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When Great Trees Fall Question Answers | Treasure Chest - Evergreen

Summary Of Poem: When Great Trees Fall

"When Great Trees Fall" by Maya Angelou is a poignant poem that uses vivid imagery and metaphor to explore the theme of loss and the enduring impact of influential figures. The poem begins with the metaphorical image of great trees falling, symbolizing the death or departure of significant individuals who have had a profound impact on society. Angelou compares these figures to towering trees, suggesting their strength, presence, and significance.

Throughout the poem, Angelou reflects on the aftermath of their departure, describing a world that seems momentarily silent and still. The falling of these great trees creates a void, leaving behind a sense of emptiness and sorrow. Angelou captures the collective grief felt by those who have been touched by the lives of these influential individuals.

However, amidst the sadness, Angelou also highlights the enduring legacy of these great trees. She suggests that although they may no longer be physically present, their influence continues to shape the world around them. Their roots run deep, metaphorically representing the lasting impact of their actions, ideas, and contributions.

Angelou emphasizes the idea that even in death, these figures continue to inspire and guide those who come after them. Their wisdom, courage, and passion live on in the hearts and minds of others, continuing to nourish and sustain future generations. The poem celebrates the resilience of the human spirit and the power of memory to keep the legacy of the departed alive.

In the final stanza, Angelou offers a message of hope and renewal. She suggests that despite the loss of these great trees, new growth will eventually emerge. Life goes on, and while we may mourn the passing of those we have lost, we also have the opportunity to honour their memory by carrying forward their ideals and aspirations.

Overall, "When Great Trees Fall" is a beautifully crafted poem that captures the complexity of grief and the enduring legacy of influential figures. Through its use of metaphor and imagery, the poem offers a profound reflection on the nature of loss and the power of memory to transcend death. It reminds us that while individuals may leave this world, their impact can continue to shape and inspire future generations.

1. Text-based Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)

  1. a
  2. c
  3. c
  4. d
  5. b
  1. b
  2. c
  3. b
  4. a
  5. a
  1. d
  2. d
  3. c
  4. c
  5. b

2. 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  "Green Trees" used in the poem?
Ans: The metaphor of "great trees" in the poem symbolizes influential figures or leaders whose impact extends far beyond their immediate surroundings. Their death has been equated with the fall of a great or big tree. When these figures fall or pass away, their absence is felt profoundly throughout the community or society, causing a ripple effect of disruption and uncertainty.

(ii) What does the shuddering of 'rocks' on the distance hill symbolise.
Ans: The ‘shuddering of rocks’ on distant hills symbolizes the far-reaching impact of the death of great men. Their death affects the people living far away also.

(iii) How do animals behave when a great tree falls? Why?
Ans: When a great tree falls animals get shocked. Lions also bend down and hide in the grass. Elephants start walking in a strange way to seek shelter at some safe place. Their behaviour undergoes change because they get afraid of the sudden shock.

(iv) What happens to small things when Great trees fall?
Ans: Small things including little creatures in the forest also feel frightened on the fall of a great tree. They recoil, sit huddled together and turn silent out of fear.

(v) What idea does the port give by using the extended metaphor of the fall of 'great trees'?
Ans: The words ‘rocks on distant hills shudder’, and ‘even elephants lumber for safety’, give the idea that the fall of great trees impacts all. Their fall is felt at distant places, causing upheaval, uncertainty, and a sense of vulnerability among others.

PASSAGE-2

When great trees fall
in forests,
small things recoil into silence,
their senses
eroded beyond fear.

(i) What does the fall of the great tree symbolise in the poem?
Ans: The fall of great trees in the poem symbolizes the death of great men.

(ii) What happens to big animals when great trees fall?
Ans: Big animals get frightened. Their behaviour changes. Animals like lions and elephants also run to seek shelter at some safe place.

(iii) What happens to small things when great trees fall?
Ans: Small things turn silent and their senses become numb. They sit huddled in fear.

(iv) Explain. "Their senes/eroded beyond the fear".
Ans: “Their senses / eroded beyond fear’, means that these small creatures are so shocked on the fall of a big tree that their senses fail to realize the intensity of the fear. They get dazed.

(v) When a great man die. What kind of clarity do we have all of a sudden?
Ans: When great men die all of us remember the times spent in their company very clearly. We experience a 'hateful, clarity', a sudden understanding of the valuable soul lost, who bring harp and a painful realization of their significance of our loss. We also regret that we could be more kind to them during their stay with us.

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 images from the world of nature has been used earlier in the context?
Ans: The image of small things recoiling with fear has been used to refer to the shock resulting from the death of great men or the fall of big trees in a forest.

(ii) What happens when great trees fall?
Ans: The impact of the fall of great trees is felt by all. Animals and small creatures also get frightened. The distant lands and rocks on them shudder. The nature's order is momentarily disturbed, symbolising the effect of a great person's death in society.

(iii) 'We breathe, briefly'. There is a pause after the 'breathe' here. What is its significance?
Ans: The poet has used the words ‘we breathe, briefly’ to say that it becomes difficult even to have normal breath when great men die. It happens because of the shock and jolt caused by the death and the sense of loss resulting from it.

(iv) What kind of 'clarity' does the poet refer to?
Ans: The poet refers to the feeling of ‘hurt’ people experience at the loss of a great soul. It reminds us of the promises we could not fulfil for them and the way we could not show our intended respect and kindness towards them during their lifetime.

(v) What do we come to remember when a great man die?
Ans: We remember all the unsaid words and undone works that we could do while the great men were alive. We also recollect the days spent in their company.

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?
Ans: When great trees fall, they cause a commotion everywhere. The jolt of the fall is felt far and wide. The animals and creatures in the forest feel shocked.

(ii) Why does it become difficult to breathe when great souls die?
Ans: When great souls die, it becomes difficult to breathe because of the shock felt due to the loss.

(iii) What do we come to remember suddenly when a great soul dies?
Ans: We come to realize that we have not been as kind towards the departed souls as we could be.

(iv) In what state of mind is the speaker here?
Ans: The speaker is in a sorrowful and repentant mood.

(v) What does the phrase "Promised walks never taken" signify in the context provided?
Ans: ‘Promised walks never taken’, in the given context means the failure to redeem the pledges taken. It also means the undone works that could be completed during the lifetime of the great men.

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?
Ans: The fall of the great trees symbolizes the death of great men.

(ii) What do we remember when great should die?
When great souls die we remember them and the way we could do better things in their company. We also remember our failures and unkept promises.

(iii) What happens to our 'reality' when great souls die?
Ans: The death of great souls dissociates our reality linked with them. It moves away from us. We no longer feel related to them as before. Their departure leaves us emotionally shattered.

(iv) What does the poet mean by 'wizened' sound here?
Ans: The ‘wizened souls’ in the given context means shrivelled and shattered souls of the people who feel the loss of the great men.

(v) What does the word 'nature' suggest in the context?
Ans: The word ‘nurture’ suggests that the great souls used to be a source of strength and support to the people. Their death takes away this strength and leaves these people helpless.

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?
Ans: The poet has compared the human and the natural world by depicting the impact of the fall of a big tree on the animals in a forest. poet use the metaphor of "great trees" falling and the subsequent reactions of animals such as rocks shuddering, lions hunkering down, and elephants lumbering for safety. And the way it is similar to the impact of a great man’s death on the human world.

(ii) What happens when someone emotionally attached to us departs forever?
Ans: We feel shocked and emotionally shattered. We remember the days spent in the company of our nears and dears. All this is felt deeply when someone near to us departs forever.

(iii) How is our mind affected by great soul?
Ans: Our minds are shattered and sorrowful. We feel reduced to miserable souls as the shock of the death of our dear ones affects our minds deeply. When these great individuals fall or pass away, our minds "fall away" and we are left with a sense of profound loss and ignorance, akin to being reduced to the unutterable ignorance of dark, cold caves.

(iv) In what state of mind are we thrown when great souls die?
Ans: We are thrown in a shock. Our mind fails to work properly. The mind goes in a deeply disturbed state.

(v) Explain the reference to the 'ignorance of dark, cold caves.'
Ans: Our minds are shaped by the intellect and guidance of great men. After their death, we feel thrust into dark dungeons of ignorance.
The reference to the "ignorance of dark, cold caves" suggests a state of profound unawareness or lack of understanding. It symbolizes a sense of being in a bleak and desolate mental space, devoid of enlightenment or guidance. This metaphor implies that the absence of great individuals leaves us in a state of darkness and uncertainty, where we feel isolated and disconnected from the sources of wisdom and knowledge. 

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?
Ans: The fall of great trees in the given context suggests the death of great men and the way their death has a far-reaching impact on the natural and human world.

(ii) How do we feel when great men die?
Ans: We feel emotionally shattered and deeply pained when great men die. The loss of the great souls appears unbearable.

(iii) How does the poet refer to the time as a healer here?
Ans: The poet suggests that time acts as a great healer. The death of great men causes deep shock and immense sorrow. Gradually, time helps us in accepting the loss of great souls and a kind of calm prevails in our mind.

(iv) What kind of 'spaces' are referred to here?
Ans: The ‘spaces’ here refer to the parts of our mind which are filled with suffering and pain over the death of great men. These corners of our mind start soothing down with the passage of time and we turn calm and peaceful.

(v) How do we feel during those 'spaces'?
Ans: The ‘spaces’ i.e., the haunting feelings of loss of the departed dear ones make our thoughts sterile and full of despair. We remember the dead with painful intensity.

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 a person attached to us die?
Ans:  We feel shocked, shattered and sorrowful when someone attached to us dies. We remember the time spent in the company of the dear departed ones.

(ii) When do we feel at peace when great souls die?
Ans: The death of great people affects us deeply. Our mind feels disturbed and heart is full of pain. But a sense of calm returns to us after some time. It happens with the passage of time and the moment we realize that if great men like our dear ones have existed, we too can be like them.

(iii) Why do our senses never achieve the former state of normality after the death of great soul?
Ans: Our senses never achieve the former state of normal after the death of great souls because we always remember their existence their presence and influence have permanently altered our perception and understanding of the world and we feel the loss.

(iv) What is the significance of the repetition of words in Lines 3-4?
Ans: The repetition of the word "They existed. They existed." emphasizes the undeniable reality of the existence of the great individuals who have passed away. It serves to reinforce their importance and impact, urging us to acknowledge and remember their contributions.

(v) The ending of the poem is quite positive. How?
Ans: The ending of the poem is positive because it emphasizes the enduring legacy of the great individuals who have passed away. Despite their absence, the poem suggests that their influence lives on in our restored senses, whispering to us that they existed and urging us to strive to be better because of their existence. The ending of the poem gives the message of acceptance of loss with the hope of a better future. It makes the ending positive.

Literature Device Use in Poem


1. Metaphor: In this poem, the metaphor of "great trees falling" is central. It symbolizes the departure of significant individuals from our lives, likening them to majestic trees whose presence and influence are deeply felt.
  • Quote: "When great trees fall in forests, small things recoil into silence, their senses eroded beyond fear."
  • Explanation: Here, Angelou compares the impact of influential individuals to the falling of great trees in a forest, emphasizing the profound silence and sense of loss that follows.
2. Imagery: Angelou employs vivid imagery throughout the poem to evoke strong emotions and create a sensory experience for the reader.
  • Quote: "Crests falling in unmeasured ashes, the way distant cloud folds."
  • Explanation: Through striking imagery like "crests falling in unmeasured ashes," Angelou paints a vivid picture of the aftermath of loss, capturing the sense of devastation and change.
3. Symbolism: The poem utilizes symbolism to represent abstract concepts, such as the transformation and renewal that follow loss.
  • Quote: "And when great souls die, after a period peace blooms, slowly and always irregularly. Spaces fill with a kind of soothing electric vibration."
  • Explanation: Here, the symbolism of "peace blooming" after the death of great souls suggests that from loss comes a period of healing and renewal, symbolized by the blossoming of peace.
4. Personification: Angelou personifies nature and abstract concepts, infusing them with human-like qualities to convey deeper meaning.

  • Quote: "When great souls die, the air around us becomes light, rare, sterile. We breathe, briefly."
  • Explanation: By personifying the air and describing it as "light" and "sterile," Angelou conveys the profound impact of loss on the world around us, emphasizing the temporary disruption it causes.
5. Alliteration: The poem employs alliteration, the repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words, to create rhythm and emphasis.
  • Quote: "A time when we can smell the rain or touched the sky."
  • Explanation: Here, the repetition of the "s" sound in "smell" and "sky" creates a musical quality to the line, enhancing its poetic resonance and drawing attention to the sensory experience described.
6. Repetition: Angelou uses repetition strategically throughout the poem to emphasize key themes and ideas.
  • Quote: "They existed. They existed. We can be. Be and be better. For they existed."
  • Explanation: The repetition of "They existed" underscores the significance of the individuals being remembered, while the repetition of "Be and be better" serves as a call to action, urging readers to honor their legacy by striving for improvement.

These literary devices work in harmony to deepen the poem's meaning, engage the reader's imagination, and evoke a profound emotional response, making "When Great Trees Fall" a masterpiece of poetic expression.

Theme Of The Poem: When Great Tree Falls


The theme of "When Great Trees Fall" by Maya Angelou revolves around the profound impact of loss and the enduring legacy of influential figures. Angelou explores the emotional and philosophical dimensions of mourning, reflecting on how the departure of significant individuals affects both individuals and society as a whole. Here's a detailed exploration of the themes present in the poem:

Loss and Grief: Central to the poem is the theme of loss and grief. Angelou uses the metaphor of "great trees falling" to symbolize the death or departure of influential figures, likening their absence to a profound loss in the natural world. The poem captures the deep sense of sorrow and emptiness that follows such departures, portraying grief as a universal human experience.

Legacy and Remembrance: Despite the sorrow of loss, Angelou also emphasizes the enduring legacy of those who have passed. She suggests that even in death, these influential figures leave behind a lasting impact through their actions, ideas, and contributions. Their legacy continues to shape the world and inspire future generations, serving as a source of hope and guidance.

Resilience and Renewal: While the poem acknowledges the pain of loss, it also conveys a message of resilience and renewal. Angelou suggests that from loss comes a period of healing and growth, symbolized by the blooming of peace after the death of great souls. This theme of renewal underscores the resilience of the human spirit and the capacity for positive change in the face of adversity.

Connection and Commemoration: Another theme explored in the poem is the idea of connection and commemoration. Angelou highlights the interconnectedness of humanity, suggesting that the loss of influential figures reverberates throughout society, touching the lives of all who have been inspired or influenced by their presence. Through remembrance and commemoration, individuals can honor the legacy of those who have passed and keep their memory alive.

Reflection on Mortality: Additionally, "When Great Trees Fall" prompts reflection on the transient nature of life and the inevitability of mortality. The poem encourages readers to confront their own mortality and contemplate the significance of their actions and contributions in the broader context of human existence. This theme of mortality adds depth to the poem's exploration of loss and legacy, prompting introspection and contemplation.

Overall, "When Great Trees Fall" is a deeply moving and thought-provoking poem that delves into the complexities of loss, legacy, and the human experience. Through its rich imagery and profound themes, the poem invites readers to reflect on the nature of life and death, and the enduring impact of those who leave their mark on the world.