The trees

Short Answer Type

1. In the poem “The Trees”, the poet compares the trees to “newly
discharged patients”. Highlight any two reasons for the same. [CBSE Q
B, 2020-21]
Ans. In the poem, the poet compares the ‘trees’ to ‘newly discharged patients’.
Firstly, the trees were enslaved inside the house like patients in the hospital.
Secondly, the trees were exerted like patients, due to their effort that they had
to put in order to be freed from the house.

2. The process of “moving out” was tedious for the trees. Support the
statement with reference to the poem. [CBSE Q B, 2020-21]
Ans. Every part of the confined trees rises in revolt and struggle hard to free
itself. The roots and leaves struggle to come out of the glass. Small twigs
become hard due to over work and the long-cramped boughs are trying to break
open the roof. So ‘moving out’ is tedious for trees.
3. The trees have been shown to have human qualities in the poem.
Justify the statement with any two instances from the text. [CBSE Q B,
2020-21]
Ans. The trees have shown some human qualities in the poem. The way they
struggled to get themselves free from the boundary of the house is similar to
the struggle of the oppressed people who are deprived of their freedom.
Similarly, the trees did not give up when enslaved and were determined like
humans to get the freedom. Humans, too, fight till end and finally win.
4 The poet symbolizes women as of forests, not trees. What does this
suggest? [CBSE Q B, 2020-21]
Ans. It is shown in the poem that Nature represented by trees and forest, is
struggling like women to escape itself from the onslaughts of man to destroy it.
The victorious march of the trees is a message of hope that nature can’t be
tamed or subdued by the arrogance of man. In the same way women have been
struggling to liberate from the bondage of men under patriarchal social norms
and they are also succeeding bit by bit. One day the women would have their
due natural realm of freedom as the trees succeeded in finding their due natural
home.
5. Change never comes easy. Justify the quote in the context of the
poem “The Trees”. [CBSE Q B, 2020-21]

Ans. It is true that change never comes easy. In the poem ‘The Trees’, the trees
of the forest were cut down by man for selfish purposes. The forest was turned
into a barren land as the trees were captivated inside the house. However, the
trees struggled really hard to free themselves from the confines of the house
and return to their natural habitat, i.e., forest.
6. The forest undergoes tremendous transformation overnight. Discuss
with reference to the poem “The Trees” [CBSE Q B, 2020-21]
Ans. The roots of these trees are engaged into the cracks of the veranda floor.
At night, these roots try to free themselves from the cracks. The leaves try to
move towards the glass. Twigs become harden and the boughs try to expand
under the roof
7. The poet uses trees as a symbol for women breaking patriarchal
notions. Do you agree? Why/Why not? [CBSE Q B, 2020-21]
Ans. Indeed, the poet uses trees as a symbol for women breaking patriarchal
notions. In a male dominated society, women are in bondage. They are
struggling to free themselves. Similarly, nature representing tree and forests, is
struggling to escape itself form the onslaughts of men to destroy it.
8. The poem ends on a note of victory. Justify with reference to the
literal and symbolic meaning. [CBSE Q B, 2020-21]
Ans. The poem emphatically portrays the determined and concerted efforts to
get liberated from unnatural bondage for a natural home. Each and every part of
the tree rises against the slaughtering 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.
In the literal sense, the poem ends with the trees successfully returning back to
their natural habitat, i.e., the forest. However, symbolically, it ended with the
victory of women to get themselves free from the confines of the patriarchal
society and domination of man.

9. Why is the poet writing long letters? Why does she not mention the
departure of the trees? (CBSE 2019)
Ans. The poet is writing long letters probably to keep herself busy in some
activity. She does not mention the departure of the trees in her long letters
because she doesn’t want anyone to know that the trees inside her house are
rebelling and fighting their way out to reach the forest. The trees struggle
silently at night to break free from their captivity when no one is watching them.
She wants the trees to be liberated and be one with nature where they belong.
Therefore, she feels that it is best not to say a word about it to anybody.
10. What happens to the house when trees move out of it? [CBSE 2017]
Ans. When the trees move out of it, the doors remain open. The moonlight, the
smell of the leaves, and lichen enter the rooms.
Ans. by a Topper: When the trees move out, the glass walls break due to the
efforts of various parts of the tree (leaves, twigs) to escape. The smell of lichens
and leaves still linger in the house like a voice of the tree. The roots of the trees
would have probably also left cracks in the veranda floor. The poet said that she
could still strongly smell the lichens and leaves in the house.
11. What are the three things that can’t happen in a treeless
forest? [CBSE Delhi, 2017]
Ans. The three things that cannot happen in a treeless forest are—the sitting of
a bird on trees, the hiding of insects and the sun burying its feet in the shadow
of the forest.
12. In the poem ‘Trees’, where are the trees? What are their roots,
twigs, etc. trying to do? [CBSE 2017]
Ans. The trees are inside the house. The roots, leaves, twigs, etc. all are trying
to make an escape from the house. The roots disengage themselves from the
cracks in the veranda floor, leaves strain towards the glass, small twigs and
boughs move to the doors. The trees work all night to move to the forest. The
leaves exert a lot of force on the glasses to break them and twigs become stiff
with exertion. The poet wants to give the message that keeping the trees inside
homes is like keeping them in a prison.
Long Answer Type
1. What message does Adrienne Rich want to convey through the Poem
“The Trees”. [CBSE 2020]
Ans. In the poem ‘The Trees’, the poet Adrienne Rich subtly gives the message
about the importance of trees for everyone. Without trees, the birds would not
get a place to sit, insects will have no place to hide and the sun would not bury
its feet in shadow. We enjoy looking at the saplings as they beautify our
surroundings. But slowly as the saplings grow into the trees, they spread their
roots, their branches and leaves and seems to yearn to go outside where they
can live and grow without any restrictions. Then the trees no longer look
attractive indoors. The trees are however, welcomed into the nature by strong
winds and the moon. The author hereby emphasizes that the trees need to be
kept alive, by not imprisoning them inside the house for the mere reason that
they look beautiful indoors.
2. Sometimes moving out of a comfort space is extremely important for
the maturation and growth. Point out how Wanda Petronski’s moving
into a big city was similar to the movement of the trees. [CBSE Q B,
2020-21]
In the poem ‘The Trees’, the trees were deprived of their comfort zone of being
into the forest. After their freedom was snatched away by man, they were
helpless in the confines of a house. However, this movement of the trees out of
their comfort zone, made them truly determined and strong. In captivity, they
struggled too hard to get out of the house and return to their natural habitat.
They finally became free as a result of their efforts.

Similarly, Wanda became extremely strong and outspoken as soon as she

moved out to a big city. Earlier in the school, Wanda was made fun of because
of her dull dress and different name. She kept quiet as she was an introvert. She
was also embarrassed of the bullying that she had to go through in the school.
However, when she moved to the big city, no one made fun of her different
name. This enhanced her self-confidence and she became outspoken, a face
clear from the letters she wrote to her previous class teacher, Miss Mason.

3. The poem ‘Trees’ appears to be about trees, environment,

deforestation and afforestation. On a deeper level we discover that
Adrienne Rich is expressing her concerned about women and their
emancipation. Elaborate with reference to the poem. [CBSE Q B, 2020-21]
In her poem ‘The Tree’ poetess Adrienne Rich subtly drives home the message
about the importance of tree. Without trees, the birds would have no place to
sit, insects will have no place to hide and the sun would not bury its feet in
shadow. The trees do not look attractive indoors. The poetess 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.

On the deeper level, we discover that Adrienne Rich her concern about women
and their emancipation. The liberation of the crushed 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. The victorious march of the trees gives a
message of hope that mature can’t be tamed or subdued by the onslaughts and
arrogance of man.