A Tiger in the Zoo
-Leslie Norris
INTRODUCTION:
The poem explains the agony and helplessness of a caged tiger that lives in a zoo. The poet
explains what his life would have been if he had been a free animal. He has tried to explain
about the condition of animals that are caged by human beings for their own fun.
THEME:
The poem is a beautiful representation of the plight of animals. It is a shame that such a
powerful, agile and untamable animal like a tiger should be caged in a zoo. In his natural
and wild habitat, he doesn’t need the help of any kind to hunt its own food. His hunting of
deer at the water hole may seem rather cruel. He hunts not for pleasure but for food. His
presence in the natural habitat is necessary to maintain the balance of the food chain.
Sometimes, the tiger may stray into human habitation. He only displays his strength and
ferociousness. But he doesn’t harm anyone till he is provoked. Even in the cage, he ignores
all those who come to the zoo to see him as entertainment. Like human beings, the tiger too
loves and values his freedom. He shows his anger, hatred and even defiance by walking
about in rage in his cage. Human progress should not be at the cost of destroying the
natural habitats of untamable and proud animals like the tiger.
Answer the following:
1: ‘He stalks in his vivid stripes.’How does the tiger look in his cage?
A: The tiger has sharp, clear stripes on his body.He looks majestic as he moves slowly and
quietly in his cage. He has soft velvety pads.He makes no noise as he moves.
2: ‘On pads of velvet quiet /in his quiet rage, what does the tiger do in his cage?
A: It is a very small cage. The tiger can hardly take a few steps along the length of the cage.
He cannot express himself fully in this claustrophobic atmosphere. He does not take any
notice of the visitors who come there. He always wishes to be free from this cage.
3: ‘He should be lurking in the shadows /sliding through long grass ‘what should the tiger be
doing if he were in the jungle?
A: The tiger would be lurking in the shadows of trees. He would be sliding slowly through the
long grass. He would be sitting by some water hole and waiting for some plump deer to pass
that way. Here, the poet presents the tiger’s hunting process.
4: ‘He should be snarling around houses /at the jungle’s edge’ what would the tiger be
doing if he were at the edge of the jungle? Why should the tiger snarl around houses at the
edge of the jungle?
A: The tiger would be moving around the houses in a nearby village. He would be growling
while moving around the sight of his white fangs and his terrible claws would fill the
villagers with terror. The jungle is the natural habitat of the wild animals where the tiger can
express his power and strength.
The tiger should snarl around houses at the edge of the jungle because of the
following reasons: – firstly the villagers will not disturb the peace of the forest.
Secondly, they will kill the animals for money or just for fun.
5: ‘Stalking the length of his cage /ignoring visitors’ What is the tiger doing? Why is he
ignoring the visitors?
A: The tiger is imprisoned in the zoo and becomes helpless. He is moving along the length
of the cage slowly and quietly. He sees that the visitors keep coming and going. None of
them thinks of releasing him from his prison. The tiger sees that all of them are fellows
without feeling. So he stops taking any notice of them.
Q6: ‘And stares with his brilliant eyes / at the brilliant stars ‘ Why do you think the tiger
looks at the stars?
A: The tiger has lost all hope to be free from the men. However, he looks at the brilliant
stars who are free in their own places and he also wants to mingle with nature. Again, the
tiger is sad and dejected in the concrete cell. When he hears the last sound of the patrolling
cars, he stares at the brilliant stars and remembers good and pleasant days in the forest.
