Figure of Speech in Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers Class 12 Flamingo In-Depth Analysis | Figures of Language

By | January 23, 2024
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Here is Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers, 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 Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers 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 XII. Dive in for figure of speech examples- 

Figure of Speech in Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers Stanza 1

Aunt Jennifer’s tigers prance across a screen,
Bright topaz denizens of a world of green.
They do not fear the men beneath the tree;
They pace in sleek chivalric certainty.

1.Figure of Speech: Imagery  
Exact Line: “Bright topaz denizens of a world of green”  
Reason: This line creates a vivid visual image in the reader’s mind, portraying the tigers as radiant and lively, embodying energy and vibrance.

2. Figure of Speech: Metaphor  
Exact Line: “Bright topaz denizens”  
Reason: The term “bright topaz” is used metaphorically to describe the vibrant yellow color of the tigers, enhancing the vividness of their depiction.

3. Figure of Speech: Alliteration  
Exact Line: “sleek chivalric certainty”  
Reason: The repetition of the ‘c’ sound in “chivalric certainty” provides a rhythmic quality to the line, enhancing its poetic nature.

4. Figure of Speech: Consonance  
Exact Line: “Jennifer’s tigers prance across a screen”  
Reason: The repetition of the ‘s’ sound in this line creates a smooth, flowing sound, adding to the musicality of the verse.

5. Figure of Speech: Assonance  
Exact Line: “They do not fear the men beneath the tree”  
Reason: The prominent sound of the vowel ‘e’ in this line adds a harmonious and rhythmic quality, enhancing the lyrical flow.

6. Figure of Speech: Anaphora  
Exact Lines:  
– “They do not fear the men beneath the tree;”  
– “They pace in sleek chivalric certainty.”  
Reason: The repetition of the word “They” at the start of these consecutive lines emphasizes the actions and qualities of the tigers, contributing to the poem’s thematic unity and rhythm.

7. Figure of Speech: Personification  
Exact Line: “They do not fear the men beneath the tree”  
Reason: The tigers are given human-like qualities, notably the absence of fear. This personification emphasizes their perceived bravery and independence.

8. Figure of Speech: Symbolism  
Exact Line: “Bright topaz denizens of a world of green”  
Reason: The tigers are symbolized as “bright topaz denizens,” indicating not only their color but also their value and rarity. The “world of green” symbolizes a natural, unbounded space, contrasting with Aunt Jennifer’s constrained existence.

9. Figure of Speech: Metonymy  
Exact Line: “men beneath the tree”  
Reason: This phrase likely represents patriarchal society and its oppressive structures. The “men” are not specific individuals but a broader representation of societal norms and constraints.

10. Figure of Speech: Oxymoron  
Exact Line: “sleek chivalric certainty”  
Reason: “Sleek” and “chivalric” are somewhat contrasting terms; “sleek” suggests smoothness and modernity, while “chivalric” refers to the old-fashioned, gallant behavior of knights, combining to convey a complex image of the tigers.

Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers Poetic Device- Stanza- 2

Aunt Jennifer’s fingers fluttering through her wool
Find even the ivory needle hard to pull.
The massive weight of Uncle’s wedding band
Sits heavily upon Aunt Jennifer’s hand.

1. Figure of Speech: Alliteration
Exact Line: “fluttering fingers” and “Aunt Jennifer’s fingers fluttering through her wool”
Reason: The repetition of the ‘f’ sound creates a rhythmic and flowing sound, emphasizing the movement of her fingers and adding a musical quality to the verse.

2. Figure of Speech: Personification
Exact Line: “Sits heavily upon Aunt Jennifer’s hand”
Reason: The wedding band is personified as it ‘sits heavily,’ suggesting an active, oppressive presence in her life.

3. Figure of Speech: Hyperbole
Exact Line: “The massive weight of Uncle’s wedding band”
Reason: The description of the wedding band’s weight as ‘massive’ is an exaggeration, emphasizing the psychological and emotional burden it represents.

4. Figure of Speech: Imagery
Exact Line: “fingers fluttering through her wool”
Reason: This line creates a vivid sensory image of delicate, precise movements involved in needlework. The use of “fluttering” evokes a visual of gentle and skillful motion, enabling the reader to almost see and feel the action of fingers working with the wool. This imagery enhances the tactile and visual experience, bringing the scene to life in the reader’s mind.

5. Figure of Speech: Enjambment
Exact Lines: 
– “Aunt Jennifer’s fingers fluttering through her wool / Find even the ivory needle hard to pull.”
– “The massive weight of Uncle’s wedding band / Sits heavily upon Aunt Jennifer’s hand.”
– Reason: The continuation of sentences across lines without punctuational pauses creates a sense of flow and continuity, mirroring the ongoing nature of Aunt Jennifer’s struggles.

6. Figure of Speech: Imagery
– Exact Line: “Find even the ivory needle hard to pull”
– Reason: This line vividly depicts the struggle Aunt Jennifer faces, not just in her craft but as a metaphor for her life’s challenges.

7. Figure of Speech: Symbolism
– Exact Line: “The massive weight of Uncle’s wedding band”
– Reason: The wedding band symbolizes the oppressive nature of Aunt Jennifer’s marriage and the patriarchal constraints she experiences.

8. Figure of Speech: Metaphor
– Exact Line: “massive weight of Uncle’s wedding band”
– Reason: The ‘massive weight’ is a metaphor for the emotional and psychological burden Aunt Jennifer bears in her marriage.

Figures of Speech Poem – Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers Stanza- 3

When Aunt is dead, her terrified hands will lie
Still ringed with ordeals she was mastered by.
The tigers in the panel that she made
Will go on prancing, proud and unafraid

1. Figure of Speech: Alliteration
– Exact Line: “prancing proud”
– Reason: The repetition of the ‘p’ sound emphasizes the liveliness and confidence of the tigers.

2. Figure of Speech: Enjambment
– Exact Lines: 
– “When Aunt is dead, her terrified hands will lie / Still ringed with ordeals she was mastered by.”
– “The tigers in the panel that she made / Will go on prancing, proud and unafraid.”
– Reason: The continuation of sentences across lines without punctuational pauses enhances the flow and links the ideas seamlessly.

3. Figure of Speech: Imagery
– Exact Line: “The tigers in the panel that she made / Will go on prancing, proud and unafraid.”
– Reason: This line creates a vivid visual image of the tigers, symbolizing freedom and fearlessness.

4. Figure of Speech: Contrast
– Exact Lines: 
– “When Aunt is dead, her terrified hands will lie”
– “The tigers in the panel that she made / Will go on prancing, proud and unafraid.”
– Reason: The stark contrast between Aunt Jennifer’s fate and the vitality of the tigers highlights the disparity between her reality and her artistic expression.

5. Figure of Speech: Paradox
– Exact Line: “The tigers in the panel that she made”
– Reason: The paradox lies in the fact that Aunt Jennifer, who lived a constrained life, was able to create art that symbolized freedom and fearlessness.

6. Figure of Speech: Transferred Epithet
– Exact Line: “her terrified hands will lie”
– Reason: The adjective ‘terrified’ is transferred from Aunt Jennifer to her hands, indicating her state of fear, even in death.

Note- The line “her terrified hands will lie” can be interpreted as an example of both a transferred epithet and synecdoche. 
As a transferred epithet, the adjective ‘terrified’ is indeed transferred from Aunt Jennifer to her hands, suggesting her state of fear.
As synecdoche, it uses a part (her hands) to represent the whole (Aunt Jennifer), indicating her overall state of fear or distress. 
Both interpretations are valid, and they complement each other in conveying the poem’s deeper meaning about Aunt Jennifer’s emotional state.

7. Figure of Speech: Synecdoche
– Exact Line: “her terrified hands”
– Reason: The reference to Aunt Jennifer’s ‘hands’ symbolically represents her entire being, suggesting her overall state of terror.

8. Figure of Speech: Assonance
– Exact Lines: 
– “Aunt is dead, her terrified hands will lie.”
– “go on prancing, proud and unafraid.”
– “ringed with ordeals she was mastered by.”
– Reason: The prominent vowel sounds ‘i,’ ‘o,’ and ‘e’ create a harmonious effect and add to the poem’s musical quality.

Chapter Nutshell of Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers

The poem depicts:

  1. Aunt Jennifer’s desires and her dream.
  2. The real picture of Aunt Jennifer’s life.

Symbols in the poem

  1. Aunt Jennifer represents women all over the world wedged under the tyrannical hand of a patriarchal society.
  2. Aunt Jennifer’s tigers symbolize her dreams and desires of being powerful, fearless, decisive and liberated.
  3. The wedding band signifies the patriarchal society where the command is defined as masculine.
  4. Uncle denotes the oppressor.
  5. Aunt Jennifer’s hands represent the reality of her life.

1. What words help us to understand the tiger’s attitude?

(i) pace and prance suggest strength and energy, and movement in blithe.
(ii) bright topaz colour gives the Tigers the attention to their prominent presence.
(iii) denizens mean occupants. Tigers are grand and fearless in their natural surroundings.
(iv) chivalric certainty represents the power and virtue with confidence and conviction.

2.Justification of the title: Aunt Jennifer is weaving a tapestry with a picture of tigers representing her desire— she pines for the qualities she has endowed to these tigers.

3.The contrast in the poem:
Aunt Jennifer is an oppressed woman dominated by male superiority, victimized, fearful, indecisive, weak, timid, feeble, shivering in fear, stifled and weighed upon by the marriage, whereas the tigers she weaves are chivalric, confident, fearless, assertive, strong and energetic.

4. Poetic devices used in the poem:
(i) Symbols: (a) Uncle, (b) Aunt, (c) Tigers, (d) Wedding band, (e) Aunt Jennifer’s hand.
 (ii) Synecdoche and transferred epithet—terrified hands’ representing her being terrified.
(iii) Pun— ‘ringed’: (a) ring in her finger which sits heavily on her and (b) difficulties which will always surround her.
 (iv) Irony—(a) a weak and submissive woman weaving a picture of tigers that are strong and fearless.
(b) brutal tigers are depicted chivalric and the cultured man is depicted as an oppressor.
(c) Even when the creator dies, her work will continue to exist.
(v) Contrast—the characteristics of Aunt Jennifer and that of the tiger.
 (vi) Alliteration—`fingers fluttering’
(vii) Imageries—’bright topaz denizens in the world of green’, ‘men beneath the `..wedding band/Sits heavily..

5. The future of Aunt Jennifer Being: subservient Aunt Jennifer doesn’t win. First, she loses her identity, (only termed as ‘Aunt’ in the last stanza) and then loses herself to death, and even in death, she must obey the rules of the patriarchal society.

6. Why will Aunt Jennifer’s hands be ringed with ordeals after her death?
 Aunt Jennifer represents the oppressed women of the patriarchal society. It connotes that
(i)Aunt is troubled by her marriage to the burdensome husband.
(ii) With the death of one oppressed woman, oppression will not vanish from the face of this earth.

7.The significance of the last two lines of the poem
(i) The mortal Aunt Jennifer created the immortal tigers.
 (ii) Even if the woman with the desire, dies, it does not end the desire of freedom in the other women in this patriarchal society—the poet imparts a ray of hope to liberate women from the bondage of the oppressed men.

Literary Device of Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers

Symbols:

Wedding band: a symbol of oppression in an unhappy marriage. Its weight refers to the burden of gender expectations. Ringed means encircled or trapped, losing individuality and freedom.
Aunt Jennifer: a typical victim of male oppression in an unhappy marriage, who suffers a loss of individuality, dignity and personal freedom silently. She becomes dependent, fearful and frail.
Tigers: symbolize untamed free spirit. Here they stand in contrast to their creator’s personality. The use of colours implies that Aunt Jennifer’s tigers and their land are vital and they enjoy a sense of freedom far greater than she does. They pace and prance freely, proudly, fearless, confident and majestic, fearless of men Yellow (bright topaz) connotes the sun and fierce energy; green reminds one of spring and vitality.
Embroidery: a symbol of creative expression. The artwork expresses the Aunt’s suppressed desires and becomes her escape from the oppressive reality of her life.
Aunt (last stanza): the use of the word Aunt as opposed to Aunt Jennifer. It shows that she has lost her identity completely, thus lost even her name.
Ringed with ordeals: even death would not free her as the wedding band, a symbol of oppression, would still be on her finger.
 Visual imagery: Bright topaz denizens; the world of green
Irony: It is ironical that Aunt Jennifer’s creations- the tigers will continue to pace and prance freely, while Aunt herself will remain terrified even after death, ringed by the ordeals she was controlled by in her married life.
 Ringed with ordeals: even death would not free her as the wedding band, a symbol of oppression, will be there.
 Terrified fingers: a Transferred epithet

Alliteration: “fingers fluttering”, “Prancing proud”
Hyperbole: The weight of a husband’s wedding ring.
Paradox: Aunt Jennifer, a trembling and ‘mastered’ woman creates free and confident tigers. Fingers fluttering produce tigers who prance with ‘certainty’.




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