Class 9 English - GUJARAT
Poetry: On Killing a Tree
Poetry: On Killing a Tree by Gieve Patel is a powerful, thought-provoking poem prescribed for Class 9 students under the Gujarat Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board (GSEB). The poem explores the immense cruelty and effort required to completely destroy a tree, using a satirical tone to depict how deeply rooted nature is. It highlights human brutality against the environment while simultaneously showcasing the remarkable resilience and tenacity of nature. For GSEB board exams, this chapter is crucial as questions frequently test students' comprehension of poetic devices, thematic analysis, and critical appreciation of the text.
Start Learning FreeKey Concepts
Nature's Resilience
The poem emphasizes that a tree cannot be destroyed by a simple jab of a knife; it has grown slowly consuming the earth and sunlight, making it fiercely resilient.
Root System as the Source of Life
The true strength of the tree lies hidden underground in its sensitive, white, and wet roots, which must be pulled out for the tree to actually die.
Satire on Human Cruelty
Gieve Patel uses a satirical, step-by-step instructional tone to expose the ruthless and calculated manner in which humans destroy nature for their own needs.
Free Verse and Style
The poem is written in free verse without any fixed rhyme scheme or meter, allowing the poet to deliver a serious environmental message in a natural, conversational flow.
Personification and Imagery
The poet uses vivid visual and tactile imagery (like bleeding bark, choking, and baking) to give human-like qualities to the tree and make its destruction feel painful.
Important Formulas
Board Exam Info
In the Gujarat (GSEB) Class 9 English exams, this chapter typically carries around 3 to 5 marks. Questions commonly include short answer questions, reference to context (RTC), and questions testing the central theme of environmental conservation and the poetic devices used by Gieve Patel.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does the poet say that 'it takes much time to kill a tree'?
The poet means this because a tree is deeply rooted in the earth, nourished by sunlight, air, and water over many years, making it extremely strong and difficult to destroy easily.
What is the most sensitive and hidden part of the tree?
The most sensitive and hidden part of the tree is its root, which is white and wet, securely bound inside the dark earth.
What is the central message of the poem 'On Killing a Tree'?
The central message is to highlight the cruelty of deforestation and to show how nature possesses incredible resilience, fighting hard to survive against human destruction.
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