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ST. MARY’S HSS BHARANANGANAM, ENGLISH NOTES, On Killing A Tree By Gieve Patel, 1. What can you infer from the words 'bleeding bark'?, Ans: Bleeding bark stands for the sap oozing out of the tree trunk when it, is jabbed with a knife or an axe. It expresses the pain of the tree., 2. What will happen if the boughs are unchecked?, Ans: If the boughs are unchecked, they will grow and expand to a full grown tree., , 3. What was done to the roots at last?, Ans: The roots were pulled out of the anchoring earth and exposed to the sun, and air., 4. How does the poet describe the life-source of the tree?, Ans: The poet describes the me source of the tree, the roots, as white and, wet and the most sensitive part of it., Activity 1, a. What do you understand from the title “On Killing a Tree”? Is it to kill a, tree?, Ans: The title is an excellent one because it speaks of the complete, destruction of the tree. It is not merely cutting it down, but ensuring that it, does not re-grow., b. Pick out another example of personification from the poem., Ans: The bleeding bark will heal, c. Find out Alliteration lines from the poem, Ans: The source white and wet., d. List out other 'visual images' from the poem., Ans: Sprouting leaves hack and chop.

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e. Do the expressions 'bleeding bark' and 'rise curled green twigs' have the, same meaning in the poem? Discuss how they contrast with each other., Ans: No. The expression „bleeding bark‟ represents the act of attacking the, tree with a knife or an axe and „rise curled green twigs‟ represents the, survival of the tree., Activity 2:Fill the columns given below., Words/actions which are, associated with the growth, and the survival of the tree., consume, rise, feed, absorb,, sprouting, expand, , Words/actions which are associated with, the killing of a tree., kill, jab, hack, chop, pulled out, roped,, tied, snapped out, exposed, scorching,, choking, browning, hardening, Twisting,, withering., , Appreciation of the poem 'On Killing a Tree', The poem 'On Killing a Tree' by Gieve Patel presents the survival of a, fully grown tree, strengthened by nourishment from the earth, sun and air., The poem depicts the survival of a strong tree which refuses to die even, when its trunk and branches have been chopped off. The real strength and, vitality of a tree lie in its deep roots. The poem conveys the message that trees, are just like living beings. They can withstand any kind of assault, trauma or, crisis. Every time they are attacked, injured or scrapped they heal themselves, and regain their glory. The poet says that if we wish to kill a tree it takes a lot, of time. A simple jab of knife can't kill a tree. The poet says that the real, strength of the tree lies in its roots. If we want to kill a tree forever, its roots, should be pulled out completely. When left exposed to sun and air, the root, gradually dries withers and hardens. Life drains out of it and the tree is, finally killed.