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  1. Lucifer
    Lucifer better to reign in hell than to serve in heaven

    There are three reasons which make her carve tigers on the panel: She wants to escape from the harsh reality and the consequences of failed marriage and male-dominated society. Her tigers give her relief from the psychological pain. The tigers express her anger and dissatisfaction with the male domiRead more

    There are three reasons which make her carve tigers on the panel:

    1. She wants to escape from the harsh reality and the consequences of failed marriage and male-dominated society. Her tigers give her relief from the psychological pain.
    2. The tigers express her anger and dissatisfaction with the male dominated society. The fearlessness and boldness of tigers show that she also wants the same courage.
    3. Her art is the only way she can express her hidden desires and wishes.

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  1. Lucifer
    Lucifer better to reign in hell than to serve in heaven

    The title of the poem "Aunt Jennifer's Tigers" give a little bit hint of what the content could be. The word "aunt" signifies that the poem is about a woman who is old. "Tigers" signify something bold and fearless. When we go through the poem, we find that the tigers are the art of Aunt Jennifer. ShRead more

    The title of the poem “Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers” give a little bit hint of what the content could be. The word “aunt” signifies that the poem is about a woman who is old. “Tigers” signify something bold and fearless.

    When we go through the poem, we find that the tigers are the art of Aunt Jennifer. She uses her skills to carve fearless and bold tigers which are opposite to her. She is fearful, coward and a victim of male-dominated society. Her life is traumatised by her cruel husband who controls her. Her fingers flutter and she does not seem to be able to bear the load of her failed marriage.

    The only way to escape from this harsh reality is her tigers in which she puts the courage and boldness that she quests for. Hence the title is well-suited to the poem.

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  1. Lucifer
    Lucifer better to reign in hell than to serve in heaven

    Hyperbole is an exaggerated statement. In the poem, the poet describes the trauma of failed marriage in this line "massive weight of Uncle's wedding band Sits heavily upon Aunt Jennifer's hand". Wedding band is not that heavy. However it symbolises the weight of psychological problems. Read summaryRead more

    Hyperbole is an exaggerated statement. In the poem, the poet describes the trauma of failed marriage in this line “massive weight of Uncle’s wedding band Sits heavily upon Aunt Jennifer’s hand“. Wedding band is not that heavy. However it symbolises the weight of psychological problems.

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  1. Lucifer
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    Lucifer better to reign in hell than to serve in heaven

    Following literary devices/figures of speech have been used in the poem Aunt Jennifer's Tigers: Metaphor: It is a literary device which is used to make a comparison between two things that aren't alike but do have something in common. e.g. "Bright topaz denizens" (tigers are compared with Bright topRead more

    Following literary devices/figures of speech have been used in the poem Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers:

    1. Metaphor: It is a literary device which is used to make a comparison between two things that aren’t alike but do have something in common. e.g. “Bright topaz denizens” (tigers are compared with Bright topaz because of their elegant colour).
    2. Alliteration: It is the occurrence of the same sound at the beginning of adjacent or closely connected words. e.g. “finger fluttering”, “prancing, proud”.
    3. Symbolism: It is the use of symbols to represent ideas or qualities. e.g. “Bright topaz denizens” represents tigers’ elegant colours, “massive weight of Uncle’s wedding band” represent male domination, “tigers” represent her hidden desires.
    4. Personification: It is the attribution of human characteristics to animals and non-human things. e.g. “chivalric” is a word which was used for knights in medieval times. But here, it is used for the tigers.
    5. Hyperbole: It is an exaggerated statement. e.g. “massive weight of Uncle’s wedding band sits heavily upon Aunt Jennifer’s hand.” The weight of wedding band cannot be heavy. But it symbolises mental trauma of marriage.
    6. Transferred Epithet: It is a poetic device in which adjective is transferred from the noun it is meant to describe to another noun in the sentence. e.g. “terrified hands” refer to Aunt Jennifer who herself is terrified.
    7. Enjambment: It is the continuation of a sentence or clause across a line break. e.g. “The massive weight of Uncle’s wedding band Sits heavily upon Aunt Jennifer’s hand.”

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  1. Lucifer
    Lucifer better to reign in hell than to serve in heaven

    The tigers of Aunt Jennifer are proud, fearless, bold and courageous. They walk in chivalrous manner. They do not fear hunters and are eternal unlike humans. They have elegant skin and seem to be the inhabitants of a green world which does not exist on earth. Unlike Aunt Jennifer, they move and spriRead more

    The tigers of Aunt Jennifer are proud, fearless, bold and courageous. They walk in chivalrous manner. They do not fear hunters and are eternal unlike humans. They have elegant skin and seem to be the inhabitants of a green world which does not exist on earth. Unlike Aunt Jennifer, they move and spring proudly.

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  1. Lucifer
    Lucifer better to reign in hell than to serve in heaven

    The tigers symbolise courage, fearlessness, boldness, confidence and chivalry. These characteristics are not found in Aunt Jennifer. Read summary of Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers Play quiz on Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers

    The tigers symbolise courage, fearlessness, boldness, confidence and chivalry. These characteristics are not found in Aunt Jennifer.

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  1. Lucifer
    Lucifer better to reign in hell than to serve in heaven
    This answer was edited.

    There are mainly two themes in the poem Aunt Jennifer's Tigers: Evils of Patriarchal Society The first and the foremost theme of this poem is the evils of patriarchal society. In this poem, Aunt Jennifer is described as a victim of failed marriage. She has been married to someone who is controllingRead more

    There are mainly two themes in the poem Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers:

    Evils of Patriarchal Society

    The first and the foremost theme of this poem is the evils of patriarchal society. In this poem, Aunt Jennifer is described as a victim of failed marriage. She has been married to someone who is controlling her life (The massive weight of Uncle’s wedding band Sits heavily upon Aunt Jennifer’s hand).

    She remains terrified. Her fingers keep fluttering like the wings of bird because of fear. While carving the tigers she cannot hold the needle properly.

    The poet describes wedding band as “Uncle’s wedding band” which means she has absolutely no control over her life. Even after death, the ring of her marriage will remain stick to her fingers. So, she is not free even after death. The poet is against this type of mentality and society.

    Woman Emancipation

    Second important theme of the poem Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers is Women Emancipation and Upliftment. The poet belongs to a time when the society was dominated by patriarchal thinking and women had begun protesting against this dominance.

    In the poem, the poet talks provides reasons why there is need of the upliftment of women. Uncle is described as a stern patriarch who controls the life of Aunt Jennifer.

    The only way of escaping is her art where she feels relieved. The poet is against this hellish life of women. She wants to uplift the women so that they may not remain dependent on men for food and shelter.

    Importance of Art

    The third theme of the poem is Art. We know that during the rise of feminism, many women writers come forward to raise their voice which was suppressed through ages in the male dominated society. The poet herself is one of them.

    In the poem, Aunt Jennifer is an artist who carves the tigers. These tigers are not like her. They are bold, fearless and chivalrous. They express the hidden desires and the bitterness (against marriage or male-dominated society) of Aunt Jennifer.

    Her art is the only place where she can escape to feel ease. For poet, women can only be uplifted if they use art to express themselves.

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  1. Lucifer
    Lucifer better to reign in hell than to serve in heaven

    The word "ringed" is a pun in the poem Aunt Jennifer's Tigers. The ring is not just something on her finger. It symbolises that it dominates her life, her body, her will and desires. This ring is a symbol of oppression and rule of her husband on her. Even after her death, the ring will remain stickRead more

    The word “ringed” is a pun in the poem Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers. The ring is not just something on her finger. It symbolises that it dominates her life, her body, her will and desires. This ring is a symbol of oppression and rule of her husband on her. Even after her death, the ring will remain stick with her finger indicating that she is not free even after her death.

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  1. Lucifer
    Lucifer better to reign in hell than to serve in heaven

    She is called "aunt" in the end because she has lost the identity of being Jennifer. However she is still a woman and remains oppressed even after her death as the marriage ring remains attached to her fingers. Read summary of Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers Play quiz on Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers

    She is called “aunt” in the end because she has lost the identity of being Jennifer. However she is still a woman and remains oppressed even after her death as the marriage ring remains attached to her fingers.

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  1. Lucifer
    Lucifer better to reign in hell than to serve in heaven

    Here, "Transferred Epithet" is used. Hands refer to Aunt Jennifer who herself is terrified. Read summary of Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers Play quiz on Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers

    Here, “Transferred Epithet” is used. Hands refer to Aunt Jennifer who herself is terrified.

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