1st PUC English Chapter 7 If I Was a Tree Notes.

If I was a Tree Comprehension I:

Question 1.
The speaker wants to be a tree because
(a) trees are not treated as objects of defilement.
(b) no other creature in nature has the concept of defilement.
(c) trees are more humane than humans.
Answer:
(c) trees are more humane than humans.

Question 2.
What wouldn’t the bird ask the tree?
Answer:
What caste the tree is?’ this wouldn’t the bird ask.

Question 3.
When does the sacred cow scrape her body onto the bark?
Answer:
Whenever the sacred cow feels itched it scrapes her body onto the bark.

Question 4.
How does the speaker want to be purified?
Answer:
The speaker wants to be purified in two ways one is by burning in the holy fire. The second is becoming the bier of the sinless body to be borne on the shoulder of

Question 5.
The phrase ‘dog-eater’ refers to a ……………………………
Answer:
world in which people fight for themselves only and will hurt other people.

Question 6.
What uses of the wood does the speaker see?
Answer:
The wood is used to make holy fire.

If I Was a Tree Comprehension II:

Question 1.
Why would Mother Earth not flee according to the speaker?
Answer:

When the tree spreads out its branches further from its roots, the earth is strongly held by the root. It is very important for the plant to have a good relationship with the earth. Unless it keeps it, there will be no harm for both of them. As long as the root is in contact with the mother earth, no natural calamities do anything to them. Mother Earth’s responsibility is not to flee shouting for a bath.

Question 2.
How do the life forces and the cool breeze- enforce nature’s idea of equality?
Answer:

The life forces like sunlight and the cool breeze enable the creature’s life by supporting them to live with the forces. The trees use Sunlight for preparing food. And cool breeze helps the plants to grow well. It is treating every plant equally whether it is small or big. This is the way these forces propagate the idea of equality.

If I Was a Tree Comprehension III:

Question 1.
Why does the speaker want to be a tree?
Answer:

The speaker can leave the space for the bird to build its nest. He can have a good friendship with the cool breeze and the leaves. The relationship between the tree and the mother earth is established if the other becomes a tree. He can help the sacred cow scrape her body on my bark, scratching wherever it itched.

Question 2.
The poem is a satire on social discrimination. Discuss.
Answer:

The bird asks the tree what caste it belongs to. This clearly shows that one of the cruel problems of society castes is deeply rooted in it. The poet wants to convey that the discrimination of the society should be eradicated. That is why the speaker of the poem makes friendship with the cool breeze and the leaves.

Question 3.
The speaker brings out the concepts of defilement and purification. How is the meaninglessness of the practice brought out?
Answer:

The speaker brings out the meaningless practices through the two actions one is to hack the tree into pieces of dry wood and burn in the holy fire. The second is becoming the bier for a sinless body, be borne on the shoulders of four good men. No one would be made pure by burning on a holy fire but to do good deeds can lead to a pure life.

If I Was a Tree Summary