Question

Illustrate how symbols and images in the poems ‘My Mother at Sixty-six’ and ‘Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers’ enhance the reader’s understanding of the characters’ experiences.

Hint:

Use symbolism to analyze deeper emotional and psychological states.

Answer 1

In ‘My Mother at Sixty-six’, the poet uses the image of the mother’s pale face to symbolize ageing and approaching death. The contrast between the children playing outside and the poet’s mother inside the car evokes fear and emotional distance. In ‘Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers’, tigers symbolize the courage and freedom that Aunt Jennifer lacks in her own life. The embroidery contrasts with her reality—where she is dominated and oppressed by a patriarchal marriage. These poems use imagery—pale faces, tigers, heavy rings—to express emotional states and inner struggles. They deepen the reader’s empathy for both characters by reflecting themes of mortality, fear, and gender oppression.