The Trees -Adrienne Rich

About the Poem

In Adrienne Rich's poem "The Trees," themes of being trapped, the desire for
freedom, and the connection between nature and women's struggles are clearly
shown through strong images and metaphors. The trees, stuck inside the house,
represent the limitations faced by both nature and women in a male-dominated
society. As the trees try to break free from the cramped space, they symbolize
women’s fight for independence. Rich uses simple yet powerful language, with
phrases like "stiff twigs" and "the full moon," to highlight the difference between
being confined and the freedom of nature. The imagery of the moon, which is
whole at first but later appears broken, shows how both nature and women's
rights are being harmed. Through these images, Rich emphasizes the urgent
need to care for the environment and recognize women’s voices, linking their
struggles in a meaningful call for freedom.

Freedom and liberation – The trees breaking out of their confinement symbolize
the desire for freedom and independence.
Struggle against oppression – The trees' efforts to escape reflect resistance to
restrictions, paralleling human struggles, especially those of women.
Renewal and growth – The trees represent the natural cycle of growth and
rebirth, moving from a stifling environment to open spaces.
Connection to nature – The trees' movement emphasizes the importance of
returning to a more natural and authentic state, contrasting with artificial
constraints.

POETIC DEVICES

1.RHYME SCHEME: No rhyme scheme. It is written in free verse.

2.PERSONIFICATION -
The trees inside are moving out into the forest
no sun bury its feet in shadow
small twigs stiff with exertion
The trees are stumbling forward
Winds rush to meet them

3. ALLITERATION - A literary device in which a series of words begin with same

consonant sound.
L in "long letters ", F in "forest from ", S in "sky still" , L in "leaves and lichens"
4. SIMILE -like newly discharged patients
still reaches like a voice into the rooms
The moon is broken like a mirror,

5. ENJAMBMENT -It is a poetic technique in which a sentence or phrase is

continued over multiple lines of poetry, without a pause or break at the end of
each line. The poem is a good example of enjambment. Every stanza of this
poem has lines continuing to next lines without punctuation.

6. ANAPHORA - It is the repetition of a word at the start of two or more

consecutive lines -
(no insect hide
no sun bury its feet in shadow).

7. IMAGERY –trees inside are moving out into the forest

small twigs stiff with exertion
Night is fresh,
Smell of leaves and lichen
Head is full of whispers

8.Repetition: Words or lines are repeated to emphasize a feeling or idea, create

rhythm, and or develop a sense of urgency.
‘The forest that was empty’ (in the first stanza)

9.Metaphor: Metaphor is a literary device used to represent a comparison

without using the words “like” or “as”.
The poet uses ‘trees’ metaphorically to represent helplessness of woman in the
patriarchal society. The metaphor extends throughout the poem and therefor
the poem is a good example of ‘extended metaphor’.The struggles of the nature
or trees to be freed from the confinements of man is compared to that of the
women’s struggle for the same to get freedom from the men dominated society.

Short Answers

1.Where are the trees at present? What do their roots and leaves do?
The trees are currently confined indoors, where their roots struggle to break free
from the cracks in the veranda floor. Meanwhile, the leaves stretch toward the
glass, seeking light, as the branches stiffen in their effort to reach beyond their
limited space.

2. Why is the description of the moon different at the beginning and at the end
of the third stanza?
At the start of the third stanza, the poet describes the moon as whole and bright
in the open sky. However, by the end of the stanza, the moon appears
fragmented, resembling broken pieces of a mirror that sparkle in the crown of
the tallest oak tree. This transformation occurs due to the movement of the trees
outside.

3. Justify the revolt of the trees and state two values which man should possess
to stop the revolt.
The trees' revolt is justified as they experience suffocation indoors while growing.
They attempt to escape the cracks in the veranda floor and stretch their leaves
toward the glass. Men should recognize the value of trees and learn to appreciate
their significance to prevent such revolts.

4. How does the poet describe the night? How does she feel?
The night is depicted as fresh, with a full moon illuminating the open sky. The
poet senses the aroma of leaves and lichen wafting into the room, and her mind
is filled with whispers. However, she anticipates that these whispers will fade
away by the next day.

5. What is the theme of the poem, ‘The Trees’?

The theme of Adrienne Rich's "The Trees" centers on the struggle for freedom,
highlighting the conflict between nature and human interference. The poem
symbolizes the desire for autonomy, representing both trees breaking free from
confinement and women's fight for liberation within a patriarchal society,
emphasizing their interconnected struggles.

6. What happens to the roots and leaves of these trees at night?

At night, the roots of these trees, which are trapped in the cracks of the veranda
floor, try to break free. Meanwhile, the leaves attempt to reach the glass, and the
twigs stiffen while the boughs extend under the ceiling.

7. How does the poet describe the growth of the trees inside the house?
The trees grow in pots and pans, causing their roots to feel confined. They strive
to escape from the cracks in the veranda floor, while the leaves seek light by
moving toward the glass. The twigs become rigid, and the boughs resemble newly
discharged patients eager to leave a clinic.

8. Why does the poet use the metaphor of newly discharged patients?
The metaphor of newly discharged patients is employed because recovering
patients often feel trapped in a hospital. Once they regain their health, they are
eager to leave and rush toward the clinic doors. Similarly, the potted plants feel
suffocated and deprived of sufficient light, stretching themselves toward the
glass door in hopes of finding illumination.