TREES
P O E T : A D R I E N N E R I C H
THEME OF THE
POEM
The Poem “THE TREES” by Adrienne
Rich is a metaphor which compares
the trees to women. The poet is a
feminist and highlights the desire of
women to be free and go out in the
open. The trees want to free
themselves from the floor of the
house and go in the open forest.
They are cramped in the houses and
their feelings can be felt and heard
by the poet.
INTRODUCTION TO THE
LESSON
The poem has a symbolic
meaning, THE TREES are an
extended metaphor for
women . the poet says that
the women have rested,
healed and recovered and
are ready for their primary
purpose- to renew the
empty forest of mankind
Summary
SUMMARY
The poem describes trees that are confined
indoors, struggling to move out into a forest that
has been empty for some time. As night falls, the
trees’ roots work to free themselves from the
cracks in the floor, while their branches and
leaves strain towards the glass, eager to escape.
This process is likened to patients being
released from a hospital, illustrating the
challenge and relief of breaking free from
confinement. The speaker observes this process
from inside the house, writing letters and noting
the smell of leaves that still reaches into the
rooms. As the trees finally break free, the poem
captures the moment of their departure: the
glass shatters, and the trees stumble into the
night, welcomed by the wind. The moon appears
broken, with its pieces reflecting in the tallest
oak. Overall, the poem captures the theme of
liberation and the natural urge to return to a
more authentic and unconfined free state.
POETIC DEVICES
From para 1
Personification: Sun bury it’s feet. Sun
has been personified
Enjambment: The forest that was empty all
these days where no bird could sit no insect
hide no sun burry it’sR
feet in shadow the
forest that was empty all these nights will
be full of trees by morning
Anaphora: no insect hide no sun burry
its feet in shadow
Imagery : The trees inside are moving
out into the forest
Poetic Devices
From Para 2
Enjambment: The leaves strain toward the
glass
small twigs stiff with exertion
long cramped boughs shuffling under the
roof
like newly discharged patients half dazed
Simile: Trees compared to patients (like newly
discharged patients
Personification: Twigs and boughs have been
personified
POETIC DEVICES
From para 3
Alliteration: ‘long letters’ forest from ‘sky still’ ‘leaves
and lichen’
Enjambment: doors open to the veranda
writing long letters
in which I scarcely mention the departure
of the forest from the house
Imagery: The poet has tried to create a scene in which
she is observing all the things happening (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.
POETIC DEVICES
FROM PARA 4
SIMILIE: The moon is
compared to a mirror( Moon
is broken like a mirror)
DIFFICULT WORDS
Disengage: remove
Strain: pressure
Twigs: small stem
Exertion: effort
Cramped: restricted
Boughs: branch
Shuffling: mixing
Discharged: send out
Dazed: stun
Scarcely: barely
Departure: leaving
Lichen: crusty
patches of bushes of
fungus and algae on
tree trunks, having a
distinct smell
Project members:
Rinkee Kumari
Rajeshwari
Riya Kumari
