The Trees by Adrienne Rich: Explanation | CBQs | NCERT Solution
Updated: Oct 16
Historical Perspectives, Stanza-Wise Explanation & Competency-Based Questions
Lesson Architecture
Historical Perspectives
Theme
Stanza-wise Explanation
NCERT Solution CBQs
Recommended Reading
Historical Perspectives
"The Trees" by Adrienne Rich was published in 1978 as part of her collection "The Dream of a Common Language."
To understand the historical context of the reference to women in the poem, it's important to consider the feminist movement of the time and Rich's own involvement in feminist discourse.
The late 1960s and 1970s were a period of significant social change in the United States and around the world.
This era marked the height of the second wave feminist movement, which focused on issues such as women's rights, gender equality, reproductive rights, and challenging traditional gender roles.
The movement aimed to address systemic inequalities that women faced in various aspects of life, including education, employment, and personal autonomy.
Adrienne Rich was an active participant in this feminist movement, and her poetry often reflects the concerns, aspirations, and challenges of women during this time.
"The Trees" can be seen as a reflection of the broader feminist struggle for empowerment, liberation, and the rejection of societal norms that constrained women's agency and self-expression.
The historical context of the poem, within the context of the feminist movement, adds depth to the interpretation of this phrase and highlights the larger themes of gender, identity, and societal transformation that Rich was engaging with in her poetry.
Theme
The core theme of "The Trees" by Adrienne Rich is transformation, growth, and liberation.
The poem uses vivid imagery of trees moving from an enclosed space to an open forest to symbolize a profound journey of change and liberation.
The trees in the poem represent both individual and collective experiences of breaking free from constraints, embracing authenticity, and undergoing a transformative process.
Throughout the poem, Rich emphasizes the idea of movement, both physical and metaphorical, as the trees disengage from their confined space and venture into the open forest. This movement signifies a shift from stagnation to vitality, from limitation to freedom.
The imagery of roots working to disengage from cracks and leaves straining toward the glass conveys the effort and determination required for this transformation to occur.
The theme of liberation is also evident in the comparison of the trees to "newly discharged patients" moving to clinic doors. This analogy suggests a sense of vulnerability, uncertainty, and hope as the trees transition from confinement to a new phase of existence.
Overall, the core theme of the poem is about embracing change, overcoming limitations, and stepping into a state of greater authenticity and growth. The poem's imagery and symbolism invite readers to reflect on their own journeys of transformation and the challenges and rewards that come with breaking free from societal norms and personal constraints.
Stanza-Wise Explanation
Lines 1-7
The trees inside are moving out into the forest,
the forest that was empty all these days
where no bird could sit
no insect hide
no sun bury its feet in shadow
the forest that was empty all these nights
will be full of trees by morning.
Explanation:
In these lines, Adrienne Rich describes the trees breaking free from their confinement inside a human-made space and returning to their natural habitat, the forest. The forest, which had been desolate and lifeless ("empty all these days"), will soon be revived with the trees. The imagery of birds, insects, and sunlight unable to exist in the empty forest suggests that nature thrives only when it is whole and free. By morning, the trees will reclaim the forest, symbolizing a restoration of balance and freedom.
Glossary
Moving out:
The trees are metaphorically freeing themselves from the restrictions of human control.
The forest that was empty:
Refers to the lifelessness of nature when separated from its natural environment.
No bird could sit, no insect hide:
Highlights the absence of life and biodiversity in the empty forest.
Sun bury its feet in shadow:
In this line, the speaker is describing the forest as a place where even the sun's rays are unable to cast shadows because there were no trees.
will be full of trees by morning.
Throughout the night, the trees are exerting effort to free themselves from the confines of the house.
By the break of dawn, they will have successfully migrated to the forest, where they will find their new home.
ill have successfully migrated to the forest, where they will find their new home.
Lines 8-10
"All night the roots work
to disengage themselves from the cracks
in the veranda floor."
Explanation:
In these lines Adrienne Rich depicts the relentless effort of the trees' roots as they try to free themselves from the confinement of the veranda floor. This imagery symbolizes nature’s persistence and desire for freedom. The "cracks in the veranda floor" represent the boundaries imposed by human structures, while the "roots" signify the deep, organic connection to nature. The phrase "all night" emphasizes the quiet yet constant struggle for liberation, as the trees gradually break free from artificial restrictions, reclaiming their rightful place in the natural world. The roots' efforts to disengage from these cracks imply a determined and persistent struggle for freedom and growth.
Glossary:
to disengage themselves from the cracks
The phrase "to disengage themselves from the cracks" refers to the roots of the trees working to break free from the fissures or gaps in the veranda floor.
This action symbolizes the trees' struggle to overcome limitations and constraints, reflecting their determination to escape confinement and embrace a transformative journey.
Cracks in the veranda floor:
Represents the small openings or weaknesses in the man-made structure (the veranda), through which nature (the roots) is pushing its way out.
Lines 11-16
"The leaves strain toward the glass
small twigs stiff with exertion
long-cramped boughs shuffling under the roof
like newly discharged patients
half-dazed, moving
to the clinic doors."
Explanation:
In these lines, Adrienne Rich uses vivid imagery to convey the trees’ struggle to break free from their confined environment. The leaves and twigs strain and exert themselves, trying to reach the outside world beyond the glass, symbolizing their yearning for freedom. The long-cramped boughs, restricted under the roof for so long, shuffle like newly discharged patients, half-dazed and uncertain, making their way to the clinic doors. This comparison underscores the idea of recovery and release after a period of confinement, symbolizing nature's slow return to its natural state.
Overall, these lines convey a sense of dynamic change, growth, and struggle as the trees work to break free from confinement, bring life to a barren landscape, and embrace their newfound freedom in the forest. The imagery evokes a mix of anticipation, effort, and transformation, inviting readers to contemplate the broader themes of renewal and liberation.
Glossary
Leaves strain toward the glass:
The leaves are stretching or pushing against the glass, symbolizing their effort to escape confinement.
Small twigs stiff with exertion:
The thin branches are tense and rigid due to the effort they are making to break free.
Long-cramped boughs:
The larger branches of the trees have been confined for a long time, representing nature being restricted in a man-made space.
Shuffling under the roof:
The branches are moving slowly and awkwardly, similar to someone recovering from an illness, as they try to break free from the confines of the house.
Like newly discharged patients:
A simile comparing the trees’ slow, awkward movement to patients who have just left the hospital, symbolizing their fragility and disorientation.
Half-dazed, moving to the clinic doors:
Suggests the trees’ uncertain yet determined movement towards freedom, similar to patients hesitantly heading toward the exit of a clinic after being released.
Line 17-24
I sit inside, doors open to the veranda
writing long letters
in which I scarcely mention the departure
of the forest from the house.
The night is fresh, the whole moon shines
in a sky still open
the smell of leaves and lichen
still reaches like a voice into the rooms
Explanation:
In these lines, the speaker observes the departure of the trees from within the house but remains detached, merely writing letters that barely mention this significant event. The open doors symbolize her passive witness to the escape of the forest. The "night is fresh" and the "whole moon shines," emphasizing a sense of renewal and freedom in nature outside. Despite the physical separation, the "smell of leaves and lichen" enters the house "like a voice," representing nature’s persistent presence, even when ignored. This reflects the tension between the speaker’s detachment and the powerful force of nature.
Doors open to the veranda:
Symbolizes openness and the boundary between the confined space (the house) and the natural world outside (veranda).
Writing long letters:
The speaker is engaged in personal thoughts or communication, but without fully addressing the significant departure of the trees.
Scarcely mention the departure:
The speaker downplays or barely acknowledges the important event of the forest leaving the house, representing human indifference to nature's reclamation. The poet observes the departure of the trees, but she doesn't directly get involved in the event. She recognizes the powerful change that the trees represent, similar to oppressed individuals gaining freedom.
The whole moon shines:
The full moon suggests completeness and clarity, perhaps symbolizing the awakening or liberation of nature.
Sky still open:
Represents freedom and the vast, unconfined natural world, in contrast to the enclosed human space.
The smell of leaves and lichen still reaches like a voice:
The natural elements (leaves, lichen) metaphorically "speak" to the speaker, symbolizing nature's continued presence, even from a distance.
Lines 25-32
My head is full of whispers
which tomorrow will be silent.
Listen. The glass is breaking.
The trees are stumbling forward into the night.
Winds rush to meet them.
The moon is broken like a mirror,
its pieces flash now in the crown
of the tallest oak.
Explanation:
In these lines, Adrienne Rich uses vivid imagery to illustrate the climax of the trees' escape from confinement. The speaker's mind is "full of whispers," likely representing thoughts or emotions about nature’s departure, which will be "silent" tomorrow, indicating that the event will be over, and possibly forgotten. The breaking glass signals the physical breaking free of the trees, as they "stumble forward into the night" toward their freedom. The wind greets the trees, symbolizing nature reclaiming its place. The broken moon resembles a shattered mirror, with pieces reflecting in the crown of the tallest oak, symbolizing the fragmented yet powerful return of nature’s beauty and majesty
Glossary
My head is full of whispers:
Represents internal thoughts or a sense of anticipation, perhaps the speaker's awareness of the trees' escape. Here, the speaker refers to a mental state characterized by a flurry of thoughts, ideas, or possibly emotions ("whispers").
Tomorrow will be silent:
Suggests that after the event of the trees leaving, there will be silence—perhaps an indication of how nature’s absence goes unnoticed.
The glass is breaking:
A dramatic moment, symbolizing the trees physically breaking free from the confines of the house, and the destruction of barriers between nature and captivity.
The trees are stumbling forward:
The trees, like hesitant beings, are moving awkwardly but persistently toward their freedom.
Winds rush to meet them:
Symbolizes nature welcoming the trees back, with the wind representing freedom and vitality.
The moon is broken like a mirror:
A metaphor for the fragmented reflection of the moon, perhaps indicating a disruption in the natural order or how nature’s beauty, once contained, now reflects in new ways.
Its pieces flash in the crown of the tallest oak:
The shattered pieces of the moon reflect in the top branches of the oak tree, symbolizing the reestablishment of nature’s dominance and its restored connection to the sky and light.
Note: These lines capture a sense of impending change, with the breaking glass, moving trees, rushing winds, and the shattered moon all contributing to the atmosphere of transformation and transition. The imagery conveys a feeling of urgency and movement, inviting readers to reflect on the fleeting nature of moments and the profound shifts that life can bring.
NCERT Solution ( Page 100-101)
Thinking about the Poem
1. (i) Find, in the first stanza, three things that cannot happen in a treeless forest.
Ans In a forest without trees, three things cannot occur: birds cannot perch, insects cannot find concealment, and the sun cannot cast its shadowed embrace.
(ii) 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’?
The words paint a vivid picture of sunlight filtering through the forest's trees. The poet gives human qualities to the sun. She describes the shadow that falls on the forest floor where the sun's rays can't reach. This imagery makes it appear as if the sun's rays are a person standing in the forest, with his feet covered in shadow.
2. (i) Where are the trees in the poem? What do their roots, their leaves, and their twigs do?
The trees are located inside the poet's house. Throughout the night, their roots work hard to free themselves from the crevices in the veranda floor, their leaves stretch toward the windows, and their small branches move restlessly under the roof.
(ii) What does the poet compare their branches to?
The poet compares their branches to newly discharged patients who move towards the clinic doors in a half-dazed state.
3. (i) How does the poet describe the moon:
(a) at the beginning of the third stanza, and (b) at its end? What causes this change?
(a) In the opening of the third stanza, the poet portrays the moon as complete and radiant, casting its light across the expansive, unobstructed sky.
(b) Towards the end of the stanza, the poet depicts a transformation in the moon's appearance. Initially, the moon is described as whole and visible in the open sky. However, as the trees return to the forest, the moon is likened to a shattered mirror, with fragments of it gleaming from the highest oak tree. This change in the moon's image is attributed to the trees' movement. In the treeless forest, the sky was expansive and unobstructed, allowing the entire moon to be seen.
(ii) What happens to the house when the trees move out of it?
As the trees make their departure, the scent of leaves and lichen continues to waft into the room through the open doors leading to the veranda. Simultaneously, the glass of the house shatters as the trees stumble and move out into the night. These events mark a profound shift in the poem, signifying the trees' liberation and transformation.
(iii) 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. (Competency Based Question)
The poet's silence about "the departure of the forest from the house" in her letters could be due to the unexpected nature of the event. Such extraordinary occurrences can be hard to put into words, and they may evoke complex emotions or reactions that are difficult to articulate. In some cases, the sheer novelty or astonishment of an event can render us momentarily speechless.
The poet might not mention the trees' departure in her letters because she believes it's such a significant event that it will become widely known without her having to announce it explicitly. Alternatively, she could consider the departure a deeply personal experience, making her hesitant to share it with others. This reflects how some profound moments are either inherently public or intensely private.
4. 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?
(i) 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’? (Competency Based Question)
Ans: "The Trees" by Adrienne Rich does not present a direct conflict between humanity and nature. Instead, the poem primarily focuses on the transformative journey of the trees themselves. It explores themes of growth, liberation, and the resilience of the natural world. While the poem does depict the trees' movement from an indoor environment to the open forest, it does not frame this as a conflict with humanity or as a result of human actions. Instead, the poem emphasizes the natural world's ability to adapt and flourish, even in changing circumstances.
In contrast, "A Tiger in the Zoo" by Leslie Norris does depict a conflict between a captive tiger and humans who observe it in a zoo. The poem delves into themes of captivity, freedom, and the impact of human intervention on the natural world.
The poet does suggest that plants and trees used for interior decoration in cities, while forests are cut down, are in a way 'imprisoned.' The trees in the poem represent a desire for freedom and a return to their natural environment. The idea is that nature should not be confined within urban spaces but should have the opportunity to thrive and grow freely in its native habitat. The poem can be interpreted as a metaphorical call for a more harmonious relationship between humans and the natural world, where nature is allowed to break free from constraints imposed by urbanization and flourish in its own right.
(ii) 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? (Competency Based Question)
If we view the trees in Adrienne Rich's "The Trees" as symbolic of human beings, the poem takes on a new depth of meaning. It becomes a metaphor for the human experience. The trees' struggle to move from the house to the forest represents the universal human quest for freedom, self-discovery, and personal growth. It can also symbolize collective movements for empowerment and social change. This interpretation underscores the interconnectedness of humans with the natural world, emphasizing the need for harmony between the two. Ultimately, the poem becomes a powerful call for individuals to break free from constraints, both personal and societal, and to embrace their true selves while fostering a more just and environmentally conscious society.
5. You may read the poem ‘On Killing a Tree’ by Gieve Patel (Beehive – Textbook in English for Class IX, NCERT). Compare and contrast it with the poem you have just read. (Competency Based Question)
Ans:
Comparing "On Killing a Tree" by Gieve Patel with Adrienne Rich's "The Trees" reveals two distinct approaches to the theme of trees. While both poems use trees as central symbols, they diverge in their treatment of the subject matter.
Gieve Patel's "On Killing a Tree" is a poignant exploration of the destructive power of humans over nature. It delves into the act of killing a tree and the relentless determination it requires. Patel's poem highlights the human role in the tree's demise, underscoring our capacity to harm nature intentionally. Through vivid and sometimes brutal imagery, such as "blisters," "white snaking roots," and "green thrusts itself through asphalt," Patel conveys the pain and struggle associated with the act of killing a tree. The poem's overall tone is one of condemnation, offering a critical view of human actions that harm the environment.
Adrienne Rich's "The Trees," on the other hand, takes a different approach. It centers on the transformative journey of trees, symbolizing growth, liberation, and resilience. Rich's poem suggests that nature and human-made structures can coexist harmoniously, highlighting the adaptability of nature. The trees in this poem can also be seen as metaphors for human experience, representing personal and collective journeys of self-discovery and empowerment. The imagery employed by Rich is evocative of growth and transformation, creating a contemplative and transformative tone.
In summary, while both poems revolve around trees, they offer contrasting perspectives. "On Killing a Tree" focuses on the destructive impact of humans on nature, while "The Trees" emphasizes transformation, growth, and the potential for a more harmonious coexistence between humans and the natural world.
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