UP Board Class 11 English (18. Felling Of The Banyan Tree - (Poetry)) solution PDF

UP Board Solutions for Class 11 English
Woven Words Poetry - Chapter 10

Felling Of The Banyan Tree

by Dilip Chitre

Q1. Identify the lines that reveal the critical tone of the poet towards the felling of the tree.

Answer: The poet, Dilip Chitre, uses several powerful lines to express his disapproval and sorrow over the tree's destruction. These lines reveal his critical tone:

• "Its scraggy aerial roots fell to the ground"
• "Sawing them off for seven days and the heap was huge"
• "Fifty men with axes chopped and chopped"
• "Insects and birds began to leave the tree"
• "We watched in terror and fascination this slaughter" – This line, comparing the act to a 'slaughter', is especially critical.

Q2. Identify the words that help you understand the nature of the poet’s father.

Answer: The father is portrayed as a decisive, practical, and ruthless man who prioritizes utility over sentiment or tradition. Key words and phrases that define his nature are:

• "My father ordered it to be removed" – Shows his authoritative command.
• "He massacred them all" – A harsh word comparing the act to a violent killing.
• "The structures were demolished" – Reflects his mindset of clearing everything without nostalgia.

He represents modern, pragmatic thinking, in contrast to the grandmother's traditional beliefs.

Q3. ‘Trees are sacred my grandmother used to say’— what does the poet imply by this line?

Answer: By recalling his grandmother's words, the poet highlights the deep-rooted cultural and spiritual connection between nature and human life in Indian tradition. The line implies:

• A respect for nature inherited from older generations.
• The belief that trees, especially the banyan, are not just plants but abodes of life and divinity.
• A sharp contrast between the grandmother's sacred view and the father's practical view, symbolizing the clash between tradition and modernity.

Q4. ‘No trees except the one which grows and seethes in one’s dreams’— why is the phrase ‘grows and seethes’ used?

Answer: The phrase "grows and seethes" is used to convey the powerful and lasting psychological impact of the tree's destruction.

• Grows: The memory of the tree doesn't fade; instead, it becomes larger and more vivid in the poet's subconscious mind (dreams).
• Seethes: This word adds a tone of anger, restlessness, and simmering pain. The tree, in memory, is alive with a furious energy, as if protesting its unjust end.

Together, they show that the act of felling has caused a deep, angry wound in the poet's soul.

Q5. How does the banyan tree stand out as different from other trees? What details of the tree does the poet highlight in the poem?

Answer: The banyan tree is majestic, ancient, and almost mythical compared to other trees. The poet highlights:

• Immense Age & Size: "The great tree revealed its rings of two hundred years" and it occupied the space of "fifty feet".
• Unique Structure: Its "scraggy aerial roots" that reached the ground, making it a complex ecosystem.
• Sacred & Mythological Status: It is not just a tree but a symbol of life and knowledge, as referenced in scriptures like the Bhagavad Gita where Krishna says, "Of all trees I am the banyan tree."

Q6. What does the reference to raw mythology imply?

Answer: The reference to "raw mythology" implies that the felling of the banyan tree was not just the cutting of wood; it was the violent destruction of a living piece of ancient lore and cultural heritage. It suggests:

• The tree was connected to primal stories, beliefs, and collective memory.
• Its destruction felt like an attack on ancient wisdom and the natural order itself.
• The act was brutal ('raw') and stripped away the protective, sacred layer of mythology that once preserved such natural wonders.

Q7. ‘Whose roots lay deeper than our lives’— what aspect of human behaviour does this line reflect?

Answer: This line reflects the human tendency to be short-sighted and arrogant. It highlights:

• Human Transience vs. Nature's Permanence: A single human life is brief compared to the centuries-old life of a banyan tree.
• Lack of Perspective: Humans often act based on immediate needs (like clearing land) without considering the deeper historical, ecological, and spiritual roots they are destroying.
• It criticizes the behavior of prioritizing temporary human convenience over enduring natural legacy.

Q8. Comment on the contemporary concern that the poem echoes.

Answer: The poem powerfully echoes the contemporary concern of environmental degradation and loss of cultural roots in the name of progress.

• Deforestation & Ecological Loss: The detailed slaughter of the tree mirrors the real-world clearing of forests, leading to loss of habitat and biodiversity.
• Clash of Values: The father (modernity, development) vs. the grandmother (tradition, reverence for nature) represents the ongoing conflict in societies rapidly embracing urbanization.
• Psychological Disconnect: The poem warns that severing our connection with nature leads to a deep, haunting sense of loss ("the tree that grows and seethes in one's dreams").

It is a poignant critique of mindless development that sacrifices our natural and cultural heritage.

Key Takeaway: This poem is not just about a tree; it's about memory, tradition, and the irreversible cost of uprooting our connection to the natural world.