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A Tiger in the Zoo Summary Class 10 English Poem Stanza Wise

A Tiger in the Zoo Summary Class 10 English Stanza Wise along with the meanings of difficult words has been provided to you by JEE Wallah. The poem A Tiger in the Zoo is written by Leslie Norris. A Tiger in the Zoo Summary class 10 English is provided in very simple words. Class 10 English Poem A Tiger in the Zoo Summary has been provided here to help students understand this poem. 

Also, we have provided Short Summary of A Tiger in the Zoo for quick revision of this poem. You can understand this poem by A Tiger in the Zoo Summary Class 10 English given below. CBSE Class 10 English First Flight Dust of Snow Poem Summary & Notes given below can help you understand this poem easily.

A Tiger in the Zoo Summary Class 10 English

A Tiger in the Zoo Summary Stanza Wise for Class 10 English will help you understand this poem in very simple words along with the word meanings. A Tiger in the Zoo Summary Class 10 English is given below. We have provided the CBSE Class 10 English A Tiger in the Zoo Summary Stanza Wise. By going through the A Tiger in the Zoo Summary Class 10 English, students will understand the meaning of the poem in detail.

A Tiger in the Zoo Summary Class 10 English Stanza Wise | Explanation | Central idea | Word Meanings

Stanza 1

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

In these lines, the poet is describing a tiger in a cage with bright and clear stripes. The cage is very small so the tiger can hardly take a few steps in the cage. His pads are soft like velvet. Inspite of being the most powerful creature, he is imprisoned inside a cage. But he is quiet as he knows that he is helpless in this situation.

Stanza 2

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

In these lines, the poet is filled with sorrow for the tiger. He feels that the tiger should be free in his natural habitat i.e, forest. He should be hiding in the shadows and quietly moving through the long grass near the water hole. He should be waiting for a healthy deer to pass, in the hope of getting a tasty meal.

Stanza 3

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

In these lines, the poet explains what a tiger in his natural habitat should be doing. A tiger should be roaring around the houses situated near the jungle's edge. He should be showing his sharp white teeth and his claws to terrorise the villagers.

Stanza 4

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

In these lines, the poet comes to the reality of the tiger that is inside the cage. He is locked in the cell. His strength and power is of no use to find the bars of the cage. He just stalks in the cage. He never tries to terrorise the visitors because his power is restricted by the cage. He is just moving in his cage and ignoring the visitors who are continuously visiting to have a look at him.

Stanza 5

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

In these lines, the poet says that even at night the tiger is disturbed. He hears the sound of the patrolling cars of the zoo officials. The poet wants to say that the tiger is sad and as he is confined in the cage, so, he cannot do anything. The tiger stares at the brilliant stars shining brightly in the sky with his brilliant eyes which hopes for freedom.

Word Meanings of the Poem A Tiger in the Zoo

1. Stalks - to move quietly
2. Vivid - bright and clear
3. Pads - paws of the tiger
4. Rage - anger
5. Lurking - hiding
6. Sliding - walking with ease
7. Plump - fat
8. Snarling - roaring
9. Baring - showing
10. Fangs - two long sharp teeth at the front of the mouth
11. Claws - Paw or nails
12. Terrorising - threatening
13. Concrete cell - cage made of cement and stone
14. Stalking - moving slowly in a threatening way
15. Patrolling - to go around an area to check that it is safe

Short Summary of A Tiger in the Zoo Class 10 English

The poem A Tiger in the Zoo by Leslie Norris depicts the poor condition of a caged tiger. The poet makes a comparison of a tiger in the zoo to the tiger in his natural habitat. Through this poem, the poet tries to convey that wild animals should be allowed to live freely in their natural habitat. He has beautiful stripes on his skin and has velvet like soft paws. The poet says that if the tiger was not confined to the zoo cage, he would have been hiding himself behind the long grass near some water body, in order to catch its prey that is the deer. 

The tiger is described as being powerless and agonized by the poet. He says that during night also he is alone, hearing the voice of the patrolling vehicles of police and looking at the stars. The poet is trying to say that tiger is famous for its fearlessness but his freedom is confined due to the human beings who want to derive pleasure by looking at him in the zoo cage.

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