Class:X Poem:7 The Trees

Class:10

Poem:7 The Trees

Questions and Answers

Question 1.

Why do the trees need to move out? Where have they been and why?

Answer:

The trees in the forest have been cut and man has planted trees in his courtyard for his selfish decorative purposes. It makes the trees feel suffocated and out of place. So they need to move out into the forest. They have been in the city houses as men have imprisoned them there.

Question 2.

What makes the forest empty? What cannot happen in a-treeless forest?

Answer:

Man’s cutting the trees of the forest at an uncontrollable speed has resulted in the empty forests. In a treeless forest, birds and insects cannot find shelter and make their homes there. The sun cannot cool its rays in the shadow there.

Question 3.

How do the trees rebel against their imprisonment at the hand of the man?

Answer:

Man has imprisoned the trees of the forest in his houses in cities. The trees rebel against their imprisonment. The roots come out of the floors by breaking them. The leaves come out of the windows by breaking the glasses. The long cramped branches start expanding themselves. Thus, the trees move out into the forest.

Question 4.

What kind of whispers can the poet hear? Why will these be silent tomorrow?

Answer:

The poet can hear the voices of the trees talking to each other, asserting their right to be free and the sounds of their moving out. It may also be her inner voice that reprimands her for imprisoning the trees. The whispers will be silent tomorrow as the trees will move out into the forest and will be free.

Question 5.

What does the poetess compare the bough with and why?

Answer:

The boughs are long and cramped. The poet compares the boughs with the patients who have been recently discharged and are moving out of the clinic doors because the boughs also move out in the same semi-dazed state as if they are under a spell.

Question 6.

The poem ‘The Trees’ presents a conflict between Man and Nature. Discuss.

Answer:

The poem ‘The Trees’ presents the rebellion of the tree against the human oppression and imprisonment within walls. The forest is the natural habitat of the trees. The trees feel suffocated in houses. They rebel against it and move out.

Question 7.

Why is the poet writing long letters? Why does she not mention the departure of the trees?

Answer:

The poet can feel the sorrow of the trees imprisoned in the cities. So, she is writing long letters or poems voicing the trees’ right to be in their natural habitat i.e., the forest. She does not mention the departure of the trees in her letters as she is too embarrassed for imprisoning them ever.

Question 8.

How does the changing forms of moon relate to the moving out of the trees?

Answer:

The moon also changes its forms with the moving out of the trees. In a treeless forest it appears as a whole, closed body. But with the trees moving out into the forest, the moon also appears as a broken mirror. Its pieces flash light on the tallest of trees.

Question 9.

Describe the symbolism in the poem “The Trees”.

Answer:

The poet uses trees as a metaphor for human beings. The human beings feel suffocated and sad under the oppression and dependence. They yearn for their freedom and independence. They rebel against the oppression, slavery and exploitation to be free and be on their own. The trees also rebel against imprisonment to return to the forest. Thus, they are apt symbol for human beings.