Class-XII
Poetry
On Killing a tree
-Gieve Patel
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| On killing a tree Broad Questions and Answers |
Broad Questions and Answers (Long Questions and Answers) :
1.Write critical analysis of the significance of the title of the poem On Killing a Tree.
Ans:- The poem On Killing a Tree is a symbolic poem that can be read at two levels. On the outset, it describes the painstaking effort that needs to be employed in felling a tree. But at a deeper level, it describes the brutal act of destroying the balance in environment by cutting down trees. So the poet vividly describes the act of killing a tree. He says that a simple strike cannot kill the tree completely. The tree grows up gradually absorbing years of sunlight, air, water. From its 'leprous hide' leaves sprout. But, when cruel people uproot its source of strength, it loses all energy because its source, that is, the root is exposed. Finally, when it is kept in open air and scorching sunlight, the process of destroying the tree is completed because in this way the tree loses its vivacity. So the title is appropriate.
2."And then it is is done" - Explain the line. What is done and how?
Ans:- Gieve Patel in On Killing a Tree, shows that it is not so easy to kill a tree completely. A simple jab of knife cannot kill it. If the tree is hacked or chopped, not much pain will cause to iti The 'bleeding' bark gradually heals itself; green twigs and small branches will rise from close to the ground; the tree will again come to its former size.So the only way to destroy the tree is to uproot it out of its 'anchoring earth'. For doing so one is to rope, tie and pull out the tree out of the 'earth-cave'. As a result, the source of the strength of the tree is exposed. The source is nothing but the white, wet, hidden and the most sensitive root of the tree. Finally cornes the matter Of destroying the tree completely. For this purpose the tree is scorched and choked in sun and air and then browned, hardened, twisted, withered. Thus the process of killing the tree is done.
3.Critically analyse the poem On Killing a tree.
Ans:- The poem itself is modelled as a plant growing from the seed.The first line states" It takes much time to kill a tree."Then the process of growth of the tree is described .It is presumed that the tree has grown from its seed.The seed develops the root. The root works its way through the rocks and stones of the soil.The tree grows slowly by feeding upon the earth's crust absorbing years of sunlight,air and water.There is a fight during the development of the tree which is suggested in the poem.The survival of the tree,inspite of the efforts to kill it,is shown by the lines:"And from close to the ground".
4.Write the substance of the poem On Killing a tree.
Ans:- The poet Gieve Patel has presented a very beautiful ironical poem On Killing a tree. He starts the poem with an ironical statement-It takes much time and strength to kill a tree. Then he explains the process of a tree's growth-it grows slowly and rises out of the earth by absorbing years of sunlight air and water. So, it is not easy to kill a tree with a single stroke of a knife.The tree has deep roots which draws its sap from the earth. It gives rise to tiny twigs and miniature boughs. We hack and chop to kill a tree. Then he very skillfully describes the process of killing a tree-But hacking and chopping cannot destroy it completely as green twigs are sure to emerge from the bleeding bark. The miniature boughs (branches) will grow from close to the ground and grow back to its normal size.The source of the tree is its roots which is white and wet. The secret of its strength is that it is hidden inside the earth for years together. It is fixed firmly in the earth. Thus to kill a tree it has to be uprooted, scorched and choked in the sun. After uprooting, the roots are to be exposed to the sunlight till they dry and become brown. Then it stops breathing. It becomes hardened, twisted and browned.
5.“The bleeding bark will heal”-How will the bleeding bark heal?
Ans:- In the poem ‘On Killing a Tree’ Gieve Patel says that a woodcutter may cut a tree with his repeated blow. But this alone will not be able to kill a tree. The affected tree does not seem to express its pain because its bleeding bark will heal its pain all the time. ‘Curled green twigs’ of the tree closely attached to earth will grow from the miniature boughs. The strength of the tee lies in the roots. If these roots are not completely uprooted, they will expand and become a full grown tree again.
6. "It takes much time to kill a tree. Not a simple job of the knife. Will do it...." Why does it takes so much time to kill a tree?
Ans:-It is not easy to kill a tree simply with a stroke of a knife. The tree has deep roots which give rise to tiny twigs and miniature boughs. The root has to be uprooted, and it has to be scorched and choked in sun and air. This process takes much time and it requires a lot of effort. Then only the tree is killed.
7.Describe, after Gieve Patel, the growth of a tree in detail.
OR
How does a tree grow ?
Ans:- The Poet,Gieve Patel sketches how a tree grows in the first stanza of his poem "On Killing a Tree".To him,the tree grows slowly consuming the earth firmly.It absorbs sunlight, air and water from nature for years to make food with these nutrients. But a tree heals its wounds by hacking and chopping to rise miniature boughs into full size itself again.Thus a tree grows slowly by absorbing years of sunlight, air and water.
8.Contrast 'bleeding bark' with 'green twigs'. What does 'blood represent? What does 'green' show?
Ans:-The poet has used the words and phrases very skillfully.'Bleeding bark' is suggestive of deterioration whereas 'green twigs' suggest fresh growth. 'Blood' represents death. Green shows the springing of life. 'Green' and 'blood' symbolize the change from death to life.
9. Describe the process of uprooting a tree.
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How does the poet describe the uprooting of a tree?
Ans:- "Neither a simple job of a knife nor hacking and chopping kill a tree. Hence the root of the tree should be pulled out of the earth.It whould, then, be roped, tied and snapped out. So it should be pulled out entirely from the earth cover. Then it should be exposed to sunlight.This, according to the poet, is the complete process of uprooting a tree.
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