He stalks in his vivid stripes
The poem 'A Tiger in the Zoo' by Leslie Norris contrasts the life of a tiger in captivity with its natural life in the wild. The tiger, described with 'vivid stripes,' is confined to the 'few steps of his cage,' moving with 'quiet rage.' This imagery highlights the tiger's frustration and loss of freedom. In the wild, the tiger would 'lurk in shadow' and 'slide through long grass,' hunting near waterholes where deer pass. The poem suggests that the tiger should be a fearsome presence at the jungle's edge, 'snarling around houses' and 'terrorising the village.' However, the reality is that the tiger is 'locked in a concrete cell,' its strength 'behind bars,' reduced to pacing its cage and ignoring visitors. The poem evokes sympathy for the tiger's plight, as it listens to 'patrolling cars' and gazes at the 'brilliant stars,' a reminder of the freedom it has lost. Through vivid imagery and contrast, Norris emphasizes the unnaturalness of captivity and the tiger's inherent wildness.
| Word | In English | Plain (English) | Pron. |
|---|---|---|---|
| stalks | moves silently | to move quietly and carefully | stawks |
| vivid | bright | very clear and detailed | viv-id |
| pads | soft parts of feet | the soft underparts of an animal's feet | padz |
| lurking | hiding | to stay hidden, waiting to attack | lur-king |
| snarling | growling | making an angry sound | snar-ling |
| fangs | sharp teeth | long, pointed teeth | fangz |
| terrorising | frightening | causing fear | ter-or-izing |
| concrete | solid material | a hard building material | kon-kreet |
| patrolling | watching | moving around to guard | pa-trol-ling |
| brilliant | bright | very bright and radiant | bril-yant |
Leslie Norris was a Welsh poet and short story writer known for his vivid and evocative descriptions of nature and animals. His work often reflects themes of captivity and freedom.
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