Ajamil and the Tigers Extract Questions | English Class 11

Extract Questions

Passage with linked answers

Extract

Extract 1

Reading Set

Extract 1

Passage

The tiger people went to their king / and said, 'We're starving. / We've had nothing to eat, / not a bite, / for 15 days and 16 nights. / Ajamil has got / a new sheep dog. / He cramps our style / and won't let us get within a mile / of meat.'

The tigers were unable to hunt because Ajamil's new sheepdog ________.

cramps their style and prevents them from getting within a mile of the sheep

The tigers had gone without food for a period of ________.

fifteen days and sixteen nights according to their complaint to the king

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Extract Questions

Passage with linked answers

Extract

Extract 2

Reading Set

Extract 2

Passage

Quick as lightning / the sheep dog was. / He took them all in as prisoners of war, / the 50 tigers and the tiger king, / before they could get their paws / on a single sheep. / They never had a chance. / The dog was in 51 places all at once.

The sheepdog was so fast that the poet compares him to ________.

lightning to emphasize his incredible speed and efficiency in protecting the flock

The total number of tigers captured by the dog, including the king, was ________.

fifty-one, which is why the dog appeared to be in fifty-one places at once

What is the significance of the dog being in '51 places all at once'?

This hyperbole emphasizes the dog's extreme vigilance and dedication. He is a perfect protector who leaves no room for the enemy to attack. It highlights that the tigers' failure was not due to bad luck but due to the dog's superiority.

Why are the tigers called 'prisoners of war'?

Using military terminology like 'prisoners of war' elevates the animal conflict to a political level. It suggests that this is not just a natural hunt but a strategic battle, framing the characters as political actors in a larger societal drama.

What does this extract tell us about the initial power of the dog?

The extract shows that the dog possesses absolute power and capability at the start. He successfully defends the weak without any loss, establishing him as the hero of the sheep. His efficiency makes the shepherd's later betrayal of his work more tragic.

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Extract Questions

Passage with linked answers

Extract

Extract 3

Reading Set

Extract 3

Passage

Ajamil wasn't a fool. / Like all good shepherds he was a practical man / that's why he released the tigers / and signed a long term friendship treaty with them. / He even gave them a warm send off. / He pretended to believe every single word / of what the tiger king said. / And seemed to be taken in by all the lies.

Ajamil is described as a 'practical man' because he chose to ________ the tigers.

release them and sign a friendship treaty instead of keeping them as prisoners

During the negotiation, Ajamil only ________ to believe the lies told by the Tiger King.

pretended, showing that he was fully aware of the Tiger King's deceptive nature

What does being a 'practical man' mean in the context of this poem?

In this context, being practical means choosing the easiest path for oneself. Ajamil avoids the trouble of guarding prisoners or fighting future wars by making a deal. It suggests a lack of moral courage in favor of personal comfort and safety.

Why did Ajamil give the tigers a 'warm send off'?

The 'warm send off' is part of the political theater. Ajamil acts like a gracious host to maintain the illusion of friendship. It shows that he is just as manipulative as the Tiger King, using social niceties to cover up a corrupt deal.

What is the poet's attitude towards Ajamil's 'wisdom'?

The poet is highly ironic and critical. By calling Ajamil 'not a fool' while he signs a deal with killers, the poet suggests that this kind of 'wisdom' is actually a form of moral bankruptcy that puts the innocent at great risk.

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Extract Questions

Passage with linked answers

Extract

Extract 4

Reading Set

Extract 4

Passage

He is free to play a flute all day / as well fed tigers and fat sheep / drink from the same pond / with a full stomach / for a common bond.

While the sheep and tigers are at the pond, Ajamil is free to ________.

play his flute all day, enjoying a life of leisure and personal peace

The tigers are described as being 'well fed' because they have been ________.

eating the sheep as part of the secret arrangement made with the shepherd

What does the image of 'playing a flute' represent for Ajamil?

The flute represents Ajamil’s detachment and selfish peace. While the world around him is built on a cycle of slaughter and corruption, he remains unbothered. It symbolizes how leaders enjoy the perks of power while ignoring the suffering of others.

How is the phrase 'fat sheep' significant in the final lines?

The phrase 'fat sheep' is grimly ironic. The sheep are fat not because they are cared for, but because they are being prepared for slaughter. It emphasizes their role as mere commodities in the deal between the tigers and Ajamil.

What final message does the poet convey through this 'common bond'?

The final message is that political 'harmony' is often a facade for exploitation. The 'bond' benefits the strong at the cost of the weak. It warns readers to be wary of peace that is achieved through the sacrifice of justice.

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Chapter sections

Chapter ajamil-and-the-tigers: Ajamil and the Tigers | Extract Questions

Extract 1

The tigers were unable to hunt because Ajamil's new sheepdog ________.

The tigers had gone without food for a period of ________.

What does the phrase 'cramps our style' suggest about the tigers' nature?

How does this extract establish the conflict of the poem?

Why do the tigers refer to the sheep simply as 'meat'?

Extract 2

The sheepdog was so fast that the poet compares him to ________.

The total number of tigers captured by the dog, including the king, was ________.

What is the significance of the dog being in '51 places all at once'?

Why are the tigers called 'prisoners of war'?

What does this extract tell us about the initial power of the dog?

Extract 3

Ajamil is described as a 'practical man' because he chose to ________ the tigers.

During the negotiation, Ajamil only ________ to believe the lies told by the Tiger King.

What does being a 'practical man' mean in the context of this poem?

Why did Ajamil give the tigers a 'warm send off'?

What is the poet's attitude towards Ajamil's 'wisdom'?

Extract 4

While the sheep and tigers are at the pond, Ajamil is free to ________.

The tigers are described as being 'well fed' because they have been ________.

What does the image of 'playing a flute' represent for Ajamil?

How is the phrase 'fat sheep' significant in the final lines?

What final message does the poet convey through this 'common bond'?