NCERT Solutions for Class 9 English Poem 8 On Killing a Tree

Short Note:

• Gieve Patel was an Indian poet, and this poem vividly describes the long and difficult process actually required to completely destroy a full-grown tree.

• The poem explains that a simple knife cut or blow is not enough to kill a tree, since it has absorbed years of nourishment from the earth and has grown strong and resilient over time.

• The poet describes how the tree must be uprooted entirely, including its roots pulled from the soil's cave, and then left in the sun to dry out and wither completely, showing how persistent nature is against destruction.

Short Note:

• The poem's central theme is the incredible resilience and life force of nature, and the extensive effort required to truly destroy something that has grown deep and strong.

• It can also be read as a commentary on environmental destruction, subtly highlighting how thoughtlessly humans can attempt to remove nature, without perhaps realising how much life and strength is really being uprooted.

• The detailed, almost violent description of the process draws attention to the value and toughness of living things.

Short Note:

• Imagery: Strong, vivid images of the trunk, bark, leaves and roots make the process of the tree's destruction feel real and immediate.

• Personification: The tree is described almost as a living being that 'bleeds' and 'grows back' with fresh strength, emphasising its life force.

• Structure: The poem is structured as a set of step-by-step instructions, mimicking a grim, methodical process.