Tamil Nadu 12th Standard English Book Answers | Our Casuarina Tree

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12th English : Our Casuarina Tree

12th Standard English Book Unit 2.2 Our Casuarina Tree Book Back Answers

Unit 2.2 > Our Casuarina Tree

Warm Up

You visit your school after several years. As you cross the banyan tree at the entrance, cheerful memories fill your mind. Fill the bubbles with your memories.

Glossary

  • gallantly – bravely or heroically
  • repose – a state of rest
  • casement – a type of window that is fixed on one side and opens like a door
  • baboon – a type of large monkey found in Africa and Asia
  • kokilas – a type of bird similar to the cuckoo
  • wend – stroll
  • hoar – white frost deposits on the tree
  • enmassed – amassed
  • shingle – rocky
  • wraith – apparition
  • tranced – dreamy condition, hypnotised
  • sublime – glorious, grand
  • fain – eagerly
  • consecrate – to officially make something holy
  • lay – amateur
  • rehearse – repeat
  • oblivion – a state of forgetfulness

1. Fill in the blanks choosing the words from the box given and complete the summary of the poem.

pythonstatuenaturecasementnostalgiclamenting
impressiveforgottengiantconsecratesspringingsanctified

The casuarina tree is tall and strong, with a creeper winding around it like a (1) python. The tree stands like a (2) giant with a colourful scarf of flowers. Birds surround the garden and the sweet song of the birds is heard. The poet is delighted to see the casuarina tree through her (3) casement. She sees a grey monkey sitting like a (4) statue on top of the tree, the cows grazing and the water lilies (5) springing in the pond. The poet feels that the tree is dear to her not for its (6) impressive appearance but for the (7) nostalgic memories of her happy childhood that it brings to her. She strongly believes that (8) nature communicates with human beings. The poet could communicate with the tree even when she was in a far-off land as she could hear the tree (9) lamenting her absence. The poet (10) consecrates the tree’s memory to her loved ones, who are not alive. She immortalizes the tree through her poem like the poet Wordsworth who (11) sanctified the yew tree of Borrowdale in verse. She expresses her wish that the tree should be remembered out of love and not just because it cannot be (12) forgotten.

2. Based on your understanding of the poem, answer the following questions in one or two sentences each.

a) What is the creeper compared to?

The creeper is compared to a python.

b) How does the creeper appear on the tree?

The creeper has wound itself around the rugged trunk of the casuarina tree, like a huge python. The creeper has left deep marks on the trunk of the tree.

c) Describe the garden during the night.

During the night a bird produces sweet sound which is like a song. It goes on as it has no end.

d) How does the poet spend her winter?

She looks through the window. Mostly in winters a gray baboon is seen sitting on the crest of the tree seeing the sunrise with her younger ones leaping and playing in the tree’s boughs. The shadow of the tree appears to fall on the huge water tank.

e) Name the bird that sings in the poet’s garden.

Kokila, a bird similar to cuckoo sings in the poet’s garden.

f) Why is the casuarina tree dear to poet’s heart?

Toru Dutt says that it is not because of the majestic appearance of the casuarina tree that it is dear to her heart and soul, but because she along with her siblings spent happy moments under it.

g) Does nature communicate with human beings?

Yes, nature communicates with human beings.

h) What has Wordsworth sanctified in his poem?

Wordsworth has sanctified the Yew trees of Borrowdale.

i) To whom does Toru Dutt want to consecrate the tree’s memory?

The poet wishes to consecrate the tree’s memory and importance for the sake of those who are now dead.

j) The casuarina tree will be remembered for ever. Why?

The tree will be remembered out of love and not just because it cannot be forgotten. So the tree will be remembered for ever.

3. Read the lines given below and answer the questions that follow.

a) “A creeper climbs, in whose embraces bound
No other tree could live”.

i. Which tree is referred to in the above lines?

Casuarina is referred to in the above lines.

ii. How does the tree survive the tight hold of the creeper?

The tree is so strong that it bears the tight hold of the creeper.

iii. Why does Toru Dutt use the expression ‘a creeper climbs’?

Toru Dutt uses the expression because really a creeper climbs on the casuarina tree.

b) “The giant wears the scarf, and flowers are hung
In crimson clusters all the bough among—-”!

i. Who is the giant here?

The casuarina tree is the giant here.

ii. Why is the scarf colourful?

The scarf is colourful because it is made of crimson coloured flowers.

c) “Fear, trembling Hope, and Death, the skeleton,
And Time the shadow”, and though weak the verse
That would thy beauty fain, oh, fain rehearse,
May Love defend tree from oblivion’s curse.

i. What does the poet mean by the expression ‘May love defend thee from oblivion’s curse?’

The poet means that the tree should not be forgotten.

ii. What does the expression ‘fain’ convey?

‘Fain’ means eager so it means that the poet is eager to make the tree holy.

iii. What does the poet convey through the expression ‘Fear, trembling hope’?

The poet hopes that the memory of this tree will live on in her poem as the memory of trees celebrated by Wordsworth has lived on in that poet’s work.

4. Explain the following lines with reference to the context.

a) “Dear is the Casuarina to my soul”,

Reference:-

This line is taken from ‘Our Casuarina Tree’ written by Toru Dutt.

Context:-

The poet wants to express how important the tree is for her.

Explanation:-

The poet feels that the tree is dear to her not for its gallant appearance but for the nostalgic memories of her happy childhood that it brings to her.Toru Dutt says that it is not because of the majestic appearance of the Casuarina Tree that it is dear to her heart and soul, but because she along with her siblings spent happy moments under it.

b) “It is the tree’s lament, an eerie speech ——”

Reference:-

This line is taken from ‘Our Casuarina Tree’ written by Toru Dutt.

Context:-

The poet imagines that she hears a murmur which is the lament of the tree.

Explanation:-

The poet feels that the tree is dear to her not for its gallant appearance but for the nostalgic memories of her happy childhood that it brings to her. The poet laments the loss of loved ones. She already imagines consolation for such a loss. She alludes to an “unknown land” that is nevertheless “well-known to the eye of faith” The murmur which she imagines to hear is like an eerie speech which means strange and frightening.

c) “Unto thy honor, Tree, beloved of those
Who now in blessed sleep for aye repose”,

Reference:-

This line is taken from ‘Our Casuarina Tree’ written by Toru Dutt.

Context:-

The poet is eager to sanctify the memory of the tree.

Explanation:-

The poet feels that the tree is dear to her not for its gallant appearance but for the nostalgic memories of her happy childhood that it brings to her. The poet wishes to consecrate the tree’s memory and importance for the sake of those who are now dead – and looks ahead to death, hoping that the tree be spared obscurity

5. Identify the figure of speech used in each of the extracts given below and write down the answer in the space given below. The first one is done for you.

a) “Like a huge Python, winding round and round
The rugged trunk, indented deep with scars”.

Simile.

b) “A creeper climbs, in whose embraces bound
No other tree could live. But gallantly
The giant wears the scarf, and flowers are hung…..”

Metaphor.

c) “A gray baboon sits statue – like alone’’

Simile.

d) “The water-lilies spring, like snow enmassed”

Simile.

e) What is that dirge – like murmur that I hear
Like the sea breaking on a shingle-beach?

Simile

6. Answer each of the following questions in a paragraph of 100-150 words.

a) Describe the reminiscences of the poet, when she sees the casuarina tree.

But gallantly
The giant wears the scarf, and flowers are hung
In crimson clusters all the boughs among,

Toru Dutt begins the poem, ‘Our Casuarina Tree’ with the description of the tree. The poet says that the creeper has wound itself around the rugged trunk of the Casuarina Tree, like a huge Python. The creeper has left deep marks on the trunk of the tree. The tree is so strong that it bears the tight hold of the creeper. The tree is described as being gallant, and possibly brave, as very few trees could survive in the strangle-hold of this creeper. The poet then goes on to describe the life that thrives amidst every facet of the tree. The tree is metaphorically said as a giant due to its huge size, strength and oldness. The Casuarina Tree is covered with the creeper which bears red crimson flowers. It appears as though the tree is wearing a colorful scarf. Often at night, the garden echoes and it seems to be jubilant and the song (of a nightingale) has no end; it continues till dawn. At dawn when the poet opens her window she is delighted to see the Casuarina Tree. Mostly in winters a gray baboon is seen sitting on the crest of the tree seeing the sunrise with her younger ones leaping and playing in the tree’s boughs. The shadow of the tree appears to fall on the huge water tank.

Every reminiscence is coloured by the way things are today
therefore by a delusive point of view.

b) How does nature communicate with the poet?

And to their pastures wend our sleepy cows;
And in the shadow, on the broad tank cast by that hoar tree, so beautiful and vast

Toru Dutt begins the poem, ‘Our Casuarina Tree’ with the description of the tree. The poet says that the creeper has wound itself around the rugged trunk of the Casuarina Tree, like a huge Python. The creeper has left deep marks on the trunk of the tree. The tree is so strong that it bears the tight hold of the creeper. The tree is described as being gallant, and possibly brave, as very few trees could survive in the strangle-hold of this creeper. Toru Dutt says that it is not because of the majestic appearance of the Casuarina Tree that it is dear to her heart and soul, but because she along with her siblings spent happy moments under it. Toru Dutt has brought out the theme of nature as something that shares feeling with humans that lightens the burden on the heart. The poet continues with a description of how strong the image of the tree is, even when in lands far away.

“In nature, everything is perfect in its own way.
Trees can be contorted, bent in weird ways, and they’re still beautiful.”

c) The poet immortalizes the tree. Elucidate.

though weak the verse
That would thy beauty fain, oh, fain rehearse,
May Love defend thee from Oblivion’scurse.

Toru Dutt begins the poem, ‘Our Casuarina Tree’ with the description of the tree. The poet says that the creeper has wound itself around the rugged trunk of the Casuarina Tree, like a huge Python. The creeper has left deep marks on the trunk of the tree. The tree is so strong that it bears the tight hold of the creeper. The tree is described as being gallant, and possibly brave, as very few trees could survive in the strangle-hold of this creeper. Toru Dutt says that it is not because of the majestic appearance of the Casuarina Tree that it is dear to her heart and soul, but because she along with her siblings spent happy moments under it. The poet continues with a description of how strong the image of the tree is, even when in lands far away. Even in France and Italy (where the poet studied), she can hear the tree’s lament. The poet wishes to consecrate the tree’s memory and importance for the sake of those who are now dead – and looks ahead to death, hoping that the tree be spared obscurity. She immortalizes the tree through this poem like how Wordsworth sanctified the Yew trees of Borrowdale. She says “May love defend thee from Oblivion’s curse’”- expressing her wish that love shield her tree against the curse of forgetfulness, that the tree be remembered out of love and not because it cannot be forgotten.

We immortalize things which are about to be forgotten.
Poems which stand beyond years immortalized many things

Listening

First read the questions given below, then listen to the poem, read aloud by the teacher or played on a player. Then answer the questions based on your listening of the poem.

1. The poet was tossing in the bed awake because ________.

  1. he was worried
  2. he was struggling to sleep
  3. it was day time
  4. he was tired

Ans : he was struggling to sleep

2. The ________ were ‘sparkling as pearls’.

  1. moon
  2. sun
  3. stars
  4. meteoroids

Ans : stars

3. The ________ gave the poet a motherly smile.

  1. sun
  2. stars
  3. moon
  4. sky

Ans : moon

4. ________ made the poet’s eyelids droop.

  1. nature
  2. rosy lips
  3. songs
  4. tiredness

Ans : tiredness

5. ________ is the title of the poem.

  1. Wonders
  2. Midnight Wonders
  3. Nature
  4. Midnight dreams

Ans : Midnight Wonders

 

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