Aunt Jennifers Tigers Adrienne Rich 1929 2012 OBJECTIVES

Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers Adrienne Rich (1929 – 2012) OBJECTIVES : • Critical/Thematic appreciation of the poem • Developing values and sensitivity • Identifying Figure of Speech, Rhyme Scheme • Developing the skills of recitation • Expressing thought, ideas, feelings, emotions through poems • Enhancing Vocabulary

Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers Adrienne Rich (1929 – 2012) Adrienne Rich was an American poet, essayist and a feminist. She was born in Baltimore, Maryland on May 16, 1929. She attended Radcliffe College, graduating in 1951 . She was called "one of the most widely read and influential poets of the second half of the 20 th century. She was credited with bringing the oppression of women to the forefront of poetic discourse. Her earliest work, including A Change of World (1951) which won the prestigious Yale Younger Poets Award.

Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers Adrienne Rich (1929 – 2012) PREVIOUS KNOWLEDGE : a. Can you name a few evil practices against women in our country? b. How is a woman treated in a male dominated society?

Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers Adrienne Rich (1929 – 2012)

Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers Adrienne Rich (1929 – 2012) BACKGROUND : Adrienne Rich was brought up in a well off family. Rich felt dominated by her father’s strong personality while growing up. It was he who most guided her as a young poet. This wasn’t always to her liking as he expected her to write her poems his way. When Rich was growing up men dominated and women were expected to become dutiful wives in their adult lives. All these elements may have influenced the picture of marriage Rich drew in this poem. At the heart of the poem is an image of a husband who controls and frightens his wife. Rich wrote a lot of poems based on everyday experience. One topic she often featured was the tension, women felt due to being dominated by their husbands. In ‘Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers’ Rich is mocking the weakness of Aunt Jennifer and the clout and authority of Jennifer’s husband in their marriage.

Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers Adrienne Rich (1929 – 2012) Theme – Racism and militarism against women Sub-Theme – Male chauvinistic society The speaker/narrator – Aunt Jennifer Vocabulary : Prance, topaz, denizen, beneath, sleek, chivalric, flutter, massive, ordeal, panel, timid

Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers Adrienne Rich (1929 – 2012) In the poem ‘Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers’ a woman expresses her suppressed feelings through her art. Aunt Jennifer is the victim of the male dominated society. She has no one to tell her mental and physical pain. She makes a picture to convey her deep feelings. The poet addresses the constraints of married life, experienced by a woman. Aunt Jennifer weaves tigers into the panel. These tigers are brave & have no fear of men. The speaker describes the tigers which her aunt produced on the panel. They are set in motion. They are moving quickly by raising the front legs and jumping forwards on the back legs. In the green jungle they look free, bright, brave, fearless and magnificent. There are men sitting under the tree, but the tigers do not. They move on to their goal boldly and smoothly.

Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers Adrienne Rich Jennifer finds it difficult to make pictures by using the ivory needle. She is tired of doing the household work after she got married. She can’t get herself involved in her artistic work. She has to do it in her leisure time. Even then she has to be sure whether husband is watching her or not. So her hands are terrified. She will not be free from fear until she dies. She will be dominated by her husband. She will die, but her art will express her desire to move proudly and fearlessly like the tigers she has made. Aunt Jennifer is terrified by her dominating husband. Her finger flutters due to the mental suppression. She is not happy with her married life. She will die but her art will express her desire to move proudly and fearlessly like the tigers she has made. The poem reveals the plight of women in our society. They are suppressed and deprived of their basic rights. It is indeed a matter of grave concern that despite a growing consensus regarding women empowerment, crimes against them are increasing at an alarming rate. It is the need of the hour to create adequate awareness among public for introspection and necessary action.

Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers Adrienne Rich (1929 – 2012) Figure of Speech used : Personification Symbol Imagery Synecdoche Hyperbole Alliteration Rhyme-Scheme : AABB, CCDD, and EEFF.

Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers Questions to Test Comprehension : 1. What do the tigers on the panel signify? 2. Describe the tigers on the panel. 3. How do ‘denizens’ and ‘chivalric’ add to our understanding of the tiger’s attitude? 4. Interpret the symbols found in the poem. 5. Why are the tigers not afraid of the men beneath the tree? 6. Explain : “They pace in sleek chivalric certainty. ” 7. Why does Jennifer find it hard to pull the ivory needle? 8. What is the significance of ‘Uncle’s wedding band’? 9. What does the ‘ring’ symbolise? 10. Why does Aunt Jennifer choose to embroider tigers on the panel? 11. Why will the tigers go on prancing? 12. Justify the title of the poem. 13. What are the ordeals Aunt Jennifer surrounded by? 14. What is the attitude of the speaker towards Aunt Jennifer? 15. What is suggested by ‘massive weight of uncle’s wedding band’? 16. Why do Aunt Jennifer’s fingers flutter? Link Video Link : https: //youtu. be/F_1 Yqg. UBq. Kw