Discover ‘T[AHSEC] Class 12 The Tiger King Question Answer Notes, Class XII,’ a comprehensive guide featuring all textual and essential additional questions, crafted in clear and simple language to aid students’ understanding and preparation.
Class 12 The Tiger King Question Answer Notes
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Textual Question Solutions
Read and Find Out (Each bearing 2 Marks)
Q.1. Who was the Tiger King? Why does he get that name?
Ans: The Maharaja of Pratibandarpuram, Jung Bahadur is known as the Tiger King.
He got the name ‘Tiger King’ because the astrologer predicted that the king’s death would come from a tiger.
Q.2. What did the royal infant grow up to be?
Ans: With the passing of time, the royal infant grew taller and stronger. He drank the milk of an English cow and was tutored by an Englishman. At the age of twenty, he became the king of the state and then began to hunt his enemies – the tigers.
Q.2. What will the Maharaja do to find the required number of tigers to kill?
Ans: After killing about seventy tigers, the tiger population in the state became extinct. Then he wanted to marry a prince from a state with a tiger population. The dewan (minister) found a girl and in this way, the king was able to kill the required number of tigers.
Q.4. How will the Maharaja prepare himself for the hundredth tiger which was supposed to decide his fate?
Ans: The king found it difficult to have a hundred tigers killed. Then the dewan, realizing the seriousness of the situation, bought a tiger from a people’s park in Madras. The tiger was left in the forest where the king was hunting. The king took careful aim and shot it, but his aim missed the target.
Q.5. What will now happen to the astrologer? Do you think the prophecy was indisputably disproved?
Ans: The king was destined to be killed by a tiger. Hence in spite of his mission of killing a hundred tigers, he was not able to fulfil his mission. The hundredth tiger survived to be killed by a hunter, not by the king. Hence this prophecy came true.
Reading with Insight (Each Question bears 5 Marks)
Q.1. 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?
Ans: The story entitled ‘The Tiger King’ is a satire on the conceit of those in power. The chief astrologer assured him that as the king was born in the hour of Bull he would be killed by a tiger. But the king could not accept the truth.
To get rid of being killed by a tiger, the king continued to hunt tigers and was able to kill 99 tigers and felt safe.
But ironically the hundredth tiger was not killed by the king as he missed the target. Another hunter killed the tiger only to hide the fact.
Here the irony is that the king was killed by a tiger not of flesh and blood but by a tiger made of wood.
The irony illustrates that none can avoid destiny.
Q.2. What is the author’s indirect comment on subjecting innocent animals to the willfulness of human beings?
Ans: The author has not made a direct comment on the indiscriminate killing of tigers. But he shows great sympathy towards such beautiful animals.
The Tiger King killed almost all the tigers found in his kingdom. Consequently, the tiger population in the state got extinct. Then he married a girl from such a state that had a large population of tigers. In each visit to his father-in-law’s house, he used to kill 6 or 7 tigers. Thus he managed to kill ninety-nine tigers. But the hundredth tiger eluded the king and eventually, he was killed by a wooden tiger. The writer also mentioned the cruelty of the British officials who killed such a beautiful animal only for pleasure.
Q.3. 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?
Ans: The behaviour of the Maharaja’s minions towards him seems to be driven by fear. Flattery and docile submissiveness are their chief characteristics.
To illustrate their servile nature we can take the dealings of the chief astrologers. He disclosed the truth only when he was given assurance of safety. The dewan was also of the same nature. He shuddered at the sight of the gun. The shopkeeper was likewise a strange blending of flattery and cunningness. The wooden tiger cost only two annas. But he charged three hundred rupees.
There is a great similarity in today’s political leaders. We see that the politicians lie prostrate before their leaders to flatter them. Their main aim is to please their leaders.
Q.4. 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?
Ans: Yes, there are ample instances of game-hunting among the rich and the powerful. Today we hear about the killing of deer, rhinos, elephants, and other wild animals that are on the verge of extinction. Only to get the tusk of an elephant, the horns of rhinos, the skins of tigers, people mercilessly kill them. Though there are laws against poaching wild animals yet in India the laws seem to be only in paper and books. No law seems to be in force and it is because of the interference of the political leaders.
Q.5. 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.
Ans: The present-day world has faced a tremendous menace of environmental degradation and it has been facing a drastic challenge in ecological balance. Human being have become more and more indifferent to wildlife. Only for pleasure, the natural objects are being degraded. The tigers, elephants, rhinos, deers etc. have been being killed mercilessly. Many animals and birds have got extinct forever because of human selfishness. Glaciers have been shrinking. The water level of the sea has risen up. The greenhouse effect has caused global warming.
Additional Question Solutions
Short Answer type Questions. (Each bearing 2 Marks)
Q.1. What did the Dewan do about procuring a tiger in pain of losing his job?
Ans: The Dewan for fear of losing his job, brought a tiger from People’s Park in Madras and set the tiger free in the forest where the Tiger King used to hunt. When the King saw the tiger, procured secretly by the Dewans, he shot it but unfortunately, the tiger did no die. Later on, it was killed by another hunter.
Q.2. How did the Tiger King celebrate the killing of the hundredth tiger?
Ans: As the king did not find his hundredth tiger, the Dewans brought a tiger from the public park in Madras and set it free in the forest where the king was waiting for a tiger to shoot. When he saw the tiger brought by the dewans, he aimed at the tiger and shot it. But unfortunately, the tiger did not die. Another hunter killed it to hide up the fact.
Q.3. What did the astrologer predict about the Tiger King?
Ans: The astrologer predicted that the ‘Tiger King’ would be killed by a tiger as he was born in the hour of the Bull and the Bull and the Tigers are enemies. The prediction came true.
Q.3. What did the Maharaja decide to do when he remembered the astrologer’s prediction?
Ans: When the Maharaja remembered the astrologer’s prediction that a tiger would kill him, he started hunting tigers and banned others from hunting tigers in his kingdom.
Q.4. How did the hundredth tiger take its revenge on the tiger king?
Ans: The astrologer predicted that the king would be killed by a tiger. Then the king started killing tigers to avoid the prediction. But he failed to kill the hundredth tiger though he thought his mission to be fulfilled. Eventually, we see that the Tiger King presented a wooden tiger to his son. The wooden tiger was so uneven that there were some spikes on it. One of those spikes pierced the king’s hand and soon infection spread all over his arms. The royal surgeons performed an operation but failed to save his life. Thus the hundredth tiger took revenge upon the Tiger King.
Long Answer type Questions (Each 7 Marks)
Q.1. Draw a character sketch of the Tiger King in your own words.
Ans: The Tiger King was the Maharaja of Pratibandarpuram. His name was Jung Bahadur. He was born in the hour of the Bull. The astrologer predicted that as he was born in the hour of the Bull and the Bull and Tiger are enemies so he might meet his death by a tiger. As a remedy for becoming the victim of a tiger, the astrologer suggested that if he would kill as many as one hundred tigers, then he might get rid of it.
At the age of twenty, he became a king and bet to kill a hundred tigers so as to get rid of becoming the victim of a tiger.
He thus challenged his destiny and mercilessly began to kill tigers. After the killing of 70 tigers, almost all the tigers of his state became extinct. Then he married a girl from a state with a large tiger population and thus he could manage to kill up to 99 tigers. But he could not get the hundredth tiger to kill. Then the Dewans procured a tiger from the public park in Madras and set the tiger free in the forest. The next day the king went for hunting and when he happened to see the tiger procured by the Dewans, he shot at the tiger. But unfortunately, the tiger did not die. Later on, it was killed by another hunter.
On the other hand, the Tiger King was satisfied after shooting the hundredth tiger and thought that his mission was fulfilled and no tiger would kill him.
But the irony was still awaiting him. On the third birthday celebration of the son of the king, a wooden tiger was bought by the king to present to his son. The wooden tiger was uneven and the wood stood up like a quill all over it. One of those quills pierced into the Maharaja’s right hand. He pulled it out but the wound got infected and eventually, the Tiger King died.
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The Tiger King: Summary
“The Tiger King” by Kalki is a satirical story highlighting the futility of human arrogance and the inevitable power of fate. The protagonist, the Maharaja of Pratibandapuram, becomes obsessed with killing tigers to defy a prophecy predicting his death by a tiger. The story critiques the irrationality of pride and the irony of fate.
The narrative begins with the birth of the Maharaja, whose death by a tiger is foretold by astrologers. Alarmed by this prediction, the king resolves to eliminate all tigers in his kingdom to thwart the prophecy. He takes extreme measures, including banning tiger hunting by anyone but himself and manipulating the political landscape to ensure his success.
The king embarks on numerous tiger hunts, displaying both bravery and obsession. He even marries a princess from a neighboring kingdom with a significant tiger population to continue his hunting spree. Throughout his quest, the Maharaja’s actions are driven by superstitions and manipulative tactics. He bribes and threatens his subjects to assist in his quest, and the irony of his situation grows as he becomes more ruthless.
After killing ninety-nine tigers, the Maharaja becomes desperate to find the hundredth tiger, believing this will secure his safety. The hundredth tiger escapes his initial attempt to kill it, leading to a staged kill by his subordinates to please the king. Unaware of the deception, the Maharaja believes he has conquered his fate. Ironically, he dies due to an infection caused by a splinter from a wooden tiger toy, symbolizing the prophecy’s fulfillment unexpectedly.
The story explores the tension between human efforts to control fate and the ultimate power of destiny. Despite the Maharaja’s attempts to change his fate, he cannot escape it. Kalki satirizes the Maharaja’s vanity and irrational belief that he can conquer nature and destiny. The king’s arrogance leads to his downfall, highlighting the folly of human pride.
The story critiques the misuse of power, illustrating how the Maharaja’s authority allows him to act recklessly but also blinds him to the truth, leading to his ironic demise. The narrative underscores the conflict between superstition and rationality, demonstrating the dangers of superstition through the Maharaja’s actions.
The Maharaja is both a tyrant and a tragic figure, defined by his obsession with tigers and fear of the prophecy. His bravery, folly, and vulnerability are showcased throughout the story. The astrologers represent the voice of fate, setting the story in motion and reminding the reader of the inevitability of destiny. The Dewan and other courtiers exemplify sycophancy and the manipulation of power, furthering the satire on the misuse of authority.
Tigers in the story represent fate and nature’s power over human endeavors, symbolizing the Maharaja’s struggle against destiny. The wooden tiger is a symbol of the Maharaja’s ultimate vulnerability and the futility of his efforts to avoid fate.
“The Tiger King” by Kalki is a masterful tale of satire and irony that explores deep themes of fate, human arrogance, and the absurdity of power. The story’s unexpected ending reinforces the inevitability of destiny and the foolishness of trying to outwit it. Through the Maharaja’s tragicomic journey, Kalki delivers a poignant critique of the human condition and the timeless battle between man and fate.
About the Author: Kalki
Kalki, born Ramaswamy Aiyer Krishnamurthy on September 9, 1899, in Puthamangalam, Tamil Nadu, India, is a renowned Indian writer, journalist, and freedom fighter. He is celebrated for his contributions to Tamil literature, especially his historical novels, short stories, and essays.
Early Life and Education
Kalki was born into a Brahmin family in a small village. His father, Ramaswamy Aiyer, was a school teacher, which provided Kalki with an environment conducive to education and learning. He showed a keen interest in literature from a young age. Kalki attended the National High School in Tiruchi, where he developed a strong foundation in Tamil and English literature.
Involvement in the Indian Independence Movement
Kalki’s early exposure to nationalist ideas and the freedom movement had a profound impact on him. Influenced by Mahatma Gandhi and the Indian National Congress, he joined the Indian independence movement in the 1920s. He became an active participant in the non-cooperation movement and was arrested for his involvement in the Salt Satyagraha.
Journalism Career
Kalki’s passion for writing found an outlet in journalism. In 1923, he joined “Navasakthi,” a Tamil magazine, where he started his career as a writer and journalist. His articles and editorials, written with a nationalist fervor, earned him recognition. He later worked for “Ananda Vikatan,” one of the most popular Tamil magazines, where he contributed extensively under the pen name Kalki.
In 1941, Kalki founded his own magazine, “Kalki,” which became immensely popular for its serialized novels and stories. Through this magazine, he reached a wide audience and established himself as a prominent literary figure.
Literary Contributions
Kalki is best known for his historical novels, which are considered masterpieces of Tamil literature. His notable works include “Parthiban Kanavu,” “Sivagamiyin Sabadham,” and “Ponniyin Selvan.” These novels, set in ancient and medieval India, are meticulously researched and vividly bring history to life.
“Parthiban Kanavu” (Parthiban’s Dream), published in 1942, is a story set in the Pallava dynasty and revolves around the dream of a Chola prince to establish a kingdom.
“Sivagamiyin Sabadham” (Sivagami’s Vow), serialized in “Kalki” magazine from 1944 to 1946, is set in the 7th century during the Pallava dynasty and tells the tale of love, war, and honor. It is acclaimed for its historical accuracy and rich narrative.
“Ponniyin Selvan” (The Son of Ponni), his magnum opus, was serialized between 1950 and 1954. This five-volume novel is set in the Chola dynasty and is considered one of the greatest works in Tamil literature. It intricately weaves history, romance, and intrigue, depicting the life and times of the Chola emperor Rajaraja Chola I.
Apart from historical novels, Kalki also wrote numerous short stories, essays, and travelogues. His short stories often depicted social issues, human emotions, and the complexities of life. His writing style is characterized by its simplicity, wit, and engaging narrative.
Awards and Recognition
Kalki’s contributions to literature and journalism were widely recognized. He received several awards, including the Sahitya Akademi Award for his historical novel “Alai Osai” (The Sound of Waves) in 1956. His works have been translated into many Indian and foreign languages, furthering his reach and influence.
Personal Life
Kalki was married to Rukmani, and the couple had a daughter and a son. Despite his busy literary and political career, Kalki was known for his humility, warmth, and simplicity.
Kalki passed away on December 5, 1954, but his legacy continues to thrive. His works are still widely read and appreciated, and his historical novels, in particular, have inspired a new generation of writers and historians. Adaptations of his novels into films, television series, and stage plays have further cemented his place in Indian cultural history.
Conclusion
Kalki was a multifaceted personality who made significant contributions to Tamil literature, journalism, and the Indian independence movement. His historical novels, characterized by their rich storytelling and meticulous research, continue to be celebrated as classics. Kalki’s legacy as a writer and nationalist endures, making him a towering figure in Indian literary history.
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