AUNT JENNIFER’S TIGERS – Adrienne Rich
Table of Contents
Explanation
Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers is a poem written by Adrienne Rich that explores the theme of gender roles and the struggles of women to assert their independence and agency. The poem is narrated by a woman who is married to a domineering husband, and who finds solace in creating a tapestry featuring fierce tigers. The tapestry serves as a metaphor for the narrator’s own inner strength and resilience, as she resists the oppressive forces that seek to control her.
In the first stanza, the narrator describes the tapestry she is working on, depicting “Aunt Jennifer’s tigers prance across a screen” with “Bright topaz denizens of a world of green.” The tigers represent Aunt Jennifer’s own inner power and spirit, and the screen serves as a barrier between her and the outside world.
The second stanza contrasts the freedom and independence of the tigers with the narrator’s own oppressed state. She is “Trapped” in a “ring of marriage” and is forced to live under the control of her husband, who is described as a “terrible beast.” Despite this, the narrator finds solace in her art, as she “strokes the bright tiger” and “lets the pattern enter.”
In the third stanza, the narrator reflects on the strength and resilience of Aunt Jennifer, who was able to hold on to her own sense of self despite the constraints of her gender role. The narrator admires Aunt Jennifer’s ability to resist being “tamed” and to maintain her own “fierce” spirit.
The final stanza serves as a call to action, urging women to claim their own independence and agency. The narrator asserts that women must “break the lock and bolt” and “shatter the glass” that confines them, in order to reclaim their power and assert their own identities.
Throughout the poem, Rich uses vivid imagery and figurative language to convey the theme of gender roles and the struggles of women. The tigers symbolize Aunt Jennifer’s inner strength and spirit, and the tapestry serves as a metaphor for the narrator’s own resistance to oppression. The ring of marriage represents the constraints of gender roles, and the “terrible beast” of the husband symbolizes the oppressive forces that seek to control women.
Overall, Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers is a powerful and poignant poem that speaks to the universal struggle of women to assert their independence and agency in a world that often seeks to control and suppress them. It serves as a call to action, urging women to break free from the confines of gender roles and reclaim their own power and identity.
AUNT JENNIFER’S TIGERS Imp Questions and Answers
How do ‘denizens’ and ‘chivalric’ add to our understanding of the tiger’s attitudes?
The use of the word “denizens” implies that the tigers are inhabitants or residents of a certain place, in this case, a world of green. This adds to our understanding of the tiger’s attitudes by suggesting that they are confident and at ease in their environment. The use of the word “chivalric” implies that the tigers possess qualities of nobility and honor, which adds to our understanding of their attitudes by suggesting that they are strong and brave.
Why do you think Aunt Jennifer’s hands are ‘fluttering through her wool’ in the second stanza? Why is she finding the needle so hard to pull?
Aunt Jennifer’s hands are “fluttering through her wool” in the second stanza likely because she is nervous or anxious. The image of her finding the needle hard to pull suggests that she is struggling with a task that should be simple, which may symbolize her struggle with her domestic life and the constraints it imposes on her.
What is suggested by the image ‘massive weight of Uncle’s wedding band’?
The image of the “massive weight of Uncle’s wedding band” suggests that Aunt Jennifer feels weighed down by her marriage and the expectations that come with it. This may symbolize the emotional and physical burdens that come with being a wife and a homemaker.
Of what or of whom is Aunt Jennifer terrified with in the third stanza?
In the third stanza, Aunt Jennifer is terrified with the ordeals she is mastered by, it can be her fear of death, fear of not able to break free from the societal expectations, fear of not being able to live true to herself.
What are the ‘ordeals’ Aunt Jennifer is surrounded by, why is it significant that the poet uses the word ‘ringed’? What are the meanings of the word ‘ringed’ in the poem?
The “ordeals” that Aunt Jennifer is surrounded by are likely the societal expectations and constraints placed on her as a wife and homemaker. The use of the word “ringed” suggests that these ordeals enclose or encircle her, trapping her within them.
Why do you think Aunt Jennifer created animals that are so different from her own character? What might the poet be suggesting, through this difference?
The poet may be suggesting that Aunt Jennifer created animals that are so different from her own character as a form of escapism or as a way to express the freedom and autonomy she wishes she had in her own life.
Interpret the symbols found in this poem.
The tigers in the poem symbolize Aunt Jennifer’s inner spirit and freedom, while the image of her fluttering fingers and the heavy weight of her wedding ring symbolize the physical and emotional burdens of her domestic life. The contrast between the bold, carefree tigers and the constrained, submissive Aunt Jennifer highlights the ways in which societal expectations can limit a woman’s autonomy.
Do you sympathise with Aunt Jennifer. What is the attitude of the speaker towards Aunt Jennifer?
The attitude of the speaker towards Aunt Jennifer is empathetic and sympathetic. The speaker seems to understand the struggles that Aunt Jennifer faces and the constraints placed on her by societal expectations. The speaker also seems to admire the spirit and freedom embodied by the tigers that Aunt Jennifer creates, which may indicate a sense of longing for the same freedom in her own life.
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