Our Casuarina Tree Q&A (12th English Poem 2)
Poem Comprehension Questions
a) A creeper climbs, in whose embraces bound , No other tree could live.
- i) Which tree is referred to in the above lines?
- The Casuarina tree is referred to here.
- ii) How does the tree survive the tight hold of the creeper?
- The tree is very strong and powerful, so it manages to survive the tight hold of the creeper.
- iii) Why does Toru Dutt use the expression ‘a creeper climbs’?
- She uses it to show how closely the creeper clings to the tree, almost covering it completely.
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 described as a giant.
- ii) Why is the scarf colourful?
- The scarf is colourful because of the bright crimson flowers of the creeper that cover the tree.
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 thee from oblivion’s curse.
- i) What does the poet mean by the expression ‘May love defend thee from oblivion’s curse?’
- She means that her love and poetry will keep the Casuarina tree alive in memory forever, saving it from being forgotten.
- ii) What does the expression ‘fain’ convey?
- ‘Fain’ means gladly or eagerly. The poet wishes eagerly to describe the tree’s beauty.
- iii) What does the poet convey through the expression ‘Fear, trembling Hope’?
- It conveys the uncertain emotions of human life — fear of challenges and the trembling hope that keeps us moving forward.
5. Identify the figure of speech
- a) “LIKE a huge Python, winding round and round / The rugged trunk, indented deep with scars”
- 👉 Simile – the creeper is compared to a python using the word like.
- b) “A creeper climbs, in whose embraces bound / No other tree could live. But gallantly / The giant wears the scarf, and flowers are hung……”
- 👉 Personification & Metaphor –
- The tree is personified as a giant wearing a scarf (the creeper with flowers).
- c) “A gray baboon sits statue–like alone’’
- 👉 Simile – the baboon is compared to a statue using like.
- d) “The water-lilies spring, like snow enmassed.”
- 👉 Simile – the water-lilies are compared to heaps of snow.
- e) “What is that dirge – like murmur that I hear / Like the sea breaking on a shingle -beach?”
- 👉 Simile – the murmur of the tree is compared to the sea waves on a beach.
Paragraph Questions (Slow Learners)
Our Casuarina Tree
TTITLE : Our Casuarina Tree
Poetess : Toru Dutt
Theme : The poet shares about a casuarina tree
- The Casuarina tree is tall and strong.
- A creeper is winding around it like a python.
- The tree stands like a giant with a colorful scarf of creeper’s flowers.
- Birds surround the garden during day time.
- The sweet song of the birds is heard at night.
- The poet spends her winter watching the baboon sitting on top of the tree.
- Their sleepy cows wending the pastures and water lilies springing like snow.
- The casuarina tree brings the nostalgic memories of her childhood.
- The poet could communicate with the tree even when she was in a far-off land
- She could hear the tree laments over her absence.
- She immortalizes the tree through her poem.
Moral : She expresses her wish that the tree should be remembered out of love and not Just because it can’t be forgotten.
