On Killing A Tree
On killing a tree
Answers the following:
1. Can a ‘simple jab of the knife’ kill a tree? Why not?
Ans)No, a simple jab of a knife cannot kill a tree because it takes many years for a tree to
grow and rise out of the earth. Moreover, only a chop cannot kill it because it will slowly
rise again and grow to its original size.
2. How has the tree grown to its full size? List the words suggestive of its life and activity.
Ans)The unchecked growth of the tree has led it mature to its full size. It has consumed the earth and risen above it by absorbing years of sunlight, air and water from its crust.
The words suggestive of its life and activity are- grown consuming rising feeding absorbing sprouting pain bleeding heal expand.
3. What is the meaning of ‘bleeding bark’? What makes it bleed?
Ans)‘Bleeding bark’ refers to the area on the tree trunk where it has been hit with the axe. It bleeds because the wood cutter has wounded the tree by cutting and chopping it.
4. The poet says ‘No’ in the beginning of the third stanza. What does he mean by this?
In the beginning of the third stanza, the poet has said ‘No’ to lay emphasis on the fact
that mere chopping of the tree would not kill it. The tree would grow again and retain its original size.
5. What is the meaning of ‘anchoring earth’ and ‘earth cave’?
Ans)‘Anchoring earth’ refers to the earth under which the roots of a tree are held firmly, thereby providing strength and nourishment to it.
‘Earth cave’ again refers to the earth. The poet calls it so, as the roots, which are the most sensitive part of the tree, stay hidden securely under the earth.
6. What does the poet mean by the phrase –‘the strength of the tree exposed’?
Ans) The strength of the tree lies in its roots, which the poet asks to snap out in order to kill the tree. Thus, the phrase ‘the strength of the tree exposed’ refers to the roots of the tree being exposed to sunlight and air.
7. What finally kills the tree?
The tree is finally killed when its roots are uprooted and it scorches and chokes in
sunlight and air. This process leads to the browning, hardening, twisting and thereby,
withering of the roots.
Long Answers:
3. 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 and 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 gets scorched and chokes in the sun and the air. Initially, it starts changing its colour and becomes 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.
4. 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 dug out 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.
Answers the following:
1. Can a ‘simple jab of the knife’ kill a tree? Why not?
Ans)No, a simple jab of a knife cannot kill a tree because it takes many years for a tree to
grow and rise out of the earth. Moreover, only a chop cannot kill it because it will slowly
rise again and grow to its original size.
2. How has the tree grown to its full size? List the words suggestive of its life and activity.
Ans)The unchecked growth of the tree has led it mature to its full size. It has consumed the earth and risen above it by absorbing years of sunlight, air and water from its crust.
The words suggestive of its life and activity are- grown consuming rising feeding absorbing sprouting pain bleeding heal expand.
3. What is the meaning of ‘bleeding bark’? What makes it bleed?
Ans)‘Bleeding bark’ refers to the area on the tree trunk where it has been hit with the axe. It bleeds because the wood cutter has wounded the tree by cutting and chopping it.
4. The poet says ‘No’ in the beginning of the third stanza. What does he mean by this?
In the beginning of the third stanza, the poet has said ‘No’ to lay emphasis on the fact
that mere chopping of the tree would not kill it. The tree would grow again and retain its original size.
5. What is the meaning of ‘anchoring earth’ and ‘earth cave’?
Ans)‘Anchoring earth’ refers to the earth under which the roots of a tree are held firmly, thereby providing strength and nourishment to it.
‘Earth cave’ again refers to the earth. The poet calls it so, as the roots, which are the most sensitive part of the tree, stay hidden securely under the earth.
6. What does the poet mean by the phrase –‘the strength of the tree exposed’?
Ans) The strength of the tree lies in its roots, which the poet asks to snap out in order to kill the tree. Thus, the phrase ‘the strength of the tree exposed’ refers to the roots of the tree being exposed to sunlight and air.
7. What finally kills the tree?
The tree is finally killed when its roots are uprooted and it scorches and chokes in
sunlight and air. This process leads to the browning, hardening, twisting and thereby,
withering of the roots.
Long Answers:
3. 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 and 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 gets scorched and chokes in the sun and the air. Initially, it starts changing its colour and becomes 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.
4. 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 dug out 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.
Comments
Post a Comment