Notice the use of a word repeated in lines such as these:

(i) On pads of velvet quiet,

In his quiet rage.

(ii) And stares with his brilliant eyes

At the brilliant stars.

What do you think is the effect of this repetition?

This repetition is a poetic device used by the poet in order to enhance the beauty of the poem. ‘Velvet quiet’ refers to the quiet velvet pads of the tiger, which cannot run or leap. They can only walk around the limited space in the cage. The use of ‘quiet rage’ symbolises the anger and ferocity that is building up inside the tiger as it wants to run out into the forest and attack a deer, but the rage is quiet because it cannot come out in the open as it is in the cage. This double use of ‘quiet’ has brought immense beauty to the poem. Similarly, the use of ‘brilliant’ for the tiger’s eyes as well as the stars also brings out the magnificence of these lines. The tiger has dreams of being free in its ‘brilliant’ eyes. It sees the stars (that have also been described as brilliant) with the same eyes. It stares at the brilliant stars with its brilliant eyes thinking about how beautiful its life could be in the forest. The repetitiveness of these words gives a wonderful effect to the poem.

The repetition of the words heightens the beauty of the poem and forcefully puts forth the plight of the tiger who languishes in captivity. Since he is in the cage, he can not move much. His movement and freedom are restricted. He has pent up anger in his heart because he is forced to live miserably in the cage and not in the forest, which is his natural habitat. He looks at the stars with his shining eyes lamenting his fate. He also seems too long for freedom and for life in the forest to which he is rightfully entitled to. With these repetitive words, the poet has adequately expressed the anger and nostalgic feelings of the tiger.