Page 1 - LN4-QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
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THE TREES


                                             QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

                    Q1-(1) Find, in the first stanza, three things that cannot happen in a treeless forest?

                    Ans: The three things mentioned in the first stanza that cannot happen in a treeless forest
                    are:
                      I.   Birds sitting on the tree branches.
                     II.   The hiding of insects in the branches of trees
                     III.   The sun burying its feet in the shadow of the trees in the forest.

                    (2) 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 are the rays of sun that reach the earth after falling on the leaves of the
                    trees and finally, reach the earth’s surface.

                    Q2- (1) Where are the trees in the poem? What do their roots, their leaves, and their twigs
                    do?
                    Ans: The trees are in the poet’s house. The roots are working hard to remove themselves
                    from the cracks of veranda. The leaves are making an effort to reach towards the glass in
                    order to come out and the twigs are making attempts to set themselves free and reach the
                    forest.

                    (2) What does the poet compare their branches to?
                    Ans: The poet uses the words ‘long-cramped’ for the branches. She says that the branches
                    are trying hard to come out of the roof. She then compares them with newly discharged
                    patients who are trying to move out in a state of half consciousness.
                    Q3- (1) 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: The poet describes the moon as a full moon in the beginning of the third stanza but at
                    the end of the stanza, she describes it to be broken into pieces. The change in the moon is
                    because of the trees. The trees that earlier were in the poet’s house have now reached the
                    forest. Their long branches have cast a shadow on the full moon and now it appears to be
                    broken into pieces like a mirror.


                    (2) What happens to the house when the trees move out of it?

                    Ans:  The house becomes silent as the fragrance of the leaves and lichens which were like a
                    voice urging for a change can no longer be smelt.









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