THE TIGER KING - BLOG 5

CHAPTER 2 (VISTAS)

THE TIGER KING

Good morning students.Today we are continuing with our chapter named THE TIGER KING from the supplementary book Vistas.

In this period we will discuss short answer questions.

Before moving ahead let us see the learning objectives of this chapter.

Learning Objective:

The students will be able to
Familiarise themselves with the sequence of events that led to Tiger King being known by that title.
  Uncover and explain motive behind Tiger King's decision to kill a hundred tigers. 
 Identify instances when the king's decisions seemed irrational and how his attendants acted out our fear.
Realise the need to sustain ecological balance instead of exploiting resources for self-preservation
Absorb the need to be a tolerant and respectful leader.
Raise awareness to conserve wildlife.

Short answer questions

Q.7 How does the author satirize the upbringing and education of crown prince of Indian states?

Answer: The author has effectively satirised the education and upbringing imparted to the crown prince of Indian states during those times through the Maharaja of Pratibandapuram. He describes how as a young boy the Maharaja drank the milk of an English cow, was brought up by an English nanny, tutored in English by an Englishman, saw nothing but English films — exactly as the crown princes of all the other Indian states did. There was nothing of his tradition or culture that was imparted to him. It was as though whatever was English, was the best that could be available and anything Indian was not up to the mark.

Q.8 How did Maharaja get the name ‘The Tiger King’?

Answer:The maharaja of Pratibandapuram is the tiger king. At the time of his birth,the astrologers predicted that oneday the prince would actually die .They even described the way he would die. The prince was born in the hour of the bull. As the bull and the tiger are the enemies, death of the prince would be at the hands of the tiger .The prince didnot get frightened hearing those words. He mumbled warning the tigers to beware. Thus he got the name tiger king.

Q.9 Explain "It seemed easier to find Tiger's milk than a live tiger".

Answer:The statement is an example of hyperbole used to emphasise the plight of the people because of the fact that hundredth tiger could not be found despite every effort. Milking a ferocious animal like a tiger is an impossible task for any human, as the beast was bound to kill anyone who dared to do anything like that. However, in this case finding a live tiger for the maharaja to kill seemed a far more difficult task than milking one.

Q.10 How did the hundredth tiger take revenge on the tiger king?

Answer:On the birthday of the crown prince, the king bought a tiny little wooden tiger for his son. It had been carved by an unskilled carpenter. Its surface was rough, tiny slivers of wood stood up like quills all over it. One of those slivers pierced the Maharaja's right hand. He pulled it out with his left hand and continued to play with the prince. Next day, the infection flared in the Maharaja's right hand and in four days he developed a suppurating sore which spread all over the arm. Three famous surgeons were brought in from Madras. They decide to operate after a consultation. The three surgeons who performed the operation came out of the theatre and announced that the operation had been successful but the Maharaja was dead. It was the manner in which the hundredth tiger took its final revenge upon the Tiger King.

For Practice

Q.11Elaborate how the story demonstrates the wilfulness and selfishness inherent in the nature of man.

Q.12 How did the tiger king come in danger of losing his throne and how did he save it?

Long Answer type Questions ( Do in your own words)

Q.1 What impression do you form about the tiger king after reading the story?

Q.2 The story is a satire on the conceit of those in power. How does the author employ the literary device of dramatic irony in the story?

Q,3 Discuss the humour in the story.

Q.4  Justify the title ‘The Tiger King’.