Problem
Adrienne Rich's "Aunt Jennifer's Tigers"
In this poem, why are tigers a particularly appropriate contrast to the woman embroidering or cross-stitching a hunting scene? What words describing the tigers seem particularly significant? Why are Aunt Jennifer's hands described as "terrified" (line 9)? What clues does the poem give about why Aunt Jennifer is so afraid? How does the poem make you feel about Aunt Jennifer's life and death? How would you describe the tone of the poem? Why does the poem begin and end with the tigers?