NCERT Solutions Class 9 English Poem Chapter 7 On Killing a Tree

Class 9 English Poem On Killing A Tree Question Answers are based on the NCERT curriculum. The poem “On Killing a Tree” by Gieve Patel is included in the Class 9 English syllabus and carries a strong environmental message.

It explains that destroying a tree is not a simple act of cutting; instead, it requires complete and violent removal of its life source. Through irony and powerful imagery, the poet highlights human cruelty towards nature and stresses the importance of environmental protection.

Class 9 English Poem On Killing A Tree Question Answers are given here with clear explanations, summary, and exam-focused answers. This chapter is frequently asked in CBSE exams through short answers, long answers, and value-based questions.

Class 9 English Poem On Killing A Tree Question Answer

Class 9 On Killing A Tree Question Answer provides clear, concise explanations of the poem’s themes, ideas, and literary devices. These answers help students analyze the poet’s message and prepare effectively for exams.

This chapter helps students understand themes such as environmental destruction, violence against nature, and human responsibility. Below are the On Killing A Tree Question Answer Class 9: 

Question 1. Can a “simple jab of the knife” kill a tree? Why not?

Answer: No, a simple jab of the knife cannot kill a tree because the tree grows with a lot of nutrients and resources. Even if one cuts it, it will sprout again.

Question 2. How has the tree grown to its full size? List the words suggestive of its life and activity.

Answer: The tree has grown to its full size by consuming the earth, feeding upon its crust, absorbing years of sunlight, air and water. The words suggestive of its life and activity are: absorbing, feeding, rising, consuming and sprouting.

Question 3. What is the meaning of “bleeding bark”? What makes it bleed?

Answer: The “bleeding bark” indicates the idea that the tree has been cut. Just like humans bleed blood when they get wounded, trees release a liquid at the place where they are cut. So, the tree bleeds.

Question 4. The poet says “No” in the beginning of the third stanza. What does he mean by this?

Answer: The poet says “No” in the beginning of the third stanza. It emphasizes that only cutting or chopping the tree will not cease its existence.

Question 5. What is the meaning of “anchoring earth” and “earth cave”?

Answer: The “anchoring earth” means that the earth works as an anchor to protect the tree and saves it from getting uprooted. “Earth cave” implies the depth of the mother earth where the tree spreads its roots and gets nurtured.

Question 6. What does he mean by “the strength of the tree exposed”?

Answer: He means to say that when one tries to pull out the tree along with its roots which are spread deep inside the earth, one will understand the strength of the tree.

Question 7. What finally kills the tree?

Answer: When the tree is pulled out along with its roots and separated from mother earth, one has to subject it to the scorching sun and let it wither. This will finally kill the tree.

Class 9 On Killing A Tree Summary

The poem shows that a tree is not merely a physical entity; it is deeply connected to nature through its roots, which absorb nutrients, water, and energy from the soil and sunlight. Cutting the trunk only injures the tree temporarily because it can regenerate new branches. The poet uses this imagery to highlight the resilience and life-sustaining power of trees.

The poem also focuses on the consequences of human actions. To kill a tree completely, one must uproot it and destroy its roots, which symbolizes violence against nature. Through vivid language and strong imagery, Gieve Patel warns readers that environmental destruction is both cruel and destructive. The poem encourages respect for trees and nature, delivering a timeless message about ecological responsibility.