Figure of Speech in A Tiger in the Zoo Class 10 First Flight In-Depth Analysis | Figures of Language

By | January 23, 2024
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Figure of Speech in A Tiger in the Zoo edumantra.net

Here is A Tiger in the Zoo, a detailed exploration and explanation of the figure of speech and its many facets. In this post, we have explained various examples of figurative speech, providing a comprehensive understanding of A Tiger in the Zoo in terms of all Poetic Device. We have also told the reason why a particular figure of speech occurs in a particular line. This is going to help the children of various classes Class X. Dive in for figure of speech examples- 

Figure of Speech in A Tiger in the Zoo Stanza – 1

He stalks in his vivid stripes 
The few steps of his cage,
On pads of velvet quiet, 
In his quiet rage.

1- Figure of Speech- Metaphor:
– Exact Line: “He stalks in his vivid stripes”
– Reason: The tiger’s markings are metaphorically described as “vivid stripes,” enhancing the description of its appearance.

2- Figure of Speech – Imagery:
– Exact Line: “On pads of velvet quiet”
– Reason: This phrase creates a vivid sensory image of the tiger moving silently on soft paws, emphasizing its stealth.

3- Figure of Speech – Oxymoron:
– Exact Line: “In his quiet rage”
– Reason: The oxymoron “quiet rage” juxtaposes contradictory emotions, highlighting the tiger’s controlled but intense anger.

4- Figure of Speech – Symbolism:
– Exact Line: “On pads of velvet quiet,”
– Reason: The “pads of velvet quiet” symbolize the tiger’s stealth and grace as it moves quietly in its cage.

5- Figure of Speech – Personification:
– Exact Line: “In his quiet rage”
– Reason: The phrase “quiet rage” personifies the tiger’s anger, attributing human-like emotions to it.

6- Figure of Speech – Assonance:
– Exact Line: “The few steps of his cage,”
– Reason: The repetition of the ‘e’ sound in “steps” and “cage” creates a pleasing and rhythmic sound within the line.

A Tiger in the Zoo Poetic Device edumantra.net
Figure of Speech in A Tiger in the Zoo Class 10 First Flight In-Depth Analysis | Figures of Language 3

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A Tiger in the Zoo Poetic Device- Stanza- 2

He should be lurking in shadow,
Sliding through long grass
Near the water hole
Where plump deer pass.

1- Figure of Speech – Alliteration:
– Exact Line: “Sliding through long grass”
– Reason: The repetition of the ‘s’ sound in “sliding,” and “grass” creates a smooth and flowing quality, emphasizing the stealthy movement of the tiger. It also adds a sense of serenity to the description, contrasting with the tiger’s natural predatory nature.

2- Figure of Speech – Metaphor:
– Exact Line: “He should be lurking in shadow”
– Reason: This line uses metaphor to compare the tiger’s presence to “lurking in shadow.” It implies that the tiger’s true nature and behavior are hidden or suppressed within the cage, where it should be in its natural habitat.

3- Figure of Speech – – Imagery:
– Exact Line: “Sliding through long grass / Near the water hole / Where plump deer pass.”
– Reason: These lines create vivid visual imagery of the tiger’s natural habitat. The “long grass” conjures an image of tall, swaying vegetation, and the “water hole” suggests a tranquil and essential source of water for wildlife. The mention of “plump deer” evokes the image of healthy prey animals passing by, highlighting the tiger’s role as a predator.

4- Figure of Speech – Symbolism:
– Exact Line: “Where plump deer pass.”
– Reason: The “plump deer” can be seen as a symbol of the tiger’s natural prey and its role in the ecosystem. It represents the cycle of life and death in the wild, which is disrupted by the tiger’s captivity.

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Figures of Speech Poem – A Tiger in the Zoo Stanza- 3

He should be snarling around houses  
At the jungle’s edge,  
Baring his white fangs, his claws,  
Terrorising the village!

1. Figure of Speech: Imagery  
Exact Line: “He should be snarling around houses / At the jungle’s edge,”  
Reason: These lines use vivid imagery, painting a picture of the tiger in its natural habitat, enhancing the sense of what the tiger’s life should be like in contrast to its current state.

2. Figure of Speech: Symbolism  
Exact Line: “Baring his white fangs, his claws,”  
Reason: This line symbolizes the tiger’s natural ferocity and power, which is being suppressed due to its captivity.

3.Figure of Speech: Imagery
Exact Line: “snarling around houses”  
Reason: This line creates a vivid image or scene in the reader’s mind, showcasing the tiger’s aggressive and potentially dangerous behavior in a setting that borders human habitation.

4. Figure of Speech: Hyperbole  
Exact Line: “Terrorising the village!”  
Reason: This is an exaggeration used for emphasis. It heightens the sense of danger associated with the tiger, though it may not literally be terrorizing a village.

5. Figure of Speech: Enjambment (across the stanza)  
Reason: The continuation of sentences across lines without punctuation adds a flowing, natural rhythm to the poem, mimicking the natural, unrestricted movement that the tiger should have.

6. Figure of Speech: Metaphor (implicit across the stanza)  
Reason: The entire stanza serves as a metaphor for freedom and natural behavior, contrasting the tiger’s current caged existence.

Also Read:

A Tiger in the Zoo Poetic Device- Stanza- 4

But he’s locked in a concrete cell,  
His strength behind bars,  
Stalking the length of his cage,  
Ignoring visitors.

1. Figure of Speech: Symbolism  
Exact Line: “But he’s locked in a concrete cell,” / “His strength behind bars,”  
Reason: These lines use the concrete cell and bars as symbols for the tiger’s captivity. The concrete cell represents a stark, unnatural environment for the tiger, contrasting sharply with its natural habitat. The bars symbolize the physical and metaphorical barriers that restrict the tiger’s freedom and strength, emphasizing the unnatural limitation of its power and grace.

You’re correct in questioning the identification of the figure of speech in the line “His strength behind bars.” This line indeed seems to be a better example of synecdoche rather than a metaphor or metonymy. Let’s correct this:

2. Figure of Speech: Synecdoche  
Exact Line: “His strength behind bars,”  
Reason: This is an example of synecdoche, where a part of something (the tiger’s “strength”) is used to represent the whole (the tiger itself). The line uses “strength” to stand for the tiger, capturing the essence of its power and vitality, which is confined behind bars. This literary device emphasizes how the tiger’s fundamental nature is constrained by captivity.

3. Figure of Speech: Imagery  
Exact Line: “Stalking the length of his cage,”  
Reason: This line creates a vivid image of the tiger pacing in its confined space, highlighting the contrast between its natural behavior (stalking) and the unnatural setting (the cage).

4. Figure of Speech: Personification  
Exact Line: “Ignoring visitors.”  
Reason: By attributing the action of ‘ignoring’ to the tiger, the poet personifies the animal, suggesting it has human-like reactions and emotions, such as indifference or disdain for the onlookers.

5. Figure of Speech: Repetition  
Exact Line: “Stalking the length of his cage,”  
Reason: The repetition of the word ‘stalk’ in the poem emphasizes the natural behavior of the tiger, drawing attention to the contrast between its instinctual actions and the restrictive environment of the cage.

6. Figure of Speech: Alliteration  
Exact Line: “His strength behind bars,”  
Reason: The repetition of the ‘b’ sound in “behind bars” creates a rhythmic effect, emphasizing the confinement of the tiger’s power.

Figures of Speech Poem – A Tiger in the Zoo Stanza- 5

He hears the last voice at night,  
The patrolling cars,  
And stares with his brilliant eyes  
At the brilliant stars.

1. Figure of Speech: Personification  
Exact Line: “He hears the last voice at night, / The patrolling cars,”  
Reason: These lines personify the tiger by attributing human-like sensory perception to it, specifically hearing. The tiger is described as hearing “the last voice at night” and the sound of “patrolling cars,” suggesting a level of awareness and understanding typically associated with humans. This use of personification helps to emphasize the tiger’s sentience and its acute awareness of its surroundings in captivity.

2. Figure of Speech: Repetition  
Exact Line: “And stares with his brilliant eyes / At the brilliant stars.”  
Reason: The repetition of the word ‘brilliant’ emphasizes the intensity and beauty of the tiger’s gaze as well as the stars, creating a connection between the two.

3. Figure of Speech: Symbolism  
Exact Line: “At the brilliant stars.”  
Reason: The stars symbolize freedom and the vast, unconfined natural world, contrasting with the tiger’s confined state. They represent what is unreachable and far away from the tiger’s current situation.

4. Figure of Speech: Alliteration  
Exact Line: “patrolling cars,”  
Reason: The repetition of the ‘p’ sound in “patrolling” creates a rhythmic effect, adding to the auditory imagery of the stanza.

5. Figure of Speech: Personification  
Exact Line: “And stares with his brilliant eyes”  
Reason: By attributing the action of ‘staring’ to the tiger, the poet personifies it, suggesting it has human-like qualities of observation and contemplation.

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