Classification: Internal

Grade 10- First Flight

The Trees- Adrienne Rich
Summary: Introduction- Adrienne Rich, poet, essayist, critic, and feminist was one of
America’s most widely read and influential poets. ‘The Trees’ is a short, symbolic poem that
can be read on many levels. It is written in free verse. It deals with the movement of trees that
are initially indoors but seek to escape to freedom in the forest. The trees represent nature and
also human beings, women in particular. It could be taken as a message against deforestation,
where the poet suggests that the plants and trees used for interior decoration in cities while
forests are being cut down, are now breaking free to escape to the forest. The poet has also
been known to use trees as a metaphor for human beings. The poem ‘The Trees’ appears to
be about trees, the environment, deforestation, and afforestation. An ardent feminist, the trees
become a symbol for women who have been oppressed and confined to their homes. On a
deeper level, we discover that the poet is expressing her concern about women and their
emancipation. They are now breaking free to join the forest of humanity. Trees could also
become a metaphor for human beings who want to break free from the pressures put on them
by the stress of modern life.

The poem presents a conflict between man and nature. Human have been indiscriminately
destroying forests. The poet presents a graphic picture of a treeless forest. As there are no
trees in the forest, there is no place for birds to perch, for insects to hide and the sun’s rays
directly fall on the ground as there is no shade or shadow in such a forest. The poet states that
the forest that was empty all these nights, will be full of trees by morning. (The poet draws a
graphic picture of the fierce sun which cannot bury its feet in the cool shadow of the forest as
there are no trees. The sun’s feet refer to the rays of the sun that reach the earth. - Poetic
device- personification)
The poet presents a picture of the trees breaking free of their artificial habitat. Every part of
the tree strains to attain freedom. The roots work all night to free themselves from the cracks
in the veranda floor The leaves strain against the glass to break free and the small twigs of the
tree are stiff after having exerted themselves for so long. The branches that have been stunted
and cramped under the roof stagger toward freedom. The underlying message is that life
always seeks freedom from confinement. The poet compares the trees to patients who have
been healed and discharged. Like newly discharged patients moving half-dazed towards the
clinic doors, the trees too are moving outdoors. The trees breaking out of their confined
places is a reference to women who are shifting away from their domestic confines. The
symbolic meaning is women are breaking away from the restrictions imposed on them by
patriarchal norms

While the trees are moving from within the poet’s house to the outside, the poet sits inside,
writing long letters. The doors to the verandah are open. The poet does not mention this
movement of the trees to the forest in her letters. She doesn’t bother to mention this because
perhaps she had expected this to happen and by doing so, she brings this whole thing into
sharper focus. This could also be because we are often silent about important happenings that
are so unexpected that we do not mention them. Thus, the poem suggests that human beings
have become indifferent to the big changes around them. The word ‘open’ is used twice with
different meanings. The ‘open’ doors to the veranda allow access and give one a vision of an
expanse of space. The second reference to open refers to a part of the sky that is still open for
women to explore, away from the limitations set by patriarchal norms. The poet paints a
beautiful word picture of the night using powerful imagery. The whole moon is shining in the
open sky. The smell of the leaves and lichen still lingers in the room and the poet compares
how it lingers to a voice that reaches the rooms. The poet’s head is full of whispers of the
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sounds of the trees breaking free. These whispers will be silent the day after because the trees
will have reached the forest.

The poet asks the readers to listen. In their effort to break free, the trees have broken the glass
and stumbled out into the open, in the dark night. They are free and the wind rushes to meet
them. The moon which could earlier be seen clearly, now appears like a broken mirror
because the trees have reached the forest. The moon can only be seen through the branches of
these trees and its light flashes on the tallest oak, a tree which is known for its strength and
durability.

Poetic Devices.
Enjambment
Repetition (Anaphora) no bird could sit, no insect… shadow
Simile- Like newly discharged patients/ Like a voice in the rooms
Personification- sun-feet in shadow.

Conflict between man and nature- Man has been felling trees, forests are destroyed, the trees
in our homes are stunted, cramped- not in their natural habitat- need to spread themselves-
grow. Three things that cannot happen in a treeless forest- how they break free -the
underlying message- man’s greed has led to deforestation- has exploited nature- we cannot
subdue or control nature. We will fail in our efforts to confine them and they will thrive only
in their natural habitats.

Symbolism:
She was an ardent feminist and trees here then become a symbol of womanhood. Women
have been held in bondage in a male-dominated society. They have been forced to live within
the four walls of the home. The poet uses the movement of the trees to symbolize women
who are now healed and have broken free of their shackles. They have achieved liberation
from these artificial barriers created by a patriarchal society. The forest represents freedom.
How the trees struggle to free themselves refers to how women have struggled to attain
freedom. The fact that the trees break the glass to escape outside suggests that this change is
permanent. The symbolism of the moon which is a symbol of femininity, emotion, and
change shining on the tallest oak which is a symbol of durability and strength underlines the
power of womanhood.

Check your understanding

1. What does the first stanza describe?
2. What three things cannot happen in a treeless forest?
3. What will happen to the treeless forest by morning?
4. Where were the trees? Where are they headed to?
5. Identify the poetic devices in the first stanza.
6. What does the second stanza focus on?
7. The second stanza denotes movement. Explain.
8. Identify the poetic devices in the second stanza.
9. Where is the poet in the third stanza? What is she doing?
10. What does she fail to mention in the third stanza? Why do you think she does
this?
11. Describe the night in the third stanza.
12. What can the poet still smell in the rooms? Which poetic device does she use
to describe this?
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13. Why is the poet’s head full of whispers? Why will these whispers fall silent
the next day?
14. What does she want the reader to do? What have the trees done to escape
captivity?
15. Describe the experience of the trees as they stumble outside.
16. The moon is described differently in the third and fourth stanza. Explain why
this is so.
Long answers: The poem presents a conflict between man and nature. Compare this with the
poem ‘A Tiger in the Zoo.’

Adrienne Rich has often used trees to symbolize human beings. She was an ardent feminist.
If one were to consider the trees to be a symbol of womanhood, then what meaning would
you glean from the poem? Elaborate.