Download Q1. What are the main themes of the poem, “On Killing A Tree”? Ans:

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Q1. What are the main themes of the poem, “On Killing A Tree”? Ans: The main themes of the poem “On Killing A Tree” are: •To create a new awareness in the minds of people that trees are as much living creatures as animals. •To reflect the urgency with which steps need to be taken to conserve the environment, in order to ensure that the Earth remains an inhabitable planet that can sustain Life. Q2. What should we do to stop the planet from heading towards destruction? Ans: We humans should look after the tress around us and take strident steps to preserve the environment, so that we can prevent the sure and certain disaster of our planet. Q3. Name some of the themes that Patel deals with in his poems. Ans: Patel’s poetry deals primarily with the gross inequalities of the social structures in India, the violence and pain that continue to be a part of human existence, and in this particular poem, Man’s misconceptions with regard to Nature. Q4. What kind of images does the poet make use of? Ans: Much of the imagery is borrowed from the human body, and skin, leprosy, veins, roots, all evoke striking pictures in the mind of the reader, as the physical body is something that everyone is acutely aware of. Q5. Why does the poet use shocking images in his poem? Ans: Patel uses images to describe the killing of a tree that are violent and resemble the act of murder in order to shock people who do not think of the killing of plants as being acts of violence at all. They are complacent in their perspective, believing that only the killing of animals represents death. Q6. According to the poet, why does this misconception exist? Ans: According to the poet, this misconception exists because people do not think of plants as having the same quality of life as animals. Through this poem, Patel seeks to show vividly that trees are as much a part of Life, as much alive as any animal and as such, killing trees requires the same intensity and violence, as killing animals. The poet uses clinical terminology to describe the act of killing a tree , and makes it closely resemble the deliberate act of killing an animal. Q7. Describe “On Killing A Tree” as a Conservation Poem. Ans: “On Killing a Tree’ may be seen as a conservation poem, because it goes to great lengths to bring home through dramatic images the urgency of the need to stop the de-­‐forestation that is changing climactic patterns and brining in the Green House effect, which potentially, may endanger life itself on the planet Earth, through the phenomenon of Global Warming. Q8. In what way does the poet describe the relationship between trees and the air? Ans: The tree establishes a wonderful give and take relationship with the atmosphere, taking what it needs, while giving back what the atmosphere requires. In all of Nature, the poet seems to suggest that we witness the mutually interdependence of its aspects. Q9. According to the poet, why is not easy to kill a tree? Ans: It is not so easy to kill a tree because the tree has grown over a period of time, taking in from the earth, sun, air, and water. One will not succeed in doing so by just a “jab”, a stoke of a knife. It has been nourished by the very elements of existence, earth, wind, water and air. So, in pitting himself against a tree, in a sense, a human pits himself against all these elements that have invested their strength in the tree. That’s why it’s not so easy to kill. Q10. How does the poet contrast the behavior of trees in relation to Nature, with that of humans? Ans: The poet lends a beautiful poetic interpretation to the scientific process wherein plants breathe in carbon-­‐dioxide by day for photosynthesis to take place, producing sugars or glucose for its energy, then releasing oxygen into the atmosphere, as a by-­‐ product. By comparison, human behavior is very thoughtless towards Nature, taking whatever it requires whilst giving nothing in return. So, although humans are enriched by Nature, they leave nature impoverished . Q11. According to the poet, will Man get away with this attitude towards Nature? Ans: No, the poet says that the worst hit will be Humans themselves, for the negative effects of their plunder of Nature will be worst felt by people themselves. Q12. Why do men who hesitate to kill animals, feel no remorse to kill trees? Ans: The poet feels that there is never any consciousness of the extent to violence involved in killing a tree, perhaps because the blood that oozes out of plants and trees is not red. It does not have the same effect on them. It leaves humans un-­‐moved. It does not touch them. Q13. Why do men get after the root to destroy it? Ans: Man, recognizing that the root is the thing that connects the tree to Life itself, attacks the roots. As the part of the tree that ‘anchors’ or keeps the tree planted, the root is pulled out, snapped or dug out completely, from the earth where it once hid. Q14. Write a few lines on the image of Mother Earth as used by the poet. Ans: Earth is here portrayed as a ‘cave’ or Mother Earth, the cave being symbolic of the womb. While the root remains hidden in the cave of Mother Earth, even though Man may attack the tree, his reach is limited. He may chop off the leaves and the branches, but so long as the root is safe within the earth, the tree will not be seriously injured or damaged. At some point Man seems to get this, and so He targets the part of the tree that holds the secret connection between the source of Life and the tree, the root. Q15. What is the significance of the phrase “It is done” at the end of the poem? Ans: Then the poet concludes the poem with the phrase: “It is done.” That brief statement encompasses the triumphant tone of the humans who have at last succeeded in killing the tree. Success to them is the death of the tree. It hasn’t been easy, but it has been accomplished! Q16. Name some of the important issues that Patel wants to draw our attention to, in this poem. Ans: Through the poem “On Killing A Tree” Give Patel seeks to draw our attention to the very real predicament of Global Warming which is the result of unhindered de-­‐forestation of all the forest reserves of the world. The world is already facing the impact of this thoughtless felling of trees: it has caused the change of climatic conditions, increased flooding, unseasonal rain, and unprecedented droughts, rising temperatures world-­‐wide, melting of ice caps that could lead to inundation of low lying areas and the destruction of the natural habitats of several species, which will eventually lead to their extinction. Q17. What lessons can we learn from Gieve Patel’s poem, “On Killing A Tree”? Ans: The poem “On Killing A Tree” is Patel’s wake-­‐up call to the citizens of the 21st century to think again, before they heartlessly chop trees. It’s time to become conscious of the irreversible damage we are un-­‐thinkingly doing to our home planet, Earth. It’s also time to take a more holistic view of Life on Earth and not consider trees and plants to be lower life forms that it is ok to treat without compassion, but rather as equally important aspects of Nature. Only this change in attitude can ensure that our beautiful green planet will continue to be inhabitable for our future generations.