A Tiger in the Zoo Class 10 English First Flight Chapter 2 (Poem) CBSE Notes 2025-26

The poem "A Tiger in the Zoo" by Leslie Norris is a part of Class 10 English First Flight, Chapter 2, and presents a thoughtful contrast between a tiger's life in captivity and in the wild. 

This poem makes readers reflect on the psychological and physical impact of confining wild creatures in zoos, portraying the tiger’s majestic and natural characteristics alongside the painful restrictions of a cage. Throughout, strong imagery and repetition emphasize the tiger’s lost freedom, quiet rage, and the beauty and power that is suppressed behind bars.

• The Tiger in the Cage The poem begins by describing the tiger inside his enclosure. He is shown pacing back and forth in a small space — “the few steps of his cage.” 
• The tiger’s stripes appear vivid, and he moves silently on his “pads of velvet quiet.” His rage is “quiet,” showing that his anger and frustration are controlled, suppressed due to lack of freedom. 
• He ignores visitors, suggesting his depression and loss of interest in the world outside his bars.

The Tiger in the Wild The poet next tells us where the tiger truly belongs — in his natural habitat. In the wild, he would be “lurking in shadow,” “sliding through long grass,” and “terrorising the village!”

These descriptions emphasize his role as a powerful predator, free to hunt deer by water holes and roam the jungle boundary. Images like “baring his white fangs, his claws” and “snarling around houses” highlight the contrast to his trapped state. The wild is presented as a place where the tiger is both dangerous and dignified, able to express his true nature.

Return to Captivity The tiger is once again brought back to the reality of his concrete prison. His “strength behind bars” tells us that although he remains powerful, his force and majesty are of no use in a cage. 

The lines, “Stalking the length of his cage, / Ignoring visitors,” reinforce his isolation and detachment from his artificial environment. The poet’s repetition of “quiet” and “brilliant” in the description of the tiger’s eyes and rage highlights his trapped energy and the spark of life that survives despite confinement.

Structure, Tone, and Imagery The poem is organized in stanzas that shift between the tiger’s life in captivity and his imagined freedom in the wild. This constant movement between the two settings creates a sense of longing and loss. 

Visual and auditory imagery are strong, such as “pads of velvet quiet,” “behind bars,” and “brilliant eyes at the brilliant stars.” The repetition of words such as “quiet” and “brilliant” emphasizes the contrast between what the tiger is and what he could be.

Comparison Table – Movements and Places

Poetic Devices and Effects The poem uses several literary devices to strengthen its message. Repetition is significant—as seen in “quiet” and “brilliant”—to reinforce the tiger’s subdued anger and his sharp awareness, even in captivity. 

The metaphor “on pads of velvet quiet” compares the tiger’s paws to soft velvet. Imagery is vivid, enabling readers to feel the atmosphere of both the restricted zoo and the open jungle.

Main Themes

• Wild animals’ right to freedom versus human-imposed captivity
• Psychological suffering and loss of agency in confinement
• Contrast between natural life and artificial zoo environment
• Empathy towards animals and the ethics of zoos

Practice Questions and Activities from the Chapter The book offers several questions to test students’ understanding of the poem, including matching words to meanings, identifying movements and environments, and explaining poetic effects like repetition. 

Students are also encouraged to discuss whether zoos are necessary for education and conservation or whether they harm animal welfare. Comparing the main poem to other related poems—like “The Tiger” by Peter Niblett and “The Panther” by Rainer Maria Rilke—deepens the exploration of animal captivity and longing for freedom.

Important Glossary Terms

• Snarls: Makes an angry, warning sound
• Lurking: Hiding and waiting secretly, often for the purpose of attacking
• Slithering: Moving smoothly over a surface
• Cage/concrete cell: The artificial, restrictive living space in a zoo

Message and Moral The poem’s message is about the unfairness of restricting wild animals in zoos. While zoos might keep animals safe from dangers of poaching or starvation, they deny them the essential, natural aspects of their lives—freedom, hunting, and independence. 

Through descriptive contrasts, the poet makes readers question the ethics of zoos and feel empathy for the animals’ suffering. The poem encourages us to reflect on wildlife conservation and responsibility to treat animals humanely.

Zoos: Pros and Cons (Discussion Point) Students are asked to form opinions and debate the topic of zoos, weighing their role in animal protection and education against the loss of freedom experienced by captive animals. 

Arguments in favour may include helping endangered species to survive and offering educational experiences to the public. On the other hand, the poem highlights how zoos may cause psychological harm and deprive animals of their dignity and instincts.

Summary Table: Key Points

How to Answer Questions on this Poem When answering questions, focus on the descriptions of the tiger’s life in captivity versus the wild. Use examples such as the tiger’s “quiet rage” and the poet’s use of repetition. Summarize the main message: the poem criticizes confinement and makes us feel empathetic towards the tiger’s suffering.

In exams, be sure to recall keywords like “vivid stripes,” “quiet rage,” “concrete cell,” “lurking in shadow,” and “terrorising the village.” Pay attention to how the poet’s choice of words and structure help you feel the tiger’s pain and yearning for freedom.

Class 10 English Chapter 2 Poem Notes – A Tiger in the Zoo

Reviewing these Class 10 English First Flight revision notes for Chapter 2 Poem "A Tiger in the Zoo" will help you clearly understand the poet’s use of imagery and contrast. Focus on key points about the tiger’s life in confinement versus the wild to strengthen your answers for short and long questions.

Detailed explanations and tables make remembering the important themes and word meanings easier for quick revision. By reviewing these notes before exams, you’ll be able to analyze the poem with clarity and support your answers with specific examples.