A Tiger in the Zoo

What does the poet convey through the poem? 

The poet tries to expose the miserable life led by animals in the zoo. He compares the life of a tiger in the zoo with its life in a natural habitat. Animals have the right to freedom and should not be caged. They should be allowed to run free in the wild.

Describe the tiger in the wild. 

The tiger in the wild is majestic. He is free & hides under the shades & hunts for prey near the water bodies. He creates terror for the villagers by snarling around their houses. He frightens them by showing his white claws & fangs.

Question - 1 

'Quiet rage' refers to the tiger's _____.
(a) helpless
(b) he hasn't been able to hunt
(c) he is free 
(d) he is in quiet rage because he has very limited space 

Answer 1: 

(d) he is in quiet rage because he has very limited space

Question - 2 

Why does the tiger lurk in the shadow when it is in the jungle? 

Answer 2: 

To hunt his prey by sliding through long grass near the water hole where plump deer pass. 

Question - 3 

Who is the poet of this poem? 

Answer 3: 

Leslie Norris. 

Question - 4 

How does the tiger move in the cage? 

Answer 4: 

The tiger moves slowly, and quietly in the cage because it has limited space in the cage. 

Question - 5 

Why is the tiger in quiet rage? 

Answer 5: 

Because he is locked in the cage and his freedom has been curtailed. 

Metaphor: Pads of velvet 

Personification: The tiger is personified because the poet referred to the tiger(it) as he. 

Oxymoron: It is the use of adjectives opposite in meaning (Eg: quiet rage) 

Alliteration: 

1. Concrete cell

2. should be lurking in the shadow 

3. should be snarling

4. behind bars

5. plump deer pass

6. he hears 

Assonance: Use of the 'e' vowel many times in a line. (he's locked in a concrete cell)

Onomatopoeia: The formation of a word from a sound associated with what is named. (Eg: snarling)