Extra Questions for On Killing a Tree Poem Class 9

English

On Killing a Tree Important Questions Class 9 Beehive English

Short Answer Type Questions

Question 1. What should we do to kill a tree permanently?

Answer

To kill a tree permanently we should take out its root from the earth.

Question 2. What should be done to the roots or a tree?

Answer

The roots of a tree should be snapped and taken out of the earth.

Question 3. How does a tree become strong?

Answer

A tree feeds on the earth’s crust, consuming nutrients from the earth. The tree also absorbs
years of sunlight, air and water. This makes it strong.

Question 4. What is the central idea of this poem?

Answer

The central idea of this poem is that the uprooting of trees is not easy. Actually, his act is
quite painful. In the same way, the human soul never dies. The poem beautifully expresses
that before killing trees, we have to cause injury to them. The human soul is also difficult to
be killed but external vagaries can mutually damage it. Like human souls, trees can also feel
pain and suffering.

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Question 5. What is the meaning of “bleeding bark”? What makes it bleed?

Answer

Bleeding bark suggests the wound on the tree that is caused by hacking or chopping the
tree. When the branches of a tree are chopped off, the tree bleeds as the sap can be seen to
flow. It expresses the pain of a tree.

Question 6. Can a “simple jab of the knife” kill a tree? Why not?

Answer

Simple jab of a knife can certainly not kill a tree. It can merely injure it and cause its sap to
ooze out like blood. The real-life of a tree comes from the roots that provide it nourishment
and firmly hold it.

Question 7. How does the tree heal itself?

Answer

The tree is equipped with a power to heal itself. When a tree is hacked or chopped, leaves
sprout from the wounded bark. From close to the ground curled green twigs rise. Miniature
boughs expand again to their former size. The tree, in time, grows back to its former size.

Question 8. What is meant by ‘years of sunlight, air, and water’?

Answer

Years of sunlight, air, and water means that the tree takes years together to grow up fully. In
this course of time, it draws energy from sunlight, air and water.

Question 9. Why does it take so much time to kill a tree?

Answer

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It is not easy to kill a tree simply by hacking or chopping it. The tree has deep roots which
give birth to tiny twigs and branches which help the tree attain its old stature. For a tree to be
killed, the root has to be uprooted, and it has to be scorched and choked in sun and air. This
process takes much time and it requires a lot of effort.

Question 10. What will rise from ‘close to the ground’? Why?

Answer

Curled green twigs and miniature boughs will rise from the stump of the tree that is close to
the ground. They will rise because the tree rejuvenates and revives itself as long as its root is
intact.

Question 11. The poet uses several images of death and violence in the poem. Can
you list them?

Answer

The images of death are “hack, chop, scorching, choking, browning, hardening, twisting and
withering”. The words that show violence are “roped, tied, pulled out and snapped out
entirely from the earth’s crust”.

Question 12. The bark of the tree is described the ‘leprous hide’. Bring out the irony in
the fact that the leprous hide sprouts leaves?

Answer

The poet describes the broken, discoloured bark of a tree that has been hacked and which
resembles a leper’s skin. Leaves grow from the leprous hide or the bark of the tree. This is
ironic because leprosy usually eats away the body. It does not promote growth. But, here,
the leprous hide has been depicted as a source of growth.

Question 13. What is ‘the most sensitive’ part of the tree? What is it sensitive to and
why?

Answer

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The root of the tree is its most sensitive part. It is sensitive to the heat and vagaries of
weather on the open surface of the earth. It is so because it remains hidden safely under the
earth.

Question 14. Explain the meaning of “anchoring earth” and “earth cave”?

Answer

“Anchoring earth” refers to the earth under which the roots of a tree are held firmly, thereby
providing strength and nourishment to it. “Earth cave” refers to the hollow space in the earth
where the roots were which have now been pulled out. The poet calls it so, as the roots,
which are the most sensitive part of the tree, stay hidden securely under the earth.

Question 15. How is the problem of deforestation raised in the poem?

Answer

Deforestation can be said the important theme of the poem. In our time’s deforestation has
become a major issue. Forests are being cleared off to make doors, windows, furniture, and
fuel. This act has adversely affected our ecosystem. The poet seems to be an
environmentalist and his urge to save trees is felt in the whole poem.

Question 16. How do the roots look like when they are pulled out?

Answer

The real strength of the tree lies in its roots, which are held underground by the anchoring
earth. When the roots are pulled out, they are white and wet.

Question 17. Why does the poet describe the killing of a tree in such graphic detail?

Answer

Gieve Patel treats the tree as a living organism. He feels that the tree should not be denied
the right to live. He, therefore, describes the killing of a tree in such graphic detail as to
evoke sympathy to trees. According to him, to hurt a tree is akin to hurting a human being.

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Long Answer Type Questions

Question 1. Bring out the sarcasm in the poem On Killing a Tree.

Answer

“On Killing a Tree” is a sarcastic poem about man’s indiscriminate destruction of trees. The
tree is presented as an enemy to man. The poem begins ironically, describing the crime
committed by the tree. For years, it has consumed the earth’s crust. Like a thief, it has
absorbed sunlight, air and water. It has grown up like a giant. So the tree must be killed. But
it is not an easy task. A simple jab of knife will not do it. From close to the ground it will rise
up again. To kill it, the tree should be tied with a rope and pulled out from the anchoring
earth, exposing its bleeding white root. Once the root withers and chokes, the tree will die.

Question 2. What would happen if the tree is hacked and chopped?

Answer

If the tree is hacked and chopped and left as such with the root of the tree neither dugout nor
injured, the root will continue to provide nourishment to the stump of the tree. This stump will
then be covered with tender twigs that will sprout out of its surface. If these twigs are not
pruned or hacked or chopped, they will keep on growing and eventually, with the passage of
time, the tree will grow to its original size. The wounded bark of the tree will get healed and
the tree will be as big as it was earlier. The threat to its life will be overcome and hacking or
chopping will fail to kill the tree. The safe root will rescue and resuscitate the tree and help it
to regain its lost glory.

Question 3. What is the theme of the poem On Killing a Tree?

Answer

The main theme of the poem is deforestation. The poet emphasises that killing trees is not a
simple task. Merely cutting the branches or the stem of a tree will not serve the purpose. The
tree clings on to life with great tenacity, as it fights all odds and grows back again. He
highlights the cruelty with which humans try and destroy trees by describing in detail the
painstaking process required to destroy or kill a tree, using images of violence, as if it were a
cold -blooded murder.

The roots of the tree will have to be pulled out and dried in the sun so that the tree ultimately
dies. Thus, the poet seems to be revere Mother Nature and suggest that it will take a lot of
effort and planning to destroy an organism rooted in nature than a simple “jab of knife.”

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Question 4. What relationship does the tree have with the earth?

Answer

A tree has a deep relationship with the earth. It owes its very existence to the earth. The
seed germinates in the womb of the earth and the baby plant sprouts out over the surface of
the earth. The tree draws nutrients for it from the soil. It is the earth that gives it support to
stand erect and protects it from falling. Giving a firm grip to its roots, the earth gives it ground
to grow and assume a massive size. The earth keeps the roots of the tree concealed,
protecting it from exposure to sunlight and air which can prove to be very injurious for its
existence. Thus, the earth helps a tree right from its birth to its survival. Even a chopped tree
grows again out of the stump and gains the original, big size because the earth supports it.

Question 5. Justify the title of the poem ‘On Killing a Tree’.

Answer

The title, ‘On Killing a Tree’ is ironical, and is apt and justified. The tree has been personified
by the poet Gieve Patel. He laments the deforestation that is taking place. The poet says that
the act of killing a tree is a ceremonial task. The tree grows up consuming nutrients from the
soil and absorbing sun, air and water and becomes stronger.

A simple jab with a knife, or hacking and chopping cannot kill a tree, because the tree will
regenerate. To kill a tree, the roots have to be pulled out of the anchoring earth, exposed to
the sunlight and air for scorching and choking. The act of killing a tree becomes complete
when the tree becomes completely withered and dies.

Question 6. How does a tree grow up?

Answer

A tree takes years together to grow to its full size. After sprouting out from the surface of the
earth from a seed it grows gradually. Its root nurtures it by drawing nutrients from deep under
the earth. Sunlight, air, and water further nourish it. Out of its bark, tender green branches
shoot out and leaves grow all over them. After a long span of time, the tree stands so strong
and sturdy that it can survive even the wounds inflicted with a knife. In fact, chopping and
hacking are not sufficient to kill it as the wounds get healed. Branches appear again even
from the stump and in due course attain their original size. As long as the root of the tree
remains intact under the earth, the tree keeps growing.

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