Our Casuarina Tree MCQ Questions

1. Our Casuarina Tree‘ is written by

(a) Anita Desai
(b) Toru Dutt
(c) William Wordsworth
(d) Edwin Muir

2. Toru Dutt wrote poems both in

(a) English and Hindi
(b) Hindi and Latin
(c) English and French
(d) English and Kannada

3. ‗Our Casuarina Tree‘ is a poem published in

(a) 1881
(b) 1889
(c) 1880
(d) 1882

4. What kind of a poem is ‗Our Casuarina Tree‘?

(a) Ode
(b) Ballad
(c) Elegy
(d) Epic

5. What is the form of the poem?

(a) Lyric
(b) Epic
(c) Satire
(d) Mock epic

6. Who is the speaker in the poem?

(a) A gardener tending the Casuarina tree
(b) A bird singing in the branches of the tree
(c) A person reminiscing about childhood memories under the tree
(d) A traveler admiring the beauty of the tree
7. Where is the tree located according to the poem?
(a) In a forest by the poet‟s childhood home
(b) By a river
(c) In the garden of the poet‟s childhood home
(d) By the sea shore

8. The poet‘s attitude towards the tree can be called

(a) indifference
(b) affection
(c) fear
(d) anger

9. What does the poem reveal about the poet‘s childhood?

(a) It was marked by poverty and hardship.
It was spent in a hostel.
(a) It was spent in a village.
(b) It was spent in a hostel.
(c) It was happy and carefree.
(d) It was spent in a foreign country.

10. The huge python here is-

(a) the tree
(b) the creeper
(c) the crimson flowers
(d) the poet‟s siblings.

11. How does a creeper wind up the Casuarina tree?

(a) Round and round like a python making deep wounds up to its summit
(b) Like a squirrel making its track
(c) Like a hurricane devouring all the things on its way
(d) None of these.

12. Which figure of speech is employed in the following line – ―Like a huge
python, winding round and round…‖?
What literary device does the poet use to describe the creeper?
(a) Simile
(b) Metaphor
(c) Personification
(d) Metonymy.

13. The trunk of the tree is

(a) smooth
(b) thin
(c) short
(d) rugged.

14. On the trunk of the tree the creeper makes-

(a) deep scars
(b) deep holes
(c) straight lines
(d) no mark.

15. The Casuarina tree‘s creeper climbs up to its very-

(a) lower branches
(b) summit
(c) height
(d) crest.

16. The poet imagines that the summit of the tree has reached the
(a) clouds
(b) rainbow
(c) stars
(d) horizon.

17. ―Up to its very summit near the stars.‖ – What does this line indicate?
(a) The tree shines like the stars.
(b) The tree cannot be seen in darkness.
(c) The tree is very tall.
(d) The tree cannot stand without support.

18. Due to the embrace of the creeper, the other tree would have-
(a) lived longer
(b) grown taller
(c) died
(d) looked beautiful.

19. ―A creeper climbs, in whose embraces bound / No other tree could live.‖
What does this line tell us about the Casuarina tree?
(a) The tree is bent.
(b) The tree is very strong.
(c) The tree is bare with no leaves.
(d) The tree is imaginary.

20. How does the poet describe the tree‘s appearance?

(a) Tall and majestic
(b) Small and delicate
(c) Old and twisted
(d) Young and vibrant.

21. ―Like a huge Python, winding round and round / The rugged trunk,
indented deep with scars, / Up to its very summit near the stars, / A creeper
climbs, in whose embraces bound…‖ Identify the rhyme scheme of these
lines.
(a) abcd
(b) aabc
(c) abba
(d) aaba.

22. What hangs from the boughs of the Casuarina tree?

(a) Fruits
(b) Leaves
(c) Flowers
(d) Monkeys.

23. What is the colour of the clusters of flowers hanging from the boughs of
the Casuarina tree?
(a) Yellow
(b) Crimson
(c) Vermilion
(d) Pink.
24. The ‗giant‘ in the poem is the-
(a) poet
(b) creeper
(c) python
(d) Casuarina tree.

25. The tree wears the creeper as a-

(a) scarf
(b) shawl
(c) blanket
(d) robe.

26. The tree wears the scarf-like creeper-

(a) unwillingly
(b) gallantly
(c) fearfully
(d) sadly.

27. Which phrase best describes the Casuarina tree in the poem?
(a) “A giant wears the scarf”
(b) “A creeper climbs”
(c) “A gray baboon sits”
(d) “Water-lilies spring”.

28. The flowers of the tree attract-

(a) python
(b) birds
(c) bees
(d) both birds and bees.

29. At night, the garden gets overflowed by a sweet song which actually
refers to the-
(a) song of birds
(b) smell of flowers
(c) buzzing sound of beetles
(d) song of cricket.
30. The sweet song is heard-
(a) at night
(b) in the morning

(c) at noon

(d) in the evening

31. The darkling‘s song seems—

(a) hoarse
(b) temporary
(c) to have no close
(d) none of these.

32. ‗Sung darkling from our tree,‘ – Here ‗darkling‘ refers to

(a) a beetle
(b) a bird
(c) a bee
(d) a baboon.

33. The poet looks at the Casuarina tree through her casement-
(a) at dusk
(b) in the morning
(c) at night
(d) at dawn.

34. What is the first thing the poet is delighted to look at in the morning
when she opens her window?
(a) The Casuarina tree
(b) The cows grazing in the fields
(c) The birds singing on the tree
(d) The water lilies.

35. How does the poet feel when her casement is thrown wide open in the
morning?
(a) Angry
(b) Excited
(c) Delighted
(d) Disgusted.

36. The baboon is seen mostly in-

(a) summer
(b) autumn
(c) winter
(d) spring.

37. The poet discovers on the top of the tree a-

(a) bird
(b) darkling
(c) python
(d) baboon.

38. The colour of the baboon is-

(a) black
(b) gray
(c) white
(d) brown.

39. The gray baboon sits on the crest of the tree-

(a) with his friends
(b) with his family
(c) with his offspring
(d) alone.

40. How does the gray baboon sit on the top of the tree?
(a) Like a hero
(b) Like a statue
(c) Like a ghost
(d) Like a soldier.

41. Sitting on the top of the tree, the baboon watches the-
(a) sunrise
(b) sunset
(c) poet
(d) Casuarina tree.

42. On the lower branches, are found the-

(a) beetles
(b) baboon‟s offspring
(c) birds
(d) ants.

43. The adjective used to describe the offspring of the baboon is

(a) puny
(b) sweet
(c) little
(d) shrivelled.

44. What do the baboon‘s offspring do?

(a) Sleep
(b) Sit
(c) Leap about and play
(d) Sing and dance.

45. Which of the following birds is mentioned in the poem?

(a) Bulbul
(b) Kokila
(c) Woodpecker
(d) Falcon.

46. In the poem, ‗kokilas‘ mean-

(a) Crows
(b) Cuckoos
(c) Sparrows
(d) Parrots.

47. In the poem ‗Our Casuarina Tree‘, who are singing?

(a) Cuckoos
(b) The poet and her friends
(c) The poet‟s siblings
(d) Sparrows.

48. Who hails the day?

(a) Cows
(b) Kokilas
(c) Bees
(d) Baboons.

49. The sleepy cows go to the-

(a) shed
(b) pastures
(c) pond
(d) river

50. The tree‘s shadow falls on the-

(a) broad tank
(b) field
(c) poet‟s house
(d) river

51. Toru Dutt describes the hoar tree-

(a) vast
(b) beautiful
(c) small
(d) both (a) & (b)

52. What springs in the tank?

(a) Roses
(b) Lotuses
(c) Water-lilies
(d) Daffodils

53. The water-lilies in the tank look like-

(a) enmassed snow
(b) flying clouds
(c) thick fog
(d) black smoke

54. The Casuarina tree is dear to the poet not because of its-
(a) strength
(b) magnificence
(c) beauty
(d) dullness

55. The Casuarina tree is dear to the poet‘s-

(a) friend
(b) parents
(c) soul
(d) existence

56. The Casuarina tree is dear to the poet because-

(a) it gives shelter to many creatures
(b) it is enormous and magnificent
(c) she has many fond memories of the tree
(d) it has its summit near the stars in the sky

57. Under the tree the poet played with-

(a) her sweet companions
(b) other players
(c) her parents
(d) other poets

58. The poet has played with her companions under the Casuarina tree-
(a) few days ago
(b) few months ago
(c) few weeks ago
(d) many years ago

59. Who are the ‗sweet companions‘ referred to in the poem?

(a) The poet‟s friends
(b) The poet‟s neighbours
(c) The poet‟s siblings
(d) The poet‟s cousins

60. How did the poet love her sweet companions?

(a) Sweetly
(b) Passionately
(c) Intensely
(d) Fiercely

61. The Casuarina tree will be dear to the poet forever for her-
(a) sweet companions
(b) childhood memories
(c) beauty
(d) both (a) & (b)

62. ‗Blent with your images‘ – Whose images are being referred to here?
(a) The Casuarina tree
(b) The poet‟s siblings
(c) The poet‟s neighbours
(d) The poet‟s parents

63. ‗…it shall arise‘ – What is referred to as ‗it‘?

(a) The poem
(b) The Casuarina tree
(c) The longing for the lost companions
(d) The love for the homeland

64. What makes the poet cry?

(a) The memory of her paternal house
(b) The memory of only her companions
(c) The memory of only the Casuarina tree
(d) The memory of the time spent with her companions under the Casuarina tree

65. Thinking of the tree, the poet‘s eyes are blinded by-
(a) anger
(b) jealousy
(c) madness
(d) hot tears.

66. The poet could think of the tree until-

(a) her eyes were drenched with hot tears
(b) she fell asleep
(c) she became tired
(d) she became happy.

67. What sound does the tree make, according to the poem?
(a) A dirge-like murmur
(b) A sweet song
(c) The rustling of leaves
(d) The baboon‟s cry.

68. The ‗dirge-like murmur‘ is-

(a) the song of the birds
(b) the sound of the sea
(c) the sound of the wind
(d) the tree‟s lament.

69. What does the poet compare the murmur of the tree to?
(a) The sound of wind on a summer day
(b) The sound of drums
(c) The sound of sea waves breaking on a rocky beach
(d) The sound of a whistle.

70. The ‗eerie speech‘ refers to the-

(a) lament of the tree
(b) sound of the wind
(c) prayer of the poet
(d) song of the birds.

71. The Casuarina tree laments for-

(a) the poet
(b) the poet‟s companions who are alive
(c) the poet‟s companions who are dead
(d) the future.

72. The poet feels that the tree‘s lament reaches to the-
(a) unknown lands
(b) known lands
(c) cities
(d) villages.

73. The ‗eye of faith‘ refers to-

(a) the tree
(b) the poet‟s belief
(c) imagination of unknown lands through the mind‟s eyes
(d) death.

74. What has the poet heard far, far away?

(a) The wail
(b) The speech
(c) The laugh
(d) The song.

75. The ‗wail‘ signifies-

(a) the poet‟s lament
(b) the tree‟s lament
(c) the sound of the wind
(d) the sound of the birds.

76. In the poem, ‗water-wraith‘ means-

(a) waves
(b) ships
(c) a big fish
(d) a water spirit.

77. The water-wraith slumbers-

(a) in his cave
(b) in his den
(c) on the shore
(d) on the seabed.

78. What do the waves do?

(a) They break fiercely on the shore.
(b) They make a roaring sound.
(c) They gently kiss the classic shore.
(d) They drown boats and ships.

79. Which figure of speech is employed in the following line – ―And the
waves gently kissed the classic shore‖?
(a) Simile
(b) Metaphor
(c) Personification
(d) Metonymy.

80. Toru Dutt describes the shore of France or Italy as-

(a) beautiful
(b) sandy
(c) amazing
(d) classic.

81. When does the earth lay tranced in a dreamless swoon?

(a) At night
(b) At dawn
(c) In the morning
(d) In the afternoon.

82. What is meant by the phrase ‗dreamless swoon‘?

(a) Unconsciousness
(b) An act of fainting
(c) A state of sleep without dreams
(d) Loss of memory.

83. The memory of the Casuarina tree is aroused whenever the poet hears-
(a) the song of the birds
(b) the sound of the wind
(c) the moo of the cows
(d) the music of the waves.

84. Where did the sublime form of the tree rise?

(a) In front of the poet
(b) In the poet‟s inner vision
(c) In the readers‟ inner vision
(d) In the courtyard.

85. How does the poet describe the tree‘s impact on her imagination?
(a) It distracts her from her sweet childhood memories.
(b) It has no effect on her imagination.
(c) It suppresses her imagination.
(d) It sparks her creativity.

86. When did the poet see the Casuarina tree?

(a) In her youth
(b) When she was at her deathbed
(c) When she visited distant countries
(d) After her siblings passed away.

87. Where did the poet see the Casuarina tree?

(a) In France
(b) In Italy
(c) In her own motherland
(d) In a picture.

88. What does the poet want to do at the end of the poem ‗Our Casuarina
Tree‘?
(a) She wants to leave her motherland.
(b) She wants to return to her motherland.
(c) She wants to immortalise the memory of the Casuarina tree.
(d) She wants to cut down the Casuarina tree.

89. What is the meaning of the word ‗consecrate‘?

(a) To declare something dangerous
(b) To declare something sacred
(c) To declare something interesting
(d) To declare something thoughtful

90. ―…beloved of those / Who now in blessed sleep, for aye, repose,‖ – Who
are referred to as ‗those‘?
(a) The birds
(b) The bees
(c) The poet‟s siblings
(d) The poet‟s parents.

91. ―…beloved of those‖ What is referred to as ‗beloved‘ in this line?

(a) The poet‟s house in India
(b) The poet‟s room
(c) The landscapes of France and Italy
(d) The Casuarina tree.

92. What does the phrase ‗blessed sleep‘ signify?

(a) Nap
(b) Rest
(c) Death
(d) Recess.

93. Who were dearer to the poet than her own life?
(a) The Casuarina tree
(b) Her paternal house
(c) Her dead siblings
(d) Her friends.

94. The beloved companions of the poet are now-

(a) in eternal sleep
(b) in distant lands
(c) all alive
(d) sitting beside her in a circle.

95. ―…when my days are done‖ – What is the hidden implication of this
line?
(a) The poet realises that the Casuarina tree will die soon.
(b) The poet awaits her own death.
(c) The poet wishes to live for many more years.
(d) The poet wishes to travel to faraway lands.

96. The deathless trees are seen in-

(a) France
(b) Borrowdale
(c) Paris
(d) Rome.

97. What is ‗Borrowdale‘?

(a) A playground in Ireland
(b) A valley in England
(c) A lake in India
(d) A country house in England.

98. The deathless trees in Borrowdale have seen-

(a) many deaths
(b) the poet
(c) the poet‟s motherland
(d) the poet‟s companions.

99. ―Fear, trembling Hope, and Death, the skeleton, /And Time the
shadow;‖ – From which poem did Toru Dutt take this line?
(a) Wordsworth‟s „The Solitary Reaper‟
(b) Wordsworth‟s „Yew Trees‟
(c) Keats‟ „To Autumn‟
(d) Shelley‟s „Ode to the West Wind‟.

100. ―…and though weak the verse‖ – Which ‗verse‘ is being referred to
here?
(a) The book of nature
(b) The poems of other poets
(c) The poetry of Toru Dutt
(d) The poem of Wordsworth.

101. ―That would thy beauty fain, oh fain rehearse,‖ What does this line
indicate?
(a) Though the poet‟s verse seems weak, it would gladly continue to beautify the
Casuarina tree forever.
(b) The poet is sure that her verse will not be able to immortalise the Casuarina
tree.
(c) The poet feels that the Casuarina tree will soon wither away.
(d) The poet realises that the Casuarina tree has lost all its beauty with time.

102. What is meant by ‗Oblivion‘s curse‘?

(a) Feeling sleepy
(b) Being remembered for an achievement
(c) Gaining immortality
(d) Being forgotten after death.

103. What will the poet‘s love protect the Casuarina tree from?
(a) Death
(b) Being forgotten
(c) Immortality
(d) Both (a) & (b).

104. The Casuarina tree symbolises the ancient and venerable culture of-
(a) France
(b) Italy
(c) India
(d) the United Kingdom.

105. What feeling(s) does the poet associate with the Casuarina tree?
(a) Fear and danger
(b) Indifference and boredom
(c) Comfort, security and happy memories
(d) Loneliness and isolation.

106. The Casuarina tree in the poem is a symbol of-

(a) strength and resilience
(b) beauty and serenity
(c) change and impermanence
(d) loneliness and isolation.
107. What is the main theme explored in ‗Our Casuarina Tree‘?
(a) The power of nature
(b) The importance of tradition
(c) The experience of cultural displacement
(d) The passage of time and childhood memories.

108. What is the poet trying to convey through her poem?

(a) A sense of belonging and the comfort of cherished moments from the past.
(b) The beauty of the village where she was born.
(c) The suffering for long outside of her native land

(d) The inner conflict of her childhood

109. What does the poem reveal about the poet‘s relationship with nature?
(a) She is disconnected from nature.
(b) She sees nature as a source of inspiration.
(c) She is afraid of nature.
(d) She is indifferent to nature.

110. How does the poet describe the tree‘s presence in her life?
(a) As a distant memory.
(b) As a source of inspiration.
(c) As a constant companion.
(d) As a reminder of her past.

111. The tree is important to the poet because-

(a) it is tall
(b) it provides her with fruits
(c) it brings back her childhood memories
(d) she planted it.

112. What is the poet‘s attitude towards change and separation?

(a) She welcomes change and separation with an open heart.
(b) She is indifferent to change and separation.
(c) She is nostalgic and melancholic about change and separation.
(d) She is angry and resentful about change and separation.
113. What is the significance of the poem‘s title ‗Our Casuarina Tree‘?
(a) It symbolizes the poet‟s individuality.
(b) It represents the poet‟s connection to nature.
(c) It signifies the poet‟s memories of her childhood through the image of the
tree.
(d) It embodies the poet‟s sense of ownership and possession.

114. What is the significance of the poem‘s ending?

(a) It symbolizes the poet‟s new-found hope.
(b) It represents the poet‟s acceptance of change.
(c) It signifies the poet‟s continued nostalgia.
(d) It embodies the poet‟s sense of closure.