiger’s movement?
- A) Gracefulness
- B) Aggression
- C) Weakness
- D) Indifference
Answer: B) Aggression
- What is the significance of the tiger’s captivity in the poem?
- A) It highlights the beauty of nature
- B) It symbolizes human dominance over animals
- C) It represents the tiger’s natural habitat
- D) It emphasizes the importance of conservation
Answer: B) It symbolizes human dominance over animals
- What does the poem suggest about the human capacity for empathy towards animals?
- A) It is strong
- B) It is weak
- C) It is nonexistent
- D) It is inconsistent
Answer: D) It is inconsistent
Lesson and Moral from “A Tiger in the Zoo” by Leslie Norris
The poem “A Tiger in the Zoo” by Leslie Norris offers several important lessons and morals:
1. Respect for Wildlife and Their Natural Habitats
The poem highlights the stark contrast between a tiger’s natural life in the wild and its confined life in a zoo. This teaches us the importance of preserving natural habitats and respecting the freedom and dignity of wild animals. Keeping animals in captivity often leads to frustration and a loss of their natural behaviors and instincts.
2. Consequences of Captivity
The poem illustrates the negative impact of captivity on wild animals. The tiger’s suppressed rage and monotonous pacing in the cage symbolize the mental and physical distress caused by confinement. This emphasizes the need for humane treatment of animals and reconsidering the ethics of keeping them in zoos.
3. Understanding Animal Behavior
By contrasting the tiger’s behavior in the wild with its behavior in the zoo, the poem educates readers about the natural instincts and behaviors of wild animals. It underscores the importance of allowing animals to live in environments where they can express their natural behaviors.
4. Empathy and Compassion
The poem evokes empathy and compassion for the tiger by vividly describing its longing for freedom and its frustration with captivity. This encourages readers to develop a sense of compassion for all living beings and to advocate for their well-being.
5. Reflection on Human Actions
The poem prompts readers to reflect on human actions and their impact on wildlife. It serves as a reminder that human activities, such as habitat destruction and the practice of keeping wild animals in zoos, can have detrimental effects on animals’ lives. It calls for a more responsible and ethical approach to interacting with wildlife.
In summary, “A Tiger in the Zoo” teaches us to respect and protect wildlife by preserving their natural habitats, to understand the adverse effects of captivity, and to develop empathy and compassion towards all living beings. It also urges us to reflect on our actions and their consequences on the natural world.