NCERT Solutions for Class 12 English (Vistas) Chapter 2 The Tiger King

NCERT
SOLUTIONS
CLASS - 12th

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Book : Vistas Ncert Solutions | Chapter - 2 English

Class : 12th

Subject : English

Chapter : 2

Chapter Name : The Tiger King

Q1 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?

Answer. The story, The Tiger King is a great example of dramatic irony.

Maharaja, after killing the first tiger flaunts its dead body in front of the astrologer to prove that
he is stronger. However, the astrologer tells the king that he should be aware of the hundredth
tiger. Time passes by when ultimately, the king shoots the last tiger believing that he had died.

However, when the king's hunters see that the tiger had only fainted, they decided to shoot him
and not tell the king out of fear of losing their jobs.

So basically, the astrologer's prediction wasn't wrong as the king had died but not by a real tiger
but by a wooden toy tiger which caused the king's death as the silvers on it infected him.

Therefore, the King's death is a dramatic irony that he was killed by a wooden toy tiger.

Q2 What is the author’s indirect comment on subjecting innocent animals to the willfulness of
human beings?

Answer. Through the story, 'The Tiger King', Kalki has told how humans have subjected
innocent animals to a never ending death and torture to fulfill their own desires.

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Book : Vistas Ncert Solutions | Chapter - 2 English

The Maharaja's indiscrimination towards killing tigers led to its extinction in some states where
he hunted and shot them. All this was done by him just to prove the astrologer wrong who said
that a tiger would kill the king. The king's ego and boastfulness cost poor tigers lost their lives.

The author has very skillfully manifested human beings as the most dangerous animals on the
planet who can even rip off humanity and mercy for their own sake.

Q3 How would you describe the behaviour of the Maharaja’s minions towards him? Do you find
them truly sincere towards him or are they driven by fear when they obey him? Do we find a
similarity in today’s political order?

Answer. Maharaja's minions were scared of him and didn't want to disobey his orders because it
meant losing their jobs.

First, the astrologer who predicted the King's death spoke in fear until he told him to be fearless
and talk.

Second, the Dewan didn't stop the king from hunting as he was scared of what the king would
do to him.

Third, the hunter who saw that the hundredth tiger wasn't dead, was afraid to tell the king about
it because he feared losing his job.

Lastly, the shopkeeper who sold the wooden toy tiger to the King for his son's birthday told a
very high price for it fearing that the king would punish him under the Rule of Emergency.
Therefore, it's evident that the King's minions were entirely driven by fear and not obedience as
a mark of respect.

Also, today's political order is no different. The politicians are more concerned about their own
interests rather than the country's. They can even sell off the poor and absolutely neglect them
of their rights just to sustain their power and false respect.

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Book : Vistas Ncert Solutions | Chapter - 2 English

Q4 Can you relate instances of game-hunting among the rich and the powerful in the present
times that illustrate the callousness of human beings towards wildlife?

Answer. There have been some cases of game hunting in the present times. For instance,
Salman Khan's black buck poaching case and Nawab Mansoor's antelope case.

Q5 We need a new system for the age of ecology – a system which is embedded in the care of
all people and also in the care of the Earth and all life upon it. Discuss.

Answer. We all are well aware about the exploitations being done to nature and mother earth in
various forms. Humans have gone so far in exploiting it to the core that all the other species
residing with us in coordination are being harmed. Besides, it's getting worse with each passing
day. Hence we need a new system of ecology, a sort of modification in our ways of
management through which we can abate the harm we have already done and start afresh in
order to sustain the beauty of nature that has been endowed upon us.

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