Comprehension I: The Tiger and The Deer

Question 1.
What does the poet compare ‘The Tiger and the deer’ to in this poem?
Answer:
The poet compares the tiger to strong, cruel beauty and the deer to mild, harmless beauty in nature.

Question 2.
How does the tiger attack its prey?
Answer:
The tiger crouches and creeps noiselessly through the forest. It suddenly leaps upon the deer when it is drinking water, catching it off guard.

Question 3.
What does the tiger stand for in this poem?
Answer:
The tiger stands for power, cruelty, and the merciless force of nature.

Question 4.
According to the poet, what does the deer remember at the time of death?
Answer:
At the time of death, the deer remembers its mate that it left behind in the deep woodland.

Question 5.
Pick out the words used by the poet to describe the nature of the tiger.
Answer:
The poet uses the words “brilliant,” “crouching,” “slouching,” “gleaming eyes,” “mighty chest,” “soft soundless paws,” and “pitiless splendour” to describe the tiger.

Question 6.
According to the poet, what would happen to the mighty and weak in the future?
Answer:
The poet suggests that a day will come when the mighty tiger will no longer crouch and leap in the forest, just as the mammoth no longer roams the plains of Asia. The mighty will perish, but the slain (the weak) will survive through their kind.

B. Dictionary work: The Tiger and The Deer

Sit in pairs, refer the dictionary and find out the meaning of the following words.

Crouching, slouching, grandeur, mammoth, slain

1. Crouching:

• Meaning: Bending the body close to the ground with knees bent, often in a defensive or stealthy position.
• Example: The tiger was crouching in the bushes, ready to pounce.

2. Slouching:

• Meaning: Standing, sitting, or walking with a drooping posture.
• Example: He was slouching in his chair out of boredom.

3. Grandeur:

• Meaning: Splendid or impressive beauty, magnificence.
• Example: The grandeur of the palace left everyone in awe.

4. Mammoth:

• Meaning: A large, extinct, elephant-like animal OR something enormous in size.
• Example: The mammoth roamed the plains thousands of years ago.

5. Slain:

• Meaning: Killed violently or in battle.
• Example: The slain soldier was honored for his bravery.

Additional Questions and Answers: The Tiger and The Deer

Question 1.
What is the setting of the poem?
Answer:
The poem is set in a dense forest where the tiger prowls and the deer drinks from a cool, shadowy pool.

Question 2.
How does the poet describe the tiger’s movement?
Answer:
The poet describes the tiger’s movement as crouching, slouching, and creeping noiselessly through the forest with soft, soundless paws, making it a stealthy predator.

Question 3.
What emotion does the wind display in the poem?
Answer:
The wind seems fearful and cautious, slipping through the leaves silently, as if afraid of disturbing the tiger’s deadly presence.

Question 4.
What does the poet mean by “the slain survive the slayer”?
Answer:
This line suggests that while the mighty predator (the tiger) will eventually perish, the prey (the deer) will survive through its species, symbolizing the enduring nature of innocence over cruelty.

Question 5.
What is the central theme of the poem?
Answer:
The central theme of the poem is the inevitability of nature’s cycle of life and death. It also highlights the contrast between strength and gentleness, suggesting that even the mighty will eventually fall, but the gentle and meek will endure through their legacy.

Question 6.
What poetic devices are used in the poem?
Answer:
The poet uses imagery (e.g., “gleaming eyes and mighty chest”), alliteration (e.g., “crouched and crept”), and personification (e.g., “the wind slipped through the leaves as if afraid”) to enhance the vividness and emotion of the poem.

Question 7
What message does the poet convey about nature’s balance?
Answer:
The poet conveys that nature is both beautiful and brutal. Though the strong may dominate for a time, they will eventually perish, while the weak will continue to live on through their descendants, symbolizing the balance of nature.

About the poet : Sri Aurobindo