Class 10 English Chapter 1 Question Answers - First Flight

Q1: The poem ‘Trees’ appears to be about trees, environment, deforestation and afforestation. On a deeper level we discover that Adrienne Rich is expressing her concerned about women and their emancipation. Elaborate with reference to the poem.

Ans: In her poem "The Tree," poet Adrienne Rich subtly conveys the importance of trees. She highlights that without trees, birds would have no place to perch, insects would have no shelter, and the sun would not be shaded. Trees, she emphasizes, do not thrive indoors; they belong outside where they can grow and flourish naturally. The poetess underscores that while trees should be preserved, they should not be confined indoors, as they are more beautiful and thrive better outdoors, where they truly belong. On a deeper level, Adrienne Rich expresses concern for women and their fight for freedom. The poem draws a parallel between the liberation of trees and the emancipation of women. In a male-dominated society, women struggle to break free from the control of men and gain their independence. The victorious march of the trees symbolizes hope, illustrating that just like nature, women too cannot be tamed or subdued by the arrogance and oppression of men.

Q2: ‘Departure is painful’. So is the departure of the trees painful for the poetess. What will happen after their departure?

Ans: The departure of a tree can be as painful as the departure of someone close to us. Initially, when trees are planted as saplings, they look beautiful and enhance the beauty of our surroundings. However, as they grow and spread their branches, they require more space for their growth and start to look wild. The roots create cracks in the floor, and the leaves stretch out as if to move towards the glass, perhaps in need of sunlight. The soft twigs become strong and stiff, and the trees need to be removed from the house. No longer do the leaves cover the sky, but the trees breathe and are welcomed by the wind. The moon resembles a broken mirror, reflecting off the leaves. The poetess reveals that she will feel lonely after the trees’ departure.

Q3: How does the poem ‘The Trees’ make a strong plea against deforestation?

Ans: The poem "The Trees" conveys a powerful message against deforestation. The poet emphasizes the importance of trees by stating that without them, there would be no shadow, no forest, and no place for birds to sit or insects to hide. As saplings, trees add to the beauty of their surroundings, but as they grow, they require more space and can cause damage to the floor. The poet suggests that trees need to be removed from the house and welcomed by the wind and the moon. However, without trees, there is no longer any shade, and the poet feels guilty for silently watching the forests depart. The poem uses trees as a metaphor to show how humans have harmed nature for their selfish needs. The poet believes that the forest will be full of trees again in the morning. The poem highlights the importance of trees to all living creatures and sends a strong message against deforestation.

Q4: How does Adrienne Rich use trees as a metaphor for men? Isn’t the struggle of the trees to free themselves and go to the forest is the struggle of crushed men, particularly of women against the powerful and atrocious men?
Ans. In Adrienne Rich's poem, trees are used as a metaphor to represent women facing challenges. The poem highlights the importance of nature through the depiction of trees and forests. Unfortunately, humans have often tried to exploit, subdue, tame, and control nature with disastrous consequences, such as deforestation. Despite attempts to contain them in artificial glasshouses, the trees continue to struggle and break free from these barriers. Eventually, they triumph and return to their rightful place in the forest. This narrative illustrates nature's victory over human attempts to dominate it.
Women often encounter difficulties in achieving their freedom in societies where men hold most of the power. This struggle for liberation is similar to the fight against oppression faced by other marginalized groups. The poem's portrayal of liberated trees offers hope that women will also overcome their challenges and attain genuine freedom.

Q5: The poem ‘The Trees’ presents a conflict between man and nature. Describe the struggle of the trees and their victorious march to their natural habitat—the forest.
Ans. The poem "The Trees" delves into the timeless theme of the conflict between man and nature. Despite the numerous blessings that nature has bestowed upon humanity, man's greed, arrogance, and folly have continually tested the limits of nature's patience. When nature reaches its breaking point, it retaliates by unleashing devastating storms, droughts, and floods upon humanity. Man's insatiable greed has led to rampant deforestation, resulting in forests without trees that have become a curse for birds, insects, and even the sun. This is a tragedy that cannot be undone.
Efforts to control and subdue nature are bound to fail. Uprooting trees from their natural habitats and confining them to artificial environments like glasshouses is also destined to fail. Trees resist human intervention and struggle to break free from human bondage. In the end, they emerge victorious and return to their natural homes. Nature ultimately prevails and resists human attempts to exploit, subdue, and domesticate it.