A Tiger in the Zoo - NCERT Class 10, First Flight, Chapter 2, Poem 1 - Summary, Questions, Answers, Extra Questions, MCQ

Detailed summary and explanation of the poem 'A Tiger in the Zoo' by Leslie Norris, with important questions, answers, extra questions, and MCQs from NCERT Class X, First Flight.

Updated: 11 months ago

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Introduction

The poem "A Tiger in the Zoo" by Leslie Norris presents a stark contrast between the life of a tiger in captivity and its life in the wild. The poet uses vivid imagery to show how the tiger's natural instincts are stifled by the confines of a zoo, where its strength and majestic nature are reduced to quiet frustration. The poem reflects on the moral question of keeping wild animals in captivity and raises sympathy for the tiger's plight as it paces its small enclosure, longing for the freedom of the jungle. Through this poem, Norris highlights the cruelty of removing wild animals from their natural habitats and confining them for human amusement.

Summary of 'A Tiger in the Zoo' in Multiple Indian Languages

Summary in English

The poem "A Tiger in the Zoo" by Leslie Norris contrasts the life of a tiger in the wild with its life in captivity. In the zoo, the tiger is confined to a small cage, where it can only take a few steps. It moves around quietly, with anger boiling inside as it is powerless to break free. The poet describes the tiger’s frustration and quiet rage, emphasizing how unnatural it is for such a powerful creature to be caged.

In contrast, the poet imagines the tiger in its natural habitat, lurking in the shadows, moving stealthily through the tall grass, and stalking its prey near a water hole. In the wild, the tiger is free, fierce, and a dominant force. It can express its true nature by hunting and living according to its instincts. However, the tiger in the zoo is deprived of this freedom, trapped behind bars, unable to follow its natural urges.

The poet highlights the tragedy of captivity as the tiger is forced to live in a concrete cell, ignored by visitors, and left to stare at the stars with longing eyes. The poem emphasizes the loss of freedom and the frustration that the tiger feels, drawing attention to the contrast between its life in the zoo and its life in the wild. The poem serves as a commentary on the cruelty of keeping wild animals in captivity, stripping them of their natural instincts and the life they were meant to lead.

Summary in Hindi

कविता "A Tiger in the Zoo" लेस्ली नॉरिस द्वारा लिखी गई है, जिसमें एक बाघ के जंगली जीवन और उसके पिंजरे में बंद जीवन के बीच के अंतर को दर्शाया गया है। चिड़ियाघर में, बाघ एक छोटे से पिंजरे में बंद है, जहाँ वह केवल कुछ कदम ही चल सकता है। वह शांत रूप से चलता है, लेकिन उसके भीतर गुस्सा उबाल मार रहा होता है क्योंकि वह आज़ाद नहीं हो सकता। कवि बाघ की निराशा और उसकी चुपचाप उबलती हुई क्रोध को व्यक्त करता है, यह दर्शाते हुए कि इस ताकतवर प्राणी को पिंजरे में रखना कितना अप्राकृतिक है।

इसके विपरीत, कवि बाघ के प्राकृतिक निवास स्थान की कल्पना करता है, जहाँ वह छाया में छिपा होता है, लंबी घास के बीच से चुपचाप चलता है, और पानी के पास शिकार के लिए तैयार रहता है। जंगल में बाघ स्वतंत्र, निर्भीक और अपनी शक्तियों से भरपूर होता है। वह अपनी प्राकृतिक प्रवृत्तियों के अनुसार शिकार करता है और जीवन जीता है। लेकिन चिड़ियाघर में बंद बाघ इस स्वतंत्रता से वंचित होता है, वह सलाखों के पीछे फंसा रहता है और अपनी प्राकृतिक इच्छाओं का पालन नहीं कर पाता।

कवि कैद के इस त्रासदी को उजागर करता है, जहाँ बाघ को एक कंक्रीट के पिंजरे में बंद रहना पड़ता है, आगंतुकों द्वारा अनदेखा किया जाता है, और रात में सितारों को अपनी तीखी निगाहों से निहारता रहता है। यह कविता बाघ के जीवन में स्वतंत्रता की कमी और उसकी निराशा को उजागर करती है, जिससे बाघ के चिड़ियाघर और जंगल में जीवन के बीच का अंतर स्पष्ट होता है। कविता यह संदेश देती है कि जंगली जानवरों को कैद में रखना क्रूरता है, जो उनकी प्राकृतिक प्रवृत्तियों और उनके स्वाभाविक जीवन को छीन लेता है।

A Tiger in the Zoo - Thinking About the Poem: Questions and Answers

1. Read the poem again, and work in pairs or groups to do the following tasks.

(i) Find the words that describe the movements and actions of the tiger in the cage and in the wild. Arrange them in two columns.

In the cage: Stalks, pads of velvet, quiet rage, locked, behind bars, ignoring visitors, stares.
In the wild: Lurking, sliding, snarling, baring fangs, terrorizing, roaming freely.

(ii) Find the words that describe the two places, and arrange them in two columns.

In the cage: Concrete cell, behind bars, confined space, small steps.
In the wild: Shadow, long grass, water hole, jungle's edge, open space.

The poet uses words and images to create a sharp contrast between the two situations. In the cage, the tiger’s actions are restricted, and his natural behavior is subdued. In the wild, the tiger is free to roam, stalk prey, and assert his dominance. The use of vivid imagery highlights the cruelty of confinement and the stark difference between captivity and the tiger's natural habitat.

2. Notice the use of a word repeated in lines such as these:

(i) On pads of velvet quiet,
In his quiet rage.

(ii) And stares with his brilliant eyes
At the brilliant stars.

The repetition of words like "quiet" and "brilliant" emphasizes the contrasting emotions and observations of the tiger. In the first example, "quiet" is used to describe both the tiger’s soft movement and its repressed anger, highlighting the tension between calmness and rage. In the second example, "brilliant" describes both the tiger's eyes and the stars, suggesting a connection between the tiger’s longing for freedom and the vast, open world outside the cage.

3. Read the following two poems — one about a tiger and the other about a panther. Then discuss:

Are zoos necessary for the protection or conservation of some species of animals? Are they useful for educating the public? Are there alternatives to zoos?

The Tiger:
The tiger behind the bars of his cage growls,
The tiger behind the bars of his cage snarls,
The tiger behind the bars of his cage roars.
Then he thinks.
It would be nice not to be behind bars all
The time
Because they spoil my view
I wish I were wild, not on show.
But if I were wild, hunters might shoot me,
But if I were wild, food might poison me,
But if I were wild, water might drown me.
Then he stops thinking
And...
The tiger behind the bars of his cage growls,
The tiger behind the bars of his cage snarls,
The tiger behind the bars of his cage roars.

The Panther:
His vision, from the constantly passing bars,
has grown so weary that it cannot hold
anything else. It seems to him there are
a thousand bars; and behind the bars, no world.
As he paces in cramped circles, over and over,
the movement of his powerful soft strides
is like a ritual dance around a centre
in which a mighty will stands paralysed.
Only at times, the curtain of the pupils
lifts, quietly. An image enters in,
rushes down through the tensed, arrested muscles,
plunges into the heart and is gone.

These poems reflect the feelings of animals trapped in zoos. They highlight the longing for freedom and the sadness of confinement. Zoos can help protect endangered species and educate the public, but there are ethical concerns regarding the restriction of wild animals to small enclosures. Alternatives like wildlife reserves and sanctuaries can provide a more natural habitat while still protecting animals.

4. Take a point of view for or against zoos, or even consider both points of view, and write a couple of paragraphs or speak about this topic for a couple of minutes in class.

Zoos can be seen as both beneficial and harmful. On one hand, they provide a safe environment for endangered species and educate the public about wildlife conservation. Zoos offer an opportunity for people to learn about animals they might never see in the wild, fostering empathy and understanding.

On the other hand, zoos restrict the natural freedom of animals, often confining them to small spaces far removed from their natural habitats. Many animals in zoos exhibit signs of stress and frustration. Wildlife sanctuaries and reserves might serve as a better alternative, where animals can live in more natural settings while still being protected and studied.

About the Author

Leslie Norris (1921–2006) was a Welsh poet and short story writer, known for his deeply reflective and emotional poetry that often touched upon nature, life, and the human experience. Many of his works are characterized by their simple yet profound language, focusing on human emotions and the beauty of the natural world. Norris was an award-winning poet, and his works have been published widely. His poetry often emphasizes the emotional connection between humans and nature, and in "A Tiger in the Zoo", he brings attention to the contrast between the natural instincts of wild animals and their confinement in unnatural environments. Through his writing, Norris advocates for compassion, freedom, and an appreciation of the natural world.

This article has been published in CBSE Class 10 Board Examination. Explore everything related to it here.

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