NCERT Solutions for Class 9 English Beehive (Poem) Chapter 7 – On Killing a Tree
Class 9 English Beehive Chapter 7 – On Killing a Tree is a thought-provoking poem by Gieve Patel that describes the process of killing a tree in a deeply symbolic way. On the surface, it is about the difficulty of cutting down a tree, but at a deeper level it is a reflection on the resilience of nature and the brutal effort required to destroy it. The poem is written in free verse and uses vivid imagery to show that a tree cannot be killed by a simple cut — it must be uprooted entirely, its roots exposed and left to wither.
This poem is an important part of the CBSE Class 9 English Beehive syllabus. It is frequently tested in school examinations through comprehension questions, meaning-based questions, and questions on literary devices. The poem builds vocabulary, sharpens interpretation skills, and encourages students to think about humanity's relationship with nature. Understanding this poem well helps students score confidently in the poetry section of their English exam.
NCERT Solutions for Class 9 English Beehive (Poem) Chapter 7 – On Killing a Tree
On Killing a Tree
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On Killing a Tree
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On Killing a Tree
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On Killing a Tree
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On Killing a Tree
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On Killing a Tree
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On Killing a Tree
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Question 1. Can a "simple jab of the knife" kill a tree? Why not?
Answer:
No, simply stabbing a tree with a knife will not kill it. As the poet describes, killing a tree is a long and deliberate process. Just as a human being dies only when the heart becomes completely dysfunctional, a tree dies only when its roots are destroyed. Unless the tree is removed entirely from its roots, it will not die — it will simply heal and rise again, sprouting new leaves and growth from its bark.
Question 2. How has the tree grown to its full size? List the words suggestive of its life and activity.
Answer:
The tree has grown to its full size over many years by drawing nutrition from the earth. It fed upon the earth's crust and absorbed sunlight, air, and water to sustain and develop itself over time.
The words suggestive of its life and activity are: "feeding upon the crust", "absorbing years of sunlight, air and water", "out of its leprous hide", "sprouting leaves."
Question 3. What is the meaning of "bleeding bark"? What makes it bleed?
Answer:
"Bleeding bark" refers to the wound caused when the twigs and branches of a tree are cut mercilessly. When a tree is cut, it secretes a fluid in the same way that blood oozes from a wounded human body. The poet uses this image to suggest that trees feel pain just as living creatures do, and that human beings cause this bleeding through the act of cutting.
Question 4. The poet says "No" in the beginning of the third stanza. What does he mean by this?
Answer:
The word "No" is used emphatically to stress that chopping and hacking alone are not sufficient to kill a tree. Despite being cut, the tree heals itself and grows back. The poet uses "No" to redirect the reader's attention — the real killing of a tree requires something far more thorough and violent than simply cutting its branches or trunk.
Question 5. What is the meaning of "anchoring earth" and "earth cave"?
Answer:
"Anchoring earth" suggests that the earth protects and supports a tree like a mother. The earth holds the tree firm by gripping its roots, providing it with stability, nourishment, and life.
"Earth cave" refers to the soil in which the tree is planted. Just as a cave hides and shelters something within it, the earth shelters and conceals the roots of the tree deep inside itself, keeping them safe and nourished.
Question 6. What does he mean by "the strength of the tree exposed"?
Answer:
"The strength of the tree exposed" means that when the roots of the tree are completely pulled out of the earth, the source of the tree's power and life is brought into the open. The roots — white, wet, and hidden deep in the soil — are the true strength of the tree. Once they are pulled out and exposed to the sun and air, the tree loses its only means of survival.
Question 7. What finally kills the tree?
Answer:
The tree is finally killed when it is uprooted completely from the soil. Once pulled out, its white and wet roots are exposed to the open air and sunlight. Cut off from its source of nourishment, the tree can no longer sustain itself. The branches and leaves begin to dry out and decay. Gradually the whole tree withers, turns hard and brown, and dies completely. It is this process of uprooting and scorching that truly kills the tree.
FAQs – Chapter 7 On Killing a Tree
Q1. What is the central theme of the poem On Killing a Tree? The central theme is the resilience of nature and the violence required to destroy it. The poem also carries an environmental message — it highlights how difficult and brutal the act of killing a tree truly is, implicitly questioning why humans do it so casually.
Q2. What poetic devices are used in this poem? The poem uses personification (the tree bleeds, the tree heals), metaphor (the tree's roots as its strength and heart), imagery (white and wet roots, hard and brown withering), and irony (a poem about killing a tree reads almost like an instruction manual, making the violence more shocking).
Q3. Why is the poem written in free verse? The poem is written in free verse to mirror the slow, irregular, and relentless process of killing a tree. There is no neat rhyme scheme because the act of destroying a tree is not clean or simple — it is a drawn-out, messy process, and the form reflects that.
Q4. What does the tree symbolise in this poem? The tree symbolises the strength, resilience, and persistence of nature. It also represents life itself — something that cannot be destroyed easily and that always strives to grow back. Some readers also interpret the tree as a symbol of human spirit and resistance.
Q5. How is this poem relevant today? The poem is extremely relevant in the context of deforestation and environmental destruction. By describing the killing of a tree in such graphic detail, the poet forces readers to confront the violence of the act and reconsider their relationship with nature and the environment.