Class 10: THE TREES by Adrienne Rich

 Summary (in Key Points):

• The poem describes trees kept inside a house, away from their natural environment.

• At night, the trees start moving out of the house to return to the forest.

• The poet compares this movement to a quiet rebellion or freedom struggle.

• The trees break the walls and glass to reach the open sky and moonlight.

• The poet feels both sadness and joy — sad to see them go, but happy that they are free again.

• The poem symbolizes human desire for freedom and connection with nature.

Central Idea:  The poem shows the struggle of trees to break free from captivity and return to nature, symbolizing the fight for freedom and the natural cycle of life.

Themes:

• Freedom: Everything in nature longs to be free.

• Nature vs. Artificial Life: Nature cannot survive in human-made limits.

• Rebirth and Renewal: The trees’ movement shows a return to natural life.

• Women’s Liberation: Symbolically represents women’s struggle for independence.

• Hope: Freedom brings a sense of hope and new beginning.

Message / Moral:  Freedom is the true state of both nature and humanity; keeping anything confined goes against life’s natural balance.

Setting:  The poem is set in a closed room or house where trees are planted indoors, and later, in the open natural world outside.

Perspective / Point of View:  Written from the poet’s perspective, observing and feeling the trees’ struggle for freedom — both literal and symbolic.

Characters and Traits:

• Trees: Symbolic of both nature and women — strong, alive, and longing for freedom.

• Poet (Speaker): Sensitive, observant, and supportive of freedom and natural growth.

Title Justification:   The title “The Trees” is perfect because the entire poem revolves around the trees — their desire, movement, and escape symbolizing freedom and life.

Poetic Device	Example / Use	Effect

Personification

“The trees are moving out…”

Gives human qualities to trees.

Metaphor

Trees = women seeking freedom

Adds deeper meaning.

Imagery

“Branches moving through the glass…”

Creates a vivid picture.

Symbolism

Forest = freedom; House = confinement

Strengthens the theme.

Alliteration

“Tall, the trees…”

NCERT Questions (Reading)

Find, in the first stanza, three things that cannot happen in a treeless forest?

Ans: The three things mentioned in the first stanza that cannot happen in a treeless forest are:

1. Birds sitting on the tree branches.
2. The hiding of insects in the branches of trees
3. The sun burying its feet in the shadow of the trees in the forest.

(2) What picture do these words create in your mind: “… sun bury its feet in shadow…”? What could the poet mean by the sun’s ‘feet?’

Ans: The sun’s feet are the rays of sun that reach the earth after falling on the leaves of the trees and finally, reach the earth’s surface.

 Q2- (1) Where are the trees in the poem? What do their roots, their leaves, and their twigs do?

Ans: The trees are in the poet’s house. The roots are working hard to remove themselves from the cracks of veranda. The leaves are making an effort to reach towards the glass in order to come out and the twigs are making attempts to set themselves free and reach the forest.

(2) What does the poet compare their branches to?

Ans: The poet uses the word long cramped for the branches. She says that the branches are trying hard to come out of the roof. She then compares them with newly discharged patients who are trying to move out in their half-consciousness.

 Q3- (1) How does the poet describe the moon: (a) at the beginning of the third stanza, and (b) at its end? What causes this change?

Ans: The poet describes the moon as a full moon in the beginning of the third stanza but at the end of the stanza, she describes it to be broken into pieces. The change in the moon is because of the trees. The trees that earlier were in the poet’s house have now reached the forest. Their long branches have cast a shadow on the full moon and now it appears to be broken into pieces like a mirror.

(2) What happens to the house when the trees move out of it?

Ans:  The house becomes silent as the fragrance of the leaves and lichens which was like a voice urging for a change can no longer be smelt.

(3) Why do you think the poet does not mention “the departure of the forest from the house” in her letters? (Could it be that we are often silent about important happenings that are so unexpected that they embarrass us? Think about this again when you answer the next set of questions.)?

Ans: The poet did not mention the departure of the forest from her house because it is a part of human nature to ignore the important matters of their life. We all know that trees are so important for our survival on earth. But still human beings are cutting them for making profits without even thinking of the aftermath.

 Q4- Now that you have read the poem in detail, we can begin to ask what the poem might mean. Here are two suggestions. Can you think of others?

a. Does the poem present a conflict between man and nature? Compare it with A Tiger in the zoo. Is the poet suggesting that plants and trees, used for ‘interior decoration’ in cities while forests are cut down, are ’imprisoned’ and need to ‘break out’?

Ans: Yes, the poem presents a conflict between man and nature. Man is causing deforestation by cutting down the trees for his own use. On the other hand, he decorates his house with the trees. We are damaging our environment without even thinking about the end results. By clearing up the forests, we are endangering ourselves. So is with the animals too. We are ruining their natural habitat and killing them for our fun or food but on the other hand, we are keeping them in the cages on the pretext of safeguarding them by making sanctuaries and zoos. So, it is true that we are in a direct conflict with nature and making the other living beings prisoners, be it the trees or animals.

b. On the other hand, Adrienne Rich has been known to use trees as a metaphor for human beings; this is a recurrent image in her poetry. What new meanings emerge from the poem if you take its trees to be symbolic of this particular meaning?

Ans: If trees are to be taken as a symbol for human beings, then the poem will define the efforts of humans to free themselves from the clutches of the desire to achieve everything. All the human beings are under a constant pressure of being at the top in every field. Either they are forced by their own desire of doing so or there is a constant peer pressure on them. So, the human beings will set themselves free from this race and try to live a happy and peaceful life.

HOTs Question:

Q: How do the trees’ actions in the poem symbolize human struggles for freedom and self-expression?
A: The trees break free from the confined indoor space to return to the forest, symbolizing the human desire to escape restrictions, challenge control, and reclaim autonomy and self-expression. Their movement reflects courage, resilience, and the natural right to freedom.

VBQ (Value-Based Question):

Q: What lesson about freedom and respect for life can we learn from the poem?
A: The poem teaches us to respect the natural world and the freedom of all beings. It emphasizes the importance of allowing others, including oppressed individuals, to grow, express themselves, and live freely without unnecessary constraints.