On Killing A Tree Short questions and answers: By Gieve Patel

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Q. On Killing A Tree by Gieve Patel. 

Short questions and answers for Class-XII(WBCHSE) and Class-IX(CBSE):

1.What, according to the poet, causes the bark of a tree to bleed in the poem 'On Killing A Tree'?

Ans- The hacking and chopping on the bark of the tree will lead to its bleeding.

2. Which part of the tree is the most sensitive, white and wet?

Ans- The source of the tree, the root, is the most sensitive, white and wet.

3. How does a tree grow?

Ans- A tree grows slowly consuming the earth, rising out of it, feeding upon the crust, absorbing Years of sunlight, air, water and sprouting leaves.

4. From where would the curled green twigs rise?

Ans- The curled green twigs, as mentioned in the poem, would rise from close to the ground.

5. "Not so much pain will do it" – Why will it fail to kill a tree?

Ans- To kill a tree it is necessary to pull out the roots completely from the earth cave. A mere hacking and chopping would not be painful enough to kill it.

6. Why does the poet use the word 'kill' instead of 'destroy'?

Ans- The tree in 'On Killing a Tree' is personified and so the word 'kill' is used instead of 'destroy'.

7. Why are the roots white?

Ans- The roots are white because they remain hidden in the earth without the touch of the sunlight.

8. What will happen to miniature boughs, if unchecked?

Ans- If unchecked, the miniature boughs would grow back to their former size.

9. '.. out from the earth-cave' --What does earth-cave mean here?

Ans- The hole created in the earth when the roots of the trees are pulled out is called the earth-cave here.

10. From which part of the tree do leaves sprout?

Ans- Leaves sprout from the leprous hide i.e. the rough skinned bark of the tree.

11. What has the tree consumed?

Ans- The tree has slowly consumed the nutrients from the earth for years.

12. How is the hide of the tree?

Ans- The hide or bark of the tree is leprous i.e, infected with leprosy. It means that the bark is rough.

13. 'And then it is done' --What act is referred to here?

Ans- The action of the systematic killing of a tree is referred to here.

14. What, if unchecked, will grow to former size?

Ans-  Miniature boughs, if unchecked, will grow to former size.

15. What remains hidden for years inside the earth?

Ans- The root, which forms the source of the tree remains hidden inside the earth for years.

16. What is the most sensitive part of a tree as described in the poem 'on KIlling A Tree'?

Ans- The root is the most sensitive part of a tree as described in the poem 'On Killing A tree'.

17. What is 'leprous hide'?

Ans- 'Leprous hide' refers to the rough bark of the tree which has turned pale and disfigured at many places.

18. What is the distinct tone at the end of the poem 'On Killing a Tree'?

Ans- The ending of 'On Killing a Tree' has a distinct tone of irony.

19. What finally kills the tree?

Ans- When the tree is pulled out along with its roots, it is finally killed.

20. How does a tree become strong?

Ans- A tree takes time to grow in the process absorbs nutrients, sunlight, air and water. Gradually it becomes strong.

21. Why does it take so much time to kill a tree?

Ans- A jab of a knife cannot kill a tree and it requires to be uprooted because the tree has grown strong by consuming nutrients and other things for several years. So it takes much time to kill a tree.

22. How do the roots look like when they are pulled out?

Ans- The roots when pulled out, look white and wet.

23. What scorch and choke the tree after it is pulled out?

Ans- The sun and air scorch and choke the tree after it is pulled out.

24. What does the expression 'consuming the earth' mean?

Ans- The expression suggests that the tree sucked nutrients and water from inside the earth.

25. Has the poet used any medical term in the poem?

Ans- The poet uses the pathological metaphor of a 'leper's skin' and 'knife' to denote a surgery of unwanted growth, here the tree.

26. What does the 'crust' mean?

Ans- The 'crust' is the outermost layer of the earth from where the 'leprous hide' of the tree grows?

27. What grows from the 'leprous hide' of the tree?

Ans- It is the leaves that grow from the 'leprous hide' of the tree.

28. What will a jab of knife fail to do?

Ans- A jab of the knife will fail to kill a tree completely. 

29. What are the processes required to kill a tree?

Ans- Hacking, chopping and uprooting and the scorching of the tree from anchoring earth are the processes required to kill a tree.

30. What is to be done with the root in the poem 'On Killing a Tree'?

Ans- The root has to be pulled out from the anchoring earth.

31. What is referred to as 'the strength of the tree' in the poem 'On Killing a Tree'?

Ans-  In the poem 'On Killing a Tree', the root is referred to as 'the strength of the tree'.

32. What does the expression 'anchoring earth' suggest?

Ans- As the tree remains tightly held with the help of roots to the earth, just like a ship tied to the ground with an anchor, it is called 'anchoring earth'.

33. Write two adjectives that describe the source of the tree.

Ans- "White' and 'wet' are the two adjectives that describe the source of the tree.

34. How can the roots be pulled out completely?

Ans- One needs to rope, tie and pull the root to pull it out completely from the earth-cave.

35. What are the two final mechanisms used against the tree after which 'it is done, completely?

Ans- The two final mechanisms are twisting and withering required to be used before 'it is done completely.

36. "The bleeding bark will heal."---How does a bleeding bark heal?

Ans- The "bleeding bark" heals with the gradual passage of time.

37. Pick out a line from the poem 'On Killing a Tree' which shows nature's resilience.

Ans- Nature's resilience can be witnessed in the line-"The bleeding bark will heal."

38. Where does the irony lies in the poem?

Ans- The irony is that human beings destroy the thing that helps in the development of human civilization.

39. What kind of action is killing of a tree considered?

Ans- The killing of a tree is considered a very cruel act.

40. What do you understand from the phrase "miniature boughs"?

Ans- "Miniature boughs"refer to very small branches.

41. What will be the form of the twigs when they rise from close to the ground?

Ans- The twigs will be curled and green when they rise from close to the ground.

42. What is the theme of the poem?

Ans- The theme of the poem is the harm that humans cause to their environment.

43. What is Gieve Patel voicing against in this poem "On Killing a Tree"?

Gieve Patel is voicing against deforestation in this poem.

44. What do you think makes 'On Killing a Tree' easy to read.?

Ans- The poem is written in free verse. The Conversational ease makes 'On Killing a Tree' easy to read.

45. "No, the root is to be pulled out"– What does 'no' signify?

Ans- The word 'no' denies all the possibilities of killing a tree by jabbing, hacking and chopping.

46. What does the 'green' in "curled green twigs" suggest?

Ans- The 'green' suggests the vivacity and vitality of the vibrating life.

47. Who is the poet of 'On Killing a Tree'?

Ans- Gieve Patel is the poet of 'On Killing a Tree'.

48. What are the steps through which a tree is completely killed after it is uprooted?

Ans- After the tree is uprooted, its roots are scorched, choked, browned, hardened, twisted and withered.

49. What verse-form does Patel use in 'On Killing a Tree'?

Ans- Patel has used free verse form in 'On Killing a Tree',

50. What figure of speech has been used in "leprous hide"?

Ans- "Leprous hide" is an example of personification.

51. What is the poet's observation on the speed of a tree's growth?

Ans- The poet's observation is that a tree grows slowly.

52. "Then the matter
     Of scorching and choking" --- What is meant by 'choking'?

Ans- "Choking' means suffocating(শ্বাসরোধী) by which we can kill a tree completely.

53. How will the bleeding bark heal?

Ans- The bleeding bark will heal by sprouting leaves from close to the ground.

54. What metaphor is suggested through bleeding bark?

Ans- Bleeding bark is a metaphor as it is compared to bleeding humans.

55. What does the word 'withering' mean?

Ans- By the word 'Withering', the poet  means drying up, one of the processes for killing a  tree.

 

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