RAVILLA KRA VIDYALAYA

KOVILPATTI

Class: X Department: ENGLISH 2024-2025

Question Topic: The Trees Notes

Bank

Introduction
This poem presents a conflict between men and nature. The poetess Adrienne Rich
suggests here that the trees and plants used in the interior decoration in cities are
as imprisoned. They need freedom. These trees want to move out to the forest
where trees are decreasing day by day due to deforestation. The poetess says that
everything has a deep desire for freedom. It is necessary for growth and well-being.
Summary
In the first stanza, the poetess says that the forest is the actual home of trees. So,
all the trees are moving into the forest, which was empty for a long time. Here,
trees are used as a metaphor by the poetess to show how drastically humans have
destroyed the forests. They have cut down the trees to fulfil their needs and have
confined these trees to the walls of their houses. But now, these trees have started
their movement and are moving towards the forest. Since the forest was empty, no
birds can sit on the branches of trees, no insects can hide in the trees and the
sunlight can never disappear under the shadow of the trees. However, now that the
trees have started moving, the empty forest will be filled by the trees by the next
morning.

The second stanza explains the effort put by trees to free themselves from the
boundaries of humans’ houses. The poetess says that the roots of the trees work all
night to separate themselves from the cracks of the veranda floor. The leaves of the
tree try to put pressure on the glass so that they can break the glass ceiling. The
small stems of the tree have become hard due to the continuous effort to free
themselves. The long branches of the tree have shrunken because of the less space
available for them to expand under the roof. Trees move slowly from home and
look like newly discharged patients from the hospital. They are a little confused
while moving to the clinic door as they are not able to believe that they are coming
back to their actual home in the forest.
In the third stanza, the poetess says that she sits inside the home in the veranda
and keeps the doors open. She writes long letters in which she hardly mentions the
departure of trees to their empty forest. It’s night time and the moon is shining in
the sky. The poetess can smell the odour of leaves and lichen coming to her. The
smell of trees reaches her in a similar way as a voice reaches a room. In this stanza,
the poetess listens to the whisper of the trees leaving the house. The trees reach
the empty forest the next day and the house will become silent. Now, the poetess
can hear the sound of glass breaking. As the glass breaks, the trees move in a hurry
due to which they fall on each other. The trees feel that the wind is blowing faster
as it wants to meet them soon. The trees are so tall that they break the moon into
pieces like a mirror. Now, the moon looks like a crown on the head of the oak trees.

POETIC DEVICES
1. RHYME SCHEME: No rhyme scheme. It is written in free verse.
2. PERSONIFICATION - The trees inside are moving out into the forest no sun bury
its feet in shadow small twigs stiff with exertion The trees are stumbling forward
Winds rush to meet them
3. ALLITERATION - The repetition of the letter - L in "long letters." F in "forest from."
S in "sky still." L in "leaves and lichens."
4. SIMILE - like newly discharged patients still reaches like a voice into the rooms
the moon is broken like a mirror,
5. ENJAMBMENT - The sentence is being continued to the next line without a break
– (the forest that was...trees by morning).
6. ANAPHORA - It is the repetition of a word at the start of two or more consecutive
lines - (no insect hide no sun bury its feet in shadow).
7. IMAGERY – trees inside are moving out into the forest small twigs stiff with
exertion Night is fresh, Smell of leaves and lichen Head is full of whispers.
Q.1 Read the following extract carefully and answer the questions that follow.
“The trees inside are moving out into the forest, the forest that was empty all these
days where no bird could sit no insect hide no sun bury its feet in shadow the forest
that was empty all these nights will be full of trees by morning”.
(a) What does the poet mean by empty forest? Why is it empty?
(b) ‘No sun bury its feet in the shadow’, explain this line.
(c) Which word in the stanza means “unoccupied”?
(d) How will the empty forest be full of trees by morning?
Answers:
(a) Empty forest means forest with no trees and it is so because humans have
destroyed the forests for building cities and other uses.
(b) Since the forests were empty, sunlight could reach the grounds directly and
could ever hide under the shadows of the trees.
(c) The word is ‘Empty’.
(d) The poet imagines that the trees are moving to the empty forest to settle there
forever. This will enable the forest to be full of trees.

2. All night the roots work to disengage themselves from the cracks in the veranda
floor. The leaves strain toward the glass small twigs stiff with exertion long-cramped
boughs shuffling under the roof like newly discharged patients half-dazed, moving
to the clinic doors
(a) Why do the roots work all night?
(b) Why do the twigs get stiff?
(c) Which word mean “to get free” in the stanza?
(d) Which poetic device has been used in “like newly discharged patients” of the
poem?
Answers:
(a) The roots work all night so that they can free themselves from the walls put
around them by humans.
(b) The twigs get stiff due to the pressure they apply on the glasses. (c) The word is
‘Disengage’.
(d) ‘Simile’ has been used here using ‘like’ for comparison.

3. My head is full of whispers which tomorrow will be silent. Listen. The glass is
breaking. The trees are stumbling forward into the night. Winds rush to meet them.
The moon is broken like a mirror, its pieces flash now in the crown of the tallest
oak.
(a) Why would the whispers be silent tomorrow?
(b) Why are the trees stumbling?
(c) Which word in the stanza means the same as ‘Quiet’?
(d) Which poetic device has been used in the sixth line of the stanza?
Answers:
(a) The whispers will be silent because the trees will move out
(b) The trees are stumbling because they hurry to move outside after breaking the
glass.
(c) The word is ‘Silent’.
(d) Simile has been used using ‘like’ for comparison

Q.2 Answer the following questions in 30-40 words.

1. Where are the trees at present? What do their roots, and leaves do? The trees
are in the house.
Ans-The roots try to free themselves from the cracks of the veranda floor, and the
leaves make efforts to move towards the glass perhaps in search of light. The small
branches become stiff as they try to pull themselves towards the light.
2. Why is the description of the moon different in the beginning and at the end of
the third stanza?
Ans- At the beginning of the third stanza, the poet says that one can see the whole
moon shining in the open sky but in the end, the moon seems to be broken like a
mirror and its piece’s shine in the crown of the tallest oak tree. The change is
caused by the shifting of the trees outside.
3. How does the poetess describe the night? How does she feel?
Ans- It is night time. The night is fresh. In the open sky, the full moon is shining. The
poetess feels the smell of leaves and lichen reaching inside the room. Her head is
full of whispers. But she thinks that the next day these whispers will be silent.
4. Why are the trees described in the first stanza not useful for birds or insects?
Ans-The trees described in the first stanza are either decorative plants kept inside a
house, or they are shown only in a painting or picture. Therefore, they are not
useful for birds or insects. Birds cannot sit on their branches. Insects cannot hide in
them.
5. Why is the poetess hopeful that the empty forest will be full of trees by the
morning?
Ans-The poetess is quite optimistic. The natural barriers to contain and subdue
nature created by man will be broken. The trees which have been deprived of their
natural habitat will struggle to free themselves from the clutches of man.
6. Justify the revolt of the trees and state two values which the man should
possess to stop the revolt
Ans- The trees inside the house get suffocated as they grow. They try to free
themselves from the cracks of the veranda floor and the leaves stretch out as if to
move towards the glass. They are justified in their revolt. Men should learn the
importance of trees.
7. How does the poet describe the night? How does she feel?
Ans- It is night time. The night is fresh. In the open sky, the full moon is shining. The
poet feels the smell of leaves and lichen reaching inside the room. Her head is full
of whispers. But she thinks that the next day these whispers will be silent.
8. What happens to the roots and leaves of these trees at night?
Ans-The roots of these trees are engaged into the cracks of the veranda floor. At
night, these roots try to free themselves from the cracks. The leaves try to move
towards the glass. Twigs become harden and the boughs try to expand under the
roof.
9. How does the poet describe the growth of the trees inside the house?
Ans- These trees grow in pots and pans. So their roots feel cramped. These roots try
to free themselves from the cracks of the veranda floor. The leaves need light. So
they move towards the glass. The twigs are stiff and the boughs are like the newly
discharged patients coming out of clinic doors.
10. Why does the poet use the metaphor of newly discharged patients?
Ans-A patient feels depressed in a hospital. As soon as he recovers, he is eager to
leave the hospital. He rushes towards the clinic doors. In the same way, the plants
in the pots feel suffocated. They are deprived of adequate light. So they stretch
themselves towards the glass door, in the hope offinding the light.

Q.3 Answer the following questions in 100-120 words.

1. The poem ‘The Trees’ present a conflict between man and nature. Describe the
struggle of the trees and their victorious march to their natural habitat—the
forest.
Ans- The poem ‘The Trees’ is based on the universal and age-long theme — the
conflict between man and nature. Nature has endowed in numerous blessings on
man. However, the greed, arrogance and foolishness of man have constantly tested
the patience of otherwise peaceful nature. When nature can’t bear any more, it
revolts and causes havoc on man in the form of storms, droughts and floods. Man’s
greed leads to deforestation. Forests without frees have become a curse for birds,
insects and even for the sun. This disaster can’t be redeemed. Any attempt to
subdue and control nature will end in failure. Uprooting trees from their original
habitat, the forests and confining them to artificial glass houses will end in failure.
The trees rise against the onslaughts of men and wage a long and hard struggle to
liberate themselves from the bondage of man. Ultimately, they are victorious. They
return to their original home where they should be. Nature asserts itself and
repulses man’s attempt to exploit, subdue and tame it outside to the forest.
2. Conflict between human and nature is always there. Nature is also rebelling
against civilization and becoming destructive. Explain.
OR
A conflict between man and nature is going on, in this civilization pursuit, men are
disregarding the natural growth of plants and trees. In total confinement, nature
also rebels against civilization and becomes destructive. Elaborate.
Ans- Man has been destroying nature due to personal and material pursuits. He is
endlessly playing havoc with nature. He is trying to harness wind, solar energy and
flora. In this pursuit man has forgotten that excessive destruction can carry us to
any situation. Man is cutting trees and destroying the natural habitat. This is causing
global warming with overall rise in temperature. If these practices go unchecked,
we might soon be drowned due to melting of ice from polar caps. Man should wake
up and save the planet earth from destructive forces of nature.

3. The trees in the poem stretch out their branches, break remove common
barriers and struggle hard even out in the open in their natural environment.
Analyse the efforts one puts into breaking sway captivity and striving for freedom.
OR
Freedom is the basic theme of happiness for all creatures as well as plants. Explain
this statement with reference to the struggle of the branches to come out in open
in the veranda of the poet’s house.
Ans- It is true that freedom is the basic theme of happiness in this universe.
Freedom is the true law of nature. This idea can be found everywhere and in all
spheres, even the palace of gold is useless without freedom. We have read about so
many national heroes who have sacrificed their everything for freedom and to
make their country free. Freedom is the very first need for all for human beings as
well as for animals. In this poem, the poet has described the deep feelings of the
trees that want to become free from human beings’ prison. The description of
struggle made by the branches to come out in open from the floor is too real and
heart touching. The trees don’t want to live in these surroundings. So they do their
best to come out of the floor and window.

4. ‘Departure is painful’. So is the departure of the trees for the poet. What will
happen after their departure?
Ans-Just like the departure of someone close to us is painful, so also is the
departure of a tree. When they are planted as a sapling, they look nice and enhance
the beauty of our surroundings. But as they grow and spread out their branches,
they look wild and require more space for their growth. The roots create cracks in
the floor and the leaves stretch out as if to move towards the glass, perhaps in need
of sunlight. The soft twigs become strong and stiff. So the trees need to be removed
from the house. No more do the leaves cover the sky, but the trees breathe and
they are welcomed by the wind. The moon resembles a broken mirror, reflecting off
the leaves. The poet reveals that she will feel lonely after the trees’ departure.
5. How does the poem ‘The Trees’ make a strong plea against deforestation?
Ans- The poem, ‘The Trees’ sends home a strong message against deforestation. It
highlights the importance of trees when the poet says that without trees there will
be no shadow, no forest, no place for birds to sit, no place for insects to hide. As a
sapling, the plant adds to the beauty of the surroundings when it spreads its
branches, leaves and roots around. It gets the suit house. Thus, in the poem, the
trees are welcomed by the strong winds and the moon. The poet does not want to
mention the departure of the forests as she feels guilty for merely looking silently at
them as they depart. This way, she subtly points out the thanklessness of man
towards forests.
6. Explain the phrase “the forest that was empty all these days”. After reading the
poem, for whom do you think are the forests needed? Imagine yourself like a tree
in a forest.
Ans-In the poem, ‘The Trees’ poet Adrienne Rich subtly drives home the message
about the importance of trees. Without trees, the birds would not have a place to
sit, insects will have no place to hide and the sun would not bury its feet in shadow.
As saplings, we enjoy the beauty of plants as they adorn the surroundings. But
slowly, the tree spreads its roots, its branches and leaves, and seems to yearn to go
outside where it can live and grow without any restrictions. No more does the tree
look attractive indoors. The trees are however welcomed into nature by strong
winds and the moon. The poet hereby emphasises that trees need to be kept alive,
but should not be ‘imprisoned’ inside the house as they look more beautiful, and
tend to thrive outdoors that is where trees belong.

NOTE: Complete it in the English notebook.