CBSE Class 10 English NCERT Solutions: Mrs. Packletide's Tiger

Reviewed by NCERT Help Editorial Team · Updated on 29 Jul 2026

NCERT Solutions PDF Class 10 PDF

This resource provides detailed NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English, Chapter 2, "Mrs. Packletide's Tiger." It delves into the motivations behind hunting, analyzing why characters like Mrs. Packletide engage in such activities, often driven by a desire for fame, attention, and social competition. The solutions explore the character of Mrs. Packletide, her selfish pursuit of glory, and the satirical tone employed by the author to critique such vanity. It also touches upon the historical context of wildlife awareness and the story's underlying message about vanity and the consequences of seeking fame through questionable means. These solutions are designed to help students understand the nuances of the story, analyze its characters, and prepare effectively for their exams.

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Quick info

Board	CBSE
Class	Class 10
Subject	English
Session	2026
Language	English
Type	NCERT Solutions
Chapter	Chapter 2

Chapter summary

Chapter 2, "Mrs. Packletide's Tiger," focuses on the motivations behind hunting, particularly the pursuit of fame and social status. The NCERT Solutions break down the character of Mrs. Packletide, her competitive spirit fueled by envy of Loona Bimberton, and her ultimately hollow 'achievement.' The solutions also highlight the author's sarcastic tone in critiquing the vanity and superficiality driving such actions, while briefly acknowledging the historical lack of environmental awareness. The core of the chapter lies in understanding character, satire, and the superficiality of seeking fame.

Learning outcomes

Understand the various reasons why people hunt, including social and personal motivations.
Analyze the character of Mrs. Packletide and her motivations for hunting a tiger.
Identify and interpret the author's satirical tone in the story.
Discuss the theme of fame, vanity, and social competition as depicted in the narrative.
Reflect on the historical context of wildlife and environmental awareness.

Topics covered

Paper topics

Motivations for Hunting
Character Analysis: Mrs. Packletide
Satire and Tone
Fame and Vanity
Social Competition
Wildlife and Environment (Historical Context)
Narrative Techniques

Important topics

Mrs. Packletide's motivations
Author's satirical tone
Themes of vanity and fame
The contrast with Loona Bimberton
The actual outcome of the hunt

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Questions and Solutions

Q.1

Why do people hunt? Complete the web chart giving various reasons for the same:

Reasons for Hunting

Solution: People hunt for a variety of reasons, often stemming from a mix of necessity, tradition, and personal motivations. Based on the context provided:

To protect themselves from wild animals that pose a threat.
As a sport or game, which was historically considered an act of bravery.
To earn fame and social recognition, as seen with characters seeking prestige.
For commercial purposes, such as poaching for valuable animal skins (like tiger skin) or other animal products.
For interior decoration, where trophies like tiger skins and heads were considered valuable possessions.

Q.2

Read these lines and guess the answers to the questions given below:

"It was Mrs. Packletide's pleasure and intention that she should shoot a tiger .... The compelling motive ....was the fact that Loona Bimberton had recently ..... personally procured tiger-skin and a heavy harvest of Press photographs could successfully counter that sort of thing."

Why did Mrs. Packletide want to kill a tiger?
What does it tell you about her?
What is the tone of the story writer?
Do you think she was successful in her mission?
What do you think the story is all about?

Solution:

Mrs. Packletide wanted to kill a tiger primarily because her acquaintance, Loona Bimberton, had recently gained significant attention and prestige from procuring a tiger skin and associated press photographs. Mrs. Packletide felt compelled to achieve something even more spectacular to outshine Loona and remain in the limelight herself.
This desire reveals that Mrs. Packletide is highly competitive, vain, and driven by a need for public attention and social status. She is motivated by envy and a desire to be superior to others, rather than by any genuine need or noble cause.
The tone of the story writer is extremely sarcastic and mocking. The narrator uses humor and irony to critique Mrs. Packletide's vanity, her superficial motivations, and the absurdity of her quest for fame.
Mrs. Packletide was not truly successful in her mission of killing a tiger. While she managed to fire a shot and claim a kill, the narrative implies she actually scared the tiger away and ended up shooting a goat. Her 'success' was based on deception and public manipulation.
The story is essentially about the vanity of certain individuals, particularly the wealthy and socially prominent, who seek fame and attention through superficial achievements. It satirizes the pursuit of glory and the often hollow nature of such accomplishments, especially when achieved through deceit and at the expense of genuine values.

Q.3

This story was written at a time when there was very little awareness about the need to protect the environment and the wildlife. Now read the story.

Solution: This question prompts reflection on the historical context of the story. When "Mrs. Packletide's Tiger" was written, attitudes towards wildlife and hunting were significantly different. There was less understanding of conservation and the ethical implications of hunting endangered animals for sport or status. The story, by depicting Mrs. Packletide's casual hunt for fame, implicitly highlights this past lack of awareness. Modern readers, with a greater understanding of environmental protection and wildlife conservation, might view her actions with disapproval, recognizing the need to protect animals rather than hunt them for vanity.

Q.4

Answer the following questions in your own words:

Why did Mrs. Packletide wish to kill a tiger?

Solution: Mrs. Packletide wished to kill a tiger not out of any necessity or particular skill, but as a means to achieve fame and social superiority. She had heard about the prestige and attention her acquaintance, Loona Bimberton, had gained after acquiring a tiger skin and numerous press photographs. Driven by envy and a strong desire to outshine Loona, Mrs. Packletide decided that hunting and killing a tiger herself would be the perfect way to gain similar, if not greater, public acclaim and recognition.

Common mistakes

Confusing the actual tiger hunt with the goat incident.
Overlooking the satirical elements and taking the narrative at face value.
Failing to connect Mrs. Packletide's actions to her underlying motivations of jealousy and vanity.
Not considering the historical context of wildlife protection when analyzing the story.

Revision tips

Focus on Mrs. Packletide's motivations: Why did she *really* want to kill a tiger?
Pay close attention to the author's language and tone – where is the satire evident?
Compare Mrs. Packletide's actions with Loona Bimberton's; what does this rivalry reveal?
Consider the ending: Was Mrs. Packletide truly successful? Why or why not?
Think about the broader themes: vanity, fame, and the changing attitudes towards wildlife.

Practice MCQs

Q1. What was the primary reason Mrs. Packletide decided to hunt a tiger?

Q2. What does Mrs. Packletide's decision to hunt reveal about her character?

Q3. What is the author's tone throughout the story, particularly regarding Mrs. Packletide's actions?

Q4. In the end, what animal did Mrs. Packletide actually kill?

Q5. The story suggests that hunting was sometimes considered an act of:

Frequently asked questions

What is the main theme of Chapter 2, 'Mrs. Packletide's Tiger'?

The main theme revolves around the vanity and selfish pursuit of fame, highlighting how individuals might resort to deception to gain social status and attention, often with a satirical commentary on such behavior.

Why did Mrs. Packletide want to kill a tiger?

Mrs. Packletide wanted to kill a tiger primarily out of jealousy and a desire to gain more fame and press coverage than her acquaintance, Loona Bimberton, who had recently acquired a tiger skin.

What is the significance of the tiger skin and press photographs mentioned in the story?

These represent symbols of status, achievement, and public recognition. Mrs. Packletide sought them to enhance her social standing and outshine Loona Bimberton.

What does the author's tone suggest about Mrs. Packletide's actions?

The author's tone is highly sarcastic, mocking Mrs. Packletide's vanity, her superficial motivations, and the ultimately hollow nature of her 'accomplishment'.

How does the story reflect on the historical context of wildlife protection?

The story was written when awareness about protecting wildlife was minimal. It implicitly critiques the casual attitude towards hunting for sport or fame, contrasting with modern conservation values.

Was Mrs. Packletide successful in her mission?

Technically, no. While she claimed to have shot a tiger, she actually shot a goat. Her success was only in deceiving the public and gaining the desired attention, not in achieving the actual feat.

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