The Tiger King Class 12 Notes: CBSE English Vistas Chapter 2

About the Author

Kalki Krishnamurthy is the author of "The Tiger King," a chapter in Class 12 English. He was a famous Indian writer and journalist, known for his engaging storytelling and historical novels. His works often combined humour, irony, and social commentary, making him a beloved author in Tamil literature. Kalki's writing style is easy to understand, and he skilfully brings characters and settings to life, making his stories enjoyable and interesting.

About the Story/ Synopsis of the Story

"The Tiger King" is about the Maharaja of Pratibandapuram, who learns from an astrologer that he will be killed by the 100th tiger. Determined to avoid this fate, he begins a mission to kill 100 tigers. He becomes obsessed with hunting and ignores his duties as king. He manages to kill 99 tigers but struggles to find the 100th. Eventually, he kills what he believes to be the 100th tiger, but it turns out the tiger wasn’t actually dead. Ironically, the king dies from an infection caused by a sliver from a wooden tiger toy. The story highlights themes of irony, fate, and the futility of trying to escape destiny.

Theme of the story “The Tiger King”

“The Tiger King” explores the theme of cruelty and ignorance by leaders towards their kingdom and people. The author uses political satire to reveal the true nature of politicians and those in power. It happened in the fictional land of Pratibandapuram, it tells an interesting story that highlights the actions of ruthless rulers.

Character Sketches:

Tiger King: The Tiger King was rude, arrogant, selfish, and irresponsible. He treated his servants badly, and they were afraid of him. His obsession with hunting tigers made him neglect his duties as a ruler. Instead of caring for his people, he focused only on killing tigers. He was moody and once even raised taxes on his people out of frustration and anxiety related to his tiger hunt. 

Chapter 2 The Tiger King Summary

• The story is about the king of Pratibandapuram, known as the Tiger King. It tells how the Tiger King met his fate. At his birth, an astrologer predicted, "The prince was born in the hour of the Bull. The Bull and the Tiger are enemies, so death will come from the Tiger."

• At the age of 20, he took charge of his kingdom. Remembering the astrologer's prediction, he began killing tigers, saying it was self-defence.

• The astrologer told him he would be killed by the 100th tiger. Despite the warning, the Maharaja set out to kill exactly 100 tigers. When a British officer wanted to hunt tigers in his kingdom, the Maharaja sent diamond rings to his wife to persuade the officer not to hunt, and it succeeded.

• As tiger numbers in his kingdom decreased, he married a woman from a state with many tigers. He killed 99 tigers, but his father-in-law's state also ran out of tigers.

• Unable to locate the tiger, he warned to increase taxes and dismiss his chief officer unless the tiger was found. The chief officer then fetched a tiger from Madras.

• The Maharaja shot it, thinking it was the 100th tiger. However, the tiger only fainted. Fearing their master's wrath, the servants killed the tiger and paraded its body ceremoniously.

• Later, on his son's third birthday, the Maharaja bought a wooden tiger. While playing with it, a sliver pierced his hand, causing an infection. Despite consulting doctors, the infection worsened, and the Tiger King died, fulfilling the astrologer's prophecy about the 100th tiger.

Important Points of English Class 12 Chapter 2 The Tiger King

• The Tiger King by Kalki Krishnamurthy is all about a story of a fictional king named Maharaja of Pratibandapuram.

• At the king's birth, an astrologer said that he would die from a tiger, establishing the idea of this story.

• The king became cruel and started killing tigers, on killing 100 tigers to reject the prediction said by astrologer by neglecting his duties.

• Despite his efforts, he dies from a small wound caused by a wooden tiger, fulfilling the prophecy.

• Maharaja's transformation from a determined hunter to a victim of fate reveals deeper themes.

• Tigers symbolise both power and vulnerability, mirroring the king's journey and downfall.

Importance of English Chapter 2 The Tiger King Class 12 Notes

• Revision notes provide a brief summary of the chapter, saving time during revision by highlighting the main points.

• They highlight key themes and concepts, making it easier to understand and remember the importance of the chapter.

• It explores themes such as fate, ambition, irony, and the consequences of obsession, offering insights into human behaviour and moral problems.

• It provides a glimpse into historical and cultural contexts, exploring how societal beliefs and superstitions influence characters.

• The Tiger King Summary helps students to quickly review the important points before exams, ensuring students are well-prepared.

• The Tiger King Class 12 Notes PDF covers the entire syllabus, ensuring that every topic is included and that the chapter is fully understood.

Tips for Learning the Class 12 English Chapter 2 The Tiger King

• Explore themes like fate, ambition, and irony to understand their significance in the story.

• By examining character development and the complexities of human nature, students can improve their empathy and critical thinking.

• It encourages students to think about what happens when people are too ambitious and how fate can affect their lives, leading to deeper conversations about life and choices.

• Think about how the story’s themes apply to real-life situations to make it more relatable and memorable.

Conclusion

Vedantu’s Class 12 English Chapter 2 "The Tiger King" is a story that explores what happens when people are too ambitious and how fate affects what happens next. It shows how obsession can blind even the most powerful, and how destiny cannot be avoided despite one's efforts. The story of Maharaja of Pratibandapuram serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of arrogance and the irony of human desires. It prompts readers to reflect on the complexities of human nature and the unpredictability of life's outcomes. "The Tiger King" leaves us with the lesson that, no matter how powerful one may be, fate and destiny play an important role in shaping our lives.

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