Read the following poem carefully.
Woodman, that tree!
Touch not a single bough
In youth, it sheltered me,
And I’ll protect it now.
‘T was my forefather’s hand
That placed it near his cot;
There, woodman, let it stand,
Thy axe shall harm it not!
When but an idle boy
I sought its grateful shade;
In all their gushing joy
Here, too, my sisters played.
My mother kissed me here,
My father pressed my hand
Forgive this foolish tear,
But let that oak stand!
My heartstrings round thee cling
Close as thy bark, old friend!
Here shall the wild birds sing,
And still, thy branches bend.
Old tree! The storm still brave!
And woodman leave the spot;
While I have a hand to save,
Thy axe shall harm it not
—George Pope Morris
(Multiple Choice Questions)
- 1 Choose the most appropriate option:
- The poet wants the woodman to spare the tree because:
(A) it yields valuable fruit
(B) the poet’s father told him strictly, not to touch the tree
( C) the tree has been the poet’s companion
(D) he doesn’t want that
- The tree was planted by the poets:
(A) mother (B) father (C) grandfather (D) forefathers
- The poet’s father pressed his hand as a gesture of:
(A) affection (B) kindness (C) anger (D) negligence
- The poet will guard the tree with his:
(A) eye (B) hand (C) heart (D)negligence
5 The poet spent a lot of time:
(A) in the shade of the tree in his boyhood (B) in watering tree
(C) in looking at the tree (D) in thanking the tree
- ‘Gushing joy’ means to:
(A) laugh loudly (B) shout loudly (C) scream loudly (D) try to be happy
- The word ‘bough’ means:
(A) branch (B) tree (C) huge tree (D) garden
ANSWERS
1 ( C) 2 (C) 3 (A) 4 (B) 5 (A) 6 (D) 7 (A)
Type — II (Gap-Filling)
2.2 Complete the summary of the poem by filling the gaps with appropriate words.
The poet urges the woodman not to(a) …………………………… his oak tree. He warns him against ( b) ……………………….. even a single bough of the tree. The poet remembers how the tree had ( c) ………,………… him in his youth. So, he decides to (d) …………………….. it now. The tree was planted by the poet’s (e) …………………….near his cot. The poet recalls how he enjoyed the shadow of the tree and his (f) …………………….. used to play under it. His mother would (g) …………………….. he and father used to reassure him by (h) …………………………………his hand. The poet feels that his heart is deeply attached to the tree as its (i) …………………. • Birds sing here and the tree has bravely faced all the (j)……………………… The poet once again warns the woodman against cutting the tree.
ANSWER
(a) cut (b) touching (c)sheltered (d) protect (e) forefather (f) sisters (g) kissed (h) pressing (i) friend (j) storms