The Trees is the 8th poem in the book First Flight Class 10th. This is one of the poems in the class X where strong symbolism of trees are used to address feminine issues by the poet. It is addressing that women have regained their strength and now they are ready to fulfill their desires.
It is written by Adrienne Rich [Adrienne Cecile Rich]. She is an American author, essayist and profound feminist author in early 20th century. This poem has 4 paragraph without any metrical pattern or rhyme. This small poem can be considered as an example of feminist literature.
Theme
Major theme of this poem is to discuss women that have regained the courage & revitalized for pursuing their dreams. Trees are used as symbols; indeed strong symbols for women. But why poet did not use women instead of trees – it could be more straight and understandable?
Symbolism has its own strength to address even the petty issues with a great affect. In Adrienne Rich poetry, symbolism is always used to put a greater effect.
Important Points
- Poet is woman itself but in this poem, she is one of the audiences who is watching the exodus of trees from enclosed space to open forest.
- No barrier on the path of trees can stop the disengaging process of trees from age old restrictions. Symbolically all customs, traditions that were once the barrier ahead women – are slowing breaking and finally women are coming out from their veil.
- There are personification and Anaphora used in the poem. ‘Sun bury its feet’ is an example of personification while 2 lines started with ‘No’ is an example of Anaphora.
- Students should learn new words i.e. Disengage, Twigs, Bough, Shuffling, Lichen, Stumbling etc. Paragraph wise summary should be encouraged for the students. We can see the trend of questions to prove the statement.
Questions Asked in Board Examinations
- What type of trees are described in the poem. Where are they kept? [A-2017]
- Where do decorative plants grow? To whom are they compared to? [B-2017]
- How does poet describe the growing of trees inside the house? [D-2017]
- What are the roots and leaves of trees do in the poem? [D-2018]
- Where are trees in the poem? What do their root, their leaves and their twigs do? [A-2019]
- Give the central idea of poem? [B-2019]
- What changes can be seen in the moon, during the course of the poem? [D-2019]
- Can there be a forest without trees? What are the trees in the poem? Where do they go? [A-2020]
Analysis
- In the previous 4 years, there were 8 questions asked in board examinations. All questions are unique without any repetition.
- In each year, questions from this poem came hence this poem is important from examination points of view.
- Questions were never asked in Code C while most preferable code was Code A. In 2017 and 2019, 3 sets have questions from this poem.
- Potentially more unique questions can be asked hence student must prepare this poem with more focus and understanding.
| Year | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 |
| Question Came in Code | A, B, D | D | A, B, D | A |
Comprehension
- ‘All nights the roots ………………………………………………………………. the clinic doors’, came in Year 2017 Code C. Major synonym were used for the words Get Free and Small Openings that mean Disengage and Cracks from the text.
- ‘I sit inside ………………………………………………………………………………………… into the rooms’, came in Year 2018 Code D. No major synonym was asked.
- ‘My head is full ………………………………………………………………………………………… the tallest oak’, came in Year 2020 Code B. No major synonym was asked.
Following is the text taken by NCERT First Flight for Class X and analysis is carried out on the basis of Board of School Education, Haryana previous year question papers. Read the Text of the chapter for enhancing reading and speaking skills.