ARMY PUBLIC SCHOOL BARRACKPORE
STUDY MATERIAL
ENGLISH CORE
CLASS XII D, F
THE TIGER KING
STORY AT A GLANCE (NOT TO BE WRITTEN IN COPY)
The story is a satire on the rich and powerful kings of the olden times. In order to
prove the prophecies of the fortune teller wrong, the king of Pratibandapuram
mindlessly kills ninety nine tigers but the hundredth one, the cause of the king’s
death, escapes his bullet. Ultimately, the king is killed by an inanimate tiger made of
wood. Hence, the prophecy turns out to be true, despite the king’s efforts to prove it
wrong.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS (TO BE WRITTEN IN COPY)
1: Who is the Tiger King? Why does he get that name?
Ans : The Tiger King is Jilani Jung Jung Bahadur, the king of Pratibandapuram.
When the prince was born, astrologers predicted that he would have to die one day.
The ten-day-old prince asked the astrologers to divulge the method of his death. The
wise men were perplexed by this miracle. According to the chief astrologer, he will be
killed by a tiger. 'Let tigers beware!' replied the young prince, hissing ominously. He
made the decision to kill a hundred tigers. As a result, the moniker "Tiger King" was
bestowed upon him.
2: What did the royal infant grow up to be?
Ans : The royal newborn grew up to be Pratibandapuram's king, who was enthralled
with the concept of killing a hundred tigers. He desired to do so to defy the prophecy
that his death would be brought about by the hundredth tiger. As a result, he
slaughtered all of Pratibandapuram's tigers. For the sake of his ambition, he even
married. He earned the moniker "Tiger King."
3: What will the Maharaja do to find the required number of tigers to kill?
Ans : The Maharaja would instruct his dewan to find a suitable match for him to
marry to kill the required number of tigers. A suitable female for matrimony should
not only be from a royal family, but also from a state with a significant tiger
population. Because there were no more tigers in Pratibandapuram, a region
belonging to his father-in-law would undoubtedly offer him the opportunity to kill more
tigers and achieve his goal of killing one hundred tigers.
4: How will the Maharaja prepare himself for the hundredth tiger which was
supposed to decide his fate?
Ans : When dealing with the hundredth tiger, which was said to be the cause of his
death, the Maharaja would be extra cautious. When he comes across the hundredth,
he will carefully aim at the tiger and shoot it. He'll be overjoyed when it collapses into
a crumpled heap, and he'll rush out of there.
5: What will now happen to the astrologer? Do you think the prophecy was
indisputably disproved?
Ans : Before the king of Pratibandapuram had a chance to slaughter a hundred
tigers, the astrologer died. The king's existence appears to be solely to disprove his
prophecy. Everything else for the king takes a backseat to slaughter a hundred
tigers. The prophecy couldn't be proven false because the king was eventually
murdered by a tiger, though not a real one or the hundredth. No one would have
guessed that the hundredth tiger, which was feeble, aged, and almost lifeless, would
escape the king's bullet by fainting from the shock of the bullet speeding by. The
death of the Tiger King was brought about by the toyshop's "small little wooden
tiger."
6: The story is a satire on the conceit of those in power. How does the author
employ the literary device of dramatic irony in the story?
Ans : "The Tiger King" is a brilliant example of dramatic irony. The term "dramatic
irony" refers to a situation in which the audience may see the full impact of a
character's words or actions but the character is unaware of it. The character
behaves irrationally in light of the circumstances or expects the polar opposite of
what fate has in store for him. In the story, Kalki employs a deft use of dramatic irony.
The King flaunts the dead body of the first tiger in front of the astrologer to
demonstrate that he is more strong than the tiger. The astrologer, on the other hand,
cautions the king to "be careful with the hundredth tiger." The king decides to prove
the astrologer incorrect once more by attempting to kill a hundred tigers in a
desperate effort. Thus, the Tiger King believes he has killed the hundredth tiger by
shooting at the old tiger. However, the readers, as well as the king's officers and
subordinates, quickly discover that the malnourished tiger is not murdered, but has
simply fainted. The king is pleased with himself for killing the tiger, but he is unaware
of the ironic fate that awaits him. A sliver on the wooden tiger's body which was the
toy of his child causes his spectacular death. Ironically, the hundredth tiger becomes
the reason for the king’s death instead, proving the astrologer's predictions correct.
7: What is the author’s indirect comment on subjecting innocent animals to the
willfulness of human beings?
Ans : The author has accurately depicted how humans have forced innocent animals
to untold suffering and death to satisfy their whims and fancies through this satirical
story. The maharaja's indiscriminate shooting of tigers resulted in the extinction of
the species in several states, but the maharaja was unaware of the serious
ramifications of his actions. The maharaja went on a killing rampage to display his
authority over the helpless animals to prove an astrologer wrong. He used his
abilities to murder a hundred unlucky tigers to demonstrate his superiority as a
human being.
8: How would you describe the behaviour of the Maharaja’s minions towards
him? Do you find them truly sincere towards him or are they driven by fear
when they obey him? Do we find a similarity in today’s political order?
Ans : The Maharaja's servants were obedient and adoring. The majority of them
feared Maharaja and tried to please him by obeying his instructions so that they
could save their jobs or perhaps their lives. The astrologer was frightened of
forecasting his death, but Maharaja had insisted that he speak freely. Dewan, who
should have counselled the king against killing the tigers, instead chose to support
him in his marriage to a princess whose father’s realm had a great number of tigers.
He provided an old tiger to appease his Maharaja's demands because he was
frightened of losing his job. Similarly, the hunters elected not to alert him of the
hundredth tiger's survival and instead killed it themselves for fear of losing their jobs.
Even the shopkeeper who sold the king a cheap wooden toy tiger raised his price to
avoid being fined under the emergency laws. As a result, the king's servants were
motivated by fear rather than any genuine feelings for their ruler. Today's political
system is no exception. We all know that many people in positions of power are
there because of their influence and power, not because of their competence.
Furthermore, others adulate them for personal gain rather than the sake of the
country.
9: Can you relate instances of game-hunting among the rich and the powerful
in the present times that illustrate the callousness of human beings towards
wildlife?
Ans : In recent years, there have been a few incidents of game hunting. Even the
wealthy have been involved in incidents demonstrating human callousness towards
nature. Salman Khan is involved in a poaching case involving black bucks. Nawab
Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi is involved in an antelope lawsuit. Salman Khan is a
well-known Bollywood actor who enjoys hunting. He snatched three Chinkaras in a
row on two occasions. The blackbuck is a critically endangered animal. Even though
he was aware of it, Salman killed them. He was charged with a crime, but he was
judged not guilty. Nawab Pataudi, the great cricketer, was also in the news for
assassinating rare antelope species.
ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS (TO BE WRITTEN IN COPY)
10. When did the Tiger King stand in danger of losing his kingdom? How was
he able to avert the danger? (Delhi 2010)
Answer:
A high-ranking British officer, who was actually a coward, wanted to kill a tiger to
flaunt himself before his compatriots. When he was not allowed to hunt a tiger he
sent a word to the King that he would be happy if he was just allowed to be
photographed with a dead tiger killed by the King. But the King was adamant and did
not agree to his request because it would encourage the other officers to come with
similar demands. The King thus seriously angered the visiting senior British officer
and now ‘stood in danger of losing his kingdom itself’. So to pacify the annoyed
official, the King and his Dewan sent bribes of fifty expensive diamond rings to the
official’s wife hoping she would select one or two and return the rest. But the greedy
lady kept all the rings. The King, no doubt, lost a few lakhs but managed to save his
throne and was thus able to avert the danger of losing his kingdom.
11. Even today so many among us believe in superstitions. An astrologer
predicted about 'The Tiger King’ that he would be killed by a tiger. He ‘killed’
one hundred tigers yet was himself ‘killed’ by a tiger. How did the superstitious
belief ‘prevail’? (All India 2015)
Answer:
The chief-astrologer had forewarned the king that a tiger would be responsible for his
death and he should be particularly beware of the hundredth tiger. After killing the
hundredth tiger the king was relaxed and became careless. He did not know that the
hundredth tiger had actually survived because the bullet had missed its mark. Finally
it was a tiger who was responsible for the king’s death even though it was a toy-tiger
which he had bought as a birthday gift for his son. The carved toy tiger had a rough
surface with sharp wooden splinters. One of these sharp splinters pierced the king’s
right hand and caused a deadly infection that spread all over his arm. Three
surgeons tried their level best but they could not save the king and so the
astrologer’s prediction did indeed come true. Despite the fact that the king took every
measure to avoid the circumstance of his death, the hundredth tiger took its final
revenge upon the king as predicted by the astrologer.
● Competency Based Questions
Q. In what ways does the narrative of 'The Tiger King' serve as an allegorical
exploration of karma, illustrating the intricate web of cause and effect, and the
ultimate repercussions that one's actions have on their destiny?
“The Tiger King,” written by Indian author Kalki Krishnamurthy, is a satirical short
story that delves into themes of power, pride, and the downfall of unchecked
authority.
The astrologers’ prediction sets the stage for karma. The Tiger King’s fate is
intertwined with the tiger—the very creature he hunted. His actions, driven by pride
and power, lead to inevitable consequences.
The Maharaja’s unquestioned authority allows him to prioritise tiger hunting above all
else. His actions reflect the abuse of power, and karma catches up with him. Despite
warnings, the Tiger King continues his tiger-killing spree. His actions have
repercussions, and the story ultimately reveals how karma plays out in his life.
The Maharaja’s obsession with tigers leads to his downfall. The very creature he
defied becomes the instrument of his fate. In summary, “The Tiger King” serves as a
cautionary tale about the consequences of our actions, emphasising that karma is
inescapable—even for a powerful ruler. The story challenges the idea of unchecked
authority and highlights the interconnectedness of actions and their outcomes.
Q. Analyse the symbolic significance of the wooden toy tiger in the story.
As a king, the Tiger King had the power to choose any gift for his crown prince.
However, he specifically selected the wooden toy tiger. It represents his triumph over
death. It serves as a tangible reminder of the astrologer’s prophecy that he would die
due to a tiger. By gifting the wooden tiger to his son, the Tiger King subtly defies fate.
He believes that he has conquered the very creature that was supposed to be his
downfall.
The irony lies in the fact that the Tiger King, despite being powerful and feared,
slaughtered numerous innocent animals—including tigers—just to prove the
astrologer wrong. His actions reveal hubris—excessive pride and arrogance. He
refuses to accept his fate, blinded by his desire to defy the prophecy.
The wooden toy tiger, seemingly harmless, becomes the instrument of the Tiger
King’s demise. A splinter from the rough wooden surface pierces his hand, causing a
suppurating sore. The infection spreads, leading to his death. This unexpected
consequence highlights the interconnectedness of actions and their outcomes.
Actually, the wooden toy tiger symbolises defiance, irony, and the unforeseen
consequences of one’s actions. It serves as a powerful reminder that even the
mightiest rulers cannot escape karma and destiny.
PYQ/ EBQ (TO BE WRITTEN IN COPY)
Question: Discuss the theme of irony in "The Tiger King" with reference to the
protagonist’s fate. What message does the author convey through the satirical
elements in the story?
Answer: The story is steeped in irony, particularly surrounding the king’s obsessive
effort to defy the prophecy of his death by a tiger. Despite killing numerous tigers, the
king meets his end because of a trivial wound inflicted by a toy tiger, underscoring
the futility of human arrogance against fate. Kalki uses satire to criticise the
misplaced priorities of the ruling class, mocking their obsession with power while
ignoring genuine responsibilities.
Source: CBSE Board Examination 2023
EXTRACT. A high-ranking British officer visited Pratibandapuram. He was very fond
of hunting tigers. And fonder of being photographed with the tigers he had shot. As
usual, he wished to hunt tigers in Pratibandapuram.
Question 1: Why do you think the British officer was so interested in hunting tigers
and being photographed with them?
Answer: The British officer’s interest in hunting tigers and being photographed shows
his desire for status and power. In colonial times, hunting symbolised control over
nature, and having a photograph proved his superiority and bravery in front of others.
Question 2: State True or False.
None of the following terms can be applied to the statement—”He was very fond of
hunting tigers. And fonder of being photographed with the tigers he had shot”:
(a) A display of power – showcasing control over animals
(b) A coincidence – happening by chance
(c) A tradition – something passed down over generations
(d) A vanity – excessive pride in one’s appearance or achievements
Answer: False
Reason: The statement involves vanity, but it does not involve a display of power,
coincidence, or tradition, so only (d) applies to the statement.
Question 3: The British officer’s love for photographs suggests his _____.
Answer: Vanity/Pride/Ego/Status/Power or any other similar response.
Question 4: What does the British officer’s desire for photographs reveal?
Answer: It reveals his vanity and desire for recognition and power.
