A Tiger In The Zoo 


Central Idea of the poem

In this poem , poet is trying to contrast a tiger in the zoo with the tiger in its real natural inhabitat . He conveys an important message that the wild animals should be in their natural inhabitat . He highlights the contrast between freedom and captivity .

Difficult words-----

Contrast----अंतर

Habitat----निवास स्थान

Conveys----कहता है

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Question Answer based on stanza------

Stanza 1

He stalks in his vivid stripes

The few steps of his cage,

On pads of velvet quiet,

In his quiet rage .


                Question 1

Who is 'he' here in the stanza ?
                Answer
'He'  here is the tiger in the stanza
 .

               Question 2

Where is he ?
                Answer
He is inside his cage in the zoo.

                Question 3

What emotion does 'he' show ?
                Answer
'He' shows anger coupled with pride .

                Question 4

Who is in his quiet rage ?
                Answer
A tiger is in his quiet rage .


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Stanza 2


He should be lurking in shadow,
Sliding through long grass
Near the water hole
Where plump deer pass .


                  Question 1

How should he be walking through the grass ?
                     Answer
'He' should be sliding through the grass .

                  Question 2

Where should he be lurking ?
                   Answer
He should be lurking in the shadows .

                  Question 3

Where can he see for his food ?
                  Answer
For his food , he can see near the water hole .

                  Question 4

Which word in the above stanza means 'waiting stealthily' ?
                   Answer
Waiting stealthily means lurking .

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Stanza 3


He should be snarling around houses 
At the jungle's edge
Baring his white fangs, his claws
Terrorising the village !





                   Question 1

Which animal is mentioned above?
                   Answer
The tiger animal in mentioned here .

                    Question 2

Where is he at present?
                      Answer
He is at present near the houses at the jungle's edge .

                       Question 3

How is he terrorising the village ?
                      Answer
He is terrorising by baring his teeth and claws .

                      Question 4

Trace a word that means 'corner' .
                       Answer
Corner means edge .

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Stanza 4


But he's locked in a concrete cell,
His strength behind bars,
Stalling the length of his cage,
Ignoring visitors .

                  Question 1

How is he in the cage ?

                 Answer
He is locked in the cage .

                  Question 2

Where has his power gone ?

                 Answer
His power has been imprisoned in his cage .

                   Question 3

How does he react to the visitors ?
                    Answer
He ignores the visitors .

                   Question 4

Trace a word that means 'power ' .
                   Answer
Power means strength .

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Stanza 5

He hears the last voice at night,
The petrolling cars,
And stares with his brilliant eyes
At the brilliant stars .

              Question 1

Who hears the last voice and at what times ?
               Answer
The tiger hears the last voice at night .

                 Question 2

Why is it the last voice ?
                 Answer
It is the last voice because after that it is dark and all fall asleep .

               Question 3

What does he stare with ?
                  Answer
He stares with brilliant eyes .

                   Question 4

To whom does he stare with ?
                    Answer
It stares at the brilliant stars .


Some most important question answer of the poem--

                  Question 1

What message does the poet want to convey through the poem Tiger in the zoo ?

                  Answer

The poet wants to convey that it is cruel to keep the wild animals in small cell of the zoo , away from their natural habitat . They feel angry, helpless, unhappy and remembered their life and environment in the forest .

                 Question 2

Compare and contrast the environment of the tiger in the zoo and his environment in the forest?

                  Answer

In the zoo, the tiger was put in a cemented cell, behind the bars. He could not move beyond the cage. In the forest he was free to move wherever he liked, enjoy killing his own prey , the greenery and the natural beauty around him . At night he could hear the sounds of other animals and not the sounds of patrolling cars of the zoo guards.

                  Question 3

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 couldn't 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 the human beings .



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