CBSE Class 12 English Poem 5 Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers Question Answers (Important) from Flamingo Book

Class 12 English Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers Question Answers – Looking for Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers question answers (NCERT solutions) for CBSE Class 12 English Flamingo Book Poem 5? Look no further! Our comprehensive compilation of important questions will help you brush up on your subject knowledge. Practising Class 12 English question answers can significantly improve your performance in the board exam. Our solutions provide a clear idea of how to write the answers effectively. Improve your chances of scoring high marks by exploring Poem 5: Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers question answers now. The questions listed below are based on the latest CBSE exam pattern, wherein we have given NCERT solutions to the chapter’s extract based questions, short answer questions, and long answer questions

 Also, practising with different kinds of questions can help students learn new ways to solve problems that they may not have seen before. This can ultimately lead to a deeper understanding of the subject matter and better performance on exams. 

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Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers NCERT Solution

 

Q1. How do ‘denizens’ and ‘chivalric’ add to our understanding of the tiger’s attitudes?
Ans.
The word ‘denizens’ means that they are proud of their home, they feel safe there and have a feeling of belonging attached to it.
The word ‘chivalric’ shows that they have a majestic and worthy position like knights.

Q2. Why do you think Aunt Jennifer’s hands are ‘fluttering through her wool’ in the second stanza? Why is she finding the needle so hard to pull?
Ans.
Her hands are fluttering probably because she is scared of her husband who could come anytime and scold her for sitting idle and wasting her time doing embroidery. She finds the needle so hard to pull because her fingers are tired of working endlessly all through her life.

Q3. What is suggested by the image ‘massive weight of Uncle’s wedding band’?
Ans. ‘Massive weight of Uncle’s wedding band’ suggest symbolically, that the bindings and obligations of her marriage are so much that they have put a lot of burden and stress on her.

Q4. Of what or of whom is Aunt Jennifer terrified with in the third stanza?
Ans. She is terrified of her husband.

Q5. What are the ‘ordeals’ Aunt Jennifer is surrounded by, why is it significant that the poet uses the word ‘ringed’? What are the meanings of the word ‘ringed’ in the poem?
Ans
. The ‘ordeals’ are

  • Obeying her husband’s orders.
  • Fear of men.
  • Giving in to his dominance and fulfilling his commands.

‘Ringed’ indicates entrapment. As the ring encircles the finger, similarly, her husband has encircled her in his clutches. Her body and soul are both trapped, struggling for freedom and fearlessness.

Q6. Why do you think Aunt Jennifer created animals that are so different from her own character? What might the poet be suggesting, through this difference?
Ans.

  • I think that aunt Jennifer’s intense desire for freedom and fearlessness came out through her creativity.
  • This is the time when she is with herself, and then, her innermost feelings are expressed, here her medium of expression is the embroidery.
  • Through this difference, it is shown that the lady is not what she is. Her circumstances have made her so but even she has a desire to live life with respect and pride.

Interpret the symbols found in this poem.

  • ‘denizens of a world of green’ means inhabitants of the forest.
  • ‘massive weight of Uncle’s wedding band’ means the burden of marital obligations.
  • ‘Sits heavily upon Aunt’ means has laid a lot of stress on her.
  • ‘ringed with ordeals’ means to get entrapped in hardships and sufferings.

Q7. Do you sympathize with Aunt Jennifer. What is the attitude of the speaker towards Aunt Jennifer?
Ans. Yes, I sympathize with Aunt Jennifer. The speaker is also sympathetic towards her and hates dominating men.

 

Class 12 English Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers Question Answers Poem 5 – Extract Based Questions

Extract-based questions are of the multiple-choice variety, and students must select the correct option for each question by carefully reading the passage.

A. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.

“Aunt Jennifer’s finger fluttering through her wool
Find even the ivory needle hard to pull.
The massive weight of Uncle’s wedding band
Sits heavily upon Aunt Jennifer’s hand.” (CBSE QB, 2021)

 

1. How would you describe Aunt Jennifer based on the above extract?
A) oppressed
B) malnourished
C) aging
D) diseased
Ans. A) oppressed

 2. Uncle’s wedding band sits heavily on Aunt Jennifer’s hand because
A) it is an expensive and heavy ring.
B) She was married against her will.
C) she feels burdened in her marriage.
D) their relationship is lacking in love.
Ans. C) she feels burdened in her marriage.

3. Pick the option that displays the image which correctly corresponds to the type of task Aunt is engaged in.

Aunt is engaged in

 

A) Option (i)
B) Option (ii)
C) Option (iii)
D) Option (iv)
Ans. B) Option (ii)

4. Which of the following is an example of an alliteration?
A) finger fluttering through the wool
B) upon Aunt Jennifer’s hand
C) ivory needle hard to pull
D) massive weight of Uncle’s wedding band
Ans. A) finger fluttering through the wool

 

B. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.

“When Aunt is dead, her terrified hands will lie
Still ringed with ordeals she was mastered by.
The tigers in the panel that she made
Will go on prancing, proud and unafraid.” (CBSE QB, 2021)

1. Aunt Jennifer’s plight is best explained by her hands, they hold both her freedom and the instrument of her imprisonment.
Choose the option that best explains the above statement, as per the extract.
A) Aunt Jennifer’s hands are terrified, but when she is dead, her tigers will roam free.
B) Aunt Jennifer knits her desires, but is overpowered by the wedding ring she wears.
C) Aunt Jennifer’s tigers are proud and unafraid, but she is mastered by ringed ordeals.
D) Aunt Jennifer makes panels of tigers when she has time from her responsibilities.
Ans. B) Aunt Jennifer knits her desires, but is overpowered by the wedding ring she wears. 

2. Which of the following CANNOT be inferred from the given extract?
A) Aunt Jennifer’s tigers will keep her alive in everyone’s memory.
B) Aunt Jennifer feels oppressed and constricted in her marriage.
C) Even in death, Aunt Jennifer cannot escape patriarchal subjugation.
D) Aunt Jennifer’s tigers prance as a lasting symbol of her desires
Ans. A) Aunt Jennifer’s tigers will keep her alive in everyone’s memory. 

3. What makes the tigers “proud and unafraid”?
A) They embody the grandeur and supremacy of animals in the wild.
B) They symbolize authority and are ‘topaz denizens of green’.
C) They represent Aunt’s repressed desires for freedom and power.
D) They are a product of Aunt’s imagination and colonial experience.
Ans. C) They represent Aunt’s repressed desires for freedom and power. 

4. Choose the option that DOES NOT reflect the movement implied by ‘prancing’.
A) bounding
B) frolicking
C) strutting
D) shuffling
Ans. D) shuffling

 

C. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.

Aunt Jennifer’s tigers prance across a screen,
Bright topaz denizens of a world of green
They do not fear the men beneath the tree,
They pace in sleek chivalric certainty (Delhi 2010; Modified)

 

1. How are Aunt Jennifer’s tigers described?
Ans. Aunt Jennifer’s tigers have been described as golden yellow in color. They prance fearlessly across a screen in sleek chivalric certainty.

2. Why are they described as denizens of a world of green?
Ans. They have been called denizens of a world of green because they are the natives of dense green forests.

3. Why are they not afraid of the men?
Ans. They are not afraid of men because they are brave, strong, fearless and full of confidence.

4. What are her tigers symbolic of?
Ans. Her tigers are symbolic of Aunt Jennifer’s desire for freedom. They are also symbols of strength and self-confidence.

 

D. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow.

“When Aunt is dead, her terrified hands will lie.
Still ringed with ordeals she was mastered by.
The tigers in the panel that she made
Will go on prancing, proud and unafraid.” (Delhi 2012,CBSE Sample Paper 2018)

 

1. Who is the aunt mentioned here?
Ans. The aunt mentioned here is Aunt Jennifer, the protagonist of Adrienne Rich’s poem ‘Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers’. She is a woman going through unpleasant experiences in her married life.

2. Why is she “ringed” with ordeals?
Ans. She is ‘ringed’ with ordeals because marriage has brought with it a host of family responsibilities by which she is ‘ringed’ or surrounded. She feels so burdened by her marital constraints that they seem like an ordeal to her.

3. What is the difference between her and the tigers?
Ans. Aunt Jennifer is quite weak and submissive, whereas the tigers are strong, bold and powerful. She is bound by the constraints of her married life, while the tigers are free to move about in the green woods.

4. Why has Aunt Jennifer created the tigers so different from her own character?
Ans. The tigers created by Aunt Jennifer are an expression of her desire to free herself from the constraints of her married life. She wants to be bold and fearless like her tigers.

 

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Class 12 English Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers Short Question Answers (including questions from Previous Years Question Papers)

In this post we are also providing important short answer questions from the poem Keeping Quiet for CBSE Class 12 Boards in the coming session. These questions have been taken from previous years class 12 Board exams and the year is mentioned in the bracket along with the question.

 

Q1. What is suggested by the phrase, ‘massive weight of Uncle’s wedding band?

Ans: Her marriage is described by the wedding band. It is ‘massive’ on her hand because the weight of her marital responsibilities has made her feel subjugated and unable to express herself freely.


Q2. Why do you think Aunt Jennifer created animals that are so different from her own character? What might the poet be suggesting, through this difference?

Ans:  Aunt Jennifer is designing tigers, which represent strength, fearlessness, and confidence. These are the characteristics that Aunt Jennifer lacks. Aunt Jennifer’s suppressed desires to become bold, fearless and free from oppression are represented by these tigers. The poet wishes to imply that these qualities are required for women to fight their oppressors.


Q3. What will happen to Aunt Jennifer’s tigers when she is dead?

Ans: Aunt Jennifer’s tigers will continue to prance around even after her death, as she created them on the tapestry. This means that art outlasts human life. It also demonstrates that her desire for freedom from male dominance will last forever, even after she dies.


Q4. How are Aunt Jennifer’s tigers different from her? (All India 2014, CBSE Sample Ppaer 2019)

Ans:  Aunt Jennifer designed the tigers on the tapestry. They do, however, stand in stark contrast to their creator. Aunt is weak, meek, and submissive, and she is afraid to express her feelings openly, whereas the tigers are strong, fearless, and confident. They are fearless creatures who fear no one, not even men.


Q5. What are the difficulties that Aunt Jennifer faced in her life? (Delhi 2014)

Ans:  Aunt Jennifer faced oppression at the hands of patriarchal society. Her husband had subjugated her, and the wedding band weighed heavily on her hand. Her hands fluttered even when she was carrying something as light as knitting needles and wool.


Q6. How does Aunt Jennifer express her bitterness and anger against male dominance? (Compartment 2014)

Ans:  Aunt Jennifer is too afraid to openly oppose the oppression of which she is a victim. She uses her art to express her resentment and rage at male dominance. On her tapestry, she depicts tigers, which are symbols of bravery, fearlessness, and strength. Her tigers are wild and free of any kind of enslavement.


Q7. How do ‘denizens’ and ‘chivalric’ add to our understanding of the tigers’ attitudes? (All India 2012) 

Ans:  ‘Denizens’ refers to inhabitants of a specific location, while ‘Chivalric’ refers to honor, bravery, and fearlessness. The tigers successfully occupy their territory and are fiercely protective of it. They live on their own terms and have no fear because they consider themselves to be superior in their domain.


Q8. Why do you think Aunt Jennifer’s hands are fluttering through her wool in the second stanza? Why is she finding the needle so hard to pull? OR

How does the poet use the image of ‘fingers fluttering through the wool’ to highlight Aunt Jennifer’s victimisation? (CBSE Sample Paper 2020)

Ans: Her fingers are fluttering, and she is having difficulty pulling the needle because she is weak and afraid. She is traumatized by her marital ordeals and a male-dominated society which has continuously oppressed her and her thoughts and ideas. 


Q9. Why did Aunt Jennifer choose to embroider tigers on the panel?(Delhi 2012, All India 2009)

Ans: Tigers represent power and bravery. Aunt Jennifer is under a lot of pressure. Her marital life has been a source of trauma for her. She has an inner desire to be free of oppression, which she expresses through her art.


Q10. Of what or of whom is Aunt Jennifer terrified with in the third stanza?

Ans:  Aunt Jennifer is terrified of her husband, who rules over her in their marriage. She is a victim of exploitation at the hands of male-dominated society, specifically her own husband.


Q11. How can we say that marriage was a compromise for Aunt Jennifer? Support your response with two justifications.
(CBSE Sample Paper 2022)

Ans. Aunt Jennifer is said to be unable to escape her marriage, despite her needlework. Despite the constraints of her marriage, the image of her stitching tigers into her tapestry can be interpreted as a symbol of her attempts to assert her independence and individuality. This implies that Aunt Jennifer is trapped in a relationship she did not choose, and that her marriage is a trade-off in terms of her freedom and autonomy.Also, the description of Aunt Jennifer’s husband as a “terrible” man who “weighs” upon her also supports the idea that her marriage is a compromise. 


Q12.Adrienne Rich chose to express her silent revolt through her poem, Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers, just as Aunt Jennifer did with her embroidery. Explain.
(CBSE Sample Paper 2021-22)

Ans. Adrienne Rich’s poem criticises the traditional institution of marriage that was prevelant in her times, implying that it oppressed women. Similarly, Aunt Jennifer, who is a victim of an unhappy marriage due to a dominating husband, chooses to embroider fearless, free tigers to express her desire for freedom. Both use their creative outlets to express their dissatisfaction with societal expectations. 


Q13. ‘It is only when we are fearless that we begin to create.’ Does this statement hold true in the case of the poem, Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers? Support your stance with evidence from the text.(CBSE Sample Paper 2022)

Ans. No, this statement does not apply to the poem. Even though Aunt Jennifer was afraid of her husband, as evidenced by her ‘fluttering hands,’ and burdened by her marriage to him, as evidenced by the weight of her wedding band, she channeled her fear into her art.Her fear did not prevent her from creating art.

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Class 12 Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers Long Answer Questions Poem 6

 

Q1. ‘What knitting was to Aunt Jennifer; poetry was for Adrienne Rich’. Do you agree? Comment with reference to the poem ‘Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers’. (CBSE QB, 2021)

Ans:  In a male-dominated society, women are silenced; Aunt Jennifer’s Tiger addresses this topic subtly. The poet has explored the mechanisms of ‘male domination’ and ‘patriarchy’ in society in this poem. Adrienne Rich, a poet from a marginalized community, responds to the dominant nature that shapes mainstream society. Rich saw poetry as a razor-sharp beacon that could enlighten women’s lives and consciousness. The poem is an eye-opener in terms of re-constructing women’s identities. The poet examines women’s positions in a traditional society and makes a strong case for restructuring identity and rewriting norms in order to envision a new world to come.

Hence, as Aunt Jennifer expresses her innate desires through her knitting, Adrienne Rich displays her ideals through poetry. 

 

Q2. Explain the stark difference in the death of Aunt Jennifer and the tigers prancing.

Ans:  The tigers remain constant throughout the poem, only growing stronger as it progresses. Aunt Jennifer, on the other hand, gradually fades away in her death. She is defeated in her death as a result of her unfulfilled desires. She may accept the bond of domination because her fingers are still ringed and she dies surrounded by her life’s difficulties.

The tigers are her cherished world of freedom, prancing in pride, a world she will never be able to experience. It gives us a practical look at the reality that Aunt Jennifer never wins and accepts defeat stoically as she conforms to the society in which she has lived. She bears the weight of the ring, dead or alive, because she has already surrendered or was forced to surrender her freedom by marrying.

Q3. Read the given quote. In your opinion, what silence does the poem ‘Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers’ break?

“Every poem breaks a silence that had to be overcome.” – Adrienne Rich (CBSE QB, 2021)

Ans: The role of women in society and the language men use for social and political gain are inextricably linked. Adrienne Rich’s personal life becomes political, and this short poem, while not overtly political, foreshadows more radical work to come. Aunt Jennifer has suffered for many years and is looking for a positive outlet for her artistic abilities before it’s too late. She hopes that her tigers will outlive her and become a symbol of freedom and independence. Aunt Jennifer is too afraid to openly oppose the oppression of which she is a victim. She uses her art to express her resentment and rage at male dominance. On her tapestry, she depicts tigers, which are symbols of bravery, fearlessness, and strength. Her tigers are wild and free of any kind of enslavement, which presents a stark contrast to her current state. 

Q4. Analyse the symbols and poetic devices employed in the poem.

Ans: Adrienne Rich’s poem effectively conveys the theme by employing a variety of images, symbols, and poetic devices. The tigers represent the spiritual freedom that Aunt Jennifer longs for but only finds in her dreams and art. Aunt Jennifer is a metaphor for women in general, women who are victims of male superiority and domination. Tigers represent the true nature of a woman’s free spirit, which values strength and assertiveness.

The implied comparison of the tigers to the bright topaz denizens contains a metaphor, as tigers are considered to be the inhabitants of the forests, the crafted green world on the panel. In their confidence, tigers are also attributed with the quality of chivalry. The alliteration in ‘fingers fluttering’ evokes the poem’s irony, as the fingers represent Jennifer’s physical frailty. As a result, she has difficulty pulling the ivory needle. The alliteration ‘prancing proud’ represents the tigers’ everlasting strength.

Q5. Would you say that the poem ends on a note of hope? Justify your opinion. (CBSE QB, 2021)

Ans: The prancing, free-spirited tigers will continue indefinitely, which is one redeeming feature of Aunt Jennifer’s  life. This provides a ray of hope for those who believe there is no way out of a relationship. Art, however fragile, can bring a sense of inner peace and instill confidence in any individual. This provides a ray of hope for those who believe there is no way out of a relationship. This is a feminist take on the classic signature tune about art’s ability to outlive human life.

On the other hand, one could also think that the poem concludes on a depressing note, because in the end of the poem also we find that in spite of a desire to liberate herself from the dominance of the husband and Aunt Jennifer was not able to achieve that and even after her death the oppression still continued which is reflected from the line “Her terrified hands lay still ringed by the ordeals she was mastered by”.

Q6. In a predominantly male dominated society, women have always faced oppression from men. What changes can be brought about in society for uplifting the position of women like Aunt Jennifer?

Ans:  The position of women like Aunt Jennifer in society can be improved by implementing the following measures, which are currently lacking in society:

  1. Education, particularly for girls, is still lagging behind, as girls are burdened with domestic duties at a young age and also married at a young age.
  2. Women are not given equal opportunities in life as men, whether in terms of upbringing, education, or employment. Women should be treated equally with men in society.
  3. Women should be given the ability to make their own life decisions. Aunt Jennifer is afraid of her husband because he controls every aspect of her life; she is unable to make decisions on her own. Thus, she expresses her suppressed desires through her knitting.

Q7. Read the given extract from an article published in The Independent: 

“Turn your pain into art”: it’s a phrase most of us have heard before… 

The theory that achieving something great requires suffering dates back to ancient times… 

Pain, however, is less an artistic necessity and more a result of “contagion” – a term used for the spreading of a harmful idea or practice…In the context of the struggling artist, it allows mental illness to fester; to be glamorized and admired; even encouraged in the name of art. 

– Do you think Aunt Jennifer “turned her pain into art”? What kind of “contagion” might her pain be a result of? 

– Evaluate Aunt Jennifer and her artistry in light of the above extract (CBSE QB, 2021)

Ans:  Aunt Jennifer was oppressed by her husband in the poem ‘Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers. She was confined within the four walls of her husband’s home, unable to do as she pleased. Her marital responsibilities added to her stress. Despite her best efforts to overcome her fear, Aunt Jennifer was still traumatized and oppressed by her husband. Her embroidering fearless, prancing tigers could only provide her with a temporary release of her pent-up feelings of liberation.

Aunt Jennifer is submissive and weak, whereas the tigers are strong, bold, and powerful. She is constrained by the constraints of her married life, whereas the tigers are free to roam the green woods. Aunt Jennifer’s tigers are an expression of her desire to be free of the constraints of her married life. She aspires to be fearless and daring like her tigers. Aunt Jennifer uses her art to express her resentment and rage at male dominance. On her tapestry, she depicts tigers, which are unafraid of men and represent bravery, fearlessness, and strength.

Q8. Does Aunt Jennifer get to be an “artist”? Why or why not? Use examples from the poem.

Ans: The poem revolves around Aunt Jennifer’s status as a creator. She can use her embroidery skills to create an entire “green world” within the confines of her hoop. She is not, however, a “artist” in the traditional sense. Adrienne Rich emphasized in her writing that being a female artist is difficult because artistic creativity necessitates complete freedom. Aunt Jennifer, on the other hand, is constrained by her marriage, even in her role as a creator: she finds it difficult to even draw the needle through the fabric. Artistic creation is frequently portrayed as a means of achieving a kind of immortality, because the artist’s reputation lives on through their work.

In the third stanza, Aunt Jennifer’s tigers live on while she dies, Rich appears to allude to this dynamic. Jennifer’s tigers live on in spite of her, rather than because of her art. Jennifer’s lack of freedom, as a result, prevents her from reaping the benefits of being an artist, despite her creative ability.

Q9. Discuss the symbol of the wedding ring. How does Rich use this object to speak about marriage?

Ans: Jennifer’s wedding ring is one of the poem’s most significant objects. Rich uses its physical characteristics to make several metaphorical points. She uses its weight, as a small metal object, for example, to speak to the figurative weight of marriage on Jennifer’s life. Similarly, the shape of the ring alludes to Jennifer being “ringed” by her marriage; encompassed by ordeals in the same way that the ring encompasses her finger. The position of the ring on Jennifer’s hand is also significant. Jennifer’s lack of freedom is represented by the ring. By placing it on her hand, Rich suggests that marriage’s most significant infringement on women’s freedom is the inability to freely use the hands—to make things and act upon the world.

Q10. Imagine that Aunt Jennifer read the poem that Adrienne Rich wrote about her. After much contemplation, she decided to write a letter to her husband expressing her feelings and thoughts. Write the letter as Aunt Jennifer. (CBSE QB, 2021)

Ans: 

12, Davidson County
23 January ‘XX
Dear husband,

I’d like to express how much I adore you. I am confident that you share my sentiments. However, because of the society in which we were raised, I became a target of male chauvinism. I’ve been afraid of you, unknowingly to you. A girl must adjust to her new home immediately after marriage. When she is burdened with rules and regulations in that situation, she loses confidence. The same thing happened to me.
I was afraid to tell you this before, but Adrienne Rich’s poem gave me the courage to tell you the truth. As I approach my deathbed, I want you to know that I have loved and cherished every moment of my life that I have spent with you, but I have been afraid that any of my words or activities will offend you. I hope you take this in good humor.

With love
Jennifer

Q11. ‘Their mother sighed.
Sophie watched her back stoop over the sink and wondered at the incongruity of the delicate bow which fastened her apron strings.’
The prose selection, Going Places includes this telling comment about Sophie’s mother. In Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers, we are told that –

‘The massive weight of Uncle’s wedding band Sits heavily upon Aunt Jennifer’s Hand.’ 

Imagine a conversation between Sophie’s mother and Aunt Jennifer. Create this exchange with reference to the two extracts given above. You may begin the conversation like this … 

Sophie’s mother: Your embroidery is so beautiful. Do you love tigers? (CBSE Sample Paper 2022)

Ans. Sophie’s mother: Your embroidery is so beautiful. Do you love tigers?
Aunt Jennifer: I appreciate it. I do, indeed. They are incredible creatures.
Sophie’s mother: I noticed you have your wedding band on your ring finger.
Aunt Jennifer: I do, indeed. It serves as a reminder of my devotion to my husband. However, it can feel like a burden at times.
Sophie’s mother: I get it. I, too, have times when I feel weighed down by life’s responsibilities. Being a wife and a mother is not easy.
Aunt Jennifer: It’s not just the duties, but also the expectations. Society expects us to be submissive and obedient. To follow certain rules and conventions.
Sophie’s mother: But don’t we all have our own passions and desires? We each have our own goals and dreams.
Aunt Jennifer: We do, indeed. And we must not allow anyone to suffocate them. We must find a way to strike a balance between our responsibilities and our personal liberties. That’s why I like to embroider. It’s my way of reclaiming my independence and expressing my uniqueness.
Sophie’s mother: That’s fantastic. You are a brave and strong woman. You are an inspiration to all of us.

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