Question 1
How is the tiger’s behaviour in the cage presented?
He moves in a limited space with controlled, quiet steps. His strength is present, but the enclosure prevents him from using it naturally, making his power appear frustrated.
Poem guide: central idea and structure
The poem contrasts a tiger’s restricted movements inside a zoo with the power and freedom it would have in its natural habitat. The final image stresses the animal’s isolation behind bars.
Key ideas
- Wild animals lose natural freedom when confined for display.
- The tiger’s strength is frustrated by a narrow enclosure.
- The poem invites readers to compare human entertainment with animal dignity.
Reading checklist
- Identify who is speaking and what changes.
- Support each interpretation with a detail from the text.
- Explain how the title, structure or ending develops the central idea.
Literary techniques
- Contrast between zoo and jungle settings.
- Imagery of movement, strength and confinement.
- Sound effects and repetition emphasise the measured pacing of the captive tiger.
Important vocabulary
- stalk — move quietly while hunting
- lurking — waiting out of sight
- concrete cell — a hard, artificial enclosure
Answer-writing tip: Begin with a direct response, support it with a relevant event or image, and finish by linking the detail to the question. Avoid retelling the entire text.
Activity for close reading
Create a T-chart of verbs and images for the zoo tiger and the imagined free tiger. Use the contrast to write a short conservation reflection.
This is an original study activity based on the text; use the prescribed book for the full work and exact exercise wording.
Solved questions in CBSE/PYQ style
Newly written practice modeled on common extract, inference, theme and character question patterns; these are not copied past-paper questions.
Question 2
What contrast does the poem establish?
The zoo offers bars, a narrow path and human spectators; the imagined forest offers cover, prey and open territory. This contrast highlights the difference between display and natural life.
Question 3
What does the final image suggest?
The tiger remains confined and alone, looking out through the bars. The image stresses that captivity continues even when the animal can see the outside world.
Self-check
- Can I state the central idea in one or two sentences?
- Can I explain one important turning point, image or technique?
- Can I support my interpretation with evidence without copying long passages?
- Can I answer in the required word limit and keep the response focused?
Prepared as supplementary revision for CBSE Class X English Language and Literature 2026–27. Consult the current CBSE syllabus and your prescribed NCERT edition for assessment details.