Get notes, line-by-line explanation, summary, questions and answers, critical analysis, word meanings, workbook solutions (Evergreen and Morning Star), extras, and pdf of the poem “When Great Trees Fall” by Maya Angelou, which is part of ICSE Class 10 English (Treasure Chest: A Collection of ICSE Poems and Short Stories). However, the notes should only be treated as references, and changes should be made according to the needs of the students.
If you notice any errors in the notes, please mention them in the comments
Summary
The poem begins with a metaphor, comparing the death of a great soul to a giant tree falling in the forest. The speaker describes the immense impact, saying even distant rocks shudder and lions and elephants flee for safety when ancient trees come crashing down. Similarly, the passing of a beloved great soul sends shockwaves through the world.
As the poem continues, the speaker turns to directly addressing the actual death of admirable, influential people. Their death leaves small creatures stunned into mournful silence, overwhelmed beyond fear. The atmosphere feels lighter and drained of spirit, sterilised by the loss. Those left behind struggle to breathe and see, agonised by shredded memories of missed opportunities and unsaid words that now can never be taken back.
The speaker articulates the all-consuming pain and disorientation of the loss, saying reality itself disappears for those who remained tethered to the deceased. Our souls shrink and wither without their nurturing light, our minds lose inspiration and fall away, reduced to an ignorant, cave-like darkness.
Yet slowly, through nonlinear healing, a sense of peace blooms as their spirit fills the void. Our restored senses become even more receptive, whispering that they existed and thus so can we, honouring their memory through continued life. Their lasting impact spurs us to live better.
Overall, the poem grapples with the grief, nostalgia, regret, and search for greater meaning after the death of impactful, beloved figures. Through extended metaphors and vivid imagery, Angelou captures the seismic significance and yet intimacies of loss. The poem ultimately argues loss can connect us more profoundly to life. Its cyclical nature implies while death may fell great trees, new growth inevitably follows.
Video tutorial
Line-by-line explanation of the poem
When great trees fall,
rocks on distant hills shudder,
The speaker uses an evocative extended metaphor here, comparing the monumental impact of a great person’s death to the immense shaking of the earth when massive, ancient trees come crashing down in a forest. The imagery suggests the death sends shockwaves that reverberate through the natural world, with even solid bedrock on distant hills shuddering in response.
lions hunker down
in tall grasses,
The speaker vividly envisions powerful lions instinctively hunkering down and concealing themselves in tall grasses out of primal unease and fear, reacting viscerally to the great tree falling. This continues the extended metaphor, emphasising how the death of an influential figure shakes the very foundations of the world around them. The lions’ instinctive terror reveals the true magnitude of the loss.
and even elephants
lumber after safety.
Even elephants, known for their size and stability, are imagined lumbering urgently to safety when the great tree falls. This develops the extended metaphor, showing just how momentous and impactful the death of a great soul is by depicting its ripple effects across the natural world. The elephants’ reaction further highlights the monumental significance of the loss.
When great trees fall
in forests,
By repeating the opening line, the speaker connects back to the extended metaphor introduced earlier before transitioning to directly discussing the actual death of great people, moving beyond the poetic metaphor.
small things recoil into silence,
The speaker describes small forest creatures becoming utterly silent and still in the wake of the fallen tree, overwhelmed beyond fear or calls. This powerfully conveys the absoluteness of the loss, showing how it stuns even the natural world into shocked, mournful silence.
their senses
eroded beyond fear.
The small creatures are imagined so profoundly shaken and disturbed that their very senses are dulled and eroded by the enormity of what has happened, overwhelmed beyond even the ability to feel fear anymore. This emphasises the totality of the loss.
When great souls die,
The speaker now directly addresses the death of great people and beloved leaders, transitioning beyond the extended metaphor used earlier to state the focus openly.
the air around us becomes
light, rare, sterile.
In a striking image, the speaker describes the feeling that the very air around us suddenly seems lighter, but in a negative way – no longer rich and vibrant but rare and sterile, drained of spirit. This evokes the sense of isolation in grief.
We breathe, briefly. Our eyes, briefly,
see with
a hurtful clarity.
The diction “briefly” suggests the difficulty getting through each moment in the crushing immediate aftermath of loss. Breathing feels laboured and vision painfully clarified yet obscured by tears, capturing the feeling of barely being able to function initially.
Our memory, suddenly sharpened,
examines,
gnaws on kind words
unsaid,
promised walks
never taken.
With vivid language, the speaker reveals how grief can sharpen recollection and lead to agonizing nostalgia. Our memories are suddenly intensified, fixating on missed opportunities – kind words never uttered or walks never taken together. The pain of “what-ifs” and regrets gnaws at us.
Great souls die and
our reality, bound to
them, takes leave of us.
The speaker articulates how when these central figures die, our very sense of reality that was tethered to them disappears, unmooring us and leaving us untethered in their absence. We feel cast adrift.
Our souls,
dependent upon their
nurture,
now shrink, wizened.
The speaker describes the feeling of our very souls becoming diminished and drained without the spiritual nourishment and care of the beloved we’ve lost. There is a sense of withering within, of shrinking down into weaker, more wizened versions of ourselves.
Our minds, formed
and informed by their
radiance,
fall away.
Without their presence and inspiration, our ways of thinking that were shaped and developed under their radiant influence now feel diminished, unable to be sustained. Our minds lose their light.
We are not so much maddened
as reduced to the unutterable ignorance
of dark, cold
caves.
More than simply driving us mad, the enormity of the loss leaves us reduced to a state of inexpressible, primordial ignorance, like creatures suddenly condemned to the darkness of caves. This powerfully conveys disorientation.
And when great souls die,
after a period peace blooms,
slowly and always
irregularly.
With the beautiful phrase “peace blooms,” the speaker indicates that in time, peace and healing can gradually emerge after the initial anguish. But the process is always slow and nonlinear.
Spaces fill
with a kind of
soothing electric vibration.
There is a sense of the void left behind beginning to fill with an uplifting spirit, a comforting electricity and vibration, as if the person’s enduring energy still resonates.
Our senses, restored, never
to be the same, whisper to us.
Our senses are imagined restored but forever changed, now more alert and sensitive as they whisper to us, made more receptive by the loss.
They existed. They existed.
We can be. Be and be
better. For they existed.
The simple repetition of “they existed” powerfully overcomes the finality of loss, asserting the enduring evidence of their life. Their existence reminds us to live fuller, with purpose and meaning, better for having known them.
Word meanings
shudder: tremble, quiver
hunker: crouch or squat down
lumber: move in a slow, heavy, awkward way
recoil: draw back in fear or pain
eroded: gradually destroyed or worn away
sterile: unable to produce or incapable of sustaining life; barren
briefly: for a short time
clarity: clearness, lucidity
sharpened: intensified, heightened
examines: inspects closely, scrutinises
gnaws: bites or chews persistently
unsaid: not spoken aloud
wizened: shrivelled, withered
radiance: brilliance, luminosity
maddened: driven insane
unutterable: inexpressible, unspeakable
ignorance: lack of knowledge or education
blooms: flourishes, thrives
irregularly: sporadically, inconsistently
vibration: quiver, oscillation
restored: renewed, rejuvenated
whisper: speak very softly
existed: lived, was real
About the author
Maya Angelou was one of the most influential literary figures and civil rights activists of our time. She was born in St. Louis in 1928 and lived through a traumatic childhood of abuse and displacement, which influenced her profound writing later in life.
Angelou rose to prominence after the publication of her seminal memoir I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings in 1969. The book was a brutally honest account of her upbringing as a young black girl growing up in the Deep South. It struck a chord with readers, bringing Angelou critical acclaim. She went on to write six more autobiographies about her illustrious career as a singer, actress, activist, and professor. Angelou’s works focused on family, identity, racism, and overcoming adversity.
Angelou established herself as a poet as well, publishing collections such as Just Give Me a Cool Drink of Water ‘fore I Diiie, which was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize. Her poem “On the Pulse of Morning” was even chosen for President Bill Clinton’s inauguration in 1993, a significant milestone.
Aside from the arts, Angelou was an outspoken civil rights activist. She collaborated closely with Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X, contributing her skills to the movement. President Barack Obama awarded her the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2011 for her artistic contributions and advocacy for justice.
Angelou’s spirit continues to burn brightly decades after her death in 2014.
Evergreen workbook answers/solutions
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Which extended metaphor is used in the poem?
A. The deaths of great men B. The falling of great trees C. Nature D. Big and small animals
Answer: B. The falling of great trees
2. When do animals seek safety?
A. When the earth shakes B. When wolves howl C. When great trees fall D. When hunters appear
Answer: C. When great trees fall
3. What positive happens when great men die?
A. Our senses are benumbed. B. Our memory is suddenly sharpened. C. We feel sorry for ourselves. D. We feel pity for great men.
Answer: B. Our memory is suddenly sharpened.
4. In what state are we thrown suddenly when we hear about the death of a great soul?
A. Sullen B. Indifferent C. Sorrowful D. Amusing
Answer: C. Sorrowful
5. What do great men generally care for?
A. Our souls B. Our bodies C. Our wealth D. Our health
Answer: A. Our souls
6. The phrase ‘dark cold, caves’ symbolises _____________ in the poem.
A. Cheerfulness B. Depth of mind C. Despair D. Ignorance
Answer: C. Despair
7. What happens to our souls on hearing the news of a great man who has impacted our lives greatly?
A. We begin to cry. B. We become mad. C. We become silent. D. Our souls shrivel.
Answer: D. Our souls shrivel.
8. Which figure of speech is used in the line ‘We can be. Be and be’?
A. Personification B. Irony C. Alliteration D. Sarcasm
Answer: C. Alliteration
9. Which of these statements is NOT true?
A. When great trees fall the rocks on distant hills shudder. B. When great trees fall small animals do not bother. C. The falling of great trees causes ripples for miles. D. We should try to be better than we are.
Answer: B. When great trees fall small animals do not bother.
10. The poem ‘When Great Trees Fall’ is on the whole
A. Depressing B. Realistic and positive C. Ironical D. Amusing
Answer: B. Realistic and positive
Comprehension Passages
PASSAGE-1
When great trees fall,
rocks on distant hills shudder,
lions hunker down
in tall grasses,
and even elephants
lumber after safety.
I. How is the metaphor of ‘great trees’ used in the poem?
Answer: The metaphor of ‘great trees’ is used to symbolize the deaths of great persons. When a great tree falls, it causes widespread disruptions, akin to the effects felt by people when a significant person in their lives dies.
II. What does the shuddering of ‘rocks’ on distant hills symbolise?
Answer: The shuddering of ‘rocks’ on distant hills symbolizes the far-reaching impact of the death of a great person. It signifies how the loss is felt widely, causing even distant and seemingly unrelated elements to react.
III. How do animals behave when great trees fall? Why?
Answer: Animals behave with fear and seek safety when great trees fall. Lions squat in fear in tall grasses, and elephants walk awkwardly to seek shelter. This behavior is due to the immediate danger and disruptions caused by the falling of great trees, mirroring the unsettling effect a great person’s death has on people.
IV. What happens to small things when great trees fall?
Answer: When great trees fall, small things recoil into silence, their senses eroded beyond fear. This indicates that the impact of a great tree’s fall is profound and affects even the smallest creatures, causing a state of shock and numbness.
V. What idea does the poet give by using the extended metaphor of the fall of ‘great trees’?
Answer: By using the extended metaphor of the fall of ‘great trees’, the poet conveys the idea that the death of a great person has a significant and wide-ranging impact, causing immediate disruption but eventually leading to a state of peace and inspiration to live better lives, acknowledging the greatness of those who have passed.
PASSAGE-2
When great trees fall
inforests,
small things recoil into silence,
their senses
eroded beyond fear.
I. What does the fall of great trees symbolise in the poem?
Answer: The fall of great trees symbolises the deaths of great persons, conveying the impact and disruptions caused by the loss of a significant person.
II. What happens to big animals when great trees fall?
Answer: When great trees fall, big animals such as lions and elephants seek safety, indicating a widespread fear and the search for security in the face of sudden changes.
III. What happens to small things when great trees fall?
Answer: When great trees fall, small things recoil into silence, their senses eroded beyond fear, highlighting the profound impact even on the smallest creatures.
IV. Explain. ‘Their senses/eroded beyond fear’.
Answer: This phrase suggests that the small creatures are so deeply affected by the fall of great trees that their usual sense of fear is surpassed, leaving them in a state of numbness and shock.
V. When great men die, what kind of ‘clarity’ do we have all of a sudden?
Answer: When great men die, we experience a ‘hurtful clarity’, a sudden understanding of the valuable soul lost, which brings sharp and painful realization of their significance and our loss.
PASSAGE-3
When great souls die,
the air around us becomes
light, rare, sterile.
We breathe, briefly.
Our eyes, briefly,
see with
a hurtful clarity.
I. What image from the world of nature has been used earlier in the context?
Answer: The image of great trees falling has been used earlier in the context to symbolise the deaths of great persons and their impact.
II. What happens when great trees fall?
Answer: When great trees fall, there is widespread disruption; animals seek safety, and the natural order is momentarily disturbed, symbolising the effect of a great person’s death on society.
III. ‘We breathe, briefly’. There is a pause after ‘breathe’ here. What is its significance?
Answer: The pause signifies a moment of shock or realization, reflecting how the death of a great soul momentarily takes our breath away, highlighting the immediate and profound impact on us.
IV. What kind of ‘clarity’ does the poet refer to?
Answer: The poet refers to a ‘hurtful clarity’, a painful yet clear realization of the loss of a valuable soul, which brings a sharp focus on what was unsaid or undone.
V. What do we come to remember when great men die?
Answer: When great men die, we suddenly remember all the moments spent with them, the kind words unsaid, and the promised walks never taken, leading to a sense of regret and loss.
PASSAGE-4
Our memory, suddenly sharpened,
examines,
gnaws on kind words
unsaid,
promised walks
never taken.
I. What happens when great trees fall, according to the poet?
Answer: According to the poet, when great trees fall, it symbolises the death of great persons, causing widespread disruptions and affecting both the natural and human worlds deeply.
II. Why does it become difficult to breathe when great souls die?
Answer: It becomes difficult to breathe when great souls die because their loss creates a sense of emptiness and despair, making the very air around us feel light, rare, and sterile.
III. What do we come to remember suddenly when great souls die?
Answer: Suddenly, we remember the moments spent with the departed soul, the kind words unsaid, and the promised walks never taken, which gnaw on us with regret and sorrow.
IV. In what state of mind is the speaker here?
Answer: The speaker is in a state of reflection and sorrow, contemplating the painful clarity and regret that comes with the realization of what was lost with the departure of a great soul.
PASSAGE-5
Great souls die and
our reality, bound to
them, takes leave of us.
Our souls,
dependent upon their
nurture,
now shrink, wizened.
I. What does the fall of great trees symbolize in the poem, as suggested earlier in the context?
Answer: The fall of great trees symbolizes the deaths of great persons, suggesting the significant impact and disruptions their loss causes in both the natural world and human society.
II. What do we remember when great souls die?
Answer: When great souls die, we remember the moments spent with them, the kind words unsaid, and the promises unfulfilled, leading to regret and a sense of loss.
III. What happens to our ‘reality’ when great souls die?
Answer: When great souls die, our reality, which was bound to them, takes leave of us, leading to a sense of disorientation and loss as our souls shrink and wizen.
IV. What does the poet mean by ‘wizened’ souls here?
Answer: By ‘wizened’ souls, the poet means that our souls become shriveled, diminished in their capacity for joy and vitality, reflecting the deep impact of loss.
V. What does the word ‘nurture’ suggest in the context?
Answer: The word ‘nurture’ suggests the care, guidance, and support provided by the departed souls, which was crucial to our development and well-being.
PASSAGE-6
Our minds, formed
and informed by their
radiance, fall away.
We are not so much maddened
as reduced to the unutterable ignorance of
dark, cold
caves.
I. How has the poet compared the world of nature with the human world earlier in the context?
Answer: The poet has compared the world of nature with the human world by using the metaphor of great trees falling to symbolize the deaths of great persons, illustrating the profound impacts these events have in both realms.
II. What happens when someone emotionally attached to us departs forever?
Answer: When someone emotionally attached to us departs forever, our reality shifts, our souls shrink, and we are thrown into a state of despair and ignorance, reminiscent of dark, cold caves.
III. How are our minds affected by great souls?
Answer: Our minds, formed and informed by the radiance of great souls, are deeply affected by their departure, leading to a sense of loss and a reduction to ignorance.
IV. In what state of mind are we thrown when great souls die?
Answer: When great souls die, we are thrown into a state not so much of madness as of profound ignorance and despair, akin to being in dark, cold caves.
V. Explain the reference to the ‘ignorance of dark, cold caves’.
Answer: The reference to the ‘ignorance of dark, cold caves’ symbolizes the profound sense of loss, disorientation, and the lack of understanding that envelops us following the death of a great soul.
PASSAGE-7
And when great souls die,
after a period peace blooms,
slowly and always
irregularly. Spaces fill
with a kind of
soothing electric vibration.
I. What is suggested by the fall of great trees earlier in the context?
Answer: The fall of great trees is suggested to symbolize the deaths of great persons, illustrating the profound and wide-reaching impact these losses have.
II. How do we feel when great men die?
Answer: When great men die, we feel a profound sense of loss, difficulty in breathing, and a painful clarity about the significance of the loss, followed by a period of mourning and reflection.
III. How does the poet refer to time as a healer here?
Answer: The poet refers to time as a healer by suggesting that after a period, peace blooms slowly and always irregularly, indicating that healing from the loss of a great soul is a gradual and uneven process.
IV. What kind of ‘spaces’ are referred to here?
Answer: The ‘spaces’ referred to here are emotional and mental spaces within us that fill with a soothing vibration, symbolizing the healing and restoration of our senses after the loss.
V. How do we feel during those ‘spaces’?
Answer: During those ‘spaces’, we feel a kind of soothing electric vibration, indicating a sense of peace, healing, and restoration of our senses, albeit never to be the same as before.
PASSAGE-8
Our senses, restored, never
to be the same, whisper to us,
They existed. They existed.
We can be. Be and be
better. For they existed.
I. How do we feel when persons attached to us die?
Answer: When persons attached to us die, we initially feel a profound sense of loss, difficulty in breathing, and a period of mourning, followed by a gradual restoration of our senses and a realization of their lasting impact.
II. When do we feel at peace when great souls die?
Answer: We feel at peace after a period when peace blooms slowly and irregularly, indicating that healing from the loss is a gradual process facilitated by time.
III. Why do our senses never achieve the former state of normalcy after the death of great souls?
Answer: Our senses never achieve the former state of normalcy after the death of great souls because their impact is so profound that our perception and senses are permanently altered, whispering to us the presence and influence of the departed.
IV. What is the significance of the repetition of words in Lines 3-4?
Answer: The repetition of the words “They existed. They existed. We can be. Be and be better. For they existed.” emphasizes the profound influence of the departed souls on our lives and the inspiration they provide for us to live better lives in their memory.
V. The ending of the poem is quite positive. How?
Answer: The ending of the poem is quite positive because it suggests that despite the pain of loss, the memory and existence of great souls inspire us to be better and to live more meaningful lives, offering a message of hope and resilience.
Morning Star workbook answers/solutions
Multiiple Choice Questions II
1. Which of the following poetic devices is used in the title of the poem?
A. Simile
B. Metaphor
C. Personification
D. Metonymy
Answer: B. Metaphor
2. What happens to the ‘small things’ when great trees fall?
A. They die due to shock
B. They look up to large things for shelter
C. They curl up in silence
D. None of the above
Answer: C. They curl up in silence
3. Which figure of speech is used in the line given below?
‘the air around us becomes light, rare, sterile.’
A. Asyndeton
B. Anaphora
C. Refrain
D. Polyptoton
Answer: A. Asyndeton
4. Which of the following poetic devices is used in the lines given below?
We breathe, briefly.
Our eyes, briefly,/see with
A. Anaphora
B. Polyptoton
C. Epizeuxis
D. Epistrophe
Answer: D. Epistrophe
5. What is suggested by the phrase-memory ‘gnaws on’?
A. The phase of forgetfulness
B. Time spent on grieving for the dead
C. Unsaid words and unkept promises
D. None of the above
Answer: C. Unsaid words and unkept promises
6. How do the survivors see the world after the departure of the great souls from this world?
A. The world becomes unrecognisable
B. The world remains the same
C. The world loses its beauty
D. All of the above
Answer: A. The world becomes unrecognisable
7. Which figure of speech is used in the line given below?
‘Our minds, formed and informed by their radiance,…..’
A. Alliteration
B. Simile
C. Metaphor
D. Polyptoton
Answer: D. Polyptoton
8. What is suggested by the line- ‘Our minds, formed and informed’?
A. The great souls remain in our mind
B. The great souls shape the way people think
C. The great souls have great minds
D. The great souls cannot touch the minds of people
Answer: B. The great souls shape the way people think
9. The image of ‘dark, cold caves’ conveys which of the following?
A. Loneliness and incomprehension that accompanies the loss of great souls
B. The feeling of despair felt by the bereaved
C. The world after the departure of great souls
D. Both (a) and (b)
Answer: D. Both (a) and (b)
10. What is suggested by Maya Angelou when she says, ‘after a period peace blooms’?
A. Healing follows grief
B. Peace occurs while remembering the great souls
C. People remain silent during the period of mourning
D. None of the above
Answer: A. Healing follows grief
11. How does the speaker think that the bereaved can continue to ‘Be and be better’?
A. By forgetting the departed souls after some time
B. By the inspiration provided by the great souls
C. By accepting the fact that they are gone forever
D. None of the above
Answer: B. By the inspiration provided by the great souls
12. Which of the following lines contains the same literary device as the one in the title, When Great Trees Fall?
A. Were gathered there for vengeance and I knew
That if I dipped my hand the spawn would clutch it.
B. The woods decay, the woods decay and fall
The vapours weep their burden to the ground.
C. Admit impediments, love is not love
Which alters when it alteration finds,
Or bends with the remover to remove.
D. In small towns by the river
We all want to walk with the gods.
Answer: B. The woods decay, the woods decay and fall
Context questions and answers
Extract 1
When great trees fall,
rocks on distant hills shudder,
lions hunker down
in tall grasses,
and even elephants
lumber after safety.
(i) State three effects of the fall of great trees in the forest?
Answer: Rocks shudder, lions hunker down, and elephants seek safety.
(ii) Why do the ‘rocks on distant hills’ shudder? What is suggested by their shuddering?
Answer: The rocks shudder due to the immense impact of the trees’ fall, symbolizing how even distant, seemingly unaffected entities are shaken by great losses.
(iii) Lions are regarded as fearsome predators. Still they ‘hunker down in tall grasses’? Why? What does their fear symbolize?
Answer: Lions, despite being fearsome predators, hunker down in tall grasses as a response to the disturbance caused by the fall of great trees. Their fear symbolizes the disruption of their natural habitat and the instinctual need to seek safety and protection.
(iv) (a) Explain briefly the meaning of the line: “…and even elephants lumber after safety.”
Answer: This line suggests that even powerful creatures like elephants feel vulnerable when great trees fall, and they move clumsily towards safety.
(b) Which figure of speech is used in the above line?
Answer: The figure of speech is personification, as elephants are described as “lumbering after safety,” implying a human-like action.
(v) Explain with examples the metaphoric use of ‘trees’ in the poem.
Answer: In the poem, ‘trees’ metaphorically represent great figures or powerful entities. Their fall causes widespread disruption, affecting both the environment and living beings, symbolizing the impact of the loss of important people or institutions.
Extract 2
When great trees fall
in forests,
small things recoil into silence,
their senses
eroded beyond fear.
(i) What are the ‘small things’ referred to in this extract? What happens to them when great trees fall?
Answer: The ‘small things’ refer to smaller creatures or vulnerable beings in the forest. When great trees fall, they become silent, overwhelmed by fear and shock.
(ii) What are the ‘small things’ contrasted with in the previous extract of the poem?
Answer: The ‘small things’ are contrasted with powerful animals like lions and elephants, which are also affected by the fall of the great trees but in a more visible, physical manner.
(iii) What happens to the ‘senses’ of small things when great trees fall? How can this be compared with those of human beings?
Answer: The senses of small things are ‘eroded beyond fear,’ meaning they become numb and desensitized. This can be compared to how human beings may also feel numb or overwhelmed by the loss of something significant, unable to process emotions fully.
(iv) State two poetic devices used in this extract. Give an example of each.
Answer:
- Alliteration: “small things.”
- Personification: “senses eroded beyond fear.”
(v) Explain briefly how the fall of great trees impacts both big and small things.
Answer: The fall of great trees affects both large animals like lions and elephants, which seek safety, and small creatures, which recoil into silence, demonstrating how a significant loss impacts both the powerful and the vulnerable.
Extract 3
When great souls die,
the air around us becomes
light, rare, sterile.
We breathe, briefly.
Our eyes, briefly,
see with
a hurtful clarity.
Our memory, suddenly sharpened,
examines,
gnaws on kind words
unsaid,
promised walks
never taken.
(i) What is the effect of the death of great souls on the air around us? What does it suggest?
Answer: The air becomes light, rare, and sterile, suggesting a sense of emptiness and disconnection, as though life has lost its richness and vitality after their death.
(ii) Which figure of speech is used in the lines given below? What does it suggest?
We breathe, briefly.
Our eyes, briefly, see
Answer: The figure of speech is repetition, emphasizing the fleeting nature of life and the momentary clarity we gain in the aftermath of loss.
(iii) What do our eyes see with ‘hurtful clarity’? Why?
Answer: Our eyes see the reality of lost opportunities and unspoken words with hurtful clarity, as we reflect on the things left unsaid and undone.
(iv) What happens to ‘our memory’ after the death of a loved one?
Answer: Our memory sharpens, leading us to reflect on the moments we missed, the kind words we didn’t say, and the promises we never fulfilled.
(v) Explain how this extract portrays the feelings of despair and regret felt by the bereaved person after the loss of someone close.
Answer: The extract conveys despair and regret through imagery of sterile air and gnawing memory, symbolizing the pain of realizing too late what was left unsaid or undone, intensifying the sense of loss.
Extract 4
Great souls die and
our reality, bound to
them, takes leave of us.
Our souls,
dependent upon their
nurture,
now shrink, wizened.
Our minds, formed
and informed by their
radiance, fall away.
We are not so much maddened
as reduced to the unutterable ignorance of
dark, cold
caves.
(i) What happens to ‘our reality’ when great souls die?
Answer: Our reality, which is tied to these great souls, departs with them, leaving us disoriented and disconnected from the world.
(ii) Explain how our souls depend on great souls for their nurture. What happens when these great souls depart?
Answer: Our souls grow and thrive under the guidance and wisdom of great souls. When they depart, our souls shrink and become weakened, losing their vitality and direction.
(iii) (a) Which figure of speech is used in the line given below:
Our minds formed/and informed…
Answer: The figure of speech is alliteration, emphasizing the impact of great souls on the formation and enlightenment of our minds.
(b) How do the great souls impact our minds?
Answer: Great souls shape our minds by providing knowledge, wisdom, and insight, which guide us in life. When they die, this guidance fades, leaving us feeling lost.
(iv) Why does the speaker say that ‘we are not so much maddened’?
Answer: The speaker suggests that instead of going mad with grief, we are diminished into a state of ignorance, retreating into a metaphorical dark cave of despair and confusion.
(v) Explain the connotations associated with the phrase ‘dark, cold caves.’
Answer: The phrase connotes isolation, ignorance, and despair. It symbolizes the emotional and intellectual darkness we experience when we lose those who have enlightened us.
Extract 5
And when great souls die,
after a period peace blooms,
slowly and always
irregularly. Spaces fill
with a kind of
soothing electric vibration.
Our senses, restored, never
to be the same, whisper to us.
They existed. They existed.
We can be. Be and be
better. For they existed.
(i) How does peace bloom after a period?
Answer: Peace blooms gradually and irregularly after a period of grief, suggesting that healing takes time and happens at an uneven pace.
(ii) Which ‘Spaces’ is the speaker talking about? How are these spaces filled?
Answer: The ‘spaces’ refer to the emotional and spiritual void left by the death of great souls. These spaces are filled with a soothing energy or memory that restores balance, though never completely the same as before.
(iii) How are our senses restored? What do they whisper to us?
Answer: Our senses are restored over time, though changed by the experience of loss. They whisper to us that the great souls once existed, reminding us of their influence and inspiring us to be better.
(iv) Which poetic device is used in “They existed. They existed.” What is suggested by this repetition?
Answer: The poetic device is repetition, which emphasizes the enduring presence and impact of the great souls even after their death.
(v) Explain how this extract signifies the role played by ‘great souls’ or immensely talented people to bring about massive cultural change.
Answer: The extract highlights how the legacy of great souls lives on, inspiring those left behind to improve and carry forward their influence, thus contributing to ongoing cultural change and personal growth.
Extras/additional
Questions and answers
Extract 1
When great trees fall
rocks on distant hills shudder
lions hunker down
in tall grasses
and even elephants
lumber after safety.
(i) What impact do great trees falling have on nature?
Answer: The fall of great trees causes widespread disruption in nature, symbolized by distant rocks shuddering, lions hiding, and elephants seeking safety.
(ii) What does the imagery of lions and elephants suggest about the impact?
Answer: The imagery of lions and elephants, both strong animals, emphasizes that even the mightiest creatures are affected, illustrating the magnitude of the event.
(iii) Why is the shuddering of distant hills significant?
Answer: The shuddering of distant hills signifies that the impact of the loss is far-reaching, affecting more than just the immediate surroundings.
(iv) How does this extract reflect the theme of the poem?
Answer: It reflects the theme of significant loss by showing how nature reacts when something great, like a tree, falls, symbolizing the death of great souls.
(v) What tone is conveyed through the use of “hunker down” and “lumber”?
Answer: These verbs convey a tone of caution and vulnerability, indicating a sense of danger and the need for protection.
Extract 5
They existed. They existed.
We can be. Be and be
better. For they existed.
(i) What message does the speaker convey with the repetition of “They existed”?
Answer: The repetition reinforces the enduring impact of the great souls’ existence, emphasizing that their legacy continues to inspire those left behind.
(ii) How does the speaker view the influence of great souls on those who survive them?
Answer: The speaker views their influence as a source of inspiration, encouraging survivors to live better lives and strive for improvement because of the greatness that once was.
(iii) What does the phrase “We can be. Be and be better” suggest about the potential of the living?
Answer: It suggests that the living have the potential to improve and grow, using the memory and legacy of the great souls as motivation to become better.
(iv) How does this passage shift the tone of the poem?
Answer: The tone shifts from mourning and loss to one of hope and renewal, suggesting that even in death, great souls leave behind a legacy that can inspire positive change.
(v) How does this final passage relate to the overall message of the poem?
Answer: It encapsulates the central message of the poem: that although great souls may die, their existence has a lasting, positive impact on those who remember them, inspiring growth and improvement.
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
1. What happens when great trees fall?
A. Birds start chirping louder B. Lions start feeling scared C. Rocks on distant hills shudder D. Elephants start running faster
Answer: C. Rocks on distant hills shudder
20. What is the central message of the poem ‘When Great Trees Fall’?
A. Appreciate nature’s beauty B. Make the most of opportunities C. Stay rooted in one place D. Cherish inspirational souls
Answer: D. Cherish inspirational souls
Ron’e Dutta is a journalist, teacher, aspiring novelist, and blogger who manages Online Free Notes. An avid reader of Victorian literature, his favourite book is Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë. He dreams of travelling the world. You can connect with him on social media. He does personal writing on ronism.
Get notes of other boards, classes, and subjects