A Tiger in the Zoo by Leslie Norris

3. A Tiger in the Zoo by LESLIE NORRIS (for Class X)

Stanza 1

He stalks in his vivid stripes

The few steps of his cage,

On pads of velvet quiet,

In his quiet rage.

Line-to-line Explanation: The tiger in the zoo walks in the limited space provided to it in the cage. It takes a few steps. There are stripes on its body which are quite prominent (noticeable). Its paws are soft like velvet.  No noise is produced when it walks on its ‘pads of velvet’. The tiger is silent but in rage (anger).

Stanza 2.

He should be lurking in shadow,

Sliding through long grass

Near the water hole

Where plump deer pass.

Word-meanings: plump, lurking

Explanation: Now the poet suggests that the cage is not the proper place for the tiger. It is not its natural habitat. The tiger in the cage is a victim of human cruelty. Usually tigers are found sitting under some bushes or long grass near a stream or water hole. As soon as they see their prey like deer coming there to drink water, they slide silently through the grass and kill them. The poet wants to convey to us that this tiger should be there in the forest, its natural habitat.

 Poetic devices Used: The lines ‘lurking in shadow’, create a word picture of some danger hovering for the animals who come to drink water. Other word pictures are created by the use of words/ phrases like ‘sliding through’ and ‘plump deer’.

Stanza 3.

He should be snarling around houses

At the jungle’s edge,

Baring his white fangs, his claws,

Terrorising the village!

Explanation: In this stanza: The poet proceeds further giving another suggestion that the tiger should be sitting at the jungle’s edge in close vicinity of a village. It should be terrorising the people passing that way by showing its sharp teeth, baring its claws and producing low sound of anger.

Stanza 4.

But he’s locked in a concrete cell,

His strength behind bars,

Stalking the length of his cage,

Ignoring visitors.

Explanation: In this stanza, the poet expresses deep sympathy at the plight (unpleasant situation) of the tiger, that is imprisoned in a cell made of concrete (mixed material like cement, sand, small pieces of stone and water). He cannot come out of it because strong bars fixed at the concrete cell stop him. Thus the poet says that the tiger’s strength is locked behind the bars. The tiger shows no interest in looking at the visitors. Rather, he keeps on stalking (walking in angry and proud manner) in the limited space of the cage.

Stanza 5.

He hears the last voice at night, /The patrolling cars,

And stares with his brilliant eyes /At the brilliant stars.

Word-meanings: Patrolling: moving about to check any danger Brilliant: shining

Explanation: The poet again takes the reader to the cage where the tiger is sitting in the cage and feeling unpleasant and restless. He hears the sound created by the patrolling cars of the zoo authorities. He shows no interest in them. The poet shown him staring at the shining stars with his brilliant eyes.

Thus the poem ends up at the point where it had started.

The poet raises a moral issue here. He intends to present a strong case against the cruelty on animals, which are kept in cages.

 4. A Tiger in the Zoo by Leslie Norris

Questions & Answers

Q1. How does the tiger walk about in the cage? What are his emotions?

Ans. The tiger in the cage walks in a proud manner. He is in anger because he is shut in a small cell. He is helpless and cannot come out.

Q2. Where should the tiger be?

Ans. The tiger should be in the jungle. He should be moving slowly in the log grass near a water hole to kill his prey.

Q3. How is the tiger in the cell? How does he react to the visitors?

Ans. The tiger is not comfortable in the cell. It is not his natural habitat. He is in anger also. He walks inside the cell feeling uneasy and angry. He does not pay any attention to the visitor. He has no interest in them.

Q4. Where is the strength of the tiger and how does he treat the visitors?

Ans. The strength of the tiger is behind the bars. He is imprisoned in a cell. He takes no interest in the visitors.

Q5. How does the tiger feel in the cage?

Ans. The tiger is not comfortable in the cell. It is not his natural habitat. He is in anger also. He walks inside the cell feeling uneasy and angry.

Q6. What message does the poem ‘A Tiger in the Zoo’ give? Or what is the central idea/theme of the poem?

Ans. The poem gives a message that we should not keep birds and animals in cages. We should not imprison them. They should live in their natural habitats.

Q7. How does the tiger terrify the villagers?

Ans. If the tiger is in his natural habitat, he growls at the villagers who pass by that way. He also shows his fangs and bright claws to the villagers to terrify them.

Q8. How does the poet contrast the tiger in the zoo with the tiger in the jungle?

Ans. The tiger in the zoo is not free. He feels uncomfortable in the limited space of the cell. The tiger in the zoo is happy. He is free to move anywhere.

Q9. How does the tiger behave at night?

Ans. The patrolling cars create noise. The tiger in the cage just stares at the shining stars.

Q10. What should the tiger be doing if he were in the jungle?

Ans. He should be sitting near a water hole under long grass and waiting for some deer to come. He would jump to kill the deer to make his food.

Q11. What should the tiger be doing if he were at the edge of the jungle?

Ans. He should be terrorising the villagers by roaring and showing his fangs.

Q12. Why does the tiger ignore the visitors?

Ans. The tiger is not happy. He is imprisoned in the cage.  He feels uneasy, angry and uncomfortable in the café, he needs freedom. So he has no interest in the visitors.

Very Short Qs

Learn the following statements:

1.  The tiger is in cage/concrete cell.

2.  The tiger stalks inside the cage.

3.  The tiger should be snarling at the edge of the jungle near a village.

4.  ‘Pads of velvet’ means soft soles.

5.  The tiger’s strength is behind the bars.

6.  ‘Behind the bars means in the cage.

7.  The tiger ignores the visitors.

8.   The tiger stares sadly at the brilliant stars.

Important Stanzas

Stanza 1. 

He stalks in his vivid stripes/The few steps of his cage,

On pads of velvet quiet, /In his quiet rage.

Q1. Who is ‘He’ in the above lines?

 Ans. 1. The tiger  

Q2.How does ‘He’ walk in the cage?

Ans.2. In proud manner  

Q3. In what mood is ‘He’?

 Ans.3. Anger

Q4. Which words in the stanza show the following meanings? 

(i) Anger (ii) visible/distinct

     Ans.4. (i) rage (ii) vivid

Stanza: 2. He should be lurking in shadow,/Sliding through long grass /Near the water hole/Where plump deer pass.

Q1. Name the poem and its poet.

Ans. The Poem is ‘A Tiger in the Zoo’ and its poet is Leslie Norris.

Q2. Where should the tiger be now?

Ans. in the jungle.

Q3. For what should he be lurking?

Ans.  For its prey/food.

Q4. Where do the deer usually pass?

Ans Near the water hole.

Q5. Give the synonyms for the words: (i) plump (ii) lurk

Ans. (i) Fleshy/fat (ii) wait/ prowl

Stanza 3.

He should be snarling around houses/At the jungle’s edge, /Baring his white fangs, his claws,

Terrorising the village!

Q1.Where should ‘he’ be snarling/growling around?

Ans. Around houses

Q2. What should ‘he’ be doing at the jungle’s edge?

Ans. Showing his sharp teeth and claws

Q3. How does he terrorise the villagers?

Ans. By growling and showing his sharp teeth and paws.

Q4. What words in the stanza above mean the following words?   (i) Sharp teeth (ii) growling

Ans.  (i) fangs (ii) snarling

Stanza 5

He hears the last voice at night, /The patrolling cars,

And stares with his brilliant eyes /At the brilliant stars.

Q1. What is the last voice here in the stanza?

Ans. It is the sound created by the patrolling cars.

Q2. How does he stare at the stars?

Ans. He stares at the stars with his brilliant eyes.

Q3 Why have his eyes called brilliant?

Ans. Animals eyes shine in darkness.

Q4. Give the meaning of ‘stare’.

Ans. to watch continuously.