CBSE Class 10 English The Trees Worksheet

 

Read the extracts given below and answer the questions that follow.

I sit inside, doors open to the veranda
writing long letters
in which I scarcely mention the departure
of the forest from the house.
The night is fresh, the whole moon shines
in a sky still open…

Question. The poet talks about the house as
(a) a safe sanctuary from predators.
(b) a place of confinement.
(c) a representation of family.
(d) a concrete alternative to a natural on
Answer. B

Question. The poet uses the indefinite article for ‘sky’ instead of the definite one. This is so because the poet is referring to
(a) the ceiling of the verandah as ‘a sky’ versus the door kept open, being ‘the sky’.
(b) some part of the sky still left open for women to explore, away from limitations set by patriarchal norms.
(c) the opportunities symbolized by an open sky outside can be utilized by a single wman.
(d) The portion of the sky bathed in moonlight versus the part that is still dark.
Answer. some part of the sky still left open for women to explore, away from limitations set by patriarchal norms.

Question. The extract uses ‘open’ twice, suggesting different meanings. Pick the option that lists the correct meanings, respectively.
(a) entry & point-vastness
(b) sharing & a common space-great view
(c) allowing access and vision-expanse of space
(d) advantage & obstacles ahead.
Answer. C

Question. Choose the option that DOES NOT state the meaning of the underlined word.
‘I scarcely mention…’
(a) tactfully
(b) hardly
(c) barely
(d) only just
Answer. A

 

The trees inside are moving out into the forest,
the forest that was empty all these days
where no bird could sit
no insect hide…..

Question. By ‘inside’, what does the poet actually mean?
(a) Inside a garden
(b) Inside a house
(c) Inside a valley
(d) None of the above
Answer. B

Question. Why could no bird or insect dwell in the forest?
(a) The forest outside was non -existent.
(b) The forest was not preferred by animals.
(c) The forest was captured inside the house.
(d) Both (a) and (c)
Answer. D

Question. What did the poet mean exactly by ‘The trees inside are moving out into the forest’?
(a) The trees were walking away.
(b) The forest was shifting.
(c) Vegetation growth inside the house was pushing itself out.
(d) Both (b) and (c)
Answer. C

Question. Which entity did the poet talk of immediately after the line,‘no insect hide’?
(a) Roots
(b) Man
(c) Dogs
(d) Sun
Answer. D

Question. What forest is referred to in the lines mentioned inthe extract?
(a) Urban concrete forest where at present there is no vegetation.
(b) She means the desert existing outside her house.
(c) Tress outside her house.
(d) None of the above
Answer. A

 

All night the roots work
to disengage themselves from the cracks
in the veranda floor.
The leaves strain toward the glass

Question. What do the roots do all night?
Answer. All night the roots work to free themselves from the cracks in the veranda floor.

Question. How are the small twigs?
Answer. The small twigs are stiff.

Question. Who composed these lines?
(a) Adrienne Rich
(b) Oscar wilde
(c) John Keats
(d) Robert Frosts
Answer. A

Question. The roots are entangled in the
(a) The ceiling
(b) the flower pots
(c) the roofs
(d) the veranda floor
Answer. D

Question. The word “disengage” means
(a) Combine
(b) separate
(c) join
(d) refuse
Answer. B

 

SHORT QUESTION AND ANSWERS

Question. Why do the trees need to move out? Where have they been and why?
Answer. The trees in the forest have been cut and man has planted trees in his courtyard for his selfish decorative purposes. It makes the trees feel suffocated and out of place. So they need to move out into the forest. They have been in the city houses as men have imprisoned them there.

Question. What makes the forest empty? What cannot happen in a-treeless forest?
Answer. Man’s cutting the trees of the forest at an uncontrollable speed has resulted in the empty forests. In a treeless forest, birds and insects cannot find shelter and make their homes there. The sun cannot cool its rays in the shadow there.

Question. How do the trees rebel against their imprisonment at the hand of the man?
Answer. Man has imprisoned the trees of the forest in his houses in cities. The trees rebel against their imprisonment. The roots come out of the floors by breaking them. The leaves come out of the windows by breaking the glasses. The long cramped branches start expanding themselves. Thus, the trees move out into the forest.

Question. What kind of whispers can the poet hear? Why will these be silent tomorrow?
Answer. The poet can hear the voices of the trees talking to each other, asserting their right to be free and the sounds of their moving out. It may also be her inner voice that reprimands her for imprisoning the trees. The whispers will be silent tomorrow as the trees will move out into the forest and will be free.

Question. What does the poetess compare the bough with and why?
Answer. The boughs are long and cramped. The poet compares the boughs with the patients who have been recently discharged and are moving out of the clinic doors because the boughs also move out in the same semi-dazed state as if they are under a spell.

Question. The poem ‘The Trees’ presents a conflict between Man and Nature. Discuss.
Answer. The poem ‘The Trees’ presents the rebellion of the tree against the human oppression and imprisonment within walls. The forest is the natural habitat of the trees. The trees feel suffocated in houses. They rebel against it and move out.

Question. Why is the poet writing long letters? Why does she not mention the departure of the trees?
Answer. The poet can feel the sorrow of the trees imprisoned in the cities. So, she is writing long letters or poems voicing the trees’ right to be in their natural habitat i.e., the forest. She does not mention the departure of the trees in her letters as she is too embarrassed for imprisoning them ever.

Question. How does the changing forms of moon relate to the moving out of the trees?
Answer. The moon also changes its forms with the moving out of the trees. In a treeless forest it appears as a whole, closed body. But with the trees moving out into the forest, the moon also appears as a broken mirror. Its pieces flash light on the tallest of trees.

Question. Describe the symbolism in the poem “The Trees”.
Answer. The poet uses trees as a metaphor for human beings. The human beings feel suffocated and sad under the oppression and dependence. They yearn for their freedom and independence. They rebel against the oppression, slavery and exploitation to be free and be on their own. The trees also rebel against imprisonment to return to the forest. Thus, they are apt symbol for human beings.

Question. Conflict between human and nature is always there. Nature is also rebelling against civilization and becoming destructive. Explain. OR A conflict between man and nature is going on, in this civilization pursuit, men are disregarding the natural growth of plants and trees. In total confinement, nature also rebels against civilization and becomes destructive. Elaborate.
Answer. Man has been destroying nature due to personal and material pursuits. He is endlessly playing havoc with nature. He is trying to harness wind, solar energy and flora. In this pursuit man has forgotten that excessive destruction can carry us to any situation. Man is cutting trees and destroying the natural habitat. This is causing global warming with overall rise in temperature. If these practices go unchecked, we might soon be drowned due to melting of ice from polar caps. Man should wake up and save the planet earth from destructive forces of nature.

 

LONG QUESTION AND ANSWERS

Question. ’Departure is painful’. So is the departure of the trees painful for the poetess. What will happen after their departure?
Answer. Just like the departure of someone close to us is painful, so also is the departure of a tree. When they are planted as a sapling they look nice and enhance the beauty of our surroundings. But as they grow and spread out their branches, they look wild and require more space for their growth. The roots create cracks in the floor and the leaves stretch out as if to move towards the glass, perhaps in need of sunlight. The soft twigs become strong and stiff. So the trees need to be removed from the house. No more do the leaves cover the sky, but the trees breathe and they are welcomed by the wind. The moon resembles a broken mirror, reflecting off the leaves. The poetess reveals that she will feel lonely after the trees’ departure.

Question. Explain the phrase “the forest that was empty all these days”. After reading the poem for whom do you think are the forests needed? Imagine you are a tree in a forest, who; values would you like the humans to learn from the tree?
Answer. In her poem, ‘The Trees’ poetess Adrienne Rich subtly drives home the message about the importance of trees. Without trees, the birds would not in a place to sit, insects will have no place to hide and the sun would not bury its feet in shadow. As saplings, we enjoy the beauty of plants as they adorn the surroundings. But slowly the tree spreads its roots, its branches and leaves and seems to yearn to go outside where it can live and grow without any restrictions No more does the tree look attractive indoors. The trees are however welcomed into nature by strong winds and the moon. The author hereby emphasizes that trees need to be kept alive, but should not be ‘imprisoned’ inside the house as they look more beautiful, and tend to thrive outdoors that is where trees belong.

Question. How does Adrienne Rich use trees as a metaphor for men? Isn’t the struggle of the trees to free themselves and go to the forest is the struggle of crushed men, particularly of women against the powerful and atrocious men?
Answer. The poet Adrienne Rich uses trees as a metaphor for men, particularly struggling women. Nature, itself is represented by trees and forests in the poem. Man’s foolish and atrocious attempts to exploit, subdue, tame and control nature have led to disastrous results like deforestation. Forests have become empty. The futile attempt of humans to put trees and forests in the artificial glasshouses fails miserably. The trees, their roots, leaves, twigs and boughs wage a long and hard struggle to come out of the artificial barriers. Ultimately, the trees and forests reach where they should be. The victorious march of the trees to the forest tells the saga of nature’s victory over the onslaughts of man. The liberation of the crushed and the women is based on the same theme. In a male-dominated society, women are struggling to come out of the clutches of men to gain freedom. It is hoped that like the trees in the poem, they will be liberated in the end.

 

I. Read the following extract carefully and answer the questions that follow.

 

1. The trees inside are moving out into the forest,

    the forest that was empty all these days

    where no bird could sit

    no insect hide

    no sun bury its feet in shadow

    the forest that was empty all these nights

    will be full of trees by morning.

 

(a) What does the poet mean by empty forest? Why is it empty?

(b) ‘No sun bury its feet in the shadow’, explain this line.

(c) Which word in the stanza means “unoccupied”?

(d) How will the empty forest be full of trees by morning?

 

(a) Empty forest means forest with no trees and Ans. it is so because humans have destroyed the forests for building cities and other uses.

(b) Since the forests were empty, sunlight could reach the grounds directly and could ever hide under the shadows of the trees.

(c) The word is ‘Empty’.

(d) The poet imagines that the trees are moving to the empty forest to settle there forever. This will enable the forest to be full of trees.

 

2. My head is full of whispers which tomorrow will be silent.

    Listen. The glass is breaking.

    The trees are stumbling fofward into the night.

    Winds rush to meet them.

    The moon is broken like a mirror,

    its pieces flash now in the crown of the tallest oak.

 

(a) Why would the whispers be silent tomorrow?

(b) Why are the trees stumbling?

(c) Which word in the stanza means the same as ‘Quiet’?

(d) Which poetic device has been used in the sixth line of the stanza?

 

(a) The whispers will be silent because the trees will move outside to the forest.

(b) The trees are stumbling because they hurry to move outside after breaking the glass.

(c) The word is ‘Silent’.

(d) Simile has been used using ‘like’ for comparison

 

 

Answer. The trees are in the house. The roots try to free themselves from the cracks of the veranda floor, and the leaves make efforts to move towards the glass perhaps in search of light. The small branches become stiff as they try to pull themselves towards the light.

 

Answer. At the beginning of the third stanza, the poet says that one can see the whole moon shining in the open sky but in the end, the moon seems to be broken like a mirror and its pieces shine in the crown of the tallest oak tree. The change is caused by the shifting of the trees outside.

 

Answer. It is night time. The night is fresh. In the open sky, the full moon is shining. The poetess feels the smell of leaves and lichen reaching inside the room. Her head is full of whispers. But she thinks that the next day these whispers will be silent.

 

Answer. The trees described in the first stanza are either decorative plants kept inside a house, or they are shown only in a painting or picture. Therefore, they are not useful for birds or insects. Birds cannot sit on their branches. Insects cannot hide in them.

 

Answer. The poetess is quite optimistic. The natural barriers to contain and subdue nature created by man will be broken. The trees which have been deprived of their natural habitat will struggle to free themselves from the clutches of man.

 

 

Answer. The poem ‘The Trees’ is based on the universal and age-long theme — the conflict between man and nature. Nature has endowed innumerous blessings on man. However, the greed, arrogance and foolishness of man have constantly tested the patience of otherwise peaceful nature. When nature can’t bear any more, it revolts and causes havoc on man in the form of storms, droughts and floods. Man’s greed leads to deforestation. Forests without frees have become a curse for birds, insects and even for the sun. This disaster can’t be redeemed.

Any attempt to subdue and control nature will end in failure. Uprooting trees from their original habitat, the forests and confining them to artificial glass houses will end in failure. The trees rise against the onslaughts of men and wage a long and hard struggle to liberate themselves from the bondage of man. Ultimately, they are victorious. They return to their original home where they should be. Nature asserts itself and repulses man’s attempt to exploit, subdue and tame it.