Short Answer Type Questions

1. How has the poet observed nature in the poem ‘Dust of Snow’

Answer: The poet has observed nature as a positive medium of change for
him. The poet had been the sorrowful and depressive mood in the poem.
But then the way a crow shook snow dust off, it changed his mood. Nature
gave him the inspiration to behave in a positive manner.

2. What is the underlying message for us in our hectic life with

reference to the poem, ‘Dust of Snow’?

Or

What is the central idea of the poem ‘Dust of Snow’?

Or

What does the poet want to convey through the poem ‘Dust of Snow’?

Answer: In the poem ‘Dust of Snow’, the poet wants to convey that
sometimes certain moments or actions which are simple have larger
significance. They can change the mood or life of a person. The way a
crow shakes down dust of snow on the poet inspires and gives him the
idea to shake off his depressive thoughts, become cheerful and do
something useful.

3. What side of nature do ‘crow’ and ‘hemlock’ represent?

Answer: ‘Crow’ is a black, harsh-voiced bird and ‘hemlock’ is a tree with

poisonous bitter fruit. Both are not beautiful. They represent the dark,
depressive, sorrowful and bitter side of nature.

4.Why does the poet use such poetically uncommon bird and tree? What
does it reflect?
Answer: The poet seems to be in a depressed and sorrowful mood. In such
a mood, one cannot think of a sweet and beautiful side of nature. The
harsh, bitter and poisonous images come to his mind. That is why he uses
an uncommon, harsh, ugly crow and poisonous tree like hemlock.

4. Justify the role of the crow in the poem “Dust of Snow” in changing
the poet’s mood.

Answer: I think, ‘the way snow dust was shaken off’ changed his mood.
Perhaps it gave the poet inspiration/idea to behave in the same manner—
shake off his depressive thoughts and revive his cheerful mood.

5. What mood of the poet is reflected in the poem? How does it reflect?

Answer: The sorrowful and depressive mood of the poet is reflected in the
poem. The use of the bird ‘crow’, which is ugly and harsh, and hemlock
tree, which is a poisonous plant, reflects the poet’s mood.

6. What did the poet think of the day before the dust of snow fell on
him?

Answer: Before the fall of the dust of snow, the poet thought that his day
was ruined. He was in a bad mood. But then use of snow fell on him. It
signalled something good and joyful. His mood changed.

7. Write a note on the setting of the poem.

Answer: The poem presents a perfect setting. There are four elements in
the poem. All these four elements match one another. The snow stands for
depression. The hemlock tree is a symbol of sadness. The crow considered
ominous. The poet’s mood was also sad. But suddenly the way in which
the crow shook the hemlock tree and falling off the dust of snow. Change
the poet’s mood.
 8. Where was the poet and what happened to him?

Answer: there was snow everywhere. The poet was under a hemlock tree.
The tree was covered with snow Suddenly a crow shook the tree The dust
of snow fell on the poet. It changed his mood.

9. The flow was the poet’s mood? What brought a sudden change in it?

Answer: The poet was in a bad mood. He considered that his day was
ruined. But the crow shook the tree. The dust of snow fell on him. His
mood changed. The rest of the day was saved for him.

10. How did the poet feel before the ‘change of mood’? Why did
he feel so?

Answer: The poet was in a very depressed and hopeless mood. The day
offered no relief, comfort or happiness for the poet. He felt that the whole
day had been wasted for nothing. Perhaps his dull and depressive mood
led him to such a conclusion.

11. Do you think that the poet presents a very bright or cheerful
side of nature in the poem? Give a reasoned answer.

Answer: No, Robert Frost has presented nature in it’s elemental and raw
form. It is quite dull and depressive wintry day. The fall of fine dust of
snow does bring a sudden change in the mood of the poet. It refreshes his
spirits and brings cheerfulness to his depressed spirits and mood.

12. Describe the scene of falling off the dust I snow. What impact
does it have on the poet?
Answer: It is a dull and depressing day of the winter. Snow is falling. The
fine dust of snow has accumulated on the top of the trees. Nature seems
to be in its elemental and raw state. However, the full of fine dust of snow
brings a sudden change in the mood of the poet. His depressive spirits are
uplifted and his mood becomes cheerful.

13. ‘The Crow’ and the ‘hemlock tree’ are generally considered to
be inauspicious and ominous symbols. Does the poet use them so?

Answer: ‘The Crow’ and ‘the hemlock tree’, no doubt, don’t represent
cheerfulness or brightness. Both of them are generally considered to be
inauspicious. But ‘the crow’ in the poem causes the dust of snowfall on
the poet. This leads to the sudden change of mood in the poet. The feeling
of cheerfulness replaces the feeling of regret. Similarly, the hemlock tree
is the tree under which the poet is standing and experiencing the change
of his mood.

14. Why does the poet say that he had `saved some part of a day
I (he) had rued’?

Answer: The whole day had been rather gloomy, dull and hopeless. The
poet had a feeling that the whole day would go waste. However, the
falling of fine dust of snow on him suddenly changes his mood. It cheered
his depressed spirits. He felt as if he had saved some part of the day.

15. What is the message that Robert Frost wants to convey to the
readers in the poem ‘Dust of snow’?

Answer: Robert Frost gives quite a positive message to the readers.

Depression and hopelessness do cloud our hearts, spirits and moods.
However, there is a silver-lining beyond every cloud. The poet had given
up all hopes and declared that the whole day would go waste. Suddenly,
the falling of fine dust of snow on him brings a sudden change in his
mood. Cheerfulness replaces the feeling of regret.

16. What happened when the dust of snow fell on Robert Frost?
Answer: Robert Frost was unhappy. He was deep down in his heart due to
some personal reasons. When the dust of snow fell on him, his mental
state had changed. Now he looked at the surroundings.

Long Answer Type Questions

1. Positive attitude in life can make the world a better place to live in.
Do you agree or disagree with reference to the poem ‘Dust of
Snow’? Express your views bringing out the inherent values.

Answer: I completely agree with the statement that positive attitude can
make the world a better place to live in Robert Frost, in ‘Dust of Snow’,
talks of how an otherwise bad day altered into a not so bad one, due to
the action of a crow. It was a seemingly disconnected occurrence that
brought about a change of mood in the poet. One lesson that can be
learnt from the poet, is to see the brightness amidst the gloom. The crow,
the hemlock and the snow are all dark images, and yet, the poet sees the
colour of happiness. Another lesson is that life is made up of small joys. It
is through them that one can always manage to see positivity in
negativity.

2. Our attitude towards a situation evokes both negative and positive

response. Analyze this with reference to the poem, ‘Dust of Snow’ to
bring out the inherent valuable lessons.

Answer: Whatever situation life throws at us, it evokes both positive and
negative responses. The poet, in the poem ‘Dust of Snow,’ was in a
sorrowful mood. However, when a crow shook down the ‘dust of snow’ on
him, his bitter mood changed into a more optimistic one. Now, being in a
sorrowful or bad mood already, the poet could have got angry at the crow
also. However, the dust of snow becomes a positive medium of change for
him. It made him cheerful to some extent and helped him forget his
sadness, at least for a few moments. Thus, we see that instead of seeing
the negative aspect of a happening, one should see the positive aspect,
and one’s response may greatly affect the outcome of incidents.
 3. The poet has succeeded in giving valuable information in a light-
hearted manner. What creates the desired effect? Highlight its
importance in present-day life.

Answer: Truly, Frost has used simple language to drive home a very
significant message, that little thing sometimes, have a big impact. An
easy, uncomplicated language, coupled with unusual visual imagery and
brevity of words creates the desired effect. The poet’s bitterness finds
reflection even in the environment around him. The noisy, dark crow, the
poisonous hemlock and the icy snow around—all are essentially
depressing images. However, despite the negativity, when the crow
shakes down the dust of snow onto the poet, it also shakes off some of the
author’s regretful thoughts. Today, when all of us live in stressful
atmospheres, the poem teaches us to gain happiness from little things.

4. There are times when we feel depressed and hopeless. We think

that things will never change. Suddenly, a change comes in our
mood when cheerfulness replaces the sense of regret. Justify the
above statement in the context of the poem ‘Dust of Snow’.

Answer: Change is the law of nature. Man’s mood and spirits change like
the change of the weather. In the poem, the poet is in a depressed and
hopeless mood. He feels that the whole of the day has been wasted. But
fortunately, this is not so. The falling of the fine dust of snow on him
brings a sudden change in his mood. He realises that all is not lost. There
is still hope for redemption. No doubt, a large part of the day has already
been lost. It has been rather a bad day so far. But no more now. Now a
part of the day has been redeemed. The change of landscape has
changed his mood. Cheerfulness had replaced the feeling of regret. His
spirits are no more depressed. The sudden change outside also cheers his
heart and mood.

5. Poets have great power of imagination. Robert Frost also explains

his imagination very well and proves that sometimes the bad
symbols change into a boon. Discuss.
Answer: It is well known that poets have great imaginative power. On the
basis of this power, the poet gives this world a new idea and pleasure.
They do dip down into the ocean of imagination and carry valuable things.
Then they present before the world an exotic moment. Robert Frost, in this
poem, represents the crow and hemlock tree as inauspicious. But when
the crow shakes off the dust of snow from the hemlock tree, it falls on the
poet. It changes his dejected mood and saves the day from being spoilt.

6. Our mental condition depends on our surroundings and it can be

changed according to it. Explain and prove.

Answer: It is true that our mental condition depends on our surroundings.

For example, if we go to greener places or nearby waterfalls, we get
immense pleasure. This poem also describes it. The poet was sitting under
a hemlock tree in a dejected mood, but when a crow shakes this tree and
dust of snow falls on the poet, it changes the poet’s mood. It was a
pleasant incident.

Short Answer Type Questions

1. What do you think would be enough to destroy the world? Can Fire
and Ice contribute to it?

Answer: Our desires and hatred would be enough to destroy the world.
According to the poet, `fire’ represents ‘desire’ and `ice’ represents
`hatred’. Desires like fire spread rapidly and engulf one’s whole life.
Similarly, ‘hatred’ fills life with poison.

2. What is the underlying idea of the poem ‘Fire and Ice’?

Answer: The poet equates fire with `desire’ and ice with ‘hatred’. Both of
these are growing with enormous speed. If we don’t check them from
growing, the world will perish. So we must restrain our desires and love
our fellow-beings.

3. Which two ideas about how the world will end have been mentioned
in the poem? Which idea does the poet support more?

Answer: The two ideas mentioned are that the world will end in fire or in
ice. Though the poet thinks both are great for destruction, yet he seems to
favour the idea of the destruction of the world in a fire a little more than in
ice.

4. What does ‘fire’ and ice’ stand for and what is the general opinion
regarding the world?

Or

According to the poet, what does ‘fire’ and ‘ice’ represent? Do you agree
with him?

Answer: According to the poet, ‘fire’ represents desire and ‘ice’ represents
hatred. I do agree with the poet. Desires like fire spread rapidly and engulf
one’s whole life. Similarly ‘hatred’ fills the whole life with poison. It makes
one hard-hearted and cruel.

5. What do people think about the ending of the world? What does the
poet think?

Answer: Some people think that someday the world will end in fire. On the
other hand. Some people say. That it will end in ice. The poet has tasted
both the fire and the ice. He thinks that the world will end in fire. Here fire
stands for the tire of desire.

6. How will the world end twice?

Answer: The poet says that both fire and ice are destructive. Here fire
stands for the heat of desire and ice stands for hatred He thinks that our
violent desires will end the world. If it survives, it will be ruined by hatred.

7. What is the main idea of the poem?

Answer: The main idea of the poem is that there are violent passions in
the world. They are destructive. But mare distinctive Mail those violent
desires is the hatred between man and man. The poet thinks that one day
this hatred will destroy the world.

8. Will this world come to an end? What does the poet say in this
regard?

Answer: Everything that has a beginning or origin, does have an end. It is

an eternal law of nature. The existing world will come to an end, someday.
The poet believed many people believe that either ‘fire’ or ‘ice’ will be the
cause of the end of the world.

9. What do people think about the end of the world? Who does the
poet side with and why?

Answer: People are divided over the cause of the end of this world. Some
people think that ‘fire’ symbolised by unbridled passions, desires and fury
will destroy this world. Others believe that ‘ice’ symbolised by cold
reasoning, indifference and hatred will be the cause of destruction. The
poet sides with those who believe that ‘fire’ or unbridled passions and
desires will result in the destruction of the world.

10. Why does the poet say, ‘I’ve tasted of desire/I hold with those
who favour fire?

Answer: The poet is familiar with the fire of passions and desires in love.
He knows it quite well that are uncontrolled desires, passions and fury
lead to our destruction. Similarly, he sides with those people who believe
that ‘fire’ symbolised by unbridled passions and desires with be the real
cause of the end of the world.

11. What will be the cause of the end of the world if it has to
perish twice?

Answer: This world is not eternal. Its end is certain. The poet sides with
those people who think that ‘fire’ will cause the end of the existing world.
But if this world has to perish twice the ‘ice’ is as strong to bring the end
of the world as ‘fire’ is. Icy reasoning devoid of human love and sympathy
and hatred is sufficient to bring an end of this world.

12. How does the poet ‘know enough of hate’? Where will this
‘hate’ lead to?

Answer: ‘Icy’ or cold reasoning can lead to rigidity, indifference and

insensitiveness. This can take away all warmth of human feelings, love
and sympathy. The result can be disastrous. ‘Hatred’ born out of cold and
‘Icy’ reasoning can lead to the destruction of the world.

13. How will ‘ice’ be as ‘great’ and ‘suffice’ for causing the end of
this existing world? Do you agree with the poet?

Answer: There is no need for ‘fire’ to destroy the world. Even ‘ice’ is
sufficient and ‘strong’ enough to cause the destruction of this world. If this
world has to ‘perish twice’, then there is no need for fire to destroy it
twice. ‘Ice’ is as ‘strong’ and ‘great’ a cause that can cause the end of this
world.

14. What is the message of the poem ‘Fire and Ice’?

Answer: The metaphors of ‘fire’ and ‘ice’ are used very effectively to
convey a definite message to the readers. ‘Fire’ here stands for our
unbridled, uncontrolled and unchecked passions, desires, lust and fury.
Such passions are disastrous for human beings. Similarly cold reasoning
devoid of all human warmth, love, sympathy will bring insensitivity,
cruelty and rigidity. This hatred will lead to the end of this world.

15. From when I have tasted of desire

I hold with those who favour fire.

Why does the poet hold with those who favour fire?

Answer: The poet sides with those who believe that the world will be
destroyed by fire. ‘Fire’ is a symbol of desire. The poet has already
experienced desire. On the basis of his experience, he knows that
excessive desire will destroy the world. That is why he holds with those
who favour fire.

16. But if it has to perish twice

I think I know enough of hate.

What does ‘it’ refer to? How will it perish twice?

Answer: ‘It’ here refers to the world. The poet says that people hold
different opinions about the end of the world. Some say ‘fire’, which
stands for ‘desire’, will destroy the world. Secondly, ‘ice’, which stands for
‘hatred’ can also destroy the world.

17. To say that for destruction ice

Is also great

In the poem what does ‘ice’ stand for? How is it sufficient to bring
destruction?

Answer: ‘Ice’ stands for ‘hatred’. Hatred may be religious, communal or of

any other type. According to the poet, there is enough hatred in the world
which will destroy the external, physical world one day.

Long Answer Type Questions

 1. How does the poem depicts the two contrasting ideas— ‘Fire’ and
‘Ice’? Can hatred destroy us and the world? Explain bringing out
values which can make this world a better place to live in.

Answer: (i) In this poem, Robert Frost refers to two contrasting ideas—Fire
and Ice as predictions of how the world will end. According to him, some
people say that the world will end in a fire while some others hold that this
will end in ice. The poet equates desire with fire and hatred with ice. Both
the desire and hatred are growing with such a rapid speed that the world
will come to an end either of the ways.

(ii) Yes, hatred can destroy us and the world. Intolerance in behaviour
creates hatred that leads to fury and cruelty. One becomes hard-hearted
and insensitive to the feelings of others.

(iii) Love, brotherhood, tolerance, peace, contentment, sensitivity,

benevolence, generosity among people can make this world a better place
to live in.

2. What is the rhyme scheme of the poem? How does it help in

bringing out the contrasting ideas in the poem?

Answer: The rhyme scheme of the poem in the first stanza is a, b; a band
in the second stanza it is – a, b, a, b, a.

The lines ending with the same rhythm have the same idea but the line
that ends with a different note has the contrasting idea. In the first stanza,
the first, third and fourth lines end with the words fire, desire, fire – same
rhythm but the second line ends with the word ‘ice’, a different note, also
it contrasts with ‘fire’.

Thus the poet has brought out the contrasting ideas in the poem by using
different rhythms.

3. There are many ideas about how this world will come to an ‘end’.
What are they? Do you agree with the poet and his understanding of
the poet and his understanding of the issue in this regard?

Answer: Almost all think that this world will end at one time or the other. It
is true that everything that has a beginning or origin will come to an end
too. There are many ideas about how this world will come to an end. Some
think that ‘fire’ will be the cause of the ‘end’ of the world. Others believe
that ‘ice’ will bring the end of the world. Both of these ideas have their
valid reasons. The poet sides and stands with those who believe that ‘fire’
will be the cause of the ‘end’.

The poet is well aware of how the ‘fire’ of unbridled passions, desires, lust,
and fury can lead to the destruction of humanity and the world. But the
other view is equally convincing. Cold and ‘icy’ reasoning can create
insensitivity, rigidity, frigidity, and indifference in man. Ultimately, it
breeds ‘hatred’ and contempt. This kind of ‘icy’ reasoning which is devoid
of all human warmth, sympathy, love, and understanding will only bring
destruction and death of this world.

I believe that both ‘fire’ and ‘ice’ have strong potentialities to bring
disasters and destruction to the world.

4. What do the metaphors of ‘ice’ and ‘fire’ convey to the readers?

Don’t they represent the two extremes of human behaviour that can
lead to the destruction and death of this world? What is the
message that the poet wants to give to the readers?

Answer: The poet has touched the universal issue of the ending of this
existing world. He gives a message as well as a warning to human beings.
Man is swaying between two extremes — ‘fire’ and ‘ice’. Sometimes he is
torn by his unbridled fire of passions, desires, lusts, longings, and fury.
This results in greed, avarice and passionate love. All such extremes can
lead to unavoidable conflicts and disasters. If not controlled, they can help
in bringing an early end of this world.

The other extreme behaviour of human beings is born out of cold and ‘icy’
reasoning. When our cold reasoning becomes completely devoid of human
warmth, feelings, love, and sympathy, it breeds hatred. Hatred born out of
cold indifference, insensitivity and rigidity are strong enough to cause the
end of this world. Humanity can redeem itself and possibly save or delay
the end of the world by giving up such extremes of thinking and
behaviour.
Short Answer Type Questions

1. What do you understand by `His strength behind bars’? What kind of

a cage is he locked in?

Answer: The tiger is wretched in its cage. His power is confined behind the
bars. He was locked in a small cage where he is devoid of freedom. He
feels unhappy, frustrated, restless and angry.

2. Is it safe to allow tigers to live in their natural habitat these days?

Answer: Although it is ideal for tigers to live in the wild, today, it will mean
certain death for them. Fast diminishing jungles and danger posed by
poachers have pushed tigers to the brink of extinction, making their
natural home unsafe.

3. The tiger in the poem ‘A Tiger in the Zoo’ has some obvious
limitations, describe them in contrast to its natural habitat.

Answer: The tiger in the zoo was confined to a small space. He was angry
that he couldn’t be free to move, hunt and do what he pleased forced to
be a showpiece; and the cage’s bars obstructed his view of the starry
night. This was all unlike his natural habitat where he hunted fiercely and
slept fitfully.

4. What is the theme of the poem?

Or

What message does the poet want to convey through the poem—Tiger in
the Zoo’?

Answer: The poet wants to convey that it is cruel to keep wild animals in
small enclosures of the zoo, away from their natural habitat. They feel
angry, helpless and unhappy and remember their life and environment in
the forest.
 5. Why do you think the tiger was stalking in the cage? What does it
show?

Answer: I think the tiger was feeling restless and uneasy in that small
cage. He seems to be frustrated and helpless as he could not come out of
the cage in the open and enjoy his freedom. He did not want to be a mere
showpiece and a source of entertainment for human beings.

6. Describe the movement of the tiger in the cage and in the wild.

Or

What difference do you find in the mood of a tiger when he is in a zoo and
when he is in a forest?

Answer: In the zoo, in his small cage and devoid of freedom, the tiger feels
unhappy rather frustrated, restless and angry. In the forest, he enjoys
moving majestically wherever he wants, terrorizes the villagers by
displaying his sharp teeth and claws. He is happy in the forest, enjoying
his liberty and surroundings, but not in the zoo.

7. What does the poet say about a tiger in his natural surroundings?

Answer: The poet says that the tiger should be in the jungle. It is his
natural habitat. In the jungle, he moves in the long grass near a water
hole. He hides in shadow to hunt the deer for his food.

8. Where is the strength of the tiger and how does he treat the
visitors?

Answer: The tiger is imprisoned in a cage. So his strength is behind the

bars. He paces to-and-fro the length of the cage. Visitors come to his
cage. But he ignores those visitors.

9. How does the tiger terrify the villagers?

Answer: The tiger prowls around the houses of the villagers. He terrifies
them by snarling at them. Their houses are situated near the jungle. He
terrifies the villagers by baring his fangs and showing his long claws.

10. How does the tiger behave at night?

Answer: At night the tiger feels lonely. He hears the sound of the patrolling
cars. He looks through the bars at the shining stars. His eyes are also
shining.

11. How does the poet contrast the tiger in the cage with a tiger
in the forest?

Answer: The poet says that the caged tiger is imprisoned. He is not free.
He is angry. On the other hand the tiger in the jungle is free. He walks in
the tall grass and hunts the deer that pass near the water hole.

12. How does the tiger walk in the cage?

Answer: The tiger walks in the cage in a proud manner. He walks quietly.
But his eyes show that he is very angry at having been imprisoned in a
cage. But he can’t do anything for his freedom.

13. How does the tiger stalk in the cage?

Answer: The tiger is not in his natural habitat—the jungle. The lie is locked
in a cage made up of cement and concrete. He keeps on stalking inside
his cage from one side to the other. He is walking in a quiet rage with his
heels which are padded like velvet.

14. How does the tiger prepare himself for hunting when he is in
his natural habitat — the jungle
Answer: The mighty tiger roams freely in his natural habitat – the wilds.
He knows how to ambush his prey. He waits for his prey lurking unseen in
the shadow of trees. He slides through the long grass quite unnoticed. He
comes to the water hole where he can find his favourite prey – plump
deer.

15. How does the tiger terrorise the villagers? Does he have any
intention of killing them?

Answer: Sometimes, the tiger roams around freely and comes near the
edge of the jungle. He comes very near to the houses of the villagers
which are situated on the outskirts of the jungle. Roaming there, he opens
out his white sharp teeth and paws to terrorise the villagers. He has no
intention of killing them as he never attacks until he is provoked to do so.

16. How does the tiger feel locked in the concrete cell of the zoo?
Why does he ignore the visitors

Answer: The tiger is basically an animal of the wilds. He is’ a denizen of

the forest. Being locked in a concrete cell of the zoo, he feels quite
helpless. His immense strength is of no use to him as he is put behind the
bars. He only stalks the length of his cage. He ignores the visitors who
came to see him after buying their tickets. He doesn’t want to present
himself as an object of entertaining others.

17. What does the tiger do at night? What does he feel when he
stares at the brilliant stars in the sky?

Answer: The patrolling cars move around and the tiger hears their sound
late at night. He is locked in a cage but stares at the brilliant stars shining
in the vast and open sky. The vast open sky and the brilliant stars only
intensify the feeling of helplessness that he feels inside the cage.

18. Freedom can’t be bargained at any cost. What message does

Leslie Norris give to the readers in ‘A Tiger in the Zoo’?
Answer: Not only humans but animals too cherish freedom. Freedom can’t
be bargained. In this case, a tiger may be well-fed and protected.
However, the curtailment of his freedom keeps him in ‘quiet rage’. He
resents being behind the bars. He is a different animal when he is in his
natural habitat, the jungle. He roams around the water hole and
ambushes his favourite plump deer.

19. He hears the last voice at night, The patrolling cars, Who
hears the last voice and of what?

Answer: The tiger hears the last voice Le, the sound of the patrolling cars
at night. He is imprisoned in a cage at the zoo. The patrolling cars are
making a round of the zoo to see that everything is alright.

20. And stares with his brilliant eyes

At the brilliant stars.

Why are the eyes brilliant? What is common between the eyes and the
stars?

Answer: The tiger’s eyes shine brightly in the darkness of night. The stars
are also shining in the sky. The common thing between the tiger’s eyes
and the stars is that both are brilliant.

21. What message do you get from this poem?

Answer: From this poem, we come to know that animals like to live freely
in the forest. The animals do not want to live in the zoo. Their life is
pitiable in it.

22. Baring his white fangs, his claws

Terrorising the village.

Who bares his fangs and how does he terrorise the village?
Answer: The tiger bares his white fangs. He terrorises the people of the
village because he keeps snarling around houses.

Long Answer Type Questions

1. Animals, big and small, is being used by humans for their selfish
ends? What is your opinion regarding the exploitation of animals?
Mention some examples that you can see a possible solution to this
problem.

Answer: It is true that animals, big and small are being used by humans
for their selfish ends. We use them for our own benefits. Animals are
killed, poached and captured for commercial benefits. Humans have
encroached on their space and sheltered them in zoos which is truly
inhuman. In the poem, the poet has shown the plight of a tiger. He is
captured and confined in a small cage. He is frustrated, angry and
restless. It longs for freedom. Confinement brings bondage and bondage is
cruel.

Every day we see many animals suffering due to humans. Monkeys bear
captured and made to dance on roads, Elephants are chained and forced
to lift heavy loads. Many animals are sheltered in zoos for the
entertainment of human beings. They are kept in poor conditions. They
are treated inhumanely. We should learn to respect nature and its
inhabitants. After all, these animals to share the earth with us.

2. Some animals are becoming extinct; the tiger is one such animal.
What do you think could be the reason? Should this decrease in
number be stopped? Why?

Answer: The primary threats to the survival of tigers are poaching and
habitat loss due to intensive development. The Tigers are getting extinct.
The Tigers are on the list of endangered species and the reason behind it
is human interference. Humans hunt tigers for their commercial benefits.
The loss of habitats also leads to a reduction in prey animals, so the area
can support fewer tigers. Moreover, tigers are poached for trophies such
as teeth and fur and for traditional medicines. The growing population
clears the forest areas to make them agricultural land for food. This
creates a problem of the tiger’s habitat. Tigers are the backbone of food
web and forest, hence should be protected.

3. And stares with his brilliant eyes, At the brilliant stars.’ We can no
longer do that. How do we feel about the ‘tigers in the zoo’? You can
even imagine yourself in captivity.

Or

When there is a natural habitat for tigers and other wild animals, is it
justified for humans to shift them from there to other locations? Give a
reasonable answer to justify it.

Or

The tiger in the poem is feeling miserable in a concrete cell. Does it not
amount to cruelty? Express your opinion about keeping wild animals in
zoos. Is there any lesson for humans?

Answer: The tiger in the poem is wretched in its cage. It longs for freedom.
It may be well looked after, but the fact of the matter is that unless one is
free, one is not alive. Confinement brings bondage, and bondage is cruel.
One may argue that at least this way they all will not be killed and
become extinct. However, taking away one’s freedom to keep one alive
kill the desire to live anyhow. Even humans throughout the world oppose
the chains of slavery and oppression. How are other living creatures any
different? Humans have encroached on their space, and sheltering them
in zoos is truly inhuman. Humans must learn to respect nature, for
humans exist only due to nature.

4. Give contrasting pictures of the tiger in his natural habitat and in the
locked cage of the zoo. How does he feel and behave differently in
both places?

Answer: The tiger is a denizen of the forest. He loves to roam around

freely in his natural habitat – the jungle. There, he is totally free with no
restrictions on his movements and activities. He knows how to ambush his
prey. He waits for his prey lurking silently in the shadow of the trees. Then
he slides unseen and unnoticed through the long grass. He knows where
he can find his favourite hunt—plump deer. It is the water hole where they
come for drinking water and become easy victims of the mighty tiger. The
tiger knows no boundaries and limits. Sometimes he roams around the
houses which are situated on the edge of the jungle. With his open white
teeth and powerful paws, he terrorises the villagers. He rarely attacks
them until he is provoked.

However, it is a pathetic picture of the same tiger when he is locked in a

concrete cell in the zoo. The mighty and ferocious animal is put behind the
bars. There he stalks in ‘quiet rage’ the length of his cage. He becomes
just a piece of entertainment for visitors. But the proud tiger just ignores
them. At night from behind the bars, he keeps on staring at the brilliant
stars in the vast sky. The vastness of the sky and the brilliance of stars
only intensifies his loss of freedom.

5. Freedom is such an essential virtue that is valued not only by human

beings but also by animals alike. Justify the statement with
reference to Leslie Norris’s poem ‘A Tiger in the Zoo’.

Answer: Freedom is an essential virtue valued by all. Not only humans but
even the denizens of the forest value it. No one knows it better than a
caged tiger in a zoo. Animals, particularly the animals of the wilds, feel
free only in their natural habitats. Any attempt to ‘domesticate’ ferocious
and mighty animals like lions or tigers by locking them in concrete cells
will be against natural justice. The tiger roams around in the jungle
hunting its prey at will. He rarely kills his prey for sport. He kills them only
when he is hungry. He knows how to ambush his prey. He lurks unnoticed
in the long grass before pouncing upon his prey. He also knows where he
can find his favourite plump deer. He may come out of the forest
sometimes and terrorise -the villagers living at the outskirts of the jungle.
He rarely kills them till he is provoked.

The same tiger feels depressed and low in spirits when he is put behind
the bars. He stalks constantly the length of his cage in his ‘quiet rage’. He
ignores the visitors and feels helpless. Behind the bars, he keeps on
staring at the brilliant stars in the open sky. This sadly reminds him of his
loss of freedom and intensifies his grief.

3. Give the character-sketch of Nelson Mandela.

Answer: Nelson Mandela is a great patriot. He loves his country and countrymen. For him, the
greatest wealth of South Africa is her people.

He has a sacrificing nature. He sacrificed his life of comfort, family and home and plunged into the
struggle for freedom. He believes in equality for all. He opposed the rule of Apartheid for which he
was declared an outlaw. He was oppressed and tortured in jail for several years but he never broke.
It shows his traits of tolerance, courage and perseverance.

Mandela had different concepts of freedom at different stages of life. As a boy, he had an illusion of
freedom. He thought he was born free. As long he obeyed his elders he had the freedom to run in
the fields swim in the stream and ride on the back of bulls. As a student he cared for transitory
freedom — freedom to stay out at night, read the books of his choice and go where he liked.When
he became a young man he yearned for basic and honourable freedoms of achieving his potential,
earning his keep, marrying, having a family and living a lawful life. Slowly his concept of freedom
widened especially when he joined the African National Congress. He realized that true freedom is
not individual freedom but freedom for all.

10. Why does Mandela say that freedom is indivisible? How are the oppressed and the oppressor
alike are robbed of their humanity?

Answer: Nelson Mandela believes that freedom is indivisible. His hunger for his own freedom
became the greater hunger for the freedom of his people. He couldn’t live his life with dignity and
self-respect if his own people were bound in chains. The chains on any one of his people were the
chains on all of them. The chains on all of his people were the chains on him. Mandela realised that
the oppressor must be liberated as surely as the oppressed. A man who takes away another’s
freedom is a prisoner of hatred, prejudice and narrow mindedness. He is not truly free if he is
taking away someone else’s freedom. Surely, he is not free when his freedom is taken away from
him. Thus the oppressed and the oppressor alike are robbed of their humanity.

Which twin obligations does Nelson Mandela mention in the lesson? Why were he and the rest of
blacks able to fulfil those obligations?

Answer: Nelson Mandela that every man has twin obligations in life. The first obligation of a man is
to his family, to his parents, to his wife and children. He has another obligation also. He has an
obligation to his people, his community and his country. Every man is to do his duty according to
his situation and strength.

But in South Africa, it was impossible for a man like Mandela or other blacks to fulfil those
obligations. If a man tried to live as a human being, he was punished and isolated. If any person in
South Africa tried to do his duty to his people, he was forcefully separated from his family and his
home. He was forced to lead a life of secrecy and rebellion. Nelson Mandela placed his people
above his family. In attempting to serve his people, he was prevented from fulfilling his obligations
as a son, a brother, a father and a husband.