Poem: A Tiger in the Zoo
Thinking about the Poem
| In the Zoo | In the Wild |
|---|---|
| Stalks in his vivid stripes | Lurking in shadow |
| Few steps of his cage | Sliding through long grass |
| Locked in a concrete cell | Snarling around houses |
| Staring at brilliant stars | Terrorising the village |
"Velvet quiet" refers to the soft pads of the tiger's paws that make no sound. The rage is "quiet" because the tiger is helpless and suppressed. He cannot express his anger freely in the cage, so he seethes in silence.
Poetic Devices Analysis
Literary Devices
1. Personification:
The tiger is referred to as "He" instead of "It".
2. Metaphor:
- "Pads of velvet quiet" (Paws compared to velvet)
- "Quiet rage" (Anger compared to silence? No, suppression).
3. Oxymoron:
"Quiet rage" - two contradictory terms used together.
4. Enjambment:
Lines continuing without punctuation marks at the end.
5. Alliteration:
- "Plump deer pass" ('p' sound)
- "Behind bars" ('b' sound)
Poem Summary & Theme
Summary
The poem contrasts a tiger in the zoo with the tiger in its natural habitat (jungle). In the zoo, the tiger moves slowly in his small cage. He is angry but silent. The poet then imagines how the tiger should have been in the wild—lurking in shadows, hunting deer, and terrorizing the village. However, the reality is that he is locked behind bars, ignoring visitors, and staring at the stars at night, perhaps dreaming of freedom.
Theme / Message
- Freedom vs Confinement: The poem highlights the cruelty of keeping wild animals in small cages for human entertainment.
- Natural Instincts: Even in captivity, the tiger's majesty and instincts remain, though suppressed.
- Conservation: Implicitly urges us to let animals live in their natural habitat.