The first stanza serves to paint an optimistic, colorful picture of the tigers Aunt Jennifer sews as "Bright topaz denizens of a world of green" (2), confident and fearless, "They pace in sleek chivalric certainty" (4). ... As if the narrator's actions are not shocking enough, he nonchalantly continues telling his horrific tale: "And I untightened next the tress/About her neck; her cheek once more/Blushed bright beneath my burning kiss" (46-48), proudly recalling kissing her corpse and expresses his belief that by killing Porphyria, he had granted "her ...

• Word Count: 1245
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: Undergraduate