Analysis of Aunt Jennifer's Tigers

Essay on “Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers” by Adrienne Rich


Adrienne Rich’s “Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers” tells us a story about a woman, Aunt Jennifer, and her struggles with marriage and perhaps her role in the society of her time. The poem seems to be told from a more contemporary point of view than the subject of the poem holds, or at least portrays. This message is conveyed to the listener by someone close to Aunt Jennifer, most likely a member of the family. This is assumed by the use of the familiar, “Aunt” and “Uncle” by the teller. Rich may have used an outside perspective to further impress upon the reader Aunt Jennifer’s inability to speak out for herself. In the first stanza, the teller’s thoughts first introduce us to Aunt Jennifer’s dreams. In the second stanza, we are introduced to the reality of Aunt Jennifer’s world. The third is a narrative on the future.
The second stanza gives the reader the feeling that Aunt Jennifer has had a...