When Do Tigers Attack is an adapted version of a West African folktale, Why Tigers Never Attack Unless They Are Provoked, by William H. Barker
Summary
It is the story of an unusual friendship between a man and a tiger and their shared loyalty. Once while hunting in the forest, a man met a tiger. At first, they were afraid of each other. But after spending some time together and conversing, they become friends. However, they decided to spend some days with each other to get to know each other more.
Friendship and Loyalty
First the man went to the tigers’ den and lived with the tigers’ family. The Tiger family’s grand reception of him made him feel like royalty. Next, it was the Tiger’s turn. But the tiger was uneasy and asked the man whether his family and friends would welcome him. The man reassured the tiger that no one will dare to harm the tiger and his family. The tiger spends a few days in comfort at the man’s hut with his cubs. The young tigers developed a deep bond with the man’s child.
Death and Betrayal
A few months later the man’s father died. On hearing, the tiger immediately set out with his cubs to meet the man and console him for his loss. He also brought a large sum of money to gift the man. However, while returning from the man’s house, the man’s human friends ambushed the tiger. But the tiger somehow managed to escape to the forest unhurt. The tiger felt betrayed by the man, but he was not sure whether his friend had truly tried to kill him or not. The tiger pretended to be dead and lay there where they first met and asked his cubs to observe the man’s action carefully to determine if he was guilty or not.
Revelation and a Promise
When the man found the tiger lying still as if dead, he was overcome with sorrow, and he cried and mourned for his dear friend. The tiger became convinced that his friend had not betrayed him. The tiger then rose up from his prostrate state and assured the astonished man that he was indeed alive and was not harmed in any way. He then explained why he had pretended to be the man. The tiger told him to return home and promised that he would never harm any human being unless provoked.
Answer these questions from the story “When Do Tigers Attack“
1. How did the man and the tiger become friends?
Once while hunting in the forest, the man met a tiger. At first they were afraid of each other. But after talking to each other for a while, they became friends.
2. Why did the tiger invite the man to spend two weeks with him at his home in the story When Do Tigers Attack?
How did the tiger treat his friend during the stay?
The tiger offered to host the man for two weeks with him at his home so that they could get to know each other better. The man received royal treatment at the tiger’s home.
3. ‘Is it safe to come with you? I am afraid that your friends may not like me and could try to kill me.’ (When Do Tigers Attack)
a) Who said these words? Where did the speaker have to go?
The tiger said these words.
The speaker was invited to go to his friend’s house.
b) Why was the speaker doubtful about going with the man?
The tiger was fearful that the man’s friends would not like him and would try to kill him.
4. How do you know that the tiger trusted his friend completely in the story “When Do Tigers Attack“?
The tiger accepted the man’s invitation and accompanied him to his house. He also brought along his cub. This act displays his undeniable trust in his friend.
5. Why did the man’s friends follow the tiger? How did they try to harm him?
The man’s friend wanted to hunt and kill the tiger. They followed him to the forest and tried to shoot him down with arrows.
6. What did the tiger do to find out if his friend had betrayed him?
In order to determine whether his human friend had betrayed him or not, the tiger pretended to be dead and ordered his cub to closely observe the man’s behaviour.
7. ‘Go home, my friend. I will never come to meet you in your home. I will stay in the forest and promise to never harm you unless man provokes me.’
a) Who is the speaker, and who is his friend?
The speaker is the tiger, and the one he is speaking to is the man.
b) Why would the speaker never visit his friend again?
The man’s friends tried to kill him. The tiger could never feel safe in the man’s house. That’s why he said that he would never visit him again.
