Tiger in The Zoo

TIGER IN THE ZOO
SUMMARY
Tiger in the Zoo‟ by Leslie Norris presents an image of a tiger stalking inside a cage in the
zoo. Habitually, it‟s not comfortable in such an enveloped environment. It should be
wandering in the wild, hunting on deers, drinking from a water hole, and snarling around the
fringes of the forest. But, the cage has made him disabled. It somehow thrives to sustain its
spirit and struggles to keep it alive. Here, the tiger can only hear the sound of the patrolling
cars that pass by. Moreover, the brilliant radiance of the stars makes it think about its present
captive state.
THEMES
„A Tiger in the Zoo‟ by Leslie Norris presents several themes such as freedom vs captivity,
tamed vs wild, wilderness, and natural beauty.
Freedom vs Captivity
The most important theme of the poem is freedom vs captivity. In this poem, Norris
describes how the tiger longs for its freedom. It somehow wants to break its imposed
captivity to become the same wild spirit again.
Tamed vs Wild, Wilderness
The poet also talks about how men try to tame the wild. It not only destroys the beauty of the
wild but it also tries to kill one‟s basic instincts. Moreover, the description of the tiger and its
movement in the forest depict the nature of wilderness.
Natural Beauty
The poet also speaks on the theme of natural beauty in this poem. The tiger is a part of nature
that stands for the beauty of nature as a whole. It represents the wild side of nature still it has
its beauty. The poet compares the luster of the tiger‟s eyes to that of the stars.
POETIC DEVICES
Personification: This rhetorical device is used to bestow human qualities on something that
is not human. In this poem, the poet uses the device of personification with respect to the
tiger that is mentioned in the title of the poem. He refers to the tiger not as “it”, but as “he”.
Metaphor: This rhetorical device is used when a covert comparison is made between two
different things or ideas. In this poem, the poet uses the device of metaphor in the 3rd line of
the 1st stanza when he compares the pads of the tiger‟s feet with velvet, since both are soft
and smooth to the touch.
Metonymy: This rhetorical device consists of the substitution of the name of an attribute or
adjunct for that of the thing meant. In this poem, the poet uses the device of metonymy in the
2nd line of the 4th stanza, he uses the word “strength” to mean the body of the tiger, where
the entire strength of this majestic creature resides and which is locked up within a cage in
the zoo.
Alliteration: It is the the occurrence of the same letter or sound at the beginning of adjacent
or closely connected words.
e.g. “should be lurking in shadow”,

“where plump deer pass”,
“in a concrete cell”.
Symbolism: it is the use of symbolic images and indirect suggestion to express mystical
ideas. In the poet the poet describes eyes of the tiger and stars in the sky as brilliant. The
eyes are bright either because of rage or because of its majestic look. On the other hand, the
stars are brilliant because they twinkle in the sky.
Enjambment - The sentences are being continued to the next line.
Imagery - The poet has given detailed visual description about the tiger - He stalks in his
vivid stripes.
Assonance - There is a prominent sound of the vowel 'i' -
Oxymoron - The poet has used two words which are opposite in meaning - quiet and rage.
Synecdoche- By using “vivid stripes” the poet refers to the body of the tiger. (It is a figure
of speech in which a part is made to represent the whole or vice versa)
QUESTION ANSWERS
1.
Notice the use of words repeated in lines. What do you think is the effect of this repetition?
Answer:
This repetition is a poetic device used by the poet in order to increase the intensity of the
tiger‟s rage and his helpless silence. „Velvet quiet‟ refers to the quiet velvet pads of the tiger,
which cannot run or leap. They can only walk around the limited space in the cage. The use
of „quiet rage‟ symbolises the anger and ferocity that is building up inside the tiger as it
wants to run out into the forest and attack a deer, but the rage is quiet because he is locked in
the cage and is helpless.
Similarly, the use of „brilliant‟ for the tiger‟s eyes as well as the stars also brings out the
magnificence of these lines. The tiger stares at the brilliant stars with his brilliant eyes
dreaming about how beautiful his life could be in the forest.
The repetition thus, gives a wonderful effect to the poem.

2. Why do you think the tiger was stalking in the cage? What does it show?
Answer: I think the tiger was feeling restless and uneasy in that small cage. He seems to be
frustrated and helpless as he could not come out of the cage in the open and enjoy his
freedom. He did not want to be a mere showpiece and a source of entertainment for human
beings.
3. Describe the movement of the tiger in the cage and in the wild.
Answer: In the zoo, in his small cage and devoid of freedom, the tiger feels unhappy rather
frustrated, restless and angry. In the forest, he enjoys moving majestically wherever he
wants, terrorizes the villagers by displaying his sharp teeth and claws. He is happy in the
forest, enjoying his liberty and surroundings, but not in the zoo.
4. What does the poet say about a tiger in his natural surroundings?
Answer: The poet says that the tiger should be in the jungle. It is his natural habitat. In the
jungle, he moves in the long grass near a water hole. He hides in shadow to hunt the deer for
his food.
5. How does the tiger terrify the villagers?
Answer: The tiger prowls around the houses of the villagers. He terrifies them by snarling at
them. Their houses are situated near the jungle. He terrifies the villagers by baring his fangs
and showing his long claws.
6. What does the poet want to convey through this poem?

Answer: The poet wants to convey that like human beings, animals also like freedom. They
do not want to be caged, they cannot live a miserable life. If their habitat is destroyed by
human beings, these animals cannot survive.

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TIGER IN THE ZOO

Tamed vs Wild, Wilderness

e.g. “should be lurking in shadow”,

Enjambment - The sentences are being continued to the next line.

Assonance - There is a prominent sound of the vowel 'i' -

The repetition thus, gives a wonderful effect to the poem.

5. How does the tiger terrify the villagers?

6. What does the poet want to convey through this poem?

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