On Killing A Tree Class 9 English Beehive Chapter Notes

Key Points

• The poem by Gieve Patel describes the resilience of a tree and the extensive effort required to truly destroy it.
• It uses an extended metaphor to highlight the violence involved in deforestation and nature's persistent will to live.
• Ordinary acts of "hacking and chopping" are insufficient to kill a tree, as its roots draw sustenance from the earth.
• The tree's strength is symbolized by its "leprous hide" (bark) and its ability to regenerate from its "bleeding bark."
• To kill a tree, its roots must be entirely pulled out of the "anchoring earth," exposed to sun and air.
• The final act of killing involves "scorching and choking" (drying and hardening) the exposed roots, making them brittle.
• The poem criticizes human insensitivity towards nature and subtly warns against its destruction.
• Key Themes: environmental destruction, resilience of nature, human cruelty, life cycle, effort to extinguish life.

Important Terms & Definitions

Hacking and chopping

Violent acts of cutting and striking, yet presented as insufficient to kill a tree permanently.

Leprous hide

The discoloured, uneven, and rough bark of the tree, compared to a skin disease, suggesting age, texture, and resilience.

Bleeding bark

Refers to the sap oozing from a cut tree, symbolizing its pain, injury, and its vibrant life force.

Anchoring earth

The soil that firmly holds the tree's roots, providing stability, nourishment, and its fundamental connection to life.

Strength of the tree exposed

Refers to the roots, which are the true source of its life and must be revealed and destroyed to kill the tree.

White and wet

The natural state of the tree's roots when freshly pulled out of the earth, indicating their vitality and vulnerability.

Scorching and choking

The destructive process of drying out and shrivelling the exposed roots by the intense heat of the sun and lack of moisture/air.

Hardening, twisting, withering

The final stages of the root's destruction, as it becomes dry, lifeless, brittle, and incapable of sustaining the tree.

Poem's Central Message and Symbolism

Gieve Patel's "On Killing A Tree" is a powerful and stark poem that explores the act of destroying a tree, not merely cutting it down, but annihilating its very essence. The poem employs an extended metaphor, where the detailed, almost clinical description of killing a tree serves as a commentary on human callousness towards nature and the immense resilience of life itself. Initially, the poem describes superficial attempts to harm a tree – "hacking and chopping" – which are presented as ineffective. A tree, drawing strength from the "earth's crust" through its roots, can easily heal and regrow, symbolized by the "bleeding bark" that heals itself and new "green twigs" that sprout from its base. This highlights nature's extraordinary capacity for regeneration and survival against initial assaults.

The poem then shifts to the truly destructive method: the uprooting of the tree. This involves pulling out the "root is to be pulled out – / Out of the anchoring earth." The roots are depicted as the tree's life source, "white and wet," its "strength exposed." This act of exposing the hidden, vulnerable core of the tree is crucial. Finally, the poem details the slow, agonizing death of the uprooted tree. The exposed roots are subjected to "scorching and choking" by the sun and air, leading to their "browning, hardening, twisting, withering," until "it is done." This vivid imagery conveys the brutal finality of environmental destruction. The poem implicitly critiques the destructive tendencies of humanity, forcing readers to confront the violence inherent in 'killing' nature and the profound effort required to extinguish such robust life. It's not just about cutting wood; it's about systematically dismantling a living entity that persistently strives to survive.

The Process of 'Killing' a Tree (as described in the poem)

1. — Superficial cuts using a knife or axe ('hacking and chopping') are not enough. The tree's 'bleeding bark' will heal, and it will sprout new 'green twigs' from its base, demonstrating its immense capacity for regeneration.
2. — The most critical action is to pull out the entire root system. This involves significant effort – 'rope tied, / Tied and pulled out – snapped out / Or pulled out entirely from the earth-cave.' The root, being the 'strength of the tree,' must be exposed from the 'anchoring earth' where it draws sustenance. At this stage, the root is described as 'white and wet,' signifying its raw, vital state.
3. — Once exposed, the root is left vulnerable to the natural elements. The sun will 'scorch' (burn and dry) and the air will 'choke' (suffocate and desiccate) it. This leads to a transformation where the root undergoes 'browning, hardening, twisting, withering.' It loses all vitality, becomes dry and brittle, and only after this complete desiccation and destruction of the root, 'then the matter / Of killing a tree is done.'

Exam Tip: Mastering 'On Killing A Tree' Questions

When answering questions on "On Killing A Tree," always focus on the poem's central extended metaphor – the act of killing a tree as a representation of human destruction of nature. Pay close attention to the poetic devices used by Gieve Patel:

• Imagery: Be able to describe the vivid pictures created (e.g., "leprous hide," "bleeding bark," "white and wet root," "scorching and choking").
• Symbolism: Understand what the tree, its bark, roots, and the acts of hacking/uprooting symbolize beyond their literal meaning.
• Personification: Identify instances where the tree is given human-like qualities (e.g., 'bleeding bark' suggesting pain).
• Tone: Identify the grim, clinical, and almost detached tone used to describe the violent act, which amplifies its impact.

Structure your answers clearly, using textual evidence (quotes from the poem) to support your points. For long answer or value-based questions, discuss the poem's broader message about environmental destruction, human responsibility, and the resilience of life.

Practice Questions with Solutions

• Q: What, according to the poet, is not enough to kill a tree? A: According to the poet, 'hacking and chopping' with a knife or axe are not enough to kill a tree, as it will heal and regenerate from its base.
• Q: What is the 'strength of the tree' and what happens when it is 'exposed'? A: The 'strength of the tree' refers to its roots, which anchor it to the earth. When exposed, it loses its connection to the earth's nourishment and becomes vulnerable to being scorched and choked by the elements, leading to its death.
• Q: Explain the phrases 'bleeding bark' and 'leprous hide.' A: 'Bleeding bark' refers to the sap oozing from a cut tree, symbolizing its pain and life force. 'Leprous hide' describes the discoloured, rough, and uneven bark, comparing it to a skin disease, suggesting the tree's age, texture, and resilience.
• Q: What is the ultimate action required to kill a tree, according to the poem? A: The ultimate action required is to pull out the root entirely from the earth, expose it to the sun and air, and then allow it to scorch, choke, brown, harden, twist, and wither until it is completely lifeless.

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions