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The poem Ajamil and the Tigers by Arun Kolatkar is the twelfth poem in the Poetry section of the NCERT Class 11 English Woven Words textbook. This poem narrates the story of Ajamil, a shepherd, and his encounter with a group of tigers, using humour and irony to explore themes of power dynamics, fear, and unexpected coexistence. Kolatkar, in his poem, criticises societal assumptions about conflict and authority, highlighting the possibility of peaceful resolutions. This blog provides easy-to-understand NCERT Class 11 English notes with explanations, meanings, and analysis to help students understand the poem’s themes. You can also download the free PDF for quick revision.
Contents
- 1 Important Word Meanings in Ajamil and the Tigers by Arun Kolatkar
- 2 Line-by-Line Explanation of NCERT English Woven Words Poem 12: Ajamil and the Tigers
- 3 Analysis of the NCERT English Woven Words Poem 12: Ajamil and the Tigers
- 4 Summary of NCERT English Woven Words Poem 12: Ajamil and the Tigers
- 5 Poetic Devices in NCERT English Woven Words Poem 12: Ajamil and the Tigers
- 6 FAQs
Explore Notes of Class 11 English Woven Words
Important Word Meanings in Ajamil and the Tigers by Arun Kolatkar
In the poem Ajamil and the Tigers, specific words and phrases convey the satirical tone, the absurdity of the situation, and the critique of power and pretence. Understanding these terms clarifies the poem’s message and imagery.
| Word / Phrase | Meaning |
| Tiger people | The tigers looked as a group with human-like organisation and motives |
| Starving | Extreme hunger emphasises the tigers’ desperation and justifies their approach |
| Sheep dog | Ajamil’s protective dog, symbolising vigilance and strength |
| Cramps our style | Hinders or restricts behaviour, suggesting the dog’s interference with the tigers’ plans |
| Banquet | A lavish meal, used ironically by the tiger king to mask predatory intentions |
| Black patch on his eye | A sign of injury, humorously depicting the tiger king’s failed attempt |
| Tail in a sling | Another humorous indication of defeat or injury |
| Son of a bitch | A derogatory term for the sheep dog, reflecting the tiger king’s frustration |
| Prisoners of war | The captured tigers, humorously likened to defeated soldiers |
| Daisy chain | A playful image of the tigers strung together, emphasising their defeat |
| Misunderstanding | The tiger king’s excuse to downplay their predatory intent |
| Lamb chops and roast | The meal offered by Ajamil symbolises hospitality and reconciliation |
| Friendship treaty | A formal agreement for peace, used satirically to highlight the absurdity of the resolution |
| Laden with gifts | Carrying gifts, showing Ajamil’s generosity and strategic diplomacy |
| Common bond | Shared satisfaction or mutual benefit, symbolised by the shared pond |
Line-by-Line Explanation of NCERT English Woven Words Poem 12: Ajamil and the Tigers
Here is a line-by-line analysis of the poem Ajamil and the Tigers.
Lines 1–10:
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 poem opens with the tigers, personified as “tiger people,” complaining to their king about their hunger, caused by Ajamil’s new sheep dog, which prevents them from attacking the flock. The exaggerated “15 days and 16 nights” adds a humorous tone, while “cramps our style” suggests the dog’s interference with their predatory nature.
Lines 11–16:
‘That’s shocking,’
said the tiger king.
‘Why didn’t you come to see me before?
Make preparations for a banquet.
I’m gonna teach that sheep dog a lesson he’ll never forget.’
‘Hear hear,’ said the tigers.
The tiger king reacts with mock outrage and plans a “banquet,” a euphemism for attacking the flock, showing his overconfidence. The tigers’ enthusiastic “Hear hear” reinforces their collective bravado.
Lines 17–20:
‘Careful,’ said the queen.
But he was already gone.
Alone
into the darkness before the dawn.
The queen’s caution is ignored as the tiger king ventures out alone, setting a dramatic yet ironic tone with “darkness before the dawn,” hinting at his impending failure.
Lines 21–25:
In an hour he was back,
the good king.
A black patch on his eye.
His tail in a sling.
And said, ‘I’ve got it all planned…’
The tiger king returns injured, humorously depicted with a “black patch” and “tail in a sling,” undermining his authority. His claim of having a plan despite his defeat adds to the satire.
Lines 26–31:
‘…now that I know the lie of the land.
All of us will have to try.
We’ll outnumber the son of a bitch.
And this time there will be no hitch.
Because this time I shall be leading the attack.’
The king’s plan to outnumber the sheep dog reflects his persistent arrogance, with “son of a bitch” showing his frustration and “no hitch” ironically foreshadowing failure.
Lines 32–36:
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.
The sheep dog’s swift action, likened to “lightning,” results in the comical defeat of the tigers, who are captured as “prisoners of war,” emphasising the dog’s dominance.
Lines 37–40:
They never had a chance.
The dog was in 51 places all at once.
He strung them all out in a daisy chain
and flung them in front of his boss in one big heap.
The dog’s omnipresence (“51 places all at once”) and the playful “daisy chain” image highlight the tigers’ humiliating defeat, with “one big heap” underscoring their powerlessness.
Lines 41–47:
‘Nice dog you got there, Ajamil,’
said the tiger king.
Looking a little ill
and spiting out a tooth. / ‘But there’s been a bit of a misunderstanding.
We could’ve wiped out your herd in one clean sweep.
But we were not trying to creep up on your sheep.’
The tiger king, defeated and injured, offers a feeble excuse, claiming a “misunderstanding” to save face, while praising the dog and denying predatory intent, adding to the humour.
Lines 48–52:
‘We feel that means are more important than ends.
We were coming to see you as friends.
And that’s the truth.’
The sheep dog was the type
who had never told a lie in his life.
The tiger king’s claim of peaceful intentions is a blatant lie, contrasted with the dog’s honest nature, highlighting the absurdity of the king’s pretence.
Lines 53–58:
He was built along simpler lines
and he was simply disgusted.
He kept on making frantic signs.
But Ajamil, the good shepherd
refused to meet his eyes
and pretended to believe every single word.
The dog’s disgust contrasts with Ajamil’s diplomatic pretence, as he ignores the dog’s signals and accepts the tiger king’s lies, showcasing his strategic wisdom.
Lines 59–63:
Ajamil cut them loose
and asked them all to stay for dinner.
It was an offer the tigers couldn’t refuse.
And after the lamb chops and the roast,
when Ajamil proposed…
Ajamil’s hospitality, offering “lamb chops and the roast,” humorously disarms the tigers, leading to an unexpected resolution through generosity.
Lines 64–68:
…they sign a long term friendship treaty,
all the tigers roared.
‘We couldn’t agree with you more.’
And swore they would be good friends all their lives
as they put down the forks and the knives.
The “friendship treaty” is a satirical resolution, with the tigers’ enthusiastic agreement and civilised behaviour (“forks and knives”) adding to the absurdity.
Lines 69–72:
Ajamil signed a pact
with the tiger people and sent them back.
Laden with gifts of sheep, leather jackets and balls of wool.
Ajamil wasn’t a fool.
Ajamil’s generosity with gifts reflects his strategic diplomacy, ensuring peace while acknowledging the tigers’ needs, showing his wisdom.
Lines 73–78:
Like all good shepherds he knew
that even tigers have got to eat some time.
A good shepherd sees to it they do.
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.
The closing lines emphasise Ajamil’s understanding of balance, ensuring mutual survival and peace, with the shared pond symbolising harmony through mutual benefit.
Analysis of the NCERT English Woven Words Poem 12: Ajamil and the Tigers
The poem Ajamil and the Tigers by Arun Kolatkar is a satirical allegory that uses the interaction between a shepherd, Ajamil, and a group of tigers to critique power dynamics, fear, and societal assumptions about conflict. Through humour, irony, and vivid imagery, Kolatkar challenges the notion of inevitable hostility between the weak and the powerful, suggesting that diplomacy and mutual understanding can lead to peaceful coexistence.
Theme – Power Dynamics, Satire, and Coexistence
The central theme is the interplay between fear and power, with Ajamil representing the common man and the tigers symbolising authority or danger. The poem satirises the arrogance of power and the assumption of conflict, highlighting the possibility of non-violent resolutions through wisdom and generosity.
Symbolism and Meaning
Here, we have mentioned the symbolism used in this poem, along with the meaning behind that.
| Symbol | Meaning |
| Ajamil | Represents the common individual, wise and diplomatic, despite apparent vulnerability |
| Tigers | Symbolise authority, danger, or societal forces, initially feared but ultimately manageable |
| Sheep dog | Represents vigilance and strength, protecting the vulnerable from threats |
| Friendship treaty | Symbolises diplomatic resolutions, satirising formal agreements in absurd contexts |
| Shared pond | Represents harmony and mutual benefit, achieved through understanding and compromise |
Human Experience
The poem captures the universal experience of confronting fear and navigating power imbalances. It reflects the anxiety of facing a seemingly overwhelming force and the surprising outcomes that can arise from diplomacy, challenging stereotypes about conflict and dominance.
Tone and Mood
The tone and mood of the poem have been given as follows:
- Satirical: The exaggerated defeat of the tigers and their feeble excuses mock assumptions about power, as in “a bit of a misunderstanding.”
- Humorous: The absurd treaty and the tigers’ civilised behaviour create a lighthearted mood, subverting expectations of violence.
- Reflective: The closing lines prompt readers to consider the value of mutual understanding and coexistence.
Also Read: NCERT Notes Class 11 English Woven Words Chapter 7: Glory at Twilight (Free PDF)
Summary of NCERT English Woven Words Poem 12: Ajamil and the Tigers
In Ajamil and the Tigers, Arun Kolatkar presents a satirical narrative about Ajamil, a shepherd, whose flock is threatened by hungry tigers. The tiger king, overconfident, plans to overpower Ajamil’s new sheep dog but is swiftly defeated, returning injured. Undeterred, he leads a second attack with fifty tigers, only for the dog to capture them all. The tiger king lies about their intentions, claiming friendship, and Ajamil, pretending to believe him, offers hospitality and proposes a “friendship treaty.” The tigers accept, and Ajamil sends them back with gifts of sheep, leather jackets, and wool. The poem concludes with Ajamil’s wisdom in ensuring mutual survival, allowing tigers and sheep to coexist peacefully, symbolised by drinking from the same pond. The poem uses humour to critique power dynamics and celebrate diplomacy.
Poetic Devices in NCERT English Woven Words Poem 12: Ajamil and the Tigers
Arun Kolatkar employs various poetic devices to convey the poem’s satirical tone and vivid imagery.
| Device | Example | Effect |
| Imagery | “A black patch on his eye. / His tail in a sling” | Creates a humorous, vivid picture of the tiger king’s defeat |
| Irony | “We were coming to see you as friends” | Subverts expectations by contrasting the tigers’ predatory intent with their excuse |
| Symbolism | “Well-fed tigers and fat sheep drink from the same pond” | Represents harmony through mutual benefit, critiquing conflict |
| Alliteration | “Quick as lightning / the sheep dog was” | Enhances rhythm and emphasises the dog’s swift action |
| Satire | The “friendship treaty” and tigers using “forks and knives” | Mocks formalities and power dynamics with absurd civility |
| Personification | Tigers as “tiger people” who negotiate and sign treaties | Represented tigers to critique human-like authority |
| Hyperbole | “The dog was in 51 places all at once” | Exaggerates the dog’s prowess for humorous effect |
Download more NCERT Solutions of Class 11 English ‘Woven Words’ here!
| Poem 1: The Peacock Solution |
| Poem 2: Let Me Not to the Marriage of True Minds Solution |
| Poem 3: Coming Solution |
| Poem 4: Telephone Conversation Solution |
Explore Notes of Other NCERT Class 11 Subjects
| History | Geography | Political Science | Psychology | Sociology |
FAQs
The main theme is the satirical exploration of power dynamics, fear, and coexistence, questioning assumptions about conflict and highlighting diplomatic resolutions.
The tigers symbolise authority or danger, but their defeat and acceptance of a treaty critique the assumption that power leads to oppression, showing potential for peace.
The treaty represents an absurd yet effective diplomatic resolution, satirising formal agreements and emphasising mutual understanding over conflict.
For NCERT study material, follow the NCERT Notes and Solutions Class 11 English by Leverage Edu now.
