The Trees – By ADRIENNE RICH

1.) (i) Find, in the first stanza, three things that cannot happen in a treeless forest.
(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’?

A. (i) The three things that cannot happen in a treeless forest are listed below: (a) the sitting of a
bird on trees, (b) the hiding of insects on the trees, (c) the sun burying its feet in the shadow of the
forest.
(ii) The sun’s ‘feet’ refers to the heat and rays of the sun that fall on the ground. Since there are no
trees, there will be no shadow, the sun rays will fall on the ground directly. However, in a forest
full of trees, the shadow hides the sunrays and it appears that the sun is burying its feet in the
shadow of the trees in the forest.

2.) (i) Where are the trees in the poem? What do their roots, their leaves, and their twigs do?
(ii) What does the poet compare their branches to?

A. (i) In the poem, the trees are confined within the limits of the poet’s house. Their roots work all
night to separate themselves from the cracks in the veranda floor. The leaves make attempts to
move towards the glass and exert pressure to break it, while the small twigs get stiff and tight with
exertion.
(ii) The poet compares the ‘long-cramped’ branches shuffling under the roof to newly discharged
patients from a hospital who look half-disoriented and confused after suffering long illnesses as
they move towards the clinic doors. The large branches of the trees become cramped under the roof
as they want to be set free so that they are able to spread themselves fully in the open air outside.

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? (ii) What happens to the house when the trees move out of it?
(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.)

Answer: (i) At the beginning of the third stanza, the poet mentions that the full moon is shining in
the open sky in the fresh night. Towards the end of the stanza, she describes that the moon breaks
into many pieces just like a cracked mirror and shines on the heads of the tallest oak trees. As the
trees move outside from her home, they cover some moonlight and it can be seen only in small
portions. This justifies the fact when the poet says that the moon has broken into pieces.
(ii) When the trees move out of the house, the glasses break and the smell of leaves and lichen still
reach the rooms of the house like a voice.
(iii) The poet scarcely mentions about “the departure of the forest from the house” in her letters
because human beings generally do not care for nature in the first place. Hence, she thinks that
nobody would be interested to know how hard the trees are trying to set themselves free. She also
mentions that if humans would have really cared for the trees, they would never think of destroying
them. Therefore, we can understand that the poet could feel the whole beauty of trees moving back
to the forest and she was immensely happy to realise it.
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’?
(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?

A. The poem may connote different meanings to different readers. The poet tries to explain two
different things using the same metaphors in the poem.
(i) Yes, the poem presents a conflict between man and nature. Humans have always had the
tendency to damage or harm nature without even realizing the usefulness and the benefits that
humankind derives from it. They do mass deforestation, which disturbs the environmental balance
and results in destruction of natural scenic beauty. Man tries to contain plants and trees within
limited spaces that deny their natural freedom. Due to this reason, the branches of the trees want to
spread themselves and feel the fresh air outside. Similarly, in the poem ‘A Tiger in the Zoo’, the
poet shows that animals which are kept in cages are unable to enjoy their freedom as even they
want to be set free and run around freely in the open space.
(ii) If the poem is taken to be symbolic then we can say that the house is a symbol of human society
in which men and women live together. But this is a society which is dominated by man. Trees may
be symbols of women. Just as the trees are struggling to move out of the house, women are
struggling for freedom by raising their voice against male domination. They are supposed to live
within the four walls of the house. They are nothing more than decorative pieces for men just as
plants and trees are kept in houses for interior decoration. The forest then is a symbol of the world
outside the four walls of the house where women also want to go and enjoy full freedom like men.

5.) You have been chosen to address a student gathering from the neighborhood schools, to speak
on the resilience of human spirit required to transcend discrimination. Prepare the speech draft in
not more than 120 words, with reference to the commonality of themes in Nelson Mandela: Long
Walk to Freedom and The Trees by Adrienne Rich.

You may begin this way:

Good morning, everyone. Today, I would like to discuss two pieces of literature that offer a
powerful insight into the resilience of the human spirit required to transcend discrimination.

You may end this way:

To conclude, I would like to say that…

Thank you

A. Good morning, everyone.

Today, I would like to discuss two pieces of literature ‘Nelson Mandela--- Long walk to Freedom’
and ‘The Trees’ that offer a powerful insight into the resilience of the human spirit required to
transcend discrimination. Mandela speaks of how his own experiences of discrimination made him
more determined to fight against it. Similarly, Rich’s poem acknowledges the discrimination faced
by trees, which are often overlooked and undervalued. Both the pieces of literature highlights the
hard work and sacrifices required to achieve equally. Mandela describes his long and difficult
journey toward freedom, including his time spent in prison. He emphasizes that true freedom is not
just about breaking physical chains but also breaking mental ones. Rich’s poem speaks of the
efforts required to protect trees and nature, highlighting the importance of activism and advocacy.
Mandela’s perseverance and unwavering determination to fight against discrimination, even in the
face of great adversity, inspire us to do the same. Rich’s poem also speaks about the resilience of
nature, which continues to thrive even in the face of human neglect and disregard.

To conclude, I would like to say that both these pieces of literature remind us of the strength of the
human spirit and the importance of standing up for what we believe in, even in the face of
adversities. By valuing all forms of life and working towards a more just and equal world, we can
continue to build a better future for ourselves and for future generations.

6.) Imagine you are a senior journalist covering this event of the trees moving. Put down a 120
words submission for the weekly newspaper column titled—‘Change’

Include a brief account of your observation as well as your opinion.

You may begin like this:

CHANGE THIS WEEK

--Sr. correspondent, The U.S. Chronicle

It was a movement to behold! The trees…

A. Change

Sr. Correspondent, The U.S. Chronicle

It was a movement to behold! The trees along with their leaves, twigs, boughs and rocks were
struggling hard to free themselves. It was a historical movement. Everyone around was
perhaps shocked and embarrassed by the sudden and unexpected happenings. It appeared as
if every part of the confined trees rose in revolt and struggled hard to free itself. The confined
trees put in artificial glass houses wanted to be free. They are shuffling hard to come out in
the open. They are suffocated with the limited space available.

Humans must understand the negative impact of their actions on nature and mend their ways
before it is too late. Man is doing more and more harm to nature. Nature is getting angry.
Man’s existence on this planet is in danger. Thus, it becomes foremost duty of every citizen to
work for the protection of the environment.