Poetic Devices in "A Tiger in the Zoo"

The poem "A Tiger in the Zoo" by Leslie Norris is filled with poetic devices that enhance its meaning and impact. Some of the major poetic devices used in this poem are:

1. Metaphor - The tiger is compared to a "fierce and fiery god" to emphasize its power and majesty.

2. Personification - The tiger is personified as a creature that is trapped and frustrated in its cage. It "pads" and "paces" around its enclosure, suggesting that it is restless and unhappy.

3. Alliteration - The repetition of the "p" sound in "pads" and "paces" creates a musical quality in the poem and also emphasizes the tiger's movement.

4. Imagery - The poet uses vivid imagery to describe the tiger's appearance and behavior. For example, the tiger is described as having "burning eyes," "orange sides," and "stripes of jet."

5. Symbolism - The tiger is a symbolic representation of the wild and untamed forces of nature that are being restrained and controlled by human beings.

Overall, these poetic devices help to create a powerful and memorable poem that evokes a sense of awe and respect for the natural world.

Summary - Poem: A Tiger in the Zoo (Hindi)

"A Tiger in the Zoo" is a poem by Leslie Norris that describes the captivity of a majestic tiger in a zoo. The poem uses various poetic devices such as metaphor, personification, alliteration, imagery, and symbolism to convey the feelings of the tiger and the impact of its captivity on its natural behavior. The poem is a powerful critique of the human tendency to control and dominate nature, and it highlights the importance of preserving the natural world in its wild and untamed state.

Stanza 1:

Rhyme Scheme: The abcb scheme is followed. This means there are matched letters with rhyming words. The words are cage- rage.
Personification: It means the main character (it may be an idea, animal or an object) in the poem is defined by human characteristics. The tiger in the poem is attributed by the word ‘He’.
Metaphor:  There is direct comparison carried out between two unlike things that is paws of Tiger are compared with soft velvet represented as ‘pads of velvet’.  
Enjambment: Logical sense is carried throughout the sentences as they are continued to next line without any punctuation mark.
Consonance: use of ‘s’ sound words they are stalks, his and stripes
Oxymoron: The two words which are antonyms means opposite in meaning they are quiet and rage.
Stanza 2:

Rhyme Scheme: The abcb scheme is followed. This means there are matched letters with rhyming words. The words are grass- pass.
Enjambment: Logical sense is carried throughout the sentences as they are continued to next line without any punctuation mark.
Alliteration: The same letter occurred at the beginning of two adjacent words; they are plump deer and pass
Imagery: The poet imagined activities of the tiger and is best described by line ’lurking in shadow’.
Stanza 3:

Rhyme Scheme: The abcb scheme is followed. This means there are matched letters with rhyming words. The words are edge- village.
Consonance: The words with consonant sound‘s’ are used. They are claws, fangs and his.
Onomatopoeia: The words which represent sound. In this poem sound of tiger represented by snarling.  
Stanza 4:

Rhyme Scheme: The abcb scheme is followed. This means there are matched letters with rhyming words. The words are bars- visitors.
Enjambment: Logical sense is carried throughout the sentences as they are continued to next line without any punctuation mark.
Stanza 5:

Rhyme Scheme: The abcb scheme is followed. This means there are matched letters with rhyming words. The words are cars- stars.
Enjambment: Logical sense is carried throughout the sentences as they are continued to next line without any punctuation mark.
Alliteration: The two words ‘he hears’ use the same letter which begin with ‘h’.
Assonance: In the poem the words like his, with brilliant has ‘I’ letter sound.