The Trees by Adrienne Rich

Poem 8: The Trees by Adrienne Rich: Short Answer-type Qs (30-35 words)

Summary of Trees

In this poem, trees are symbols of women. Forests are symbols of men. Forests are incomplete without trees. In the same way, our society is not complete without women. The society is not complete without the active role of women. Women have equal rights as are enjoyed by men. They should not be kept as prisoners in the four walls of the houses. If it is done by men, they would break the walls of their prisons.

Q1. Which kinds of trees are described in this poem? Why are they not useful for birds or insects?

Ans. The poet describes the trees which are planted in the houses. They are not big in size because they are planted for decoration. They are not useful for the birds and insects. They cannot sit and hide in them.

Q2. How does the poetess describe the night? What is she doing?

Ans. The night is fresh and cloudless. The moon is full and it is shining brightly. The poetess is sitting inside her room. The doors of the room are open in the veranda. She is writing long letters.

Q3. What message does the poetess convey through the poem ‘The Trees’?

Ans. In this poem, trees are symbols of women. Forests are symbols of men. Forests are incomplete without trees. In the same way, our society is not complete without women. Both are important. Women should not be confined (imprisoned) in the four walls of the houses.

Q4. Do you think Adrienne Rich’s poem ‘The trees’ is about decorative trees?

Ans. The poem is not merely about decorative trees. Trees inside the house are decorative, but they are symbols of women. Men keep women imprisoned in their houses like decorative trees.

Q5. Where are the trees in the poem ‘The Trees’? Where are they going? What does it signify?

Ans. Trees are inside the house in the poem. They are going to the forest. At symbolical level, trees are women. Forest is the symbol of society. Only men are allowed to move about in society. But now, women seem to break the prison of their houses to move freely in society.

Q6.What does the poetess mean by the line “the trees are moving out into the forests”?

Ans. The line means that women are breaking the prison of the houses in which they are kept as prisoners by men.

Q7. What is the theme of the poem ‘The Trees’?

Ans. In this poem, trees are symbols of women. Forests are symbols of men. Forests are incomplete without trees. In the same way, our society is not complete without women. The society is not complete without the active role of women. Women have equal rights as are enjoyed by men. They should not be kept as prisoners in the four walls of the houses. If it is done by men, they would break the walls of their prisons.