(Long questions) On Killing a Tree

Long

1. The substance of the poem.

Ans. the poet Gieve Patel depicted the growth, struggle for existence and the process of killing a tree in his poem "On killing a tree" .

He explains the process of the growth of a tree by consuming the nutrients of the earth, absorbing years of sunlight, air, water. The growth is in a simple manner. So a simple stabbing of a knife can't kill a tree.

Then he describes the tree's struggle for existence. Hacking and chopping creates pain and bleeding of the tree but both are cured naturally. Tiny twigs and miniature are risen from the wounds of the tree.


Then he describes the process of killing a tree. Hacking and chopping can't destroy it completely because the green twigs are emerged ( উৎপন্ন ) from the bleeding bark. The miniature boughs will grow from close to the ground and grow back to its former size. The source is the secret of its strength that is hidden inside the earth.

So, to kill a tree it has to be uprooted, scorched, and chopped in the sun and air. after uprooting the roots are to be exposed to the sunlight till the dry and become browning, hardening, twisting and withering.

Thus, the killing of a tree is accomplished. ( সম্পন্ন )



2. "It takes much time to kill a tree,/ Not simple jab of knife / will do it" - why does it take so much time to kill a tree?

Ans. The poet says that to kill a tree with a simple jab of knife is not an easy task. The tree can overcome such a blow. It has become strong by consuming the nutrients of the earth and absorbing years of sunlight, air and water. Even new leaves are born from the rough bark of the tree. So to kill a tree takes much time.



3. How does a tree grow? / How does the poet describe the growth of a tree?

Ans. The poet ji pencil sketches the growth of a tree in the first change office poem on killing a tree according to the poet the tree makes food by consuming nutrients from the earth/soil and taking sunlight and water from the nature. Then it sends the food to every organ and thus it grows.



4. "So hack and chop...wouldn't do it" - why would not hacking and chopping do it?

Ans. According to the poet, hacking and chopping create pain and bleeding to the tree but these are cured naturally. It takes too much effort to kill a tree. If we leave the tree after hacking and chopping, it cures naturally. That is why only hacking and chopping wouldn't do it.



5. "No, / The root is to be pulled out / Out of the anchoring earth" - What does the word "No" suggest ? what are the methods to kill a tree?

Ans. Here the word "No" is used to give the negation of the previous thought. It suggest that hacking and chopping can't kill a tree. It can only inflict pain and creates bleeding. But it heals naturally. curled green twigs are born from the wounds and turns into former size. Actually the poet says that "No" emphasis ( জোর দেওয়া ) the idea that a tree can't be killed easily.

(★) The poet says that in order to kill a tree the root has to be destroyed. The tree has to be tied with a rope and pulled out entirely from the clinging earth. As a result it is snapped out. The roots are exposed to the scorching sunlight. Then it is to be used passed through scorching, choking and it becomes browning, hardening, twisting and withering and thus the killing of a tree is done.