MCQ
1. In the poem the killing of a tree is described as
i) a healthy exercise
ii) a woodcutter's job
iii) a deliberate act
iv) an innocent act ✔
2. To kill a tree
i) is not easy ✔
ii) takes a little time
iii) is a right thing
iv) is almost impossible
3. The word 'heal' means
i) hill
ii) Bail
iii) help
iv) cure ✔
4. A simple jab of the knife
i) can kill a tree
ii) can encourage a tree to grow
iii) cannot kill a tree ✔
iv) must be fatal to a tree
5. What is the theme of the poem 'On Killing a Tree'?
a) man's love for nature
b) man's cruelty towards nature ✔
c) man's indifference to nature
d) man's endeavor to protect nature
6. "Miniature boughs"-The word 'boughs' means
i) leaves
ii) Broods
iii) branches ✔
iv) stems
7. Which of the following set of expressions suggests that the tree is personified?
a) hack, chop, scorching
b) anchoring earth, earth-cave
c) leprous hide, bleeding bark, heal and sensitive ✔
d) green twigs, miniature boughs
8. What makes the poem 'On Killing a Tree' impressive?
a) conversational tone and logical sequence
b) brilliant image and personification
c) ironical treatment of the theme
d) all of these ✔
9. What does the movement from 'bleeding bark' to 'green twigs' symbolize?
a) the change from near-death to life ✔
b) the change from life to death
c) the change from life-giver to life-taker
d) the change from joy to sorrow
10. The 'browning' and 'hardening' of a tree is done in
a) a factory
b) a courtyard
c) the open air ✔
d) a shade
11. "In the sun and air,/Browning, hardening,/Twisting, withering" Here 'withering' means
a) weathering
b) shriveling ✔
c) wanting
d) breaking
12. The tone on which the poem 'On Killing a Tree' ends is
a) irony ✔
b) joy
c) tragedy
d) achievement
13. The form of the verse used in the poem 'On Killing a Tree' is
a) blank verse
b) free verse ✔
c) iambic pentameter
d) rhymed couplet
14. The poem 'On Killing a Tree' encodes the message that
a) killing a tree is an act of cruelty
b) killing of a tree is painful
c) trees cannot be killed so easily ✔
d) killing of a tree is an adventurous work
15. After uprooting, the tree is exposed
a) for sprouting leaves
b) for scorching and choking ✔
c) preparation of food
d) for revival
Short Question Answer
1. Where do the leaves sprout from?
Ans. The leaves sprout from the leprous hide of the tree.
2. What are the processes helped by the sun and air?
Ans. [ Ramakrishna Mission Boys' Home High School, Sahara] Ans. Scorching and choking of a tree are the processes helped by the sun and air.
3. What are the two final mechanisms done to the tree after which 'it is done'?
Ans. Twisting and withering are the two final mechanisms done to the tree after which 'it is done.
4. "And then it is done"-What act is referred to here?
Ans. The act of killing a tree completely is referred to here.
5. What makes 'On Killing a Tree' easy to read?
Ans. The easy conversational style makes the poem 'On Killing a Tree' easy to read. 'On Killing a Tree'
6. What scorch and choke the tree after it is pulled out?
Ans. After the tree is pulled out the sun and air scorch and choke the tree.
7. Which expressions suggest that the tree is personified in the poem, 'On Killing a Tree'? [On Killing a Tree'
Ans. Words and expressions such as, 'leprous hide, 'bleeding bark, 'heal, 'sensitive, etc. suggest that the tree is personified in the poem, 'On Killing a Tree' ['On Killing a Tree' 'leprous hide', 'bleeding bark', 'heal', 'sensitive'
8. In what verse-form is the poem 'On Killing a Tree' written? ['On Killing a Tree'
Ans. The poem, 'On Killing a Tree', is written in free verse. ['On Killing a Tree'
9. What human activity is really ironical in Grieve Patel's poem, 'On Killing a Tree'? 'On Killing a Tree'
Ans. The fact that man destroys nature that nourishes human civilization is really ironical .
10. What does the tree symbolize?
Ans. In Grieve Patel's poem, 'On Killing a Tree, the tree is a powerful symbol of life and its struggles as well as of nature that nourishes human civilization. 'On Killing a Tree'
Long Question Answer
1. How does a tree offer resistance to its destruction? How does its resistance fail?
Ans. A tree grows slowly by consuming the earth's nutrients and absorbing sunlight, air and water. But selfish greed and cruelty of man knows no bounds. At every stage of its growth and development a tree faces challenges and offers resistance to its destruction. Neither a jab nor hacking and chopping can kill a full-grown tree. Even if it is cut with powerful and cruel strokes, it feels pain but does not die. Its bleeding bark heals itself. Its trunk, from close to the ground, produces green twigs and small branches. And gradually it grows to its former size.
• But all its resistance fail when it is uprooted and cut off from anchoring earth. It has to give up when bare roots come out and as a result the life-supporting system fails. Then in the sun it is scorched and choked. Finally it goes through the process of browning, hardening, twisting and withering. Thus, ultimately the tree is killed.
2. Explain: "And then it is done". ["And then it is done”
Ans. In his poem 'On Killing a Tree, Grieve Patel gives a graphic description of the total destruction of a tree. Man realizes that neither a simple jab of the knife nor hacking and chopping can kill a tree. In order to kill a tree, it has to be uprooted. So the tree is roped, tied and pulled out. It is now cut off from the earth. Finally, in the presence of sun and air, the roots pass through the processes of scorching, choking, browning, hardening, twisting, withering. In this way, the killing of a tree is complete. This expression highlights man's satisfaction in destroying nature. Ironically , it shows how man glorifies his cruelty ['On Killing a Tree'
3. Why does the poet describe the killing of a tree in such graphic detail?
Or, Consider the poem, 'On Killing a Tree', as a telling commentary on one of the major environmental issues of the day.
Ans. The poet Grieve Patel has deep concern for environment. In the poem, 'On Killing a Tree, he treats trees as living organisms . He observes that man's greed and selfishness cause destruction of trees. So he raises his voice against reckless felling of trees. The images of violence that the poet uses in the poem show the poet's genuine love for trees. Words and expressions such as 'a simple jab of the knife', 'hack and chop, 'pain, 'bleeding bark, 'most sensitive' highlight the poet's heartfelt sympathy for trees. As a sensitive poet, Grieve Patel describes the killing of a tree in such a vivid manner as to evoke our sympathy for trees. Thus the poem denounces man's callousness towards the trees.
4. What message does Grieve Patel convey through the poem, "On Killing a Tree"?
Ans. Grieve Patel's poem 'On Killing a Tree' has a strong message. The poem wants to say that a tree is a very powerful organism. It is a living organism. It has life and feelings. The growth of a tree is no less than the growth of a human being, and the cutting down of a tree is nothing but killing a tree. The act of killing a tree is a blood-ridden business. This is an act of extreme brutality. A tree cannot be killed so easily. Man has to make a lot of violent effort to kill it. The tree tries to overcome all the bruises and wounds, all the violent attacks of man. Man continues the murderous actions till it is killed. When the tree is finally killed, man sees it as victory. But the irony is that humans are destroying the nature that nourishes the human civilization.
7. Explain the irony behind the meticulous act of killing a tree as depicted in the poem.
Ans. Grieve Patel's 'On Killing a Tree' is an excellent ironical poem. In the poem the work of cutting down a tree becomes a violent ritual. This ceremonial task of killing a tree is purely ironical as man kills his best friend in a triumphant manner. The last line of the poem says: "And then it is done." The line suggests that a great success is achieved in the end. This is nothing but a devastating success. It is an act of extreme brutality, a cold-blooded murder of a living thing. The title of the poem is 'On Killing a Tree' but at the outset of the poem the poet tells us how a tree grows up to its full feature. The tree grows slowly, consuming the earth and absorbing water, air and sunlight for years. It is the same sun that dries up and destroys the tree. The use of irony makes the poem interesting and rich in meaning.
8. How does the tree in 'On Killing a Tree' heal itself?
Ans. In the poem 'On Killing a Tree' the tree symbolizes nature. Nature is the best healer. The tree is a powerful living organism. It has great regenerative power. It has the unique power of healing wounds and attacks. A simple cut with the knife cannot make it dead. Its amazing vitality enables it to withstand the cuts and bruises. Man gives the tree much pain by hacking and chopping, but the act of hacking and chopping cannot kill it. The tree fights for life again. The bleeding bark heals its wounds. New leaves come out of its leprous hide. The small boughs grow into big branches and expand to its former size. In this way, the tree survives all odds and heals itself after a period of time.
EDITING BY--Liza Mahanta
