# Tiger and Elephant explained — Poetry

> Chapter companion for Poetry by James McIntyre.

## What happens

A narrative poem describing a confrontation between a tiger and a herd of elephants in the jungle, where the mother elephant protects her baby and the herd leader defeats the tiger, concluding with praise for the noble defense of the young.

## Themes in this chapter

### Nature and the Environment

The poem depicts a vivid scene of wildlife in the jungle, focusing on the behaviors of tigers and elephants in their natural habitat.

### Moral Lessons and Domestic Virtue

The story concludes with a moral praising the noble fight of beasts to protect their young, emphasizing virtue and familial duty.

## Key lines

> On Ganges banks roams the tiger, And lion rules by the Niger

The tiger is found along the Ganges riverbanks, while the lion dominates the Niger region.

_Establishes the geographical settings of the animals._

> But mother saw fierce forest ranger, And she gave a cry of danger.

The mother elephant spotted the dangerous tiger and alerted the herd with a warning call.

_Highlights the mother's protective instinct._

> So now once more must praise be sung, To beasts who nobly fight for young

We should again praise animals that bravely defend their offspring.

_Moral of the poem, celebrating parental courage._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_12_se/chapters/tiger-and-elephant
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_12_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_12_se/chapters