On Killing A Tree-
Extra Questions and
Notes
INTRODUCTION
In this poem, the poet symbolizes a
deep-rooted evil. He says that a tree can’t be killed out just by hacking and
chopping it. To put it to a permanent end, it should be uprooted entirely and
left out to wither in the sun. In the same way, the social evil can’t be put
out just by criticising them. The society should root them up to die forever.
(इस कविता
में कवि एक वृक्ष की तुलना गहरी जड़ों वाली एक सामाजिक बुराई से करता है । वह कहता
है कि मात्र काटने या फाड़ने से एक वृक्ष को हम मार (समाप्त) नहीं सकते हैं । इसको
हमेशा के लिए समाप्त करने के लिए पूर्ण रूप से जड़ से उखाड़ कर धूप में सूखने के लिए
छोड़ दिया जाना चाहिए । इसी प्रकार से मात्र आलोचना करने से सामाजिक बुराइयों का
अंत नहीं किया जा सकता । समाज को उन्हें
हमेशा के लिए मारने के लिए जड़ से उखाड़ देना चाहिए ।)
THEME
“On
Killing a Tree” is a scathing criticism of human callousness and cruelty in
chopping down trees for agriculture, urbanization and industrialization.
Apparently, the poem reads like a ‘How-to-Do’ manual of killing a tree but
actually, it is a passionate appeal not to cut trees. The poem also applauds
the sturdiness and resilience of trees in that they take all kinds of attacks
and wounds in their stride but refuse to die. They may be wounded, scarred or
maimed, but they bounce back into life by healing themselves in due course of
time. One wonders if human beings can ever have that kind of attitude to life.
TITLE
The
title of the poem is simple and appropriate as it contains the major concern of
the poet – merciless and callous felling of trees. It indicates appropriately
that the poem is about the process of killing of the tree. The entire poem
explains the view that killing a tree is not a simple, short or easy process.
Trees have tremendous strength and a great instinct for survival.
MESSAGE
The
poem conveys the message that trees are living beings just like any other form
of life. They have strong survival instincts and can withstand any type of
assault, trauma or crisis. It is not easy to kill them, for they have a
never-say-die attitude to life. Every time they are attacked, injured or
scraped, they heal themselves and regain their glory. However, if they are
uprooted and left in the air and the sun, they die. We human beings must live
just as trees do.
MESSAGE
The
poem conveys the message that trees are living beings just like any other form
of life. They have strong survival instincts and can withstand any type of
assault, trauma or crisis. It is not easy to kill them, for they have a
never-say-die attitude to life. Every time they are attacked, injured or
scraped, they heal themselves and regain their glory. However, if they are
uprooted and left in the air and the sun, they die. We human beings must live
just as trees do.
Summary:
The
poet says that if we wish to kill a tree it takes a lot of time. A simple job
of the knife can’t kill a tree. A tree grows up by getting food and other
nutritious from the earth. It absorbs sunlight, air and water for years and
becomes very strong. If we try to hack and chop it, it does not feel much pain.
Its bleeding bark heals very soon. Small twigs begin to shoot up from it and
soon they become very big and strong.
The
poet says that the real strength of a tree lies in its roots. If we want to
kill a tree forever, its roots should be pulled out completely. They should be
left in open to withering in sun and chock in the air. Thus after a long
process of changing shapes and colours, we can say that a tree is killed
SUMMARY IN HINDI
कवि कहता है कि यदि हम एक वृक्ष को मारना
चाहते हैं तो इसमें बहुत अधिक समय लग जाता है । साधारण चाकू के द्वारा किए गए केवल एक कटाव से वृक्ष मर नहीं
सकता है । वृक्षा धरती से भोजन और अन्य पोषक तत्व प्राप्त करके बड़ा होता है । वह
सूर्य के प्रकाश, हवा और जल को वर्षों तक चूसता रहता है और
बहुत ही शक्तिशाली बन जाता है । यदि हम इसे काटने या फाड़ने का प्रयास करते हैं तो
इससे इसको अधिक पीडा नहीं होती है । इसकी रक्त बहती हुई त्वचा जल्दी ही ठीक हो
जाती है। उससे छोटी –छोटी टहनियाँ फूट पड़ती हैं और शीघ्र ही वे
बहुत बड़ी और शक्तिशाली हो जाती है ।
कवि कहता है कि वृक्ष की असली ताकत उसकी जड़ों
में होती है । यदि हम वृक्ष को हमेशा के लिए मारना चाहते है तो उसकी जड़ों को पूर्ण
रूप से बाहर निकाल लिया जाना चाहिए ।
उन्हें खुले में छोड़ दिया जाना चाहिए ताकि वे धूप में मुरझा जाएँ औऱ हवा के कारण
उनका दम घुट जाए । इस प्रकार से आकार और रंग बदलने की एक लंबी प्रक्रिया के पश्चात
हम कह सकते है कि वृक्ष मर गया है ।
COMPREHENSION OF STANZAS
STANZA 1
It
takes much time to kill a tree,
Not
a simple jab of the knife
Will
do it. it has grown
Slowly
consuming the earth,
Rising out of it, feeding
Upon
its crust, absorbing
Years
of sunlight, air, water,
And out of its leprous hide
Sprouting
leaves.
हिंदी अनुवाद –पेड़ को मारने (समाप्त करने) में बहुत
समय लग जाता है । चाकू की एक चुभन मात्र से पेड़ को नही मारा जा सकता । यह धरती से
पोषण प्राप्त करते हुए और इसकी ऊपरी सतह से उगते हुए वर्षों तक धूप ,हवा और पानी को
चूसते हुए बड़ा होता है । इसकी छाल में से पत्ते निकलते रहते हैं और ये ऐसे प्रतीत
होतें है जैसे कि इस पर कुष्ठ रोग के अनेक रंगों के धब्बे पड़ गए हों ।
Questions
:
(a)
Name the poem and the poet.
(b)
Can we kill a tree just with a simple jab of the knife?
(c)
How does a tree grow up?
(d)
What does it absorb for years?
(e)
What does a tree symbolize in this poem?
Answers
:
(a)
The name of the poem is ‘On killing A Tree’ and the name of the poet is `Gieve
Patel’.
(b)
No, we can’t kill a tree just with a simple jab of the knife.
(c)
A tree grows up consuming the earth.
(d)
It absorbs sunlight, air and water.
(e)
It symbolizes a deep-rooted evil.
STANZA 2
So
hack and chop
But
this alone won’t do it.
Not
so much pain will do it.
The
bleeding bark will heal
And
front close to the ground
Will
rise curled green twigs,
Miniature boughs
Which
if unchecked will expand again
To former size.
हिंदी
अनुवाद –इसलिए इसे भारी
चोटें मार–मार कर फाड़ना
चाहिए । परंतु मात्र इतना करने से ही पेड़ मर नहीं जाएगा । इससे उसे अधिक पीड़ा भी
नहीं होगी । उसकी घायल छाल जल्दी ही ठीक हो जाएगीं और छोटी –छोटी कुंडली के
आकार की हरी शाखाएँ निकलेगीऔर यदि उन्हें रोका (तोड़ा) नहीं गया तो वे पहले के आकार
की हो जाएँगी I
Questions :
(a) How should we kill a tree?
(b)
That alone can’t kill a tree?
(c)
What will happen to Its bleeding skin?
(d)
What rises from dose to the ground?
(e)
What is the meaning of ‘miniature boughs’?
Answers
:
(a)
We should kill a tree by hacking and chopping it.
(b)
lacking and chopping alone can’t kill a tree.
(c)
It’s bleeding skin will heal very soon.
(d)
Small green twigs rise from close to the ground.
(e)
‘Miniature boughs’ means small branches.
STANZA 3
No,
The
root is to be pulled out-
Out
of the anchoring earth;
It
is to be roped, tied,
And
pulled out-snapped out
Or pulled out entirely,
Questions
:
(a)
What should we do to kill a tree entirely?
(b)
What is the main anchor of the trees?
(c)
Where does the strength of a tree lie?
(d)
What should we do to its roots?
(e)
Name the poem and the poet
Answers :
(a)
To kill a tree entirely we should pull out its root from the earth.
(b)
The earth is the main anchor of the trees.
(c)
The strength of a tree lies in its roots.
(d)
The roots should be snapped and taken out of the earth
(e)
The name of the poem is ‘On Killing A Tree’ and the name of the poet is ‘Cleve
Patel’.
STANZA 4
Out
from the earth-cave,
And
the strength of the tree exposed
The
source, white and wet,
The
most sensitive, hidden
For
years inside the earth.
हिंदी अनुवाद – धरती की गुफा के अंदर से वृक्ष की
ताकत निकल आती है और वृक्ष की ताकत का वह स्रोत सफ़ेद रंग का और गीला होता है तथा
बहुत ही संवेदनशील होता जोकि वृक्षों से धरती के अंदर छिपा हुआ था I
Questions
:
(a)
What is taken out of the earth’s cave?
(b)
What Is the source of the strength of a tree?
(c)
Where does the root remain hidden for years?
(d)
Name the most sensitive part of the tree.
(e) How is the strength of the tree exposed?
Answers
(a)
The root of a tree is taken out of the cave.
(b)
Root is the source of the strength of a tree.
(c)
Under the earth.
(d)
The most sensitive part of the tree is its ‘root’.
(e) The strength of a tree is exposed by
Pulling out its root.
STANZA 5
Then
the matter
Of
scorching and choking
In
sun and air,
Browning,
hardening,
Twisting,
withering,
And then it is done.
हिंदी अनुवाद—तब धूप में झुलसने और हवा न मिलने के
कारण दम घुटने के लिए खुला छोड़ देना चाहिए l फिर वह भूरे
रंग का होकर कठोर हो जाएगा और फिर उसकी शाखाएँ बल खाकर मुरझा जाएंगी और हम कह
सकेंगें कि पेड़ मर गया है I
Questions
:
(a)
Name the poem and the poet.
(b)
What is scorching done by?
(c) What is chocking done by?
(d)
‘And then it is done’. What is done?
(e) In this poem what is a symbol of a tree?
Answers :
(a)
The name of the poem is ‘On Killing A Tree’ and the name of the poet is Gieve
Patel’.
(b)
Scorching is done by the heat of the sun.
(c)
Chocking is done by the absence of the air.
(d)
A tree is put to an end forever.
(e)
In this poem, the tree is a symbol of deep-rooted evil.
Additional Very Short
Answer Type Questions
1. In the poem ‘On Killing A Tree’ what is the
tree a symbol of?
Ans.
In this poem, the tree is a symbol of deep-rooted evil.
2.
How does a tree grow up?
Ans.
A tree grows up by getting food and other nutrients from the earth.
3.
Can we kill a tree with a simple jab of the knife?
Ans.
No, we can’t kill a tree with a simple jab of the knife.
4.
How should we kill a tree?
Ans.
We should kill a tree by hacking and chopping it.
5.
What should we do to kill a tree permanently?
Ans.
To kill a tree permanently we should take out its root from the earth.
6.
Where does the strength of a tree lie?
Ans.
The strength of a tree lies in its roots.
7.
What should be done to the roots or a tree?
Ans.
The roots of a tree should be snapped and taken out of the earth.
8.
What finally kills the tree?
Ans.
Scorching and choking kill the tree finally.
9.
What does it mean ‘the strength of the tree is exposed’?
Ans.
It means the roots of the tree are taken out of the earth.
10.
It is easy to kill a tree?
Ans. No, it is not easy to kill a tree.
SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS
Q1.Can
a “simple jab of the knife” kill a tree? Why not? (Textual)
Ans:-
simple jab of a knife can certainly not kill a tree. It can merely injure it
and cause its sap to ooze out like blood. The real life of a tree comes from
the roots that provide it nourishment and firmly hold it.
Q2.How
has the tree grown to its full size? List words suggestive of its life and
activity.
(Textual)
Ans:-
The tree has grown to its full size gradually. It has grown by slowly consuming
the earth. It has risen out of the earth and has fed upon its crust. It has
also absorbed light, air and water for years. Leaves have sprouted out of its
discoloured bark.
Q3.In
the phrase ‘consuming the earth’, who consumes the earth and how?
Ans:-
It is the tree that consumes the earth by drawing its nourishment from the soil
through its root. The diet required by the tree lies deep inside the earth and
the root sucks and absorbs nutrients and nourishes the tree.
Q4.
What is meant by ‘years of sunlight, air and water’?
Ans:-Years
of sunlight, air and water means that the tree takes years together to grow up
fully. In this course of time, it draws energy from sunlight, air and water.
Q5.Why
has the tree’s ‘hide’ been called leprous?
Ans:-The
bark of the tree is uneven in texture and colour. Leprosy also robs the skin of
the leper of its colour and evenness. Hence, the poet has drawn a metaphorical
comparison between the discoloured bark of a tree and the diseased skin.
Q6.
What is the role of hacking and chopping in killing a tree?
Ans:-
Hacking and chopping wound the body of a tree causing it great pain. They peal
the bark of the tree and it appears to be bleeding when the sap oozes out.
However, this pain or bleeding does not manage to kill the tree.
Q7.What
is the meaning of ‘bleeding bark’? What makes it bleed? (Textual)
Ans:-The
‘bleeding bark stands for the sap oozing out of the tree trunk when it is
attacked with a knife or an axe. The word ‘bleeding’ is metaphorically used to
compare the sap to the blood from a wound of a human being. It signifies the
pain of the tree.
Q8.What
will rise from ‘close to the ground’? Why?
Ans:-Curled
green twigs and miniature boughs will rise from the stump of the tree that is
close to the ground. They will rise because the tree rejuvenates and revives
itself as long as its root is intact.
Q9.’What
will happen if the miniature boughs are left ‘unchecked’?
Ans:-‘Unchecked’
here means left free to grow without any harm or danger. If left ‘unchecked’,
the new, green, delicate branches from the stump of a tree will expand and
regain their original size.
Q
10. “No, The root is to be pulled out.” Why has the poet started this stanza
with “No”? Or The poet says “No” at the beginning of the third stanza. What
does he mean by this? (Textual)
Ans:-The
poet uses ‘No’ to emphasize the fact that merely hacking and chopping are not
sufficient for killing a tree. They can injure it, make it bleed, and cause
pain. But killing a tree requires more ruthlessness and much more effort.
Q 11. What is the meaning of “anchoring earth”
and “earth cave”? (Textual)
Ans:- “Anchoring earth” means the earth which
gives a firm grip to the tree and keeps it from falling. Just as a ship
anchored in the sea stays in its place securely and steadily, similarly the
tree stands secure and stable with the support of the earth. “Earth cave”
refers to the depth under the earth where the root of a tree remains sheltered
safely for years. It is firmly attached to this point and a cave-like hollow is
created when the root is pulled out.
Q12. How is the root of the tree to be pulled
out? What is the result of this pulling?
Ans:-The
root of the tree is to be tied to a rope and pulled out with a great force.
This pulling results in creating a cave-like hollow in the earth and exposes
the root to the vagaries of weather that eventually cause the death of the
tree.
Q13.What
does the poet mean by The strength of the tree exposed”? (Textual)
Ans:-The
expression ‘the strength of the tree exposed’ means the root of the tree is
pulled out of the earth and thrown open at the mercy of harsh weather. Root is
the source of the tree’s power. Once exposed to the scorching and choking sun
and air, it withers away and the tree finally dies.
Q14.What
is ‘the most sensitive’ part of the tree? What is it sensitive to and why?
Ans:-
The root of the tree is its most sensitive part. It is sensitive to the heat
and vagaries of weather on the open surface of the earth. It is so because it
remains hidden safely under the earth.
Q15.
How is the exposed root affected by the sun and air?
Ans:-Sun
and air start drawing life out of the exposed root. It becomes discoloured, dry
and hard. It starts withering and becomes gnarled and twisted. Devoid of all
its moisture, it gradually becomes lifeless and the process of killing the tree
is completed.
Q16. What finally kills the tree? (Textual)
Ans:-The withering of the pulled out root
finally kills the tree. The root of a tree is the source of its strength. Once
it is pulled out, it can no longer nurture the tree. The root is sensitive to
sunlight and air. Once exposed, it gets dehydrated, brown and twisted.
Ultimately it dries up and the tree yields to death.
Q17.
What message is conveyed by this poem?
Ans:-The
poem conveys the message that human beings have destructive temperament towards
nature, but Mother nature has regenerative powers and cannot be destroyed
easily. It has the ability to resurrect itself. Also, the tree teaches us that
mere physical assaults cannot ruin us. As long as our root, our soul, is intact
we can rise again.
LONG ANSWER QUESTIONS
Q1.
How does a tree grow up?
Ans:-
A tree takes years together to grow to its full size. After sprouting out from
the surface of the earth from a seed it grows gradually. Its root nurtures it
by drawing nutrients from deep under the earth. Sunlight, air and water further
nourish it. Out of its bark, tender green branches shoot out and leaves grow
all over them. After a long span of time, the tree stands so strong and sturdy
that it can survive even the wounds inflicted with a knife. In fact, chopping
and hacking are not sufficient to kill it as the wounds get healed. Branches appear
again even from the stump and in due course attain their original size. As long
as the root of the tree remains intact under the earth, the tree keeps growing.
Q2. What relationship does the tree have with
the earth?
Ans:-
A tree has a deep relationship with the earth. It owes its very existence to
the earth. The seed germinates in the womb of the earth and the baby plant
sprouts out over the surface of the earth. The tree draws nutrients for it from
the soil. It is the earth that gives it support to stand erect and protects it
from falling. Giving a firm grip to its roots, the earth gives it ground to
grow and assume a massive size. The earth keeps roots of the tree concealed,
protecting it from exposure to the sunlight and the air which can prove to be
very injurious for its existence. Thus, the earth helps a tree right from its
birth to its survival. Even a chopped tree grows again out of the stump and
gains the original, big size because the earth supports it.
Q3.
What does the root of the tree look like when it is pulled out of the
earth-cave? What happens to it when it is left exposed?
Ans:-The
root of the tree is moist anti-white when it is pulled out of its hiding, the
earth-cave. It is very tender and delicate as it has remained concealed for
years together, away from sunlight and air. The root cannot tolerate the light
and heat of the sun and the open air. When it is left exposed, it feels
scorched and choked in the sun and the air. Initially, it starts changing its
colour and becomes somewhat brown. Then it starts losing its tenderness. It
becomes hard and its suppleness declines. Gradually, it withers away and
becomes gnarled and twisted. Ultimately, life is completely drained out of it
and it leads to the death of the whole tree. This is how exposure robs first
the root and then the entire tree of its life.
Q4.
What would happen if the tree is hacked and chopped?
Ans:-If
the tree is hacked and chopped and left as such with the root of the tree
neither dugout nor injured, the root will continue to provide nourishment to
the stump of the tree. This stump will then be covered with tender twigs that
will sprout out of its surface. If these twigs are not pruned or hacked or
chopped, they will keep on growing and eventually, with the passage of time,
the tree will grow up to its original size. The wounded bark of the tree will
get healed and the tree will be as big as it was earlier. The threat to its
life will be overcome and hacking or chopping will fail to kill the tree. The
safe root will rescue and resuscitate the tree and help it to regain its lost
glory.
Q5.
Suppose you are a tree. Write a diary entry in about 150 words describing how
you were hacked and chopped and your root was pulled out and how you are inching
towards your end.
Ans:-
(Day
and Date)
(Time)
Dear
Diary Today my heart is crying and I suffer due to the pain inflicted upon me
by cruel men. Two days ago, I was enjoying the fresh air and warm sunlight when
suddenly I felt a blow of an axe on my trunk. I noticed that a man was hitting
me hard, giving one blow after another. My bark was wounded, the sap was oozing
and my leaves and branches were falling off lifelessly. I could feel a sharp
pain that I found hard to tolerate. When the man got tired, he left me for the
night. I was relieved that he had not harmed my root. I was certain that my
wound would heal and new branches would grow after some time. But the next day
there came five people. The first chopped off big chunks from my trunk and then
tied a rope firmly around me. They applied force to pull my root out of the
earth. Now my strength gave way and my white, wet and sensitive root was
hauled. My root has been left exposed to the sunlight and air. Its white colour
is turning brown and it has started hardening and twisting. Slowly, it will
wither away and I will die. I wish these ignorant people had realized that I
was serving them selflessly with fresh oxygen and dense shade. Sadly, I have to
say goodbye to this beautiful world because of the insensitivity of some
people. Banyan
QUICK REVIEW OF THE POEM
1. What does the poet symbolize a tree too?
(A)
a good tradition
(B) a deep-rooted evil
(C)
a noble thing
(D) all of the above
Ans.
(B) a deep-rooted evil
2.
Can we kill a tree with a simple jab of the knife?
(A)
yes
(B) no
(C)
maybe
(D) not known
Ans.
(B) no
3.
What does a tree consume to grow?
(A)
earth
(B) sky
(B)
chopping
(D) none of the above
Ans. (A) earth
4.
What does a tree absorb in the process of growing?
(A)
sunlight
(B) air
(C) water
(D) all of the above
Ans.
(D) all of the above
5.
What can alone kill a tree?
(A)
hacking
(B) chopping
(C) hacking and chopping (D) none
of the above
Ans.
(D) none of the above
6.
What is needed to be pulled out to kill a tree?
(A)
root
(B) leaves
(C)
flowers
(D) fruit
Ans. (A) root
7.
What does the strength of a tree lie in?
(A)
leaves
(B) root
(D)
fruit
(C) flowers
Ans. (B) root
8.
What is scorching done by?
(A)
the water
(B) the earth
(C) the heat of the sun (D)
the rain
Ans.
(C) the heat of the sun
9.
Chocking is done in the absence of :
(A)earth (B)air
(C) water
(D) sunlight
Ans. (B) air
10.
Where does the root remain hidden for years?
(A) in the earth (B)
in the water
(C)
in the air
(D) all of the above
Ans. (A) in the earth
11.
What is related to the death of roots?
(A) pulling out
(B) scorching
(C) choking
(D) all of the above
Ans. (D) all of the above
12.
What happens to a tree’s bleeding bark?
(A)
it heals soon
(B) it heals in a big time
(C)
it never heals
(D) a tree’s bark never bleed
Ans. (A) it heals soon
13.
What will again expand to a tree’s full size?
(A) roots
(B) green twigs
(C) fruit
(D)flowers
Ans. (B) green twigs
14.
What is needed to kill a tree?
(A)
a simple jab
(B) hacking
(C) choking
(D) pulling out the roots entirely
Ans.
(D) pulling out the roots entirely
15.
Who is the poet of the poem ‘On Killing a Tree’?
(A)
Edward Lear
(B) Gieve Patel
(C) W.W.E. Ross
(D) William Wordsworth
Ans. (B) Gieve Patel
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