A Tiger in the Zoo Class 10 English Poem Summary

A Tiger in the Zoo Class 10 English Poem Summary is given below. By reading through the prose detailed summary, CBSE Class 10 students will be able to understand the chapter easily. Once the students finished reading the summary they can easily answer any questions related to the chapter. Students can also refer to CBSE Class 10 English Poem summary notes – A Tiger in the Zoo for their revision during the exam.

CBSE Class 10 English Poem A Tiger in the Zoo Summary

A Tiger in the Zoo summary in both english and hindi is available here. This article starts with a discussion about the author and then explains the chapter in short and detailed fashion. Ultimately, the article ends with some difficult words and their meanings.

A Tiger in the Zoo – About the Author

Leslie Norris was a famous Welsh poet and short story writer. He was born in 1921, in Wales. Leslie Norris had decided even at an early age that he would become a poet. He was very much interested in the poems of Dylan Thomas and Vernon Watkins. His first poem was published in 1938 but his first book of poetry came out in 1943. In July 1942, Norris married Catherine, better known as Kitty. They moved to England and trained themselves to be teachers. He shot to fame with his first publication ‘Finding Gold’. His works won various awards including the Cholmondeley Poetry Prize and the Katherine Mansfield Memorial Award. Leslie died in 2006. 

Short Summary of A Tiger in the Zoo

The tiger is a proud creature. It is a shame that such a powerful, agile and untamable animals should be caged in a zoo. In his natural and wild habitat, he doesn’t need the help of any kind to hunt its own food. His hunting of deer at the water hole may seem rather cruel. He hunts not for pleasure but for food. His presence in the natural habitat is necessary to maintain the balance of the food chain.

Sometimes, the tiger may stray into human habitation. He only displays his strength and ferociousness. But he doesn’t harm anyone till he is provoked. Even in the cage, he ignores all those who come to the zoo to see him as entertainment. Like human beings, the tiger too loves and values his freedom. He shows his anger, hatred and even defiance by walking about in rage in his cage. Human progress should not be at the cost of destroying the natural habitats of untamable and proud animals like the tiger. 

Summary of A Tiger in the Zoo in English

This poem is showing the pitiful condition of the tiger in the zoo. It shows the poor condition of the tiger in a cage. In a zoo, the tiger walks in the limited space provided to it in the cage. He can take a few steps. There are stripes on his body which are easily noticeable. His paws are soft like velvet. He does not make any noise while walking on his ‘pads of velvet’. Usually, the tiger is silent but in anger.

Poet suggests that the cage is not the proper place for the tiger, as it is not its natural habitat. Thus, the tiger in the cage is a victim of human cruelty. Generally, tigers are found sitting under some bushes or long grass near some water bodies.

So that the tiger can see its prey like deer coming there to drink water, and consequently can slide silently through the grass and kill them. The poet wants to convey to all humankind that the tiger should be there in the forest and not in a cage.

Further, the poet gave a suggestion that the tiger should be sitting at the jungle’s edge near the village. It may terrorize the people passing that way by showing its sharp teeth, baring its claws and producing a roaring sound of anger.

Poet has deep sympathy due to the unpleasant situation of the tiger who is imprisoned in a cell made of concrete. Tiger is unable to come out due to the strong bars fixed at the concrete cell. So, the tiger’s strength is locked behind the bars. All such circumstanced are making tiger having no interest in the visitors. And, he keeps on stalking in the limited space of the cage.

The poet is trying to make realize the people about a tiger who is sitting in the cage and feeling unpleasant and restless. Tiger is still showing no interest in the sound created by the patrolling cars of the zoo authorities. The poet is showing him staring at the shining stars with his brilliant eyes. The poet is raising a moral issue here and he intends to present a strong case against the cruelty of humans for the animals kept in cages.

Conclusion of A Tiger in the Zoo

In this poem, the poet is conveying an important message that wild animals should be in their natural habitat.

Summary of A Tiger in the Zoo in Hindi

यह कविता चिड़ियाघर में बाघ की दयनीय स्थिति को दिखा रही है। यह एक पिंजरे में बाघ की खराब स्थिति को दर्शाता है। एक चिड़ियाघर में, बाघ पिंजरे में उसे उपलब्ध कराए गए सीमित स्थान पर चलता है। वह कुछ कदम उठा सकता है। उसके शरीर पर धारियां हैं जो आसानी से ध्यान देने योग्य हैं। उसके पंजे मखमल की तरह मुलायम होते हैं। वह अपने मखमली के पैड पर चलते समय कोई शोर नहीं करता। ‘ आमतौर पर बाघ चुप रहता है लेकिन गुस्से में होता है।

कवि सुझाव देता है कि पिंजरा बाघ के लिए उचित स्थान नहीं है, क्योंकि यह उसका प्राकृतिक आवास नहीं है। इस प्रकार, पिंजरे में बंद बाघ मानव क्रूरता का शिकार है। आमतौर पर, बाघ कुछ जल निकायों के पास कुछ झाड़ियों या लंबी घास के नीचे बैठे पाए जाते हैं। ताकि बाघ अपना शिकार देख सके जैसे हिरण वहां पानी पीने आ रहा है, फलस्वरूप घास से चुपचाप सरक कर उन्हें मार सकता है। कवि सभी मानव जाति को संदेश देना चाहता है कि बाघ जंगल में होना चाहिए न कि पिंजरे में।

इसके अलावा, कवि ने सुझाव दिया कि बाघ को गाँव के पास जंगल के किनारे पर बैठा होना चाहिए। यह अपने तीखे दाँतों को दिखाते हुए, उस रास्ते से गुजरने वाले लोगों को आतंकित कर सकता है, उसके पंजे को रोक सकता है और गुस्से की भयावह आवाज़ पैदा कर सकता है।

कंक्रीट से बने सेल में कैद किए गए बाघ की अप्रिय स्थिति के कारण कवि की गहरी सहानुभूति है। कंक्रीट सेल में मजबूत सलाखों के कारण टाइगर बाहर नहीं आ पा रहा है। इसलिए, बाघ की ताकत सलाखों के पीछे बंद है। इस तरह की सभी परिस्थितियां बाघों को आकर्षित कर रही हैं जो आगंतुकों में कोई दिलचस्पी नहीं रखते हैं। और, वह पिंजरे के सीमित स्थान पर घूरता रहता है।

कवि लोगों को एक बाघ के बारे में महसूस करने की कोशिश कर रहा है जो पिंजरे में बैठा है और अप्रिय और बेचैन महसूस कर रहा है। चिड़ियाघर अधिकारियों की गश्त कारों द्वारा बनाई गई ध्वनि में टाइगर अभी भी कोई दिलचस्पी नहीं दिखा रहा है। कवि उसे अपनी शानदार आँखों से चमकते सितारों को घूरते हुए दिखा रहा है। कवि यहां एक नैतिक मुद्दा उठा रहा है और वह पिंजरों में रखे जानवरों के लिए मनुष्यों की क्रूरता के खिलाफ एक मजबूत मामला पेश करने का इरादा रखता है।

Difficult Words and their Meanings

Stalk—to walk in an angry or proud way Vivid—very bright, Stripes—long lines on the body, Cage—a box made of bars or wire, Pads—cushion, Velvet—a soft silk cloth Quiet—making very little noise, Rage—violent anger