class 10 English - Very Important & Question Anwers

Short Answer Type Questions (2-3 Marks)

Word limit: 30-40 words

Q1. How does the tiger walk in the cage? What is his state of mind?

Ans: The tiger walks in his “vivid stripes” within the few steps of his small cage. He walks on “pads of velvet quiet.” He is in a state of quiet rage, feeling suppressed and angry because his freedom has been taken away, but he is helpless behind the bars.

Q2. What should the tiger be doing if he were in the jungle?

Ans: If he were free, the tiger would be lurking in the shadows, sliding through long grass near water holes to hunt “plump deer.” He would be snarling around houses at the edge of the jungle, baring his white fangs to terrorize the villagers.

Q3. Why does the tiger ignore the visitors at the zoo?

Ans: The tiger ignores the visitors because he no longer feels like a powerful predator. He knows he is trapped in a concrete cell and his strength is “behind bars.” He finds the visitors’ presence meaningless as he has lost his natural spirit and freedom.

Q4. What is the significance of the “brilliant eyes” and “brilliant stars” in the last stanza?

Ans: Both represent a connection to the natural world. The “brilliant eyes” show that even in captivity, the tiger’s wild spirit is not dead. He stares at the “brilliant stars” as if longing for the vast, open sky and the freedom that matches his majestic nature.

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Long Answer Type Questions (5 Marks)

Word limit: 100-120 words

Q1. Contrast the life of the tiger in the zoo with the life of the tiger in the forest.

Ans: The poem presents a sharp contrast between captivity and freedom. In the zoo, the tiger is confined to a small, concrete cell. His movements are restricted to “a few steps,” and his majestic strength is locked behind bars. He is a mere “showpiece” for visitors. Conversely, in the forest, he is the king of his domain. He hides in the shadows, hunts at the water hole, and terrifies villagers with his fangs and claws. While the zoo tiger is silent and suppressed (quiet rage), the wild tiger is loud, fierce, and active. This contrast highlights how a natural environment is essential for the dignity and spirit of any living being.

Q2. What message is the poet trying to convey through this poem?

Ans: The poet, Leslie Norris, conveys a strong message against the cruelty of keeping wild animals in cages. He argues that animals belong to their natural habitats where they can live with dignity and follow their instincts. By showing the tiger’s “quiet rage” and his “ignored visitors,” the poet suggests that captivity kills the soul of a predator. The poem serves as a plea for animal rights and conservation, reminding us that beauty and strength should be admired in the wild, not viewed as entertainment behind concrete walls and bars.

Q3. Analyze the use of poetic devices in “A Tiger in the Zoo.”

Ans: The poet uses several devices to make the poem impactful:

• Personification: The tiger is referred to as “He,” giving him human-like emotions like rage and sorrow.

• Metaphor: “Pads of velvet quiet” compares the soft soles of the tiger’s paws to velvet to emphasize his silent, graceful movement.

• Onomatopoeia: Words like “snarling” create a sound effect that brings the wild tiger to life.

• Oxymoron: “Quiet rage” combines two opposite words to show that the tiger is furious but forced to be silent because of his captivity.

• Alliteration: “Concrete cell” and “behind bars” create a repetitive sound that emphasizes his imprisonment.

Q4. Why does the poet use the phrase “Quiet Rage”? How is it different from the tiger’s natural roar?

Ans: “Quiet Rage” is a powerful oxymoron. It means the tiger is extremely angry but cannot express it. In the wild, a tiger’s rage is loud and terrifying—it is expressed through roaring and snarling to assert dominance. However, in the zoo, the tiger realizes that his anger is useless. He cannot break the bars or attack the people. Therefore, his rage becomes internal and “quiet.” It is a suppressed anger that has turned into a deep, silent sadness. This phrase perfectly captures the tragedy of a powerful animal that has been made powerless by humans.