The Trees
The Trees Summary & Explanation
“The Trees” by Adrienne Rich Explanation
Paragraph 1
“The trees inside are moving out into the forest,
the forest that was empty all these days
where no bird could sit
no insect hide
no sun bury its feet in shadow
the forest that was empty all these nights
will be full of trees by morning.”
Explanation:
The poet begins by describing a surreal scene where trees that were once inside (perhaps in a house or a confined space) are now moving out into the forest. The forest, which has been empty and lifeless for a long time, will soon be filled with trees by morning. This imagery suggests a sense of liberation and renewal, as the trees reclaim their natural habitat.
Paragraph 2
“All night the roots work
to disengage themselves from the cracks
in the veranda floor.
The leaves strain toward the glass
small twigs stiff with exertion
long-cramped boughs shuffling under the roof
like newly discharged patients
half-dazed, moving to the clinic doors.”
Explanation:
Here, the poet describes the physical effort of the trees as they try to free themselves from their confined space. The roots are working hard to break free from the cracks in the veranda floor, and the leaves and twigs are straining and stiff from being cramped for so long. The boughs (branches) are compared to patients who have just been discharged from a clinic, still dazed and slowly making their way to freedom. This simile emphasizes the struggle and effort involved in breaking free.
Paragraph 3
“I sit inside, doors open to the veranda
writing long letters
in which I scarcely mention the departure
of the forest from the house.
The night is fresh, the whole moon shines
in a sky still open
the smell of leaves and lichen
still reaches like a voice into the rooms.”
Explanation:
In this stanza, the poet shifts to a more personal perspective. She is sitting inside, with the doors open to the veranda, writing letters. Despite the significant event of the trees leaving, she barely mentions it in her letters. The night is described as fresh and open, with the moon shining brightly. The smell of leaves and lichen (a type of plant) permeates the room, almost as if nature itself is speaking. This suggests a deep connection between the poet and the natural world.
Paragraph 4
“My head is full of whispers
which tomorrow will be silent. Listen.
The glass is breaking.
The trees are stumbling forward
into the night. Winds rush to meet them.
The moon is broken like a mirror,
its pieces flash now in the crown
of the tallest oak.”
Explanation:
In the final stanza, the poet’s mind is filled with whispers, indicating thoughts or voices that will be gone by tomorrow. She urges the reader to listen as the glass breaks, symbolizing the final barrier being shattered as the trees move forward into the night. The winds rush to greet the trees, signifying a welcoming embrace from nature. The moon, now described as broken like a mirror, reflects its pieces in the tallest oak tree, creating a vivid and striking image. This could symbolize a new beginning or transformation.
Central Idea of “The Trees” by Adrienne Rich
The central idea of “The Trees” is the theme of liberation and the return to one’s natural state. The poem uses the metaphor of trees breaking free from their confined indoor space and moving into an empty forest to symbolize a journey towards freedom and authenticity. This act of liberation is not just physical but also emotional and spiritual, as it involves a deep connection with nature and a reclaiming of one’s true self.
The struggle of the trees to free themselves and the imagery of the forest coming back to life highlight the effort and determination required to break free from constraints. The poet’s personal reflections and the vivid descriptions of nature add depth to this theme, suggesting that true liberation involves a harmonious relationship with the natural world.
Overall, “The Trees” by Adrienne Rich is a powerful exploration of the desire for freedom and the transformative journey towards reclaiming one’s natural state.
Difficult Words from “The Trees” by Adrienne Rich
1. Veranda: A roofed platform along the outside of a house, level with the ground floor.
2. Disengage: To separate or release something from something to which it is attached or connected.
3. Strain: To make a strenuous or unusually great effort.
4. Twigs: Small thin branches of a tree or bush.
5. Exertion: Physical or mental effort.
6. Cramped: Feeling or causing someone to feel uncomfortably confined or hemmed in by lack of space.
7. Boughs: Main branches of a tree.
8. Shuffling: Walking by dragging one’s feet along or without lifting them fully from the ground.
9. Dazed: Unable to think or react properly; bewildered.
10. Scarcely: Only just; almost not.
11. Lichen: A simple slow-growing plant that typically forms a low crusty, leaflike, or branching growth on rocks, walls, and trees.
12. Whispers: Soft or confidential speaking or murmuring.
13. Stumbling: Tripping or losing balance while walking; moving with difficulty.
14. Crown: The top part of a tree.
15. Half-dazed: Partially unable to think or react properly; semi-bewildered.
Poetic Devices in “The Trees” by Adrienne Rich
1. Personification
Definition: Giving human characteristics to non-human objects or abstract ideas.
Example: “The trees inside are moving out into the forest.” The trees are described as if they have the ability to move on their own, which is a human characteristic.
2. Imagery
Definition: Descriptive language that appeals to the senses (sight, sound, smell, touch, taste).
Example: “The night is fresh, the whole moon shines in a sky still open the smell of leaves and lichen still reaches like a voice into the rooms.” This line creates vivid sensory images of sight (moon shines), smell (smell of leaves and lichen), and sound (like a voice).
3. Simile
Definition: A comparison using “like” or “as”.
Example: “long-cramped boughs shuffling under the roof like newly discharged patients half-dazed, moving to the clinic doors.” The boughs are compared to patients who have just been discharged from a clinic, emphasizing their struggle and effort.
4. Metaphor
Definition: A direct comparison between two unlike things without using “like” or “as”.
Example: “The moon is broken like a mirror, its pieces flash now in the crown of the tallest oak.” The moon is metaphorically described as being broken like a mirror, creating a striking visual image.
5. Alliteration
Definition: The repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words.
Example: “small twigs stiff with exertion” The repetition of the ‘s’ sound in “small,” “stiff,” and “exertion” creates a rhythmic effect.
6. Enjambment
Definition: The continuation of a sentence or clause over a line-break.
Example: “The trees inside are moving out into the forest, the forest that was empty all these days where no bird could sit no insect hide no sun bury its feet in shadow” The sentence flows over multiple lines without a pause, creating a sense of movement and urgency.
7. Symbolism
Definition: Using symbols to signify ideas and qualities by giving them symbolic meanings different from their literal sense.
Example: The trees symbolize freedom and the return to one’s natural state. The act of the trees moving out into the forest symbolizes liberation and reclaiming one’s true self.
8. Repetition
Definition: Repeating words or phrases for emphasis.
Example: “the forest that was empty all these days… the forest that was empty all these nights” The repetition of “the forest that was empty” emphasizes the lifelessness of the forest before the trees return.
9. Hyperbole
Definition: Exaggerated statements or claims not meant to be taken literally.
Example: “The moon is broken like a mirror” This is an exaggerated way to describe the fragmented appearance of the moon’s reflection.
Question & Answer of “The Trees” by Adrienne Rich
1. (i) Find, in the first stanza, three things that cannot happen in a treeless forest.
Answer 1 (i): In a treeless forest, the following three things cannot happen:
- No bird could sit.
- No insect could hide.
- No sun could bury its feet in shadow.
1. (ii) What picture do these words create in your mind: “… sun bury its feet in shadow…”? What could the poet mean by the sun’s ‘feet’?
Answer 1 (ii): The phrase “… sun bury its feet in shadow…” creates an image of the sun casting shadows on the ground, where its rays are partially blocked by trees, creating a dappled effect. The poet might mean that the sun’s ‘feet’ are its rays, which touch the ground and create shadows when obstructed by trees.
2. (i) Where are the trees in the poem? What do their roots, their leaves, and their twigs do?
Answer 2 (i): In the poem, the trees are inside a house, trying to move out into the forest. Their roots work to disengage themselves from the cracks in the veranda floor, their leaves strain toward the glass, and their twigs are stiff with exertion.
2. (ii) What does the poet compare their branches to?
Answer 2 (ii): The poet compares their branches to newly discharged patients who are half-dazed and moving to the clinic doors.
3. (i) How does the poet describe the moon: (a) at the beginning of the third stanza, and (b) at its end? What causes this change?
Answer 3 (i):
- (a) At the beginning of the third stanza, the poet describes the moon as whole and shining in a sky that is still open.
- (b) At the end of the stanza, the moon is described as broken like a mirror, with its pieces flashing in the crown of the tallest oak.
The change is caused by the movement of the trees out of the house, which disrupts the stillness and creates a dynamic scene.
3. (ii) What happens to the house when the trees move out of it?
Answer 3 (ii): When the trees move out of the house, it becomes empty and silent. The presence of nature that once filled the house is now gone, leaving behind a void.
3. (iii) Why do you think the poet does not mention “the departure of the forest from the house” in her letters?
Answer 3 (iii): The poet might not mention “the departure of the forest from the house” in her letters because it is an unexpected and significant event that might be too overwhelming or embarrassing to articulate. It could also suggest that we often remain silent about important happenings that deeply affect us.
4. Now that you have read the poem in detail, we can begin to ask what the poem might mean. Here are two suggestions. Can you think of others?
(i) Does the poem present a conflict between man and nature? Compare it with “A Tiger in the Zoo.” Is the poet suggesting that plants and trees, used for ‘interior decoration’ in cities while forests are cut down, are ‘imprisoned’, and need to ‘break out’?
Answer 4 (i): Yes, the poem presents a conflict between man and nature. Similar to “A Tiger in the Zoo,” where a tiger is confined and longs for freedom, “The Trees” suggests that plants and trees used for interior decoration are imprisoned and need to break out to return to their natural habitat. The poem criticizes the practice of confining nature for aesthetic purposes while destroying natural forests.
(ii) On the other hand, Adrienne Rich has been known to use trees as a metaphor for human beings; this is a recurrent image in her poetry. What new meanings emerge from the poem if you take its trees to be symbolic of this particular meaning?
Answer 4 (ii): If we take the trees to be symbolic of human beings, new meanings emerge related to personal liberation and self-discovery. The trees breaking free from their confined space can represent individuals striving to break free from societal constraints or personal limitations to reclaim their true selves. It highlights themes of growth, transformation, and the quest for authenticity.