A tiger in the Zoo – Overview
The poem is about a tiger that is very beautiful and is walking in his little cage. He is having beautiful stripes on his skin and has velvet-like soft paws. But he is not happy and is quite angry in the cage. The poet says that the tiger may try to hide behind the long grass, but here he is not able to do so. Actually nothing is happening naturally. He is in a strong cage and so he is helpless. He cannot show his power to the visitors. Poet is describing the tiger as being powerless and tortured. Cage life has totally changed his personality.
Thus the intention of the poet is to say that the animal, famous for its fearlessness and freedom is confined and sad only due to human beings.
Summary
This poem is showing the pitiful condition of the tiger in the zoo. It shows the poor condition of the tiger in a cage. In a zoo, the tiger walks in the limited space provided to it in the cage. He can take a few steps. There are stripes on his body which are easily noticeable. His paws are soft like velvet. He does not make any noise while walking on his ‘pads of velvet’. The tiger is silent but in anger.
Poet suggests that the cage is not the proper place for the tiger, as it is not its natural habitat. Thus, the tiger in the cage is a victim of human cruelty. Generally, tigers are found sitting under some bushes or long grass near some water bodies. So that the tiger can see its prey like deer coming there to drink water, and consequently can slide silently through the grass and kill them. The poet wants to convey to all humankind that the tiger should be there in the forest and not in a cage.
Further, the poet gave a suggestion that the tiger should be sitting at the jungle’s edge near the village. It may terrorize the people passing that way by showing its sharp teeth, baring its claws and producing a roaring sound of anger.
Poet has deep sympathy due to the unpleasant situation of the tiger who is imprisoned in a cell made of concrete. Tiger is unable to come out due to the strong bars fixed at the concrete cell. So, the tiger’s strength is locked behind the bars. All such circumstanced are making tiger having no interest in the visitors. And, he keeps on stalking (annoyance) in the limited space of the cage.
The poet is trying to make realize the people about a tiger who is sitting in the cage and feeling unpleasant and restless. Tiger is still showing no interest in the sound created by the patrolling cars of the zoo authorities. The poet is showing him staring at the shining stars with his brilliant eyes. The poet is raising a moral issue here and he intends to present a strong case against the cruelty of humans for the animals kept in cages.
Explanation of stanza 1
The tiger moves up and down of his cage. The stripes on his body are of strong bright colour. The tiger moves quietly on his velvet pads. He is full of rage but is quiet. (because he knows that he is helpless here.)
Explanation of stanza 2
Looking at the imprisoned tiger, the poet is filled with pity. He says that the poor tiger should have been in his natural habitat. Then at this point of the night, he would have been lying in the shadows of trees and sliding quietly through the long grass. There, near the water hole, he would be waiting for some fat deer to pass that way. Thus he would be lying there in expectation of a heavy feast.
Explanation of stanza 3
Here the poet imagines what the tiger would be doing in case he failed to find any prey in his natural habitat. He says that the tiger would be growling at the edge of jungle near some village. He would be showing his white fangs and claws while moving here and there. He would thus become a cause of terror for the villagers. The poetess here gives a hint that if we destroy the natural habitat of tigers, they will be forced to turn to our towns and villages to find their food.
Explanation of stanza 4
The poet sees the tiger logged in a concrete cell in the zoo. In spite of all his strength, he now lies imprisoned behind the bars. Very slowly and silently, he moves up and down along the length of the cage. He takes no note of the visitors who come to the zoo to have a look at him.
Explanation of stanza 5
The tiger knows no rest during the day because of the visitors. Even at night he remains disturbed due to the noise of the patrolling cars. He keeps staring at the brilliant stars with his brilliant eyes. Perhaps he is asking heaven why he has been imprisoned there.
Extra Question Answers
Question 1: ‘He stalks in his vivid stripes.’ How does the tiger look in his cage?
A: The tiger has sharp ,clear stripes on his body. He looks majestic as he moves slowly and quietly in his cage .He has soft velvety pads .He makes no noise as he moves. He has brilliant shining eyes.
Question 2: ‘On pads of velvet quiet /in his quiet rage, what does the tiger do in his cage?
A: It is a very small cage. The tiger can hardly take a few steps along the length of the cage. He doesn’t take any notice of the visitors who come there. With his shining eyes, he keeps looking at the bright stars.
Question 3: ‘He should be lurking in the shadows /sliding through long grass ‘what should the tiger be doing if he were in the jungle?
A: The tiger would be lurking in the shadows of trees. He would be sliding slowly through the long grass .He would be sitting by some water hole and waiting for some plump deer to pass that way.
Question 4: ‘He should be snarling around houses /at the jungle’s edge’ what should the tiger be doing if he were at the edge of the jungle?
A: The tiger would be moving around the houses in a nearby village .he would be growling while moving around .the sight of his white fangs and his terrible claws would fill the villagers with terror.
Question 5: ‘Stalking the length of his cage /ignoring visitors’ that is the tiger doing? Why is he ignoring the visitors?
A: The tiger is moving along the length of the cage slowly and quietly. He sees that he visitors keep coming and going .None of them thinks of releasing him from his prison .The tiger sees that all of them are fellows of without feeling .So he stops taking any notice of them .
Question 6: ‘And stares with his brilliant eyes / at the brilliant stars ‘ Why do you think the tiger looks at the stars?
A: The tiger has lost all hope from men .now he has hope from heaven only .it is this hope that has kept the brilliance in his eyes .that is why the tiger looks at the brilliant stars with his brilliant eyes