Class 12 English - UP
Supplementary: The Tiger King
Supplementary: The Tiger King by Kalki is a satirical story mocking the pride and stubbornness of those in power. It revolves around the Maharaja of Pratibandhpur, who is obsessed with proving a royal astrologer's prediction wrong that his death would come from a tiger. He goes on a tiger-killing spree, managing to kill ninety-nine tigers, but ironically meets his end through a seemingly harmless wooden tiger. For UPMSP Class 12 students, this chapter is crucial for board exams as it tests reading comprehension, character analysis, and the understanding of irony and satire.
Start Learning FreeKey Concepts
Prophecy and Irony
The central prediction that a tiger will cause the Tiger King's death creates dramatic irony, as he tries to cheat fate by killing a hundred tigers but ultimately dies from a wooden toy tiger.
Satire on British Rule
The author uses humor to mock British officers who wanted to pose with dead tigers and the sycophantic nature of Indian officials who compromised their integrity to please them.
Environmental Theme
The story subtly highlights human cruelty towards wildlife and the tragic consequences of ecological imbalance caused by ruthless hunting for personal vanity.
The Tiger King's Character
Maharaja Jung Bahadur is portrayed as arrogant, whimsical, and relentless, willing to neglect his royal duties just to fulfill his quota of killing one hundred tigers.
Power and Flattery
It exposes how courtiers and ministers fear absolute power and choose to flatter the king rather than speak the truth, even when the state faces financial ruin.
Important Formulas
Board Exam Info
In the Uttar Pradesh (UPMSP) Class 12 English Literature (Vistas) board exam, this chapter typically carries around 4 to 8 marks. Questions usually include short answer type questions (testing plot details and character traits) and long answer type questions (focusing on the theme of irony, the satirical tone, or a character sketch of the Tiger King).
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was the Maharaja called 'The Tiger King'?
He was given this title because tigers ruled his life and destiny, and he killed ninety-nine tigers to defy an astrological prediction about his death.
How did the Tiger King actually meet his death?
He died from an infection caused by a sliver of wood from a poorly carved wooden tiger he bought as a birthday gift for his son.
What message does Kalki convey through this story?
The author conveys that destiny cannot be avoided, no matter how powerful a person is, and criticizes the mindless destruction of nature and wildlife by human beings.
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