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.

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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

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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

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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

• Snarling = growling angrily

• Fangs = long sharp teeth

• Terrorising = frightening badly

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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

• Concrete cell = cement cage

• Behind bars = inside a cage

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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

• Patrolling cars = security vehicles moving around

• Brilliant eyes = shining eyes

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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.

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Poetic Devices

1. Personification

The tiger is shown with human feelings like anger and sadness.

Example:

“quiet rage”

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2. Imagery

The poet creates beautiful pictures in our mind.

Example:

“sliding through long grass”

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3. Alliteration

Repetition of the same sound.

Example:

“vivid stripes”

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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.