ON KILLING A TREE
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.
So hack and chop
But this alone won't do it.
Not so much pain will do it.
The bleeding bark will heal
And from close to the ground
Will rise curled green twigs,
Miniature boughs
Which if unchecked will expand again
To former size.
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,
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.
Then the matter
Of scorching and choking
In sun and air,
Browning, hardening,
Twisting, withering,
And then it is done.
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SAQ OF ON KILLING A TREE
20.What does the poet mean to say by the expression, "But this alone won't do." ?
37.What is the most sensitive part of a tree?
BAQ OF ON KILLING A TREE
1. Why does the poet describe the killing of a tree in such a graphic detail ?/ Write a short account of the poet’s attitude in the poem On Killing a Tree./ How does the poet describe the uprooting of a tree? / “Modern man, out of his indiscriminate greed and selfishness, dares to uproot nature and its nature and its very soul.” --- Explain the idea with reference to the poem On Killing a Tree.
Ans : The poet, Gieve Patel develops a deep concern for the environment in the poem On Killing a Tree. He treats the trees as living organism. He observes that modern man, out of his indiscriminate greed and selfishness, dares to uproot nature and its nature and its very soul. So, he raises his voice against the reckless falling of trees. The images of violence that the poet uses in the poem in form of irony show his genuine love for the trees. The expressions such as ‘a simple jab’; ‘bleeding bark’; ‘hack & chop’; ‘most sensitive’ highlight his heartfelt sympathy for trees. He describes the killing of a tree vividly to evoke out dormant sympathy for trees.
2. What is personification? Describe the use of personification in the poem On Killing a Tree.
Ans : ………………… ……………………………………… …………… … …… ………………………… .
In On Killing a Tree, the poet looks upon the tree as human being. So, like a human being the tree also grows slowly………….. The poet describes the bark of a tree as ‘leprous hide’ to bring a reference to the affected skin of a leaper. It feels pain and bleed when it is hacked and chopped. Its wound heals naturally. The root, the life supporting part of a tree, is the most sensitive as it remains hidden inside the earth. All these images personifies a tree.
3. ‘And then it is done’---Explain it.
Ans : In On Killing a Tree the poet, GievePatelgives a graphic description to make us realise the total destruction of a tree. Man realises that neither a simple jab of knife will kill a tree nor hacking, chopping will do the purpose. In order to kill a tree completely he takes farther steps…….. Thus the above expression highlights man’s satisfaction in destroying nature. Ironically, it shows how man glorifies his cruelty.
4. “On Killing a Tree” is a poem of protest-Whom does the poet protest against and why ?
Ans : Gieve Patel’s poem On Killing a Tree is undoubtedly, a poem of protest which is silent but intellectual. The poet makes this lasting protest against the dishonest businessmen. Being devoid of common sense they fell trees recklessly. They find it worthless to think about the nature in which they have grown up. Thus they become responsible for the growing natural imbalance and global warming. Trees keep the balance of CO2 and O2 in the air. They also provide us all the necessary and valuable things. So, killing a tree is inviting danger for human beings. So, the poet’s protest is against the heinous crime of the greedy and irresponsible people.
5. “Not so much pain will do it.”- Where does this line occur? Whose pain is referred to here ? Why does the poet say “not so much pain will do it” ?
Ans : … …………… ……………… ……… …… ………… …… ………… … … ……… ……..…………….
……… ……… ……………………… ……… ………… …………… … … … … … …… …… ..... .... .. …… …
According to the poet, a tree has a strong resilience against the cruelty of men. So, to accomplish the task of killing a tree, a jab of knife, hacking or chopping is not enough. By doing so, a tree will bleed for some time but again it will grow by sprouting tender twigs. There after the twigs will grow into miniature boughs and if they are allowed to grow, they will reach into former shape and size. So, the poet says so.
6. What is the role of earth in the life of a tree ?
Ans : The above line is extracted from Gieve Patel’s On Killing a Tree. Earth plays a very vital role in thriving and growing of a tree. From the period of germination to its death, earth nourishes it and takes immense care of a tree. The earth provides it all the necessary nutrients so that it may grow with shape and size. It also hold it tightly and let it stay straight. It protect it from unnatural death. Moreover, the earth plays the role of an affectionate and caring mother to a tree. So, to kill a tree, it must be separated from her mother.
7. What is irony ? Comment on Gieve Patel’s use of irony in the poem on killing a Tree ?
Ans : An irony is a statement in which the meaning implied by the speaker differs from the meaning expressed.
Apparently, the poem tells the concept of violence but it suggest the brutality of man against nature. At first the tree appears to be an evil that must not be allowed to assert the claim of life. It is highly ironical as instead of saving a tree the only source of man’s survival on earth. We the greedy and selfish people foolishly cut it down. Another irony is the leprous hide which drains out life, is the source of life. The poem finely ends with the tone of victory but actually human being shows his final folly by destroying a tree completely.
