Are you looking for a helpful guide to understand "On Killing a Tree" for Class 9th students? You are in the right place! On Killing a Tree class 9th is a thought-provoking poem by Gieve Patel that dives deep into the process and the impact of destroying a tree. This poem is not just about cutting down a tree; it's about understanding the life of a tree and what it takes to end it.
For students in Class 9, comprehending this poem is crucial. It's more than just reading; it’s about grasping the underlying message. The poem summary helps you see the big picture, highlighting the pain and effort involved in killing a tree. It's not a simple chop and done; the poem walks you through the prolonged suffering of the tree. This summary is a great starting point for students to dive deeper into the poem's themes.
When it comes to question and answers, On Killing a Tree class 9 has a lot to offer. Whether you're looking for long question answers or short ones, understanding this poem can be a rewarding challenge. The poem's vivid imagery and profound message provide ample material for thought-provoking questions. These questions help students think critically about the text and its wider implications.
If you're a student in Class 9 or a parent looking to help your child, navigating through the poem On Killing a Tree can be made simpler with the right resources. From a clear poem summary to detailed question answers, understanding Gieve Patel's message can be both educational and impactful. It’s not just about the act of killing a tree; it’s a journey into understanding the resilience of life and the consequences of our actions. This poem is a valuable tool for learning, reflection, and discussion for students in Class 9 and beyond.
CHAPTER 7: ON KILLING A TREE
ON
KILLING A TREE POEM SUMMARY
-by Gieve Patel
Stanza- 1
It takes much time to kill a tree
Upon its crust, absorbing
Not a simple jab of the knife
Years of sunlight, air, water,
Will do it. It has grown
And out of its leprous hide
Slowly consuming the earth,
Sprouting leaves.
Rising out of it, feeding
Explanation: In this stanza, the poet comments on the way a
person cuts down a tree in order to serve his purpose. The poet says that it is
not easy to cut down a tree because a simple jab of the knife is never enough
to wipe out its existence. The reason behind its strength is its consuming the
resources which it has got from the earth's crust so powerfully. Years of
absorption of sunlight, air and water from which the earth has made its growth
so perfect that a jab of knife won't do much. It will come out with leaves
again and will grow as ever.
Stanza- 2
So hack and chop
Will rise curled green twigs,
But this alone wont do it.
Miniature boughs
Not so much pain will do it.
Which if unchecked will expand again
The bleeding bark will heal
To former size
And from close to the ground
Explanation: In this stanza, the poet further states the ways of cutting a tree.
As the jab of the knife was not sufficient, the poet advises us to hit the tree
severely in the form of hacking and chopping. But, the poet contrasts that even
that won't be enough to kill the tree. This hacking and chopping would raise a
pain to the tree but not good enough to kill it. The bark will ooze leak) out
with the liquid secretion, but over a period of time, it gets healed. Then, the
fighting spirit of the tree will make it alive again. From close to the ground,
it will start a new life again by giving rise to new leaves and small boughs.
These will make the tree so glorious again that it will acquire its former
size. Therefore, it is not easy to cut or kill a tree.
Stanza- 3
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.
Explanation: In the previous stanzas, the poet has
discussed the various ways of killing the tree, but still the free has managed
to survive so the poet came up with another idea. He says that the root needs
to be pulled out of the earth where it has stocked its strength. To do this,
one needs to rope the roots, then pull out the whole mass outside. When the
roots are out of the earth cave, then the actual strength of the tree i.e. the
roots are exposed to the sun or environment. The source of life of the tree
which is roots, is now exposed and out and its root matter is white and wet
with absorption of water. It is now subjected to the outside world. This is the
actual start of the death of the tree as the life-source of free, it roots, are
exposed.
Stanza- 4
Then the
matter
Browning,
hardening,
Of scorching
and choking
Twisting,
withering,
In sun and
air,
And then it
is done.
Explanation: In the previous stanza, the poet discussed the
way a tree is uprooted and exposed to the surrounding. When the tree is
uprooted and left open in the surrounding, then the sun starts drying it up
with the burning heat. This intense heat makes the root of the tree getting
choked in the air and sunlight. Heat makes the root brown which was white
earlier and hardens it by soaking all the moisture content. Then, the root
starts twisting from its original shape and finally gets withered from its
parts. This brings the actual end to the life of the tree and that is how it is
done in the end. The poet takes us into a detailed account of how we kill a
tree, what suffering does it have to face and how harsh our attitude is for the
ones which is the breath of our lives.
Conclusion of On Killing a Tree
On
Killing a Tree Summary discusses how to completely kill a tree in quite an
ironic sense that touches the heart of readers.
NCERT SOLUTIONS FOR CLASS 9 CH 7 ENGLISH
Questions (Page No. 111)
(Thinking about the Poem)
On Killing A Tree Question Answer
Question 1. Can a “simple jab of the knife” kill a tree?
Why not?
Answer: No, a simple jab of the knife cannot
kill a tree because the tree grows with a lot of nutrients and resources. Even
if one cuts it, it will sprout again.
Question 2. How has the tree grown to its full
size? List the words suggestive of its life and activity.
Answer: The tree has grown to its full size by
consuming the earth, feeding upon its crust, absorbing years of sunlight, air
and water.
The words suggestive of its life and activity are:
absorbing, feeding, rising, consuming and sprouting.
Question 3. What is the meaning of “bleeding
bark”? What makes it bleed?
Answer: The “bleeding bark” indicates the idea
where the tree has been cut. Just like humans bleed blood when they get
wounded, trees release a liquid at the place where they are cut. So, the tree
bleeds.
Question 4. The poet says “No” in the
beginning of the third stanza. What does he mean by this?
Answer: The poet says “No” in the beginning of
the third stanza. It emphasizes that only cutting or chopping the tree will not
cease its existence.
Question 5. What is the meaning of “anchoring
earth” and “earth cave”?
Answer: The “anchoring earth” means that the
earth works as an anchor to protect the tree and saves it from getting
uprooted.
“Earth cave” implies the depth of the mother earth
where the tree spreads its roots and gets nurtured.
Question 6. What does he mean by “the strength
of the tree exposed”?
Answer: He means to say that when one tries to
pull out the tree along with its roots which are spread deep inside the earth,
one will understand the strength of the tree.
Question 7. What finally kills the tree?
Answer: When the tree is pulled out along with its roots and separated from the mother earth, one has to subject it to scorching sun and let it wither. This will finally kill the tree.
Download
