NCERT English Class 10th — A Tiger in the Zoo Explanation in Simple English
About the Poem
Poet: Leslie Norris
The poem shows the difference between a tiger living freely in the jungle and a tiger locked inside a zoo cage. The poet feels sad because the tiger has lost his freedom.
Stanza 1
He stalks in his vivid stripes
The few steps of his cage,
On pads of velvet quiet,
In his quiet rage.
Simple Explanation
The tiger walks slowly inside the small cage. His bright striped body looks beautiful. He walks very softly and silently on his soft paws. Although he is quiet from outside, he is very angry inside because he is trapped in the cage.
Difficult Words
Stalks = walks slowly and carefully
Vivid stripes = bright coloured stripes
Pads = soft feet/paws
Quiet rage = silent anger
Stanza 2
He should be lurking in shadow,
Sliding through long grass
Near the water hole
Where plump deer pass.
Simple Explanation
The poet says that the tiger should actually be living freely in the forest. He should hide in the dark shadows and move smoothly through the tall grass near a water source. There he could hunt fat deer for food.
Difficult Words
Lurking = hiding secretly
Sliding = moving smoothly
Water hole = small pond where animals drink water
Plump deer = healthy fat deer
Stanza 3
He should be snarling around houses
At the jungle’s edge,
Baring his white fangs, his claws,
Terrorising the village!
Simple Explanation
The tiger should be roaming freely near the edge of the jungle. He should show his sharp teeth and claws and frighten the villagers. This is the natural life of a tiger, not life inside a cage.
Difficult Words
Stanza 4
But he’s locked in a concrete cell,
His strength behind bars,
Stalking the length of his cage,
Ignoring visitors.
Simple Explanation
Instead of living in the jungle, the tiger is locked in a small cage made of concrete and iron bars. His power and strength are useless there. He walks helplessly inside the cage and does not care about the people who come to see him.
Difficult Words
Stanza 5
He hears the last voice at night,
The patrolling cars,
And stares with his brilliant eyes
At the brilliant stars.
Simple Explanation
At night, when all visitors leave, the tiger hears only the sound of patrolling cars. He looks sadly at the bright stars in the sky. The stars remind him of the open jungle and freedom that he has lost.
Difficult Words
Central Idea of the Poem
The poem tells us that wild animals should live freely in nature, not in cages. The poet compares the tiger’s natural life in the jungle with his sad life in the zoo. The poem gives the message that freedom is very important for every living being.
Poetic Devices
1. Personification
The tiger is shown with human feelings like anger and sadness.
Example:
“quiet rage”
2. Imagery
The poet creates beautiful pictures in our mind.
Example:
“sliding through long grass”
3. Alliteration
Repetition of the same sound.
Example:
“vivid stripes”
Short Summary
The poem describes a tiger locked in a zoo cage. The tiger is angry and unhappy because he cannot live freely in the jungle. The poet feels that wild animals belong to nature, not to cages.
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