Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers

“Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers” suggests that the poem is about Aunt Jennifer’s knitted tigers, who become another universe of her creation with their chivalric, violent, bright, and carefree attitude. The tigers are her only outlet for unrestricted expression in a life otherwise dominated by dread and marital strife.

Other poems on tigers:

• “The Tyger” by William Blake
• “Tiger” by Alec Derwent Hope
• “Tiger Drinking at Forest Pool” by Ruth Padel

Denizens: Refers to inhabitants naturalized in a place. Tigers are “denizens of a world of green” (forests), implying they are masters of their domain, bold and fearless in their natural habitat.

Chivalric: Refers to remarkable bravery, honor, and gallantry. The poet uses this to describe the tigers’ confidence; they are not afraid of the men beneath the tree and prance with certainty and elegance.

Her hands are “fluttering” because she is an elderly lady, possibly frail, but more significantly, it reflects her repressed mental state. She is terrified. The ivory needle is “hard to pull” not because of the weight of the wool, but because of the psychological weight of her oppression and fear in her marriage.

[Image of wedding ring]

The “wedding band” refers to her wedding ring. The image of its “massive weight” is symbolic. Physically, a ring is light, but metaphorically, it represents the heavy burden of marital duties, responsibilities, and lack of freedom she has carried since her marriage to “Uncle.”

She is terrified of her husband (Uncle) and the constraints of her married life. Even in death, her “terrified hands” will lie still, yet remain “ringed with ordeals.” This suggests that the fear and submission she faced in life were so profound that they define her even in death.

The ‘ordeals’ are the hardships, oppression, and lack of freedom she faced in her patriarchal marriage. She spent her life following orders.

Significance of ‘Ringed’:

• Literal: Wearing the wedding ring.
• Metaphorical: Being encircled, trapped, or bound. It suggests she is surrounded by difficulties from which there is no escape, much like being caught in a vicious circle.

Aunt Jennifer is timid and suppressed, while her tigers are proud, fearless, and free. She created them to live an alternate life through her art—a life she was denied. The tigers symbolize her hidden desire for power, freedom, and confidence, highlighting the sharp contrast between her reality and her spirit.

• Tigers: Symbols of freedom, bravery, and a fearless spirit that Aunt Jennifer craves.
• Wedding Band: Symbol of oppression, heavy responsibilities, and the patriarchal control of her husband.
• Aunt Jennifer: Symbol of the typical victim of male-dominated society.
• Embroidery Screen: Her world of escape and artistic expression.

Yes, the reader deeply sympathizes with her. She represents the struggle of women who are silenced. The speaker’s attitude is one of empathy and sadness. The speaker recognizes that while Aunt Jennifer herself is mortal and trapped, her art (the tigers) will survive her as a testament to her unfulfilled desire for freedom.

• Theme Analysis: Detailed breakdown of gender roles, oppression, and artistic expression.
• Symbolism Clarity: Explains complex symbols like “ringed with ordeals” and “massive weight.”
• Exam Readiness: Helps in constructing analytical answers for long-form questions.
• Critical Thinking: Encourages understanding the feminist undertones of the poem.