NCERT Solutions for English Chapter 5 The Trees Poem Class 10

Thinking About the Poem

1.

(i) Find, in the first stanza, three things that cannot happen in a treeless forest.

(ii) 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: 

(i) In a forest without trees, three things cannot happen: birds cannot sit on trees, insects cannot hide, and the sun cannot hide its rays in the forest's shadow.

(ii) The sun's "feet" refer to its rays touching the ground. Without trees, the rays fall directly on the ground because there are no shadows. In a forest with trees, the shadows from the trees cover the rays, making it look like the sun is hiding its feet in the shadows.

2. 

(i) Where are the trees in the poem? What do their roots, their leaves, and their twigs do?

(ii) What does the poet compare their branches to?

Ans: 

(i) In the poem, the trees are trapped inside the poet's house. Their roots work all night to break free from the cracks in the veranda floor. The leaves push hard against the glass, trying to break it, while the small twigs become stiff from the effort.

(ii) The poet compares the branches to patients just released from a hospital. The large branches are cramped under the roof, and when they get free, they rush outside quickly, looking half-shocked like patients who have waited a long time to leave the hospital.

3.

(i) How does the poet describe the moon: 

(a) at the beginning of the third stanza, and 

(b) at its end? What causes this change?

(ii) What happens to the house when the trees move out of it?

(iii) 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: 

(i) At the start of the third stanza, the poet describes the full moon shining in the clear night sky. By the end of the stanza, she says the moon looks like it's broken into pieces, shining on the tops of the tallest oak trees. As the trees sway, they block parts of the moon’s light, making it appear as though the moon has shattered into pieces.

(ii) When the trees move out of the house, the windows break, and the whispers of the trees disappear, leaving the house quiet.

(iii) The poet rarely talks about "the trees leaving the house" in her letters because people never cared about nature to begin with. The poet might think that no one would be interested in the trees' efforts to free themselves. If people cared about trees, they wouldn’t have harmed them. It seems only the poet can see and appreciate the beauty of the trees returning to the forest.

4. 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?

(i) 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’?

(ii) 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: Since a poem can have different meanings for different readers, and the poet can express two ideas with the same imagery, both interpretations are valid in the context of the poem:

(i) The poem shows a conflict between humans and nature. Humans often harm nature, not realizing they are harming themselves. Cutting down forests for resources has destroyed much natural beauty. By keeping trees inside walls and denying them their natural home, humans are taking away their freedom. That’s why the trees want to break free. Similarly, in the poem "A Tiger in the Zoo," the poet shows that animals feel trapped in cages and want to be free and wild in the open.

(ii) If trees are a metaphor for people, the poem could mean that humans, like trees, want to break free from life’s restrictions. Modern life, with all its comforts, has also led to moral decline. We have become busy, selfish, and greedy. People would also want to enjoy nature and be free, just like trees.

5. You may read the poem ‘On Killing a Tree’ by Gieve Patel (Beehive – Textbook in English for Class IX, NCERT). Compare and contrast it with the poem you have just read.

Ans: Contrast:

• 'On Killing a Tree' focuses on destruction, showing how humans harm nature, while 'The Trees' talks about renewal, with trees escaping confinement and returning to the forest.

• The tone of 'On Killing a Tree' is serious and reflective, highlighting the brutality of killing a tree. In contrast, 'The Trees' has a hopeful and liberating tone as the trees move out into the forest.

• 'On Killing a Tree' emphasizes the strength and resilience of nature against human actions, whereas 'The Trees' focuses on nature reclaiming its place and restoring balance.

Comparison:

• Both poems give trees human-like qualities and emotions.

• They highlight the complex relationship between humans and nature, but from different angles—destruction versus liberation.

• Both poems make readers think about how human actions affect the natural world and the inherent value of nature.

In summary, while 'On Killing a Tree' emphasizes the violence and effort involved in harming nature, 'The Trees' celebrates the resilience and liberation of nature as it seeks to restore itself. Both poems, through their unique perspectives, encourage readers to reflect on their relationship with the environment.

Benefits of NCERT Solutions for Chapter 5 The Trees Poem Class 10 English First Flight

• This Chapter helps students understand important ideas like freedom, being yourself, and how parents guide you, making these ideas easier to understand.

• Reading and studying the poem helps students feel what The Trees feels, making the poem more meaningful to them.

• By looking closely at the poem, students get better at thinking and understanding things, making them better readers.

• Enjoying how the poet writes and uses words helps students enjoy poetry and stories more.

• Thinking about the poem's ideas helps students think about their own lives and feelings, which helps them grow.

• Using these solutions helps students study for tests by explaining "The Trees" clearly, so they understand it well.

Conclusion

NCERT Solutions for Class 10 English Chapter 5 – The Trees gives students a clear and easy understanding of the poem's themes. These solutions, created by Vedantu experts, help students prepare well for exams, enjoy the poem's beauty, and connect deeply with the text. They also improve critical thinking and analytical skills, making learning both enjoyable and educational. The poem teaches us about the themes of freedom, nature’s strength, and the need to be independent. Download the FREE PDF prepared by Vedantu experts and start your journey successfully with Vedantu

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