ON KILLING A TREE - GIEVE PATEL - BBA - SEMESTER - I - SUMMARY / QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

 

ON KILLING A TREE

GIEVE PATEL

 

The poem "On Killing a Tree" looks at the method involved with cutting down trees to submitting an act of murder. The poet presents this view in an unexpected and mocking tone. The poem experienced with the statement that killing a tree takes a lot of time. The poem opens with the explanation that killing a tree requires some investment. It is impossible simply by a cut of the blade on the grounds that the tree grows up to be exceptionally strong throughout some stretch of time, slowly drawing nourishment from the earth, the sun, the air and the water. Its bark looks dull and discolored yet fresh leaves continue to rise up out of it. A tree can't be destroyed with a couple of cuts and blows. The pain brought about by the hacking and slashing isn't to the point of killing it. Its harmed and mangled bark would fix after some time and delicate, green twigs will ascend from its hacked base. On the off chance that these little limbs are not cut, they will before long accomplish the first size of the tree. As per the poet, the real interaction that can kill a tree includes cruelty and heartlessness. The base of the tree is to be pulled out from the earth which is holding it safely. It is to be torn up by intense pulling and snapping. This root is the true strength of the tree. It is sensitive to heat and light as it stays concealed under the earth for a really long time. Consequently, it is to be allowed to remain uncovered till it evaporates and prevents drawing supplements from the dirt for the tree. At the point when allowed to stay uncovered to sun and air, the root bit by bit dries, withers and hardens. Life drains out of it and the tree is at long last killed.

 

1) Can a “simple jab of the knife” kill a tree? Why not?

Ans: No, a simple jab of knife cannot kill the tree. It has to go through various processes.

 

2) How has the tree grown to its full size? List the words suggestive of its life and activity.

Ans: The tree has grown to its full size when the tree consumes the earth, and rises out it feeding upon its crust. It absorbs years of sunlight, air and water.

3) What is the meaning of “bleeding bark”? What makes it bleed?

Ans: ‘Bleeding bark’ means the twigs which are cut mercilessly. They leave a liquid substance. In the same way the liquid substance comes out from the branch of a tree.  If any part of the human body is cut, it starts bleeding. The human beings’ axe makes it bleed.

 

4) The poet says “No” in the beginning of the third stanza. What does he mean by this?

Ans: The poet says ‘No’ in the beginning of the third stanza as she uses to emphasize the perspective that chopping or hacking will not be sufficient for killing a tree.

 

5) What is the meaning of “anchoring earth” and “earth cave”?

Ans: The phrase “anchoring earth” means that the earth protects it like a mother. And the phrase “Earth Cave” implies a hole inside it. The tree allows its roots to spread underneath. The earth protects it and fosters it.

 

6) What does he mean by “the strength of the tree exposed”?

Ans: “The strength of the tree exposed” means the root is the strength of a tree. When the tree is pulled out, its strength is exposed.

 

7) What finally kills the tree?

Ans: The tree finally kills when the roots of the tree pulled out from the earth and scorching and choking it in the sun and air kill the tree. It becomes brown, dry and gets hard.

 

8) How does a tree become strong?

Ans: The tree becomes strong as a tree grows on earth, feeds on its crust, and absorbs years of sunlight, air and water.

 

9) How do the sun and the air contribute in the killing of a tree?

Ans: The sun and the air solidify and shrink the exposed roots of the tree and kill it. The sun and the air are the two fundamental components that assistance in the growth of a tree. Passed on to themselves, they won't ever kill a tree. In any case, assuming the roots are exposed and kept in the sun and air, the tree will wilt away and die.

 

10) What is the most important thing to do while killing a tree?

Ans: The most important thing to do while killing a tree is to ensure that the root is pulled out of the earth.

 

11) How the tree gets killed in the end?

Ans: The tree gets killed in the end when the roots are exposed, scorched and choked, the process of dying start but a tree takes a long time to get it killed.

 

12) Describe the growth and expansion story of a tree.

Ans: The story of growth and extension is steady and purposeful. The seed is planted into the earth. It sprouts. It grows gradually consuming the earth. It benefits from its crust. Following quite a while of engrossing daylight, air and water of the climate, it grows into a tree. Its sprouts leaves and branches making it colossal in size.

 

13) Describe the healing power of a tree that doesn’t allow it to die so soon.

Ans: It requires some time to kill a tree. Nature gifts each tree with a healing touch that will not permit it to die. In the event that we cut the bark with a blade, the draining bark will mend. Then, at that point, from close to the ground green twigs will show up. Assuming it is left unchecked, the tree will grow again to its previous size.

 

14) Describe various processes that lead to the ultimate death of a rootless tree.

Ans: The roots are the most delicate parts concealed in the earth for a really long time. The tree gets air and water through them. Whenever a tree is removed, it follows specific strides till it at long last finally dies. It goes, through scorching and gagging in the sun and air. Browning, solidifying, curving and shrinking are the process that lead to a definitive demise of a tree.

 

PARAGRAPH QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

1) How does the poet describe the growth of a tree?

Ans: The actual poem is demonstrated as a plant growing from the seed. The main line states "It takes much time to kill a tree." Then the course of growth of the tree is portrayed. It is assumed that the tree has grown from its seed. The seed fosters the root. The root manages the stones and rocks of the dirt. The trees grow gradually by taking care of upon the worlds outside retaining long stretches of daylight, air and water. There is a battle during the development of the tree which is proposed in the poem.

 

2) Describe the pulling out of the roots and the various processes of withering and dying of a tree after it.

Or

Describe the process of cutting a tree as described in the poem.

Ans: The roots are the most sensitive parts of a tree. They stay concealed inside the earth for a really long time. First root is to be pulled out of the anchoring earth. It is roped tied and pulled out completely. The strength of the tree is completely uncovered. Then, at that point, begins the method involved with scorching and choking. The rootless tree is singed in the daylight. It is stifled as it doesn't get essential oxygen for its endurance from the air. Then, at that point, the color blurs and hardens. It loses its legitimate shape. It curves and shrinks. At long last, it dies.

 

3) After reading the poem, what similarities can we draw between trees and some great people of yesteryears?

Ans: Trees go on live on for quite a long time. There are a few trees in the Amazon forest which are supposed to be in excess of 500 years of age. We might take a few examples from them to spread our underlying foundations somewhere inside the earth. There had been a few extraordinary people who actually live in our memories. They had spread their roots inside our consciousness and subsequently decline to bite the dust. The hidden root gives all the food to a tree. One needs to snap this source of life to kill a tree.

 

4) Write the critical appreciation of the poem ‘On Killing a Tree’

Ans: Gieve Patel's poem "On Killing a Tree" is more profound than the title would pass on one to accept. While the depiction of a tree being killed is given, it is legitimate that Patel is talking about something totally different. In this manner, the poem would be a metaphorical one. The poem, overall, addresses the way that it is harder to kill a tree than a simple jab of the knife. In the end, killing a tree is truly harder. One should pull the tree out by the roots, expose the strength of the tree and permit the sun and the air to choke the life out of it.

Therefore, in a basic investigation, one should understand that Patel isn't just talking about killing a tree. All things being equal, the poet is showing the challenges one should face while attempting to bring out sentiments or feelings which lie somewhere inside. It isn't until one can expose the feelings, for what they truly are, that one can "kill" them. The poet is flawlessly composed. It gives a figurative picture to the strength that it takes to free one's self of profoundly covered sentiments and feelings. Starting to expose the "tree" won't kill it.

Patel's poet gives wonderfully fair language and symbolism, while additionally giving perfectly conscious exacting and figurative meanings. Fundamentally, the poet addresses the genuine significance of what the poet wished to pass on to the reader without being barefaced with the message. Patel, clearly, needs to interface with readers who read something other than the surface.