CBSE Class 10 English Poem 7 The Trees Question Answers (Important) from First Flight Book
Class 10 English The Trees Question Answers – Looking for The Trees question answers (NCERT solutions) for CBSE Class 10 English First Flight Book Poem 7? Look no further! Our comprehensive compilation of important questions will help you brush up on your subject knowledge. Practising Class 10 English question answers can significantly improve your performance in the board exam. Our solutions provide a clear idea of how to write the answers effectively. Improve your chances of scoring high marks by exploring Poem 7: The Trees question answers now. The questions listed below are based on the latest CBSE exam pattern, wherein we have given NCERT solutions to the chapter’s extract based questions, multiple choice questions, short answer questions, and long answer questions.
Also, practising with different kinds of questions can help students learn new ways to solve problems that they may not have seen before. This can ultimately lead to a deeper understanding of the subject matter and better performance on exams.
Related:
The Trees NCERT Solutions
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:
- Birds sitting on the tree branches.
- The hiding of insects in the branches of trees
- 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 word 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 their 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 was like a voice urging for a change can no longer be smelt.
(3) Why do you think the poet does not mention “the departure of the forest from the house” in her letters? (Could it be that we are often silent about important happenings that are so unexpected that they embarrass us? Think about this again when you answer the next set of questions.)?
Ans: The poet did not mention the departure of the forest from her house because it is a part of human nature to ignore the important matters of their life. We all know that trees are so important for our survival on earth. But still human beings are cutting them for making profits without even thinking of the aftermath.
Q4- Now that you have read the poem in detail, we can begin to ask what the poem might mean. Here are two suggestions. Can you think of others?
a. Does the poem present a conflict between man and nature? Compare it with A Tiger in the zoo. Is the poet suggesting that plants and trees, used for ‘interior decoration’ in cities while forests are cut down, are ’imprisoned’ and need to ‘break out’?
Ans: Yes, the poem presents a conflict between man and nature. Man is causing deforestation by cutting down the trees for his own use. On the other hand, he decorates his house with the trees. We are damaging our environment without even thinking about the end results. By clearing up the forests, we are endangering ourselves. So is with the animals too. We are ruining their natural habitat and killing them for our fun or food but on the other hand, we are keeping them in the cages on the pretext of safeguarding them by making sanctuaries and zoos. So, it is true that we are in a direct conflict with nature and making the other living beings prisoners, be it the trees or animals.
b. On the other hand, Adrienne Rich has been known to use trees as a metaphor for human beings; this is a recurrent image in her poetry. What new meanings emerge from the poem if you take its trees to be symbolic of this particular meaning?
Ans: If trees are to be taken as a symbol for human beings, then the poem will define the efforts of humans to free themselves from the clutches of the desire to achieve everything. All the human beings are under a constant pressure of being at the top in every field. Either they are forced by their own desire of doing so or there is a constant peer pressure on them. So, the human beings will set themselves free from this race and try to live a happy and peaceful life.
The Trees Class 10 Poem extract-based questions
A. All night the roots work
to disengage themselves from the cracks
in the veranda floor.
The leaves strain toward the glass
small twigs stiff with exertion
long-cramped boughs shuffling under the roof
like newly discharged patients
half-dazed, moving
to the clinic doors.
1. Why are the roots trying to disengage themselves from the floor?
Ans The trees want to move out into the forest. So the roots are trying to free themselves.
2. “long-cramped boughs shuffling under the roof” indicates-
a. The trees are tired
b. The trees are restless
c. there is lack of space for the branches
d. The trees are energetic
Ans. c
3. Why are the branches like newly discharged patients?
a. They are still recovering
b. They want to go out
c. they are moving slowly like half dazed patients
d. None of these
Ans c
4. Who is moving towards the clinic doors?
a. The branches
b. the roots
c. the newly discharged patients
d. All of these
Ans c
5. Find a synonym of tired
Ans. Exertion
B. 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
the smell of leaves and lichen
still reaches like a voice into the rooms.
1. What is the rhyme scheme?
Ans. There is no rhyme, poem is in free verse
2. Find a synonym of hardly
Ans. Scarcely
3. Which figure of speech is used in the lines-
I sit inside, doors open to the veranda
writing long letters
in which I scarcely mention the departure
of the forest from the house.
a. Simile
b. Metaphor
c. Alliteration
d. None of these
Ans. c
4. The smell of leaves is compared to _________
a. Room
b. Voice
c. trees
d. roots
Ans. b
C. My head is full of whispers
which tomorrow will be silent.
Listen. The glass is breaking.
The trees are stumbling forward
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.
1. What does the breaking of the glass indicate?
Ans. It indicates that finally the trees have moved out into the forest
2. Who meets the trees?
a. Sky
b. night
c. moon
d. Wind
Ans. d
3. _________ is compared to the mirror
a. Tree
B. roots
C. branches
D. moon
Ans. d
4. State true or false
The branches of the tall oak tree break the moon like a mirror
Ans. True
D. “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.”
1. Which three things cannot happen in a treeless forest?
Ans. A forest is a natural habitat for numerous birds and insects. When forests are cleared no bird can make its nest, nor can insects hide in the bark of the trees and there’s nothing to shade the area from sunlight.
2. Why was the forest empty?
Ans. The forests were empty and devoid of trees because they were cut down to create land for cultivation and expansion of cities.
3. Which word here means ‘hide from view’ ?
Ans. In the given extract, ‘bury’ means to hide from view.
4. Name the poem and the poet
Ans. The poem ‘The Trees’ is written by Adrienne Rich.
E. “The forest that was empty all these nights
will be full of trees by morning.
All night the roots work
to disengage themselves from the cracks
in the veranda floor.”
1. Why did the birds not do?
Ans. The birds did not sit on the trees as there were no trees.
2. Why was the forest empty?
Ans. The forest was empty because there were no trees. It is so because humans have destroyed the forests for building cities and other uses.
3. What does ‘The trees are moving’ refer to?
Ans. 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.
4. What does “no insect can hide” mean ?
Ans. No insect can hide as there are no trees.
F. “The leaves strain toward the glass
small twigs stiff with exertion
long-cramped boughs shuffling under the roof
like newly discharged patients
half-dazed, moving
to the clinic doors.”
1. Why do the leaves strain towards the glass?
Ans. The leaves strain towards the glass to escape their captivity.
2. What are branches compared to?
Ans. Branches here are compared to patients.
3. What is the figure of speech in “Like newly discharged patients”?
Ans. Simile
4. Which word means the same as ‘leaves’?
Ans. Twigs
G. “I sit inside, doors open to the verandah
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
the smell of leaves and lichen
still reaches like a voice into the rooms.”
1. Find the word from the passage which means ‘hardly’.
Ans. The word is “scarcely”.
2. What is she doing?
Ans. She was writing long letters.
3. Where are the trees in the poem?
Ans. The trees are inside the house in the poem.
4. What do you mean by veranda?
Ans. Veranda means a platform with an open front built on the ground floor of a home.
5. What are lichens?
Ans. A lichen, or lichenised fungus, is actually two organisms functioning as a single, stable unit.
H. “My head is full of whispers
which tomorrow will be silent.
Listen. The glass is breaking.
The trees are stumbling forward
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.”
1. Why would the whispers be silent tomorrow?
Ans. The whispers will be silent because the trees will move outside to the forest.
2. Why are the trees stumbling?
Ans. The trees are stumbling because they hurry to move outside after breaking the glass.
3. Which word in the stanza means the same as ‘Quiet’?
Ans. The word is ‘Silent’.
4. Which poetic device has been used in the sixth line of the stanza?
Ans. Simile has been used using ‘like’ for comparison.
5. What is the significance of oak trees?
Ans. The oak is cherished across the world as a symbol of wisdom, strength and endurance.
Class 10 English The Trees Question Answers (including questions from Previous Years Question Papers)
In this post we are also providing important short answer questions from the poem The Trees for CBSE Class 10 Boards in the coming session. These questions have been taken from previous years class 10 Board exams and the year is mentioned in the bracket along with the question.
Q1. 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’. Secondly, the trees were exerted like patients, due to their effort that they had to put in order to be freed from the house.
Q2. 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 struggles 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.
Q3. 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 freedom. Humans, too, fight till the end and finally win.
Q4. The poet symbolizes women as 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 themselves 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.
Q5. 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.
Q6. 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 hardened and the boughs try to expand under the roof.
Q7. 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 trees and forests, is struggling to escape itself from the onslaughts of men to destroy it.
Q8. 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.
Q9. 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.
Q10. What happens to the house when trees move out of it? [CBSE 2017]
Ans. 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 lingers in the house like the voice of the trees. The roots of the trees would have left cracks in the veranda floor. The poet said that she could still smell the lichens and leaves in the house
Q11. 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.
Q12. 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.
Q13. How is the issue of deforestation raised in the poem “The Trees” ?
Ans. The poet uses ‘the trees’ to connote the significance of forests and raise the issue of ‘deforestation. People keep plants and trees in their homes and have the false impression that it can replace the lost forests. The poet uses the trees as symbolism to say that the issue of deforestation can be tackled only by planting trees.
Q14. Discuss the metaphors used in the poem “The Trees”.
Ans. Metaphor is a literary device used to represent a comparison without using the words “like” or “as”.
The poet uses ‘trees’ metaphorically to represent the helplessness of women in the patriarchal society. The metaphor extends throughout the poem and therefore the poem is a good example of ‘extended metaphor’.
The struggles of nature or trees to be freed from the confinements of man is compared to that of the women’s struggle for the same to get freedom from the men dominated society.
Q15. How does the poet describe the night? How does she feel?
Ans. It is night time. The night is fresh. In the open sky, the full moon is shining. The poet 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.
Class 10 The Trees Long Answer Questions Poem 7
Q1. 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 would 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 seem 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 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.
Q2. Sometimes moving out of a comfort space is extremely important for maturation and growth. Point out how Wanda Petronski moving into a big city was similar to the movement of the trees. [CBSE Q B, 2020- 21]
Ans. 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 by 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.
Q3. The poem ‘Trees’ appears to be about trees, environment, deforestation and afforestation. On a deeper level we discover that Adrienne Rich is expressing her concern about women and their emancipation. Elaborate with reference to the poem. [CBSE Q B, 2020-21]
Ans. In her poem ‘The Tree’ poetess Adrienne Rich subtly drives home the message about the importance of trees. Without trees, the birds would have no place to sit, insects would 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.
Q4. The trees in the poem stretch out their branches, break barriers and struggle hard to move out in the open in their natural environment. Analyse the efforts that one puts in to break away captivity and strive for freedom.
Ans. For anyone, freedom is much more important than any kind of comfort, growth or development. Even when we have all the riches in the world but no freedom, we do not really have anything. Freedom is the most wanted thing in this world. A bird in a golden cage also does not feel happy. When it is freed, it flies chirpy and happy. And those who live with bare minimum necessities but are able to live freely are always the happiest. Just like the trees in the poem, freedom is gained after a lot of effort. For example, the freedom movements of countries all around the world, where people give up their lives to get freedom.
Q5. 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.
Ans. In the conflict between man and nature, man has caused much harm to nature. With civilization, man has learnt to acquire a lot of material goods but forgotten the importance of nature and cut down large forests, killed animals, destroyed water bodies and done several other such acts. But man wrongly judges nature to be weak, , while nature is the most powerful.
No matter how technologically advanced we become, we can never prevent any natural disaster from taking place. Such destructive forms of nature like flood, earthquake, volcanoes, tornadoes, etc, teach man that the real power lies with nature and it can do anything. Moreover, natural calamities are a reminder to man that by spoiling nature, man is inviting threat to his peaceful existence as nature will lash back at man only in the form of more rains, global warming etc.
Q6. ‘Departure is painful’. So is the departure of the trees for the poet. What will happen after their departure?
Ans. 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 poet reveals that she will feel lonely after the trees’ departure.
Also See:
- The Trees Explanation, Summary
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- Class 10 English Complete Study Guide
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- Class 10 English First Flight book Prose word meanings
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- CBSE Class 10 English Important Questions (Chapter wise)
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- List of Poetic Devices in Class 10 Poems (Poem-wise)
- 10 Important Poetic Devices for Class 10