TREES BY ADRIENNE RICH QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

TREES BY ADRIENNE RICH

CLASS - X

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

 

1. (i) Find, in the first stanza, three things that cannot happen in a treeless forest.

Ans: The three things that cannot happen in a treeless forest are birds sitting on trees, insects hiding and the sun burying its feet in the shadow of the forest.

(ii) What picture do these words create in your mind: “… sun bury its feet in shadow…”? What could the poet mean by the sun’s ‘feet’?

Ans: The sun’s ‘feet’ means its rays that touch the ground. When there are no trees, there are no shadows, and the sun’s rays fall straight on the ground. But in a forest with trees, the shadows cover the sunlight, making it look like the sun is hiding its feet in the tree shadows.

2. (i) Where are the trees in the poem? What do their roots, their leaves, and their twigs do?

Ans: In the poem, the trees are trapped inside the poet’s house. Their roots struggle all night to free themselves from the cracks in the veranda floor. The leaves push hard against the glass, trying to break it, while the small branches become stiff from the effort.

(ii) What does the poet compare their branches to?

Ans: The poet says the branches are like patients released from the hospital. The big branches are stuck under the roof, and when they break free, they quickly move outside. They look shocked, just like patients who have waited a long time to leave the hospital.

3. (i) How does the poet describe the moon: (a) at the beginning of the third stanza, and (b) at its end? What causes this change?

Ans: (a) at the beginning of the third stanza - At the beginning of the third stanza, the poet talks about the full moon glowing in the clear night sky. By the end, she says the moon looks like it is broken into pieces, shining on the tops of tall oak trees. As the trees move, they block some of the moon’s light, making it seem like the moon has shattered.

(b) at its end - By the end, she says the moon looks like it is broken into pieces, shining on the tops of tall oak trees.

    This change is caused because their long branches cast shadows on the full moon, making it look like it is broken into pieces, like a mirror.

(ii) When the trees leave the house, the windows break, and their whispers fade away, making the house silent.

(iii) Why do you think the poet does not mention “the departure of the forest from the house” in her letters? (Could it be that we are often silent about important happenings that are so unexpected that they embarrass us? Think about this again when you answer the next set of questions.)

Ans: The poet hardly ever writes about "the trees leaving the house" in her letters because people never really cared about nature. She might feel that no one would be interested in how the trees try to escape. If people truly cared, they wouldn’t have hurt the trees. It seems like only the poet notices and admires the beauty of the trees going back to the forest.

 

EXTRA QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

1. What is the central idea or message of the poem?

Ans: The main idea of the poem is the struggle between humans and nature. A small plant is taken inside the house when it is young. But as it grows into a big tree, it feels trapped in the small space. So, it leaves to find freedom. The tree moves to the empty forest, which has been cleared because people keep cutting down trees. Humans need to realize how their actions harm nature and change their ways before it’s too late.

2. How does the poet describe the night? What is her feeling?

Ans:  The poet describes the night as fresh. The full moon shines in the open sky. The poet smells the leaves and lichen from outside. Her mind is full of whispers, but she believes they will disappear by tomorrow.

3. How does the poem The Trees strongly argue against cutting down forests or deforestation?

Ans: "The Trees" by Adrienne Rich is a poem about deforestation. The poet gives trees human-like qualities, making them seem alive and emotional. This helps readers feel connected to nature and understand the pain of losing trees. In the poem, the trees try to escape from a house, which symbolizes how nature struggles against human destruction. This image shows the beauty of trees and reminds us of what we lose when forests are cut down. The poem also talks about renewal, giving hope that nature can recover. Rich uses emotional words to make readers care about the trees, sending a strong message about the need to protect forests.

4. How does Adrienne Rich compare the trees with women?

Ans: In Adrienne Rich's poem The Trees, the trees represent women, and their journey from confinement to freedom reflects women's fight for liberation from societal and patriarchal restrictions. The poem uses the image of trees trapped inside a house as a metaphor for women who are constrained by traditional norms. Their confinement symbolizes the oppression women face in a male-dominated society. As the trees break free and move into the open, it signifies women reclaiming their independence and rightful place in the world. The poem’s hopeful tone, as the trees return to the forest, suggests the possibility of both women and nature finding freedom and empowerment.