Summary Of Poem: When Great Trees Fall
- Stanza 1:
When big trees in the forest fall their impact is felt far and wide. The rocks on distant hills feel the vibrations and 'shudder'. It suggests that landscape itself trembles with fear. Similarly, 'lions crouch low' and even elephants move slowly in search of 'safety.'
All the three things mentioned above, i.e., rocks, lions, elephants — are associated with steadfastness and strength. Large rocks on the hill tops are heavy and immobile; lions are supposed to be fearsome predators, the kings of the jungle; whereas, elephants are enormous, slow-moving creatures. Yet all these figures feel the impact of the falling trees with fear. Thus, the falling of 'great trees', the poem conveys, shakes up everything around them.
- Stanza 2:
In this stanza, the speaker says that not only huge animals but also smaller creatures, are impacted by the fall of the big trees in the woods. They recoil into total silence and are so shaken and shocked that they can not feel anything at all, let alone fear.
- Stanza 3:
This stanza reveals the speaker's shift from the use of metaphor of trees to directly talk about the death of great people or 'great souls'.
When great people die, it leaves a vacuum in the lives of the bereaved, i.e., it appears as if all the air has been sucked out of a room, and it becomes hard to breathe. In other words, they (the bereaved) take small, shallow breaths; they feel they are not really living but only surviving.
The speaker has used the plural pronoun 'us' here. This suggests the fact that these 'great souls' touched the lives of many people, and so their loss is felt widely. The use of such pronouns throughout the poem also implies that the loss of 'great souls' affects entire humanity.
The speaker suggests that the bereaved find their 'senses' overwhelmed by the loss of their loved ones. Their eyes see only 'briefly.' These short bursts of sight are tinged by 'a hurtful clarity'. Here, it is suggested that most of the time, after the death of a loved one, the bereaved seem to see nothing at all; and when they do see, it becomes too painfully clear to them that the world has changed forever, that things will never be the same without the 'great soul' they are grieving.
The speaker then goes on to say that mourning seems to intensify 'memory' by making recollections 'suddenly sharper'. The bereaved remember the moments spent with their loved one, whom they have lost. In fact, their memory 'gnaws' on missed opportunities, suggesting that people find themselves unable to stop themselves from thinking about all the things they should have said to and the time they should have spent with the recently deceased.
The word 'gnaws' here is suggestive of the fact that with loss comes a terrible emptiness and the grieving allows the bereaved to keep this emptiness at bay by 'gnawing' on what could have been. The speaker is referring to the feelings of regret that often plague a person who has lost someone dear. This regret may be due to the 'kind words unsaid' or the 'promised walks never taken'. Having never fulfilled these intentions leaves the bereaved person with a gnawing pain of despair and regret.
- Stanza 4:
This stanza begin with the words — 'Great souls die,' suggesting that death is an inarguable fact of life. The loss of these souls truly alters a person's 'reality'. This is because their 'reality' was 'bound' to these souls. When such souls are gone, the world appears unrecognisable, turned upside down.
The speaker then makes a comparison between 'great trees' and 'great souls' by saying that like 'great trees' in the forest provide shelter and sustenance for many creatures, great people support and nourish those around them. When such people leave the world, those left behind are robbed of this nourishment that they (the great souls) provided. They feel their 'souls' are suddenly starving and have shrunk to become shrivelled up. Similarly, they lose their 'minds,' which were 'formed/and informed' by the 'radiance' of those they have lost.
Here the terms 'formed' and 'informed' emphasise the immense influence these great souls had; they did not simply inform the people but shaped their way of thinking, 'forming' their very minds. Here, it is worth remembering that Maya Angelou wrote this poem in response to the death of James Baldwin, whose writing and ideas certainly shaped the way many, including her, saw the world.
The speaker says that despite the loss due to the death of a loved one, the bereaved 'are not so much maddened' to have been reduced to the unutterab ignorance of dark cold caves. In other words, the despair felt by the bereaved person is described as a 'cold dark cave'. The feeling of despair is so strong tha it seems unutterable. Another connotation of 'dark, cold/caves' is the loneliness and incomprehension that accompany such a loss.
- Stanza 5:
The last stanza, like all the stanzas before it, begins with anaphora — this time with an 'And' placed in front of the repeated phrase: 'And when great souls die,' This 'And' conveys that the speaker is finally winding up things. Here, the speaker instead of talking about the immense grief at the loss of 'great souls' talks about what eventually fills in the empty spaces left behind by the great souls.
The speaker seems to suggest that time allows healing to occur and 'a period of peace blooms' eventually. The use of the word 'blooms' suggests that healing follows grief just as spring flowers inevitably follow the emptiness of winter. So 'peace' comes 'slowly and always/irregularly.' The speaker then goes onto say, 'Spaces fill/with a kind of/soothing electric vibration' suggesting that there exists a comforting feeling, a new spark of something coming to life.
When the loved one departs from this world, there appear to be gaping holes in the world. However, these holes do not last forever. The speaker says grief, fear and despair do not last forever and eventually, 'Our senses' are restored. This allows people to think, feel, and perceive the world again, although the perception will 'never be the same' as it was earlier.
But they feel their 'senses' 'whisper' to them to remind them that those 'great souls' who died 'existed.' Although they are gone now, nothing can change the fact that those souls once were here and that they inspired those who knew them. The living, the speaker says, can continue to 'Be' and 'be/better' knowing that the great souls were with them at one point of time.
The repetition of 'They existed' emphasises that death does not change the fact that these people lived and shed their 'radiance' all around them. And their existence will continue to inspire the bereaved to keep on living and try to make the world a better place in spite of the pain they suffered after losing the 'great souls'.
Section A: Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs)
Choose the correct answers to the questions from the given options.
1. Which of the following poetic devices is used in the title of the poem?
(a) Simile
(b) Metaphor
(c) Personification
(d) Metonymy
Ans: 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
Ans: 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
Ans: 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
Ans: 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.
Ans: 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.
Ans: 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
Ans: 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.
Ans: 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)
Ans: 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.
Ans: 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 sometime
(b) By the inspiration provided by the great souls
(c) By accepting the fact that they are gone forever
(d) None of the above
Ans: 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.
Ans: b) The woods decay, the woods decay and fall.
The vapours weep their burden to the ground.
Section B: Context Questions
I. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:
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?
Ans: The fall of great trees in the forest creates a widespread disturbance in nature.
- Rocks on distant hills shudder, showing that even strong and immovable objects are affected.
- Lions hunker down in tall grasses, indicating fear among even the most powerful animals.
- Elephants lumber after safety, suggesting that even large and mighty creatures feel insecure and search for protection.
(ii) Why do the 'rocks on distant hills shudder'? What is suggested by their shuddering?
Ans: The rocks on distant hills shudder because the fall of the great trees creates powerful vibrations that travel far across the forest. Their shuddering suggests that the impact of the fall is far-reaching and intense, affecting even objects that are strong, stable, and seemingly immovable. Symbolically, it shows that the loss of great souls shakes even the strongest people and structures, emphasising the magnitude of the loss.
(iii) Lions are regarded as fearsome predators. Still, they 'hunker down in tall grasses'? Why? What does their fear symbolise?
Ans: Although lions are known as fearsome predators, they hunker down in tall grasses because the fall of the great trees creates a sudden sense of danger and insecurity in the forest. Their fear symbolises that the loss of something truly great affects even the strongest and bravest. It suggests that when great souls die, no one is immune to grief, and even those who appear fearless feel helpless and shaken by the loss.
(iv) (a) Explain briefly the meaning of the line: '.....and even elephants lumber after safety.'
Ans: The line means that even elephants, which are large, powerful, and usually calm animals, move slowly and awkwardly in search of safety after the great trees fall. This suggests that the fall creates such fear and disturbance that even the mightiest and most stable beings feel threatened and are forced to seek protection.
(b) Which figure of speech is used in the above line?
Ans: The figure of speech used in the line "and even elephants lumber after safety" is Personification. The elephants are shown as consciously seeking safety, which is a human-like response to danger.
(v) Explain with examples the metaphoric use of 'trees' in the poem.
Ans: In the poem When Great Trees Fall, "trees" are used as a metaphor for great souls or influential people. Just as great trees provide support and nourishment to the forest, great people guide and inspire others. When such trees fall, rocks shudder, and animals panic, showing that both the strong and the weak are affected. Similarly, the death of great souls causes widespread emotional disturbance and leaves a deep void in people's lives.
II. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:
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 happen to them when great trees fall?
Ans: The 'small things' refer to the small creatures living in the forest, such as insects and other tiny animals. When great trees fall, these small creatures recoil into silence. They are so shocked and frightened that their senses are numbed beyond fear, and they withdraw completely in silence.
(ii) What are the 'small things' contrasted with in the previous extract of the poem?
Ans: The 'small things' are contrasted with powerful and strong elements mentioned in the previous extract, such as rocks on distant hills, lions, and elephants. This contrast highlights that the fall of great trees affects both the strong and the weak alike.
(iii) What happens to the 'senses' of small things when great trees fall? How can this be compared with those of the human beings?
Ans: When great trees fall, the senses of the small things are "eroded beyond fear," meaning they become numb and unresponsive due to shock. They are so disturbed that they are unable to feel even fear. This can be compared to human beings after the loss of a loved one. Just like the small creatures, people experience emotional numbness and silence, where their senses are overwhelmed by grief and they feel paralysed by loss.
(iv) State two poetic devices used in this extract. Give an example of each.
Ans:
- Metaphor –"great trees" are used metaphorically to represent great souls or influential people.
- Alliteration –The repetition of the 's' sound in "small things recoil into silence, their senses" is an example of alliteration.
(v) Explain briefly how do the fall of great trees impact both big and small things.
Ans: When great trees fall, their impact is felt by both big and small things in the forest. Strong elements like rocks, lions, and elephants are shaken and frightened, while small creatures recoil into silence, their senses numbed by shock. This shows that the fall of great trees causes a widespread disturbance, affecting everyone regardless of strength.
III. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:
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?
Ans: After the death of great souls, the air around us becomes "light, rare, and sterile." This means that the atmosphere feels thin, empty, and lifeless, making it difficult to breathe normally. This suggests a feeling of deep emotional emptiness and loss. Symbolically, it suggests that life appears devoid of warmth, vitality, and meaning after the passing of great souls.
(ii) Which figure of speech is used in the lines given below? What does it suggest?
We breathe, briefly.
Our eyes, briefly./see
Ans: The figure of speech used is Epistrophe. The word "briefly" is repeated at the end of successive lines, which is characteristic of epistrophe. It suggests that after the death of great souls, moments of breathing and seeing are short, fragile, and fleeting, highlighting the emotional shock and numbness experienced by the bereaved.
(iii) What do our eyes see with 'hurtful clarity'? Why?
Ans: With "hurtful clarity," our eyes see the painful reality of loss—that the great soul is gone forever and life has changed permanently. This clarity is hurtful because the bereaved suddenly realise that the world will never be the same again without the loved one. The truth becomes clear only in brief moments, making the loss even more painful.
(iv) What happens to 'Our memory' after the death of a loved one?
Ans: After the death of a loved one, our memory becomes suddenly sharpened. It closely examines the past and dwells on missed moments, such as kind words left unsaid and promises never fulfilled. This sharpening of memory increases feelings of regret and sorrow.
(v) Explain how does this extract portray the feelings of despair and regret felt by the bereaved person after the loss of someone close.
Ans: This extract portrays despair by describing the air as "light, rare, sterile," which shows the emotional emptiness and lifelessness felt after the loss of a loved one. The bereaved breathe and see only briefly, suggesting emotional numbness and shock. It also shows regret through the lines "memory… gnaws on kind words unsaid, promised walks never taken." These lines reveal how the bereaved painfully recall missed opportunities and unfulfilled promises, which deepens their sorrow and sense of loss.
IV. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:
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?
Ans: When great souls die, our reality takes leave of us. This means that the world we knew, which was closely bound to their presence, suddenly feels changed, empty, and unfamiliar. Life appears unrecognisable without the guidance and support of the great souls.
(ii) Explain how do our souls depend on great souls for their nurture. What happens when these great souls depart?
Ans: Our souls depend on great souls for guidance, support, and inspiration, just as living beings depend on nourishment to grow. Great souls nurture others emotionally and morally, helping them develop and feel secure. When these great souls depart, this nourishment is lost. As a result, our souls shrink and become wizened, meaning we feel emotionally weakened, empty, and deprived of the support that once sustained us.
(iii) (a) Which figure of speech is used in the line given below:
Our minds formed/and informed.....
Ans: The figure of speech used in this line is Polyptoton.
The words "formed" and "informed" are derived from the same root word, form. Their repetition emphasises how deeply the great souls shape and influence the minds of others.
(b) How do the great souls impact our minds?
Ans: Great souls shape and guide our thinking through their wisdom, ideas, and radiance. They do not merely give information but form and influence our way of understanding the world. After their departure, people feel mentally lost, as if their minds have fallen away.
(iv) Why does the speaker say that 'we are not so much maddened'?
Ans: The speaker says that we are not so much maddened to show that the bereaved are not driven insane by grief. Instead, they are overwhelmed by deep despair and confusion, feeling emotionally lost and reduced to a state of darkness and ignorance, like being in "dark, cold caves."
(v) Explain the connotations associated with the phrase 'dark, cold caves.'
Ans: The phrase "dark, cold caves" connotes deep despair, loneliness, and emotional confusion felt after the death of great souls. It symbolises a state of hopelessness and ignorance, where the bereaved feel cut off from warmth, understanding, and direction. The image suggests that grief pushes people into an emotionally dark and isolating space from which it is difficult to escape.
V. Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:
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?
Ans: Peace blooms slowly and irregularly after a period of grief. With the passage of time, the intense pain caused by the loss of great souls begins to lessen. The empty spaces left behind gradually fill with a soothing and comforting feeling, allowing healing to take place. This shows that though grief does not disappear suddenly, time helps restore peace to the bereaved.
(ii) Which 'Spaces' is the speaker talking about? How are these spaces filled?
Ans: The 'Spaces' refer to the emotional void or emptiness created in the lives of people after the death of great souls. These spaces are filled gradually with a soothing, comforting feeling, described as a "soothing electric vibration." This suggests that with time, healing and peace replace grief, though life is never the same as before.
(iii) How are our senses restored? What do they whisper to us?
Ans: Our senses are restored gradually with the passage of time, as the intense grief begins to heal. Though they are never the same as before, people slowly regain the ability to feel, think, and understand life again. They whisper to us that the great souls "existed." This reminds the bereaved that these individuals once lived, inspired others, and made the world better, giving them strength to carry on and live better lives.
(iv) Which poetic device is used in - 'They existed. They existed.'? What is suggested by this repetition?
Ans: The poetic device used here is Epizeuxis. This repetition emphasises the undeniable truth of the existence of great souls. It suggests that even though they are no longer alive, their lives, influence, and contributions cannot be erased by death. The repetition gives reassurance and strength to the bereaved.
(v) Explain how does this extract signify the role played by 'great souls' or immensely talented people to bring about massive cultural change.
Ans: This extract shows that great souls continue to influence society even after their death. Though they are gone, their ideas, values, and contributions remain alive and inspire others. The line "We can be. Be and be better" suggests that people are motivated to live better lives because of the example set by these great individuals. Thus, great souls bring about lasting cultural and social change by shaping thoughts, attitudes, and behaviour across generations.