Struggle for Freedom and Dignity: A Tale of Oppression and Hope

Q.1:- Why does the author feel 'spirit tore itself in struggling for its lost freedom, all was useless'? Discuss.

A.1:- Deprived of the warmth and freedom of the home, the author finds herself shackled by strict discipline and dictatorial regimentation of the school authorities. Her spirit wants to break loose the barriers and win back her freedom, but unfortunately she is helpless. Thus she feels that she is deprived of freedom.

Q.2:- What are the views of the author about the dress code in the school?

A.2:- The author condemns the rigid school dress code. The Indian girls wore stiff squeaking shoes and 'closely clinging dress'. The small girls donned sleeved aprons and shingled hair. According to the author, the girls were immodestly dressed.

Q.3:- In the words of the author 'eating by formula was not the hardest trial in that first day'. What other ordeal was in store for her?

A.3:- 'Eating by formula' was a tough trial for the author but she was in for a more brutal treatment. Her friend Judewin overheard that their long hair was going to be cut, which would be a greater tragedy because, 'among her people short hair was worn by mourners, and shingled hair by cowards.'

Q.4:- How would you interpret the author's statements, 'Now I was only one of many little animals driven by a herder.'

A.4:- The authorities of Carlisle Indian School refused to treat its students as human children and gave the same treatment to each and every child, for getting the basic truth that each child had a unique personality. The children were so shabbily treated that the author felt they were not human beings, but animals. So the author rightly felt that the author (she) was being 'driven by the herder'.

Q.5:- In spite of myself, 'I was carried downstairs and tied fast in a chair.' Why do you think the author uses the expression 'In spite of myself' here?

A.5:- The author's mother had advised her to be a fighter in life and never to submit tamely. The child tried her best and used all her might to escape being shingled but she was made helpless by brute force, hence the use of expressions 'in spite of myself' is done by the author.

Q.6:- What impressions do you form about the entire situation from the strange and humiliating manner in which the man was walking and carrying the eatables?

A.6:- The way one of the elders of Bama's community was made to carry the Vadis suspended from a string is very humiliating. He had to carry the sweets in that manner because he was an untouchable and his touching the sweets would hay, supposedly polluted them and rendered them unfit for consumption by an upper caste landlord. The whole incident shows the inhuman practice of untouchability prevalent in our country. It divides the society on caste lines and results in the brutal exploitation of the so called low castes by the so called upper castes. As a result, the former have remained poor, uneducated and devoid of human dignity.

Q.7:- What advice did Annan give to Bama? How did his words of advice affect her life?

A.7:- Annan advised his sister Bama to study with care and learn all she could and to be ahead of her lessons in the class in order to win respect, dignity and acceptance by others. Education was the only key to their community's honor, dignity and progress. Bama took her brother's advice seriously, studied really hard and stood first in her class and because of that many people become her friends.

Q.8:- What lesson do you learn from the episode 'We too are human Beings'?

A.8:- 'We too are human beings' teaches us the lesson that all human beings are equal and each one of us has human dignity, honor and self respect. It also emphasizes the need of eradicating such evils as untouchability and discrimination on the basis of caste through education, empowerment and economic growth.

1. What are the characteristics of the tiger that lend contrast to the Aunt?

Ans. The Tigers are fearless, chivalric and they are confident. They enjoy their freedom. On the other hand, Aunt Jennifer is oppressed and a victim of a male-dominated society. The Tigers are fearless and are not afraid of men.

2. What is the theme of the poem?

 Ans. The poet subtly brings out the contrast between the wonderful freedom of the work of art created by Aunt Jennifer and the constraints of her married personal life. The Aunt has been subjected to suppression at the hands of her dominating husband and it is only in the embroidery that she is free and gives expression to her creativity.

3. What does Aunt Jennifer’s creation of the tigers symbolize?

Ans. The tigers symbolize Aunt Jennifer’s desires. She expresses herself through the creation of her tigers whom she embroiders with a needle for a panel. The Tigers are free and symbolize Jennifer’s own longing to be free and powerful.