Q.6. Answer any one of the following questions in 100-120 words each:
(a) What is the theme of the poem 'On Killing a Tree'?
(
Answers
Answer:
The poet says that it takes much time to kill a tree. It cannot be done by a simple cut of a knife. The tree has grown gradually, and its roots have gone deep inside the soil. The tree got its nutrients from the earth and grew in the upward direction by absorbing years of sunlight, air and water. The leaves and branches of the tree sprouted from its bark and looked like a leprous disease.
The poet says that cutting and chopping of a tree by an axe is not enough to kill the tree. This will give pain to the tree, but it won’t be sufficient to destroy it. The sap flows out from the tree when it is cut or chopped. It is similar to human bleeding when they get wounded. The bark will heal itself with time. New branches will grow again and expand to their former size. Nature has the ability to recover itself.
In this stanza, the poet suggests how a tree can be killed. The tree was strongly held to the earth by its roots. So, to kill a tree, it’s root has to be uprooted from the ground. To do so, the tree has to be tied with a rope and to be pulled out completely from the earth cave. Here, the “Earth Cave” means the space which is created in the earth by uprooting the tree. The power of the tree lies in its roots, and it’s the main component of the tree. When the life source of the tree, i.e. roots are exposed, the tree will die. The poet has described the roots as white and wet because the white liquid flows out from the tree when the roots are pulled out. These roots are the most sensitive and hidden part of the tree which were inside the earth for many years.
In this stanza, the poet has explained the condition of the tree after its roots have been uprooted. He says that the tree will gradually dry up due to the hot heat of the sun and wind. It will not be able to breathe and transport of nutrients will stop as its roots will be pulled out. The trunk of the tree will become brown and will harden. With time, the tree will dry and bend out of shape. Finally, the tree will die.