On Killing a Tree Summary Class 9 English Beehive Chapter 7

Key Points: On Killing a Tree

• Difficulty in Killing a Tree: It is not easy to kill a tree as it requires a long time and effort.
• Tree's Growth and Dependence on Nature: A tree feeds on the earth’s crust and relies on years of sunlight, air, and water to grow.
• Ineffectiveness of Simple Injuries: A simple jab with a knife or an axe can only wound the tree's bark, causing it to bleed, but it cannot kill the tree.
• The Strength Lies in the Roots: The true strength of a tree lies in its roots, which firmly anchor it to the earth.
• Sensitivity of the Roots: Among all parts of the tree, the roots are the most sensitive and crucial for its survival, as they connect the tree to the earth.
• Process of Uprooting and Death: When the roots are uprooted and exposed to sunlight, they begin to harden and wither. Over time, the tree gradually dies.

Detailed Summary

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.

In this stanza, the poet talks about the difficulty of killing a tree. He emphasizes that a mere quick cut with a knife is not enough to bring down a tree. The tree has taken a long time to grow, drawing nourishment from the earth, absorbing sunlight, air, and water over many years. It has emerged from the ground, thriving on the earth's resources, and now it's covered with leaves.

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 former size.

The poet continues by saying that even if you try to hack and chop the tree, it won't be enough. Inflicting pain on the tree won't ensure its death. The tree will heal its bleeding bark, and from the base, new green shoots will sprout, forming small branches. If these new growths are not stopped, the tree will grow back to its original size.

No,
The root is to be pulled out—
Out of the anchoring earth;
It is to be roped, tied,
And pulled out—snapped out

Here, the poet emphasizes the importance of removing the root of the tree completely. The root, which anchors the tree to the earth, must be uprooted. It should be tied with a rope and forcefully pulled out, snapped out of the ground entirely to ensure the tree's demise.

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.

The poet suggests that the root should be completely pulled out from the earth, exposing the tree's core. This core, which is white and wet, is the most sensitive part of the tree, hidden within the earth for many years. By exposing this core, the tree's strength is laid bare, making it vulnerable to destruction.

Then the matter
Of scorching and choking
In sun and air,
Browning, hardening,
Twisting, withering,
And then it is done.

Finally, the poet describes the process of finishing off the tree. After exposing the core, the tree must be subjected to scorching in the sun and deprived of water and air. This treatment causes the tree to brown, harden, twist, and wither until it eventually succumbs and dies.

Theme/Message

Themes:

• Nature's Resilience: The poem explores the tenacity and strength of nature, particularly symbolized by the tree's ability to survive.
• Destruction and Renewal: It delves into the cyclical nature of life, where destruction is often a precursor to new growth and renewal.
• Human Effort and Persistence: The poem highlights the idea that significant achievements require sustained effort and perseverance.

Message:

• Through intricate imagery, the poet conveys the idea that true change and transformation often necessitate a complete upheaval of the existing order.
• The poem serves as a metaphor for the challenges individuals face when trying to overcome deeply ingrained habits or obstacles.
• It underscores the importance of addressing issues at their roots rather than merely dealing with surface-level symptoms.

Useful Expressions 

• Years of sunlight, air, water – A tree consumes lots of sunlight, air, and water to become a completely grown tree.
• Leprous hide —Discoloured bark.
• Anchoring earth – With the help of roots, the earth holds the trees.
• And the strength of the tree exposed – The strength of a tree lies in its roots. So to kill a tree its roots are to be exposed to the sun for dryness.
• Scorching and choking – When the trees are uprooted, they dry up.
• Browning, hardening, Twisting, withering –When trees are uprooted and exposed to the sun, they become hardened, twisted and start decaying.

Difficult Words

1. Leperous: Covered with or consisting of leprosy.
2. Leprous: Showing signs of leprosy.
3. Boughs: A main branch of a tree.
4. Anchoring: Securing firmly in position.
5. Scorching: Burning the surface of something with flame or heat.
6. Browning: Turning brown, especially when cooking.
7. Withering: Shrinking and wrinkling from heat, lack of water, or disease.
8. Resilience: The capacity to recover quickly from difficulties.
9. Tenacity: The quality of being very determined.
10. Perseverance: Steadfastness in doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success