We have penned down the summary of class 9th poem, On Killing A Tree, to sensitize the readers that trees are also living, and the poet conveys that they should not be cut recklessly as if one tree is destroyed in turn, human life is destroyed. We have also provided ncert solutions along with the stanza-wise explanation of the poem.
On Killing A Tree: About The Author
The poem was written by Gieve Patel, born on 18 August 1940, an Indian Poet, painter, and practicing physician. He has also subscribed himself to the Green Movement. Through this poem, he tries to convey that human life is also destroyed by killing a tree. A tree does not die merely by cutting as it will regrow, and if one wants to destroy it, then he or she needs to uproot it from the earth.
On Killing A Tree: Central Theme
On killing a tree is a poem written by Gieve Patel, and he persuades the reader not to cut a tree and equates it with destroying human life. He says that a plant needs warmth, water, air, and nutrients to nurture and then eventually becomes a full-grown tree. A tree is not cut by cutting a tree trunk; it has to be uprooted from the earth, and its roots have to be thrown away in the sun’s scorching heat.
On Killing A tree Poem’s Analysis
Stanza 1. It takes much time to kill a tree, Not a simple jab of the knife Will do it. It has grown Slowly consuming the earth, Rising out of it, feeding Upon its crust, absorbing Years of sunlight, air, water, And out of its leprous hide Sprouting leaves.
- Jab: sudden rough blow
- Leprous hide: discolored bark
In the above stanza, a simple knife jab would not be able to cut the tree. A plant to germinate needs nutrients from the soil to nurture. The tree firmly binds the soil and takes sunlight, water, and air to grow into a strong trunk with green healthy leaves.
Stanza 2. So hack and chop But this alone won't do it. Not so much pain will do it. The bleeding bark will heal And from close to the ground Will rise curled green twigs, Miniature boughs Which if unchecked will expand again To the former size.
- Hack: cut roughly by striking heavy blows
Humans cut and chop the bark into many pieces but that is not sufficient to destroy the tree because as soon as the tree is jabbed by the human, it also bleeds like them. Gradually it heals its wounds, and new shoots sprout from it.
Stanza 3. No, The root is to be pulled out — Out of the anchoring earth; It is to be roped, tied, And pulled out — snapped out Or pulled out entirely, Out from the earth-cave, And the strength of the tree exposed The source, white and wet, The most sensitive, hidden For years inside the earth.
- Anchoring earth: trees are held securely with the help of the roots in the earth
- Snapped out: chopped out
The poet says to kill a tree, one has to uproot it and separate its roots from the earth that gives it nutrition and support. The roots bind him with the soil, and the hidden part has to be separated from it.
Stanza 4. Then the matter Of scorching and choking In sun and air, Browning, hardening, Twisting, withering, And then it is done. Meanings
- Scorching and choking: the drying up of the tree after being uprooted
As soon as the tree is uprooted, it withers and dries in the sun’s scorching heat and the wind’s action. The woody trunk will become brown and get twisted. Finally, it will dry up and never revive.
On Killing A Tree Poetic Devices
1. No rhyme scheme is there in the poem. It is written in free verse. There is no rhyme or rhythm.
2.Enjambment: When one sentence continues into two or more lines.
3. Metaphor: indirect comparison
Leprous hide – the uneven color of the surface of the trunk of a tree is compared to the skin of a person suffering from leprosy.
Bleeding bark – the sap from a tree where it is cut is compared to the bleeding from a human’s body wound.
4. Alliteration: repetition of a consonant sound in 2 or more closely placed words.
Bleeding bark – ‘b’ sound
White and wet – ‘w’ sound
5. Repetition: a word or sentence is repeated to lay emphasis on it.
‘Pulled out is repeated
NCERT Solutions of Class 9th Poem On Killing A tree
Q1. Can a “simple jab of the knife” kill a tree? Why not?
A simple jab or chop of the knife would not cut a tree; it has to go through various processes to uproot the tree from the earth.
Q2. How has the tree grown to its full size? List the words suggestive of its life and activity.
The tree takes nutrients from the sun’s soil, air, water, and warmth.
Q3. What is the meaning of “bleeding bark”? What makes it bleed?
Bleeding bark means the tree is being cut mercilessly, and the liquid substance it gives out while being chopped. If any part of a human is cut, it starts bleeding, just like a tree.
Q4. The poet says “No” at the beginning of the third stanza. What does he mean by this?
“No” is used to emphasize that chopping and hacking would not be able to kill a tree.
Q5. What is the meaning of “anchoring earth” and “earth cave”?
Earth is just like a mother protecting its children. Earth cave implies a hole inside. The tree allows the roots to spread, and the earth protects it and nurtures it
Q6. What does he mean by “the strength of the tree exposed”?
The root is the strength, and when it is pulled out, the strength is also knocked down.
Q7. What finally kills the tree?
Pulling out or uprooting a tree and throwing its withered roots in the heat of the sun so that it becomes brown, dry, and hard that all would kill a tree.
We, in this article, have penned down the Summary of the class 9th poem, On Killing A tree, by Gieve Patel. We have also provided the ncert solutions for reference, and students can go through them to get the gist of the lesson.