Felling of the Banyan Tree Extract Questions | English Class 11

Extract Questions

Passage with linked answers

Extract

Extract 1

Reading Set

Extract 1

Passage

My father told the tenants to leave Who lived on the houses surrounding our house on the hill One by one the structures were demolished Only our own house remained and the trees Trees are sacred my grandmother used to say Felling them is a crime but he massacred them all

The father ordered the _______ to vacate the houses surrounding the hill.

tenants

The poet's grandmother believed that felling trees was a _______.

crime

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Extract Questions

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Extract

Extract 2

Reading Set

Extract 2

Passage

But the huge banyan tree stood like a problem Whose roots lay deeper than all our lives My father ordered it to be removed The banyan tree was three times as tall as our house Its trunk had a circumference of fifty feet

The banyan tree is described as a _______ because of its massive size and deep roots.

problem

The trunk of the banyan tree had a circumference of _______ feet.

fifty

What is implied by the phrase 'roots lay deeper than all our lives'?

This phrase suggests that the banyan tree had a connection to the earth and history that far predated the family. It represents an ancient heritage and stability that goes beyond the temporary lifespan of individual human beings, making it a timeless monument.

Why was the banyan tree considered a 'problem' for the poet's father?

The tree was a 'problem' because its immense size and deep roots made it difficult to remove. It stood as a final, stubborn obstacle to the father’s goal of clearing the land, representing a tradition that refuses to be easily erased.

How does the poet emphasize the majesty of the banyan tree in this extract?

The poet uses specific measurements—'three times as tall as our house' and 'fifty feet' wide—to convey the tree's physical dominance. These details create a sense of awe, making the tree seem like a giant that towers over human affairs.

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Extract Questions

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Extract

Extract 3

Reading Set

Extract 3

Passage

Sawing them off for seven days and the heap was huge Insects and birds began to leave the tree And then they came to its massive trunk Fifty men with axes chopped and chopped The great tree revealed its rings of two hundred years

It took _______ days of sawing to clear the branches of the banyan tree.

seven

The woodcutters used _______ to chop the massive trunk of the tree.

axes

What does the departure of insects and birds symbolize in the poem?

The departure symbolizes the destruction of a vibrant ecosystem. It shows that felling the tree is not just about losing wood; it is about the displacement of life and the end of a natural habitat that had flourished for centuries.

What is the significance of the 'rings of two hundred years' revealed in the trunk?

The rings are a biological record of the tree's long life. They reveal that the tree was an ancient living entity, making its destruction feel like the end of a historical era. It proves the tree's status as a witness to history.

How does the poet describe the effort required to fell the tree?

The poet mentions 'fifty men with axes' who 'chopped and chopped' for a long time. This highlights the tree's incredible strength and resilience, suggesting that destroying such a deep-rooted part of nature and tradition requires a massive, violent human effort.

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Extract Questions

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Extract

Extract 4

Reading Set

Extract 4

Passage

Soon afterwards we left Baroda for Bombay Where there are no trees except the one Which grows and seethes in one's dreams, its aerial roots Looking for the ground to strike.

The poet's family moved from Baroda to the city of _______.

Bombay

In the city, the tree only exists in the poet's _______.

dreams

How does the poet characterize the environment of Bombay?

The poet describes Bombay as a sterile, urban desert where 'there are no trees.' This contrasts sharply with the lush, hill-top home in Baroda, representing the total loss of nature and the cold reality of a life focused on modernization.

What is the meaning of the tree's aerial roots 'looking for the ground to strike' in the dream?

This imagery represents the poet's longing for stability and a sense of belonging. The roots are trying to anchor themselves in a city of concrete, symbolizing the human need to reconnect with one's heritage even after it has been destroyed.

What emotional state is conveyed by the word 'seethes' in the final lines?

The word 'seethes' suggests a state of inner turmoil, anger, or deep-seated unrest. It indicates that the trauma of losing the tree and the family home is not forgotten; it remains a vivid and painful presence in the poet's mind.

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Chapter sections

Chapter felling-of-the-banyan-tree: Felling of the Banyan Tree | Extract Questions

Extract 1

The father ordered the _______ to vacate the houses surrounding the hill.

The poet's grandmother believed that felling trees was a _______.

What does the demolition of the surrounding structures signify in the context of the poem?

Why does the poet use the word 'massacred' to describe his father's actions?

How does the poet establish the conflict between the father and the grandmother in this extract?

Extract 2

The banyan tree is described as a _______ because of its massive size and deep roots.

The trunk of the banyan tree had a circumference of _______ feet.

What is implied by the phrase 'roots lay deeper than all our lives'?

Why was the banyan tree considered a 'problem' for the poet's father?

How does the poet emphasize the majesty of the banyan tree in this extract?

Extract 3

It took _______ days of sawing to clear the branches of the banyan tree.

The woodcutters used _______ to chop the massive trunk of the tree.

What does the departure of insects and birds symbolize in the poem?

What is the significance of the 'rings of two hundred years' revealed in the trunk?

How does the poet describe the effort required to fell the tree?

Extract 4

The poet's family moved from Baroda to the city of _______.

In the city, the tree only exists in the poet's _______.

How does the poet characterize the environment of Bombay?

What is the meaning of the tree's aerial roots 'looking for the ground to strike' in the dream?

What emotional state is conveyed by the word 'seethes' in the final lines?