The Trees Class 10 English: Summary and IMPORTANT Questions
The Trees Class 10 English: Summary, Poetic Devices, and IMPORTANT Questions
In The Trees, Adrienne Rich uses the movement of trees from a house to a forest as a metaphor for the liberation of women. The poem highlights the conflict between the man-made (artificial) world and the natural world.
Summary of The Trees
The trees in the poet's house are moving out into the forest. For too long, the forest has been empty, with no place for birds to sit or insects to hide. All night, the roots work to free themselves from the cracks in the veranda floor. The leaves and small twigs strain toward the glass, trying to escape.
The poet sits inside, writing letters, barely mentioning the "departure" of the forest. The glass of the windows breaks as the trees stumble out into the night. Winds rush to meet them, and the moon, once whole, now looks like a broken mirror through the crown of the tallest oak tree.
Short Answer Questions.
1. Where are the trees at the start of the poem and where do they want to go?
ANS:The trees are currently inside a house, acting as decorative plants. However, they are restless and want to move into the forest, which has been empty for a long time. They want to return to their natural habitat where they belong.
2. What work do the roots and leaves do all night?
ANS: The roots work throughout the night to disengage themselves from the cracks in the veranda floor. Simultaneously, the leaves and small twigs strain toward the glass windows, trying to find a way to break free and move toward the light and air outside.
3. Why has the forest been "empty all these days"?
ANS: The forest has been empty because trees have been shifted into houses as decorative items. This has disrupted the ecosystem, leaving no space for birds to perch, insects to hide, or the sun to bury its "feet" in the shade.
4. What does the poet mean by "the glass is breaking"?
ANS: This is a literal and metaphorical moment. Literally, the trees are physically pushing through the windows to escape. Metaphorically, it represents the breaking of social barriers and restrictions that have kept "trees" (or women) confined for too long.
5. How does the moon appear at the end of the poem?
ANS: The moon appears like a "broken mirror." This is because the branches of the tall oak tree are now between the poet and the moon, "shredding" the moon’s reflection into small pieces like a crown atop the tree.
6. Identify the poetic device in "The forest that was empty all these days."
ANS: This is Imagery. It creates a haunting picture of a barren natural world that has been stripped of its life, setting the stage for the rebellion of the trees.
7. Why does the poet hardly mention the departure of the forest in her letters?
ANS: The poet is an observer who is perhaps too busy or hesitant to acknowledge the massive shift happening right in front of her. It reflects how society often ignores major social changes or the "quiet" rebellion of the oppressed until it becomes unavoidable.
8. What is the symbolic meaning of the "house" in the poem?
ANS: The house symbolizes domesticity, confinement, and man-made boundaries. It represents the "artificial" life where nature (and women) are kept for decoration rather than being allowed to grow freely in their true environment.
9. How do the "newly discharged patients" relate to the trees?
ANS: The poet compares the trees to patients leaving a hospital—dazed and half-bewildered. This suggests that after long confinement, the trees are struggling to adjust to their new-found freedom but are determined to move toward the "clinic doors" of the forest.
10. What message does Adrienne Rich want to convey?
ANS: The message is one of liberation and the inevitable triumph of nature. She suggests that neither nature nor human beings can be suppressed for long; eventually, they will break all barriers to achieve their freedom.
Long Answer Questions .
1. "The Trees" is a feminist poem. Discuss the symbolism used by Adrienne Rich to depict the struggle of women.
ANS: In this poem, the trees are a metaphor for women. For centuries, women were confined to the "four walls" of the house, much like the decorative plants in the poet's veranda. Their "roots" represent their identity trying to break free from traditional roles. The "breaking glass" symbolizes the destruction of patriarchy and the restrictive norms of society. When the trees move into the forest, it symbolizes women entering the public sphere and reclaiming their rightful place in the world, proving that their growth cannot be contained by artificial boundaries.
2. Contrast the state of the forest "all these days" with its state after the arrival of the trees.
ANS: Before the arrival of the trees, the forest was a "dead" space—empty, silent, and useless for the birds and insects. It was a place where the sun had no shade to hide its heat. However, at the end of the poem, the forest is alive again. The arrival of the trees is celebrated by the rushing winds. This transition represents the restoration of balance. Without nature (or the free participation of women), the "forest" of society remains incomplete and barren.
3. Analyze the use of imagery in the poem, specifically the "broken moon" and the "stumbling trees."
ANS: Adrienne Rich uses powerful imagery to show the intensity of the struggle. The "stumbling trees" suggest that the journey to freedom is not easy; it is a clumsy, difficult process after years of being stationary. The "broken moon" is a brilliant image—it shows that the trees have grown so tall and strong that they now dominate the sky, overshadowing the moon itself. The moon, once a symbol of calm beauty, is now "fractured" by the reality of the trees' presence, representing a total change in the world's perspective.
4. How does the poem highlight the conflict between Man and Nature?
ANS:The poem depicts man's attempt to "domesticate" nature by bringing it inside houses. Man wants the beauty of nature without its wildness. However, the poem proves that nature cannot be controlled. The roots, leaves, and twigs all rebel against the man-made structure of the house. This conflict ends with nature winning, as the trees break the glass and head for the forest. It serves as a warning that suppressing natural instincts—whether in the environment or in human spirit—will always lead to a "breaking" of the system.
5. What is the significance of the "night" and the "freshly lit moon" in the poem?
ANS:The night is the time of transition and secret labor. While the world sleeps, the trees are "working" to free themselves. It suggests that major revolutions often start quietly and out of sight. The "fresh" moon represents a new beginning. As the trees reach the forest, the moon reflects their victory. The poem uses the atmosphere of the night to add a sense of mystery and power to the trees' journey, making their arrival in the forest feel like a long-awaited triumph.
Practice MCQs
1. Who is the poet of 'The Trees'?
A. Robert Frost
B. Adrienne Rich
C. Leslie Norris
D. Robin Klein
Answer: B
2. What were the trees doing in the house?
A. Growing fruit
B. Acting as decoration
C. Providing shade
D. Sleeping
Answer: B
3. What is compared to 'newly discharged patients'?
A. The birds
B. The twigs
C. The boughs/trees
D. The poet’s letters
Answer: C
4. What breaks as the trees move out?
A. The floor
B. The glass windows
C. The roof
D. The furniture
Answer: B
5. The moon looks like a broken mirror through the crown of which tree?
A. Banyan
B. Neem
C. Oak
D. Pine
Answer: C
6. What does the poet mean by the sun burying its feet in shadow?
A. The sun is tired and needs rest
B. The sun’s rays cannot reach the ground because there are no trees
C. The sun is hiding behind the clouds
D. The sun is setting in the forest
Answer: B
7. Why are the small twigs described as "stiff with exertion"?
A. Because of the cold weather
B. Because they are old and dry
C. Because they are struggling hard to break through the glass
D. Because they are growing too fast
Answer: C
8. The poet compares the boughs to "newly discharged patients" because they are:
A. Sick and needing medicine
B. Moving slowly and dazed after long confinement
C. Happy to be going home
D. Scared of the outside world
Answer: B
9. What is the symbolic meaning of the "Forest" in the poem?
A. A place for a picnic
B. The natural, free world outside social restrictions
C. A dangerous place for women
D. A source of timber and wood
Answer: B
10. What does the "breaking of the glass" symbolize?
A. A domestic accident
B. The destruction of nature
C. The breaking of patriarchy and restrictive social norms
D. The end of the summer season
Answer: C
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