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This section provides NCERT Solutions for Class 11 English Woven Words Poem 10: Felling of the Banyan Tree, prepared to deepen students’ understanding of the poem’s themes, tone, and poetic devices. The solutions explore the poem’s depiction of environmental loss, cultural value for nature, and the conflict between tradition and modernity. These solutions are prepared to help students in effective exam preparation. You can also download the free PDF for quick revision.
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NCERT Solutions Class 11 English Woven Words Poem 10: Felling of the Banyan Tree
Here are the NCERT Solutions for Class 11 English Woven Words Poem 10: Felling of the Banyan Tree, crafted to enhance understanding of the poem’s themes, imagery, and emotional resonance for effective revision.
UNDERSTANDING THE POEM
1. Identify the lines that reveal the critical tone of the poet towards the felling of the tree.
The poet, Dilip Chitre, adopts a critical tone towards the felling of the banyan tree, evident in lines such as “My father told the tenants to leave / Who lived on the houses surrounding it / And pack their belongings / And the fifty houses / Were razed to the ground.” These lines suggest a sense of destruction and displacement caused by the act, highlighting the poet’s disapproval of the ruthless clearing of the area to fell the tree. Additionally, the line “We watched in terror and fascination / The roots revealed / Scrubby and gnarled” conveys a critical perspective by juxtaposing the awe-inspiring nature of the tree with the violent act of its uprooting, implying a disregard for its sanctity and grandeur.
2. Identify the words that help you understand the nature of the poet’s father.
The poet uses specific words to depict his father’s pragmatic and authoritative nature. The phrase “My father told the tenants to leave” indicates his decisiveness and control, as he issues commands without hesitation. The word “ordered” in the context of clearing the houses further underscores his commanding and practical approach, prioritising development over sentiment. Additionally, the description of the father’s actions in “razed to the ground” suggests a resolute, unsentimental character, willing to dismantle both nature and human habitation for progress, contrasting with the poet’s and grandmother’s reverence for the tree.
3. ‘Trees are sacred my grandmother used to say’, what does the poet imply by this line?
By including the grandmother’s statement, “Trees are sacred,” the poet implies a deep cultural and spiritual reverence for nature, particularly the banyan tree, which holds symbolic significance in Indian tradition. The line suggests that the grandmother views trees as embodiments of divine presence and ecological balance, worthy of respect and preservation. The poet uses this to contrast the older generation’s traditional values with the modern, utilitarian mindset represented by the father’s decision to fell the tree. It highlights a generational and ideological conflict, where the sacredness of nature is pitted against the demands of progress, evoking a sense of loss for cultural values.
4. ‘No trees except the one which grows and seethes in one’s dreams’, why is the phrase ‘grows and seethes’ used?
The phrase “grows and seethes” describes the banyan tree’s enduring presence in the poet’s memory and subconscious, even after its physical destruction. “Grows” suggests the tree’s vitality and its ability to persist in the poet’s imagination, symbolising its deep-rooted significance in his life. “Seethes” conveys a sense of restlessness or emotional intensity, implying that the memory of the tree’s felling evokes pain, guilt, or unresolved conflict within the poet. Together, the phrase underscores the tree’s lasting emotional and symbolic impact, haunting the poet’s dreams as a reminder of loss and environmental destruction.
5. How does the banyan tree stand out as different from other trees? What details of the tree does the poet highlight in the poem?
The banyan tree stands out as unique due to its immense size, cultural significance, and symbolic depth, distinguishing it from ordinary trees. The poet highlights its grandeur through details such as “The great tree, the only one / In the village,” emphasising its singular dominance and centrality. The description of its “aerial roots” and “scrubby and gnarled” roots underscores its vast, complex structure, which extends both above and below ground, symbolising resilience and permanence. The line “Whose roots lay deeper than our lives” further elevates the tree as a timeless entity, deeply intertwined with human existence and tradition, unlike other trees that lack such profound cultural and emotional weight.
6. What does the reference to raw mythology imply?
The reference to “raw mythology” in the poem suggests the primal, almost sacred narratives and beliefs associated with the banyan tree in Indian culture. The banyan is often revered as a symbol of immortality, wisdom, and divine presence in Hindu mythology, associated with figures like Lord Krishna. By describing it as “raw,” the poet implies an unrefined, elemental connection to ancient traditions and spiritual beliefs that are deeply ingrained yet visceral. This phrase underscores the tree’s mythic significance, contrasting its sacred aura with the crude reality of its destruction, thus highlighting the loss of cultural heritage in the face of modernisation.
7. ‘Whose roots lay deeper than our lives’, what aspect of human behaviour does this line reflect?
The line “Whose roots lay deeper than our lives” reflects human behaviour that disregards the profound, enduring connection between nature and human existence. It suggests a shortsightedness in prioritising immediate gains, such as development or convenience, over the preservation of natural and cultural heritage. The banyan tree’s deep roots symbolise a legacy that outlives human generations, yet the act of felling it reveals a human tendency to overlook this timeless bond for transient needs. The line critiques the destructive, utilitarian mindset that fails to respect the deeper ecological and spiritual significance of nature.
8. Comment on the contemporary concern that the poem echoes.
The poem echoes the contemporary concern of environmental destruction and the loss of cultural heritage in the face of rapid modernisation. The felling of the banyan tree symbolises the broader issue of deforestation and the sacrifice of natural ecosystems for urban development, a pressing global concern. The contrast between the grandmother’s reverence for the tree and the father’s decision to cut it down reflects the tension between traditional ecological wisdom and modern progress-driven ideologies. This resonates with current debates about balancing development with environmental conservation, highlighting the need to preserve natural and cultural landmarks for future generations.
Also Read: NCERT Solutions Class 11 English Hornbill Poem 1 A Photograph (Free PDF)
TRY THIS OUT
1. Most of us have had this experience of seeing trees in our neighbourhood being mercilessly cut down in order to build a house or a public building or to widen a road. Describe any such experience you have had of the felling of a tree you were attached to, with reasons for your special attachment to the tree.
Consider a personal experience where a tree in your locality, perhaps one you played under as a child or associated with family memories, was cut down for construction or road expansion. For example, you might recall a neem tree in your backyard that provided shade during summer evenings, where you shared stories with friends. Your attachment could stem from its role as a comforting presence, a marker of childhood, or its ecological benefits, like attracting birds. Describe the emotions, sadness, anger, or helplessness, you felt watching it being felled, and reflect on how its loss impacted the environment or your connection to the place.
2. Find out the equivalents for sheoga, oudumber and neem in your language and English and the equivalent of banyan in your language.
Research the local names for these trees in your native language and their English equivalents. For example:
- Sheoga: Known as “Shisham” or “Indian Rosewood” in English (Dalbergia sissoo).
- Oudumber: Known as “Umber” or “Cluster Fig” in English (Ficus glomerata).
- Neem: Known as “Neem” or “Indian Lilac” in English (Azadirachta indica).
- Banyan: Known as “Bargad” or “Indian Banyan” in English (Ficus benghalensis).
In Hindi, these are Sheesham, Umber, Neem, and Bargad, respectively. Find equivalents in your language, such as Tamil, Bengali, or others, by consulting local botanical resources or elders.
3. The adjective ‘scraggy’ is used to describe ‘roots’ in the poem. Find out two other items which could be described as ‘scraggy’:
- Scraggy branches: Thin, uneven, or gnarled tree branches that appear rough and unkempt, often seen in old or neglected trees.
- Scraggy hair: Sparse, tangled, or unkempt hair that looks rough and disorderly, often due to lack of care or natural texture.
4. Use the following adjectives to describe suitable items: Raw, Aerial, Sacred.
- Raw: Raw emotions, Unfiltered, intense feelings like anger or grief, as experienced during a personal loss.
- Aerial: Aerial roots, Roots that grow above the ground, like those of a banyan tree, extending downwards from branches.
- Sacred: Sacred temple, A place of worship revered for its spiritual significance, like a temple housing a deity.
Download NCERT Solutions Class 11 English Woven Words Poem 10: Felling of the Banyan Tree
You can download the free PDF of NCERT Solutions Class 11 English Woven Words Poem 10: Felling of the Banyan Tree for effective revision.
Download more NCERT Solutions of Class 11 English ‘Woven Words’ here!
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| Poem 2: Let Me Not to the Marriage of True Minds Solution |
| Poem 3: Coming Solution |
| Poem 4: Telephone Conversation Solution |
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