This process leads to the browning, hardening, twisting and thereby, withering of the roots. The tree is killed when its roots are uprooted and they get scorched and choked in sunlight and air. The poet calls it so, as the roots, which are the most sensitive part of the tree, stay hidden securely under the earth. “Earth cave” refers to the hollow space in the earth where the roots were which have now been pulled out. “Anchoring earth” refers to the earth under which the roots of a tree are held firmly, thereby providing strength and nourishment to it. But, here, the leprous hide has been depicted as a source of growth.Įxplain the meaning of “anchoring earth” and “earth cave”? This is ironic because leprosy usually eats away the body. Leaves grow from the leprous hide or the bark of the tree. The poet describes the broken, discoloured bark of a tree that has been hacked and which resembles a leper’s skin. Bring out the irony in the fact that the leprous hide sprouts leaves? The bark of the tree is described the ‘leprous hide’. So he uses the expression ‘killing the tree’ rather than ‘destroying’ or cutting’ it. It too feels pain and pleasure alike the human beings.
#NO TREE IT IS SAID CAN GROW SKIN#
The bleeding bark is compared to the discoloured skin of a man suffering from leprosy. Like man, the tree has grown slowly consuming the earth, eating and drinking from it, absorbing and soaking in innumerable years of air, sunlight and water. The poet describes the tree as if it was a human being. Once the roots of the tree are pulled out, and are exposed to sun and air, the killing of the tree is complete. The poet then gives step-by-step instructions on the total annihilation of a tree. Cutting a tree, or hacking and chopping, does not destroy the tree completely, and the tree regrows by sending out new shoots and miniature boughs. The poet makes a distinction between cutting a tree and killing it. Why does the poet use the word ‘kill’ rather than ‘cut’? The words that show violence are “roped, tied, pulled out and snapped out entirely from the earth’s crust” The images of death are “hack, chop, scorching, choking, browning, hardening, twisting and withering”. The poet uses several images of death and violence in the poem. Consuming, rising, feeding and absorbing are the words suggestive of its life and activity.
#NO TREE IT IS SAID CAN GROW FULL SIZE#
The tree grows to its full size by consuming nutrients from the earth, feeding upon its crust absorbing years of light, air and water. How does the tree grow to its full size? List the words suggestive of its life and activity. This process takes much time and it requires a lot of effort. For a tree to be killed, the root has to be uprooted, and it has to be scorched and choked in sun and air. The tree has deep roots which give birth to tiny twigs and branches which help the tree attain its old stature. It is not easy to kill a tree simply by hacking or chopping it. Why does it take so much time to kill a tree? It is very ironical that soft and green leaves come out of the leprous hide.
![no tree it is said can grow no tree it is said can grow](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CvHOay9VUAA7gNn.jpg)
The bark of the tree looks ugly because it is rough and has crooked lines on it. Then it absorbs sunlight, water and air for many years. The poet says that the tree grows slowly getting its nutrients from the earth. How does the poet describe the growth of the tree in the first stanza of the poem? The tree, in time, grows back to its former size. Miniature boughs expand again to their former size. From close to the ground curled green twigs rise. When a tree is hacked or chopped, leaves sprout from the wounded bark. The tree is equipped with a power to heal itself. The chopped tree grows back to its former size. If they are left unchecked, they expand and become a huge tree. Miniature boughs are new branches which sprout where the tree was hacked or chopped. What are miniature boughs? What happens if they are left unchecked? When the branches of a tree are chopped off, the tree bleeds as the sap can be seen to flow. What is the meaning of “bleeding bark”? What makes it bleed?īleeding bark suggests the wound on the tree that is caused by hacking or chopping the tree. Green twigs and small branches will soon emerge from the bleeding bark and in time the tree will regrow to its original size.
![no tree it is said can grow no tree it is said can grow](https://i1.wp.com/artproject365.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/007164d0-86fe-44e2-9831-b5df90adae63.jpg)
The bark which has been chopped will heal itself. The tree endures the pain but continues to live on as it heals over time. Hacking and chopping is not enough to kill a tree. “So hack and chop/ But this alone won’t do it.” What won’t this do? Why won’t it do it? The tree also absorbs years of sunlight, air and water. On Killing a Tree Extra Questions and Answers Class 9 English Beehive On Killing a Tree Extra Questions and Answers Short Answer TypeĪ tree feeds on the earth’s crust, consuming nutrients from the earth.