A Tiger in the Zoo

NCERT Class 10 English Chapter 2 Poem – A Tiger in the Zoo

The poem 'A Tiger in the Zoo' by Leslie Norris portrays the life of a tiger in a cage. The tiger paces in its cage, its stripes vivid, eyes filled with rage. Soft feet tread velvet paths, yearning for freedom. It dreams of stalking near water holes, hunting prey amidst tall grass. With claws and fangs, it would reign terror, but confined in concrete, it ignores curious visitors. Each night, it hears the patrol's sound, finding solace only in the stars' appearance.

Thinking About the Poem (Page 30)

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

1. 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, Few steps of his cage, Quiet rage Locked in concrete cell, Stalking-the length of his cage Ignoring visitors. He hears the last voice Stares at the brilliant stars.

In the Wild

Lurking in shadow, Sliding through long grass, Snarling around houses, Baring his white fangs, his claws, Terrorising the village.

2. Find the words that describe the two places and arrange them in two columns.

Cage

Few steps of his cage, Locked, Concrete cell, Behind bars, Visitors, Patrolling cars

Wild

Shadow, Long grass, Waterhole, Plump deer, Houses at jungle’s edge, Village

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

1. On pads of velvet quiet, In his quiet rage.
2. And stares with his brilliant eyes At the brilliant stars.

What do you think is the effect of this repetition?

The poet repeats certain words to make the tiger's feelings stronger. "Velvet quiet" talks about how soft the tiger's paws are, but they can't run freely. "Quiet rage" shows how angry the tiger is inside, but it can't do anything because it's stuck in a cage. The tiger wishes to hunt deer in the forest but can't. The word "brilliant" describes the tiger's eyes and the stars, showing how beautiful they are. The tiger looks at the stars, wishing it could live freely in the forest. This repetition makes the poem more beautiful and powerful.

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? (refer to textbook for the poem)

Some animals are almost gone forever. Even big cats like tigers and lions are in danger in the wild because people hunt them for things like selling their body parts. That's where zoos come in. They keep animals safe and can teach people why animals are important and how they help keep nature balanced. But there are other options too, like wildlife sanctuaries, reserves, and national parks. These places not only keep animals safe but also give them a home where they belong in nature.