April 10, 2026
No Comments
First Flight – Poem 3: A Tiger in the Zoo
Complete NCERT Solutions | CBSE Class 10 English (First Flight)
Class 10- Science Solutions
Class 10- English Solutions
Class 10- Maths Solutions
Class 10- Social Science Solutions
Class 10 (CBSE) - SYLLABUS
Class 10 (CBSE) - PYQ
The Poem
A Tiger in the Zooby Leslie Norris
He stalks in his vivid stripes
The few steps of his cage,
On pads of velvet quiet,
In his quiet rage.
He should be lurking in shadow,
Sliding through long grass
Near the water hole
Where plump deer pass.
He should be snarling around houses
At the jungle's edge,
Baring his white fangs, his claws,
Terrorising the village!
But he's locked in a concrete cell,
His strength behind bars,
Stalking the length of his cage,
Ignoring visitors.
He hears the last voice at night,
The patrolling cars,
And stares with his brilliant eyes
At the brilliant stars.
The few steps of his cage,
On pads of velvet quiet,
In his quiet rage.
He should be lurking in shadow,
Sliding through long grass
Near the water hole
Where plump deer pass.
He should be snarling around houses
At the jungle's edge,
Baring his white fangs, his claws,
Terrorising the village!
But he's locked in a concrete cell,
His strength behind bars,
Stalking the length of his cage,
Ignoring visitors.
He hears the last voice at night,
The patrolling cars,
And stares with his brilliant eyes
At the brilliant stars.
About the Poet
Leslie Norris(1921–2006)
Leslie Norris was a Welsh poet and short story writer. He is known for his vivid descriptions of nature and wildlife. His poetry often explores themes of freedom, captivity, and the human condition through the lens of the natural world.
Summary of the Poem
SummaryKey Points
Summary: The poem contrasts the life of a tiger in a zoo with its natural habitat in the wild. In the zoo, the tiger paces restlessly in his cage, filled with quiet rage. He cannot express his natural instincts. The poet imagines what the tiger should be doing if he were free – lurking in the shadows, sliding through long grass, hunting deer near the water hole, and terrorising the village at the edge of the jungle. Instead, he is locked in a concrete cell, his strength behind bars. At night, he stares at the stars, longing for freedom. The poem highlights the cruelty of keeping wild animals in captivity.
Theme of the Poem
ThemeCentral Idea
Theme: The central theme of the poem is the importance of freedom and the cruelty of captivity. The tiger, a majestic and powerful creature, is reduced to a helpless animal pacing in a cage. The poem contrasts the tiger's natural habitat (where he is free and dangerous) with his life in the zoo (where he is confined and ignored). It highlights the loss of dignity and natural instincts when wild animals are kept in captivity for human entertainment.
Literary Devices
DeviceExamples from the Poem
1. Imagery: "vivid stripes," "pads of velvet quiet," "brilliant eyes" — visual imagery that creates a clear picture of the tiger.
2. Personification: The tiger is given human-like emotions — "quiet rage," "ignoring visitors."
3. Contrast/Comparison: The poem constantly contrasts the tiger's life in the zoo with what he should be doing in the wild.
4. Alliteration: "Stalks in his vivid stripes" (repetition of 's' sound), "brilliant eyes / At the brilliant stars" (repetition of 'b' sound).
5. Enjambment: The sentences flow from one line to the next without punctuation, creating a natural rhythm.
6. Rhyme Scheme: The poem follows an ABAB rhyme scheme in each stanza.
2. Personification: The tiger is given human-like emotions — "quiet rage," "ignoring visitors."
3. Contrast/Comparison: The poem constantly contrasts the tiger's life in the zoo with what he should be doing in the wild.
4. Alliteration: "Stalks in his vivid stripes" (repetition of 's' sound), "brilliant eyes / At the brilliant stars" (repetition of 'b' sound).
5. Enjambment: The sentences flow from one line to the next without punctuation, creating a natural rhythm.
6. Rhyme Scheme: The poem follows an ABAB rhyme scheme in each stanza.
Word Meanings (Vocabulary)
WordMeaning
Stalks: walks in a proud, stiff, or angry way
Vivid stripes: bright and clear black and orange stripes on the tiger's body
Pads of velvet quiet: the tiger's soft paws that make no sound
Quiet rage: suppressed anger
Lurking: hiding or moving in a secretive way
Water hole: a place where animals come to drink water
Baring: showing or revealing
Patrolling cars: security vehicles moving around the zoo
Brilliant: bright, shining
Vivid stripes: bright and clear black and orange stripes on the tiger's body
Pads of velvet quiet: the tiger's soft paws that make no sound
Quiet rage: suppressed anger
Lurking: hiding or moving in a secretive way
Water hole: a place where animals come to drink water
Baring: showing or revealing
Patrolling cars: security vehicles moving around the zoo
Brilliant: bright, shining
Thinking About the Poem (Page 88)
Q12 marks
Read the poem again and work in pairs or groups to do the following tasks.
(i) Find the words that describe the movements and actions of the tiger in the cage and in the wild. Arrange them in two columns.
(ii) Find the words that describe the tiger's feelings in the cage and in the wild.
(i) Find the words that describe the movements and actions of the tiger in the cage and in the wild. Arrange them in two columns.
(ii) Find the words that describe the tiger's feelings in the cage and in the wild.
Answer:
(i) Movements and actions:
In the cage: stalks, paces, ignores visitors, stares at stars.
In the wild: lurking in shadow, sliding through long grass, snarling around houses, baring fangs and claws, terrorising the village.
(ii) Feelings:
In the cage: quiet rage, ignored, helpless, longing.
In the wild: powerful, free, dangerous, proud, angry.
(i) Movements and actions:
In the cage: stalks, paces, ignores visitors, stares at stars.
In the wild: lurking in shadow, sliding through long grass, snarling around houses, baring fangs and claws, terrorising the village.
(ii) Feelings:
In the cage: quiet rage, ignored, helpless, longing.
In the wild: powerful, free, dangerous, proud, angry.
Q23 marks
Notice the use of the word 'should' in the poem. Why does the poet use it?
Answer: The poet uses the word 'should' to express what the tiger ought to be doing in his natural habitat. It highlights the contrast between the tiger's current life in the zoo (confined and miserable) and the life he was meant to live in the wild (free and powerful). The use of 'should' creates a sense of longing and injustice.
Q33 marks
What do you think the tiger feels at the end of the poem? Why does he stare at the stars?
Answer: At the end of the poem, the tiger feels helpless, sad, and longing for freedom. He stares at the stars because they remind him of the vast, open sky and the freedom he once had (or should have). The stars represent hope and the distant dream of being free. He is trapped in a concrete cell, but his brilliant eyes still look up at the brilliant stars, showing his unbroken spirit.
Extra Questions for Practice
Q13 marks
What message does the poem "A Tiger in the Zoo" convey about keeping wild animals in captivity?
Answer: The poem conveys that keeping wild animals in captivity is cruel and unjust. The tiger, who is meant to be a powerful and free creature of the jungle, is reduced to a helpless animal pacing in a small cage. The poet highlights the tiger's quiet rage and longing for freedom. The poem is a criticism of zoos and the practice of confining wild animals for human entertainment.
Q23 marks
Contrast the tiger's life in the zoo with his life in the wild as described in the poem.
Answer: In the zoo, the tiger is locked in a concrete cell, his strength behind bars. He paces restlessly, filled with quiet rage, and ignores visitors. He cannot express his natural instincts. In the wild, he would be free — lurking in shadows, sliding through long grass, hunting deer, and terrorising villages. He would be powerful, dangerous, and proud. The contrast highlights the tragedy of captivity.
Q34 marks
How does the poet use the tiger to comment on human conditions?
Answer: The poet uses the tiger as a symbol to comment on the loss of freedom and the suppression of natural instincts. Like the tiger, humans in restrictive environments (such as prisons or oppressive systems) also feel the same quiet rage and longing for freedom. The poem can be interpreted as a broader commentary on any situation where natural freedom is taken away by artificial constraints.
NCERT Class 10 English | First Flight – Poem 3: A Tiger in the Zoo | Complete solutions and study material.
Study materials
- Refernce Books
- NCERT Solutions
- Syllabus
Send Us A Message
Latest posts
News
Navigating the Shift: A Comprehensive Guide to the Revised NCERT Class 9 Syllabus (2026-27)
Read More »
February 25, 2026
No Comments
Blog
January 24, 2026
No Comments
