Animal Planet by Manohar Shetty
1. About the Author: Manohar Shetty
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Manohar Shetty is an Indian poet writing in English, born in 1953.
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He has published several poetry collections, including Domestic Creatures, Body Language, Living Room, and Creatures Great and Small.
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His poetry often reflects themes of nature, ecology, human cruelty, urban disconnection, and subtle social critique.
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Known for his precise language and dark undertones, Shetty’s poems frequently explore the tension between civilization and the wild, much like in Animal Planet.
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His work has appeared in leading Indian and international journals, and he has also edited poetry anthologies.
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Manohar Shetty currently lives in Goa, India.
2. Detailed Summary: Animal Planet
"Animal Planet" by Manohar Shetty is a powerful ecological and satirical poem that critiques human cruelty toward animals and the destruction of natural habitats. The poem envisions a future where animals, having been displaced, hunted, and mistreated by humans, eventually rise up in revenge.
Stanza-wise Summary:
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Stanza 1:
Snakes are forced out of their homes due to construction and urbanization ("blueprints and bulldozers"). The poet warns that these animals will invade human spaces, not as imitations of pets or circus animals but as wild beings with their own minds. -
Stanza 2:
Tigers, driven out of forests, will enter human areas, even feeding on their cattle. Their claws become utensils (like forks and spoons), ironically pointing to how humans consume animals, and hinting that animals may do the same to humans. -
Stanza 3:
Animals like the snow leopard and civet cat, both exploited for their beauty and scent, are also victims of human desire and greed. These animals, once prized, are now "invited" into the human world but in a painful, tragic context. -
Stanza 4:
Cheetahs, stags, and rhinos are described as trophies or decorative items, hunted for pleasure and profit. The rhino, now hornless, flounders in misery, a symbol of extinction and exploitation. -
Stanza 5:
Other animals like elephants, monkeys, bears, and lions, who are forced into captivity and circus life, are described as waiting. They are undercover, biding their time — a metaphor for inevitable rebellion. -
Final lines:
A chilling prophecy — humans will one day be dominated, even eaten, by these very animals. The poem ends with the reversal of roles: “they’ll make a meal of you.”
Tone and Message:
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Tone: Dark, satirical, warning, prophetic
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Message: If humans continue to exploit and displace animals, nature will strike back. The poem is a metaphor for karma, turning the mirror on human arrogance and brutality.
3. MCQs with Answers:
1. What has driven snakes from their homes according to the poem?
a) Pollution
b) Blueprints and bulldozers
c) Fires
d) Poachers
Answer: b) Blueprints and bulldozers
2. What do the tiger’s claws represent in the poem?
a) Beauty
b) Defense
c) Tools like forks and spoons
d) Toys
Answer: c) Tools like forks and spoons
3. Why is the civet cat mentioned in the poem?
a) For its strength
b) For its speed
c) For its scent
d) For its roar
Answer: c) For its scent
4. What happens to the rhino in the poem?
a) It runs into the city
b) It loses its horn and flounders
c) It becomes a circus animal
d) It eats humans
Answer: b) It loses its horn and flounders
5. What is the poem’s final warning?
a) Humans will save animals
b) Animals will rule the earth
c) Animals will turn against humans and make a meal of them
d) Nature will heal itself peacefully
Answer: c) Animals will turn against humans and make a meal of them
4. Short Answer Type Questions (with slightly longer answers):
Q1. What is the central idea of the poem "Animal Planet"?
Answer:
The central idea of "Animal Planet" is that human exploitation of animals and destruction of their habitats will eventually lead to nature's revenge. The poem warns that animals, once hunted, displaced, or abused, will reclaim their power and strike back, even to the point of turning against humans. It’s a poetic reminder that karma operates in the natural world too, and that cruelty will be repaid.
Q2. How does Manohar Shetty use irony in the poem?
Answer:
Manohar Shetty uses irony by reversing roles between animals and humans. Humans, who cage, hunt, and eat animals, are shown as the future victims — possibly to be eaten themselves. When he says tigers will use their claws as "forks and spoons," or that people will "dance to their tune," it is a bitter irony where the oppressed become the oppressors. This sharp use of irony makes the message more impactful.
Q3. What does the poet mean by “They have minds of their own”?
Answer:
This line refers to the independence and intelligence of wild animals. The poet is stressing that animals are not merely creatures for human entertainment or control. They are sentient beings with instincts and willpower. This challenges the human belief that animals exist only for zoo displays, pets, or labor. It reminds us that wild animals cannot be fully tamed or predicted.
Q4. How are endangered animals portrayed in the poem?
Answer:
Endangered animals like tigers, cheetahs, snow leopards, civet cats, and rhinos are portrayed as victims of human greed and cruelty. Their habitats are destroyed, they are hunted for their fur, scent, horns, and turned into decorative trophies or circus slaves. This portrayal evokes pity and guilt, making readers reflect on the moral cost of their actions and comforts.
Q5. What is the poet’s warning to humanity?
Answer:
The poet warns that continued exploitation of wildlife will lead to a violent backlash from nature. Animals, though silent and caged now, are waiting patiently. One day, they will retaliate and “make a meal” of humans — literally or symbolically. This is a powerful ecological and ethical message: if we disturb the balance of nature, we will face its wrath.
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