The Tree by Manoj Das
Notes by Mala Acharya
Section 1
Q1. How does the
writer describe the river in spate ? did it cause havoc in the village? What
was the time of the flood ?
Ans.- The question
is from the chapter- The Tree written by
Manoj Das.
The writer describes the river in spate that it was just like the
hisssing sound of a thousand-hooded Cobra.
Yes it caused havoc only to a couple of miles of the downstream
areas near to the river.
Ans.- The question is from the chapter- The Tree written by
Manoj Das.
During the flood crisis the people in the down areas of the village, near to the river bank go over to the roofs or climb the big trees for three to four days till the water recede.
Q3.’ The leaves
chattered incessantly their familiar language of hope and courage.’How does
this statement portray the banian tree?
Ans. - The question is from the chapter- The Tree written by
Manoj Das.
‘The leaves
chattered incessantly their familiar language of hope and courage. ‘
This statement portrait the Banyan tree as a
pillar of hope and courage. Since generations, it has been aa symbol of
protection.
Q4. What was the
story behind the mound and the tree ?
Ans. - The question is from the chapter- The Tree written by
Manoj Das.
The story of the
Mount and the tree portrays of the ruins of a King's Palace. The king had
wanted to cut down the branches of the tree to make room for his Palace but
then with a terrific storm , the palace collapsed. The king with his family
took shelter under the tree and they were saved.The king realised his mistake
and the storm subsided.
Q5. Write briefly
about the ‘banian goddess’. What does this portrait reveal about the villagers
? Do you mark an element of humour and satire in the description?
Ans. - The
question is from the chapter- The Tree written by Manoj Das.
The tiny Banian Goddess rested at the foot of
one of the trunks of a Banyan Tree . She had no regular priest. Everybody while
passing-by bowed before her with devotion. For all small issues ,the villagers
prayed her and especially the children while going to school pray her with
great devotion to be saved from their undone homeworks.
This devotion of
the villagers towards the tiny Banyan goddess revealed their deep faith on the
old and ageless Banian tree and its tiny goddess.
Yes, there is an
element of humour and satire in the description as it reflects the life and
attitude of the village people which is governed by rituals and superstitions.
Q6. How does the
author describe the various trunks of the banian tree ? Are the descriptions
given in a serious or lighted-hearted vein ? Do they reveal the orthodoxy and
superstition of the villagers ?
Ans.- The question
is from the chapter- The Tree written by Manoj Das.
The writer has
given a detailed description of the different trunks of the banian Tree.
I)
We find the tiny banian goddess
in one of the trunks of The banian trees where every passer- by bow down with
deep devotion.
II)
Then another trunk where village meetings are
held.
III)
At the next trunk, there is the
sacred bull of the village taking rest with eyes shut and jaws moving in a leisurely
manner.
IV)
At another trunk, an old Women
sells greens and drumsticks.
V)
Then there is another trunk
where a family of snakes live along with a legion of birds.
The description of the different trunks have been given as an
important part of the content of the chapter .
Yes, these descriptions reveal the orthodoxy and superstitions of the
villagers.
Q7. How was the tree godly? What did it symbolize ?
Ans.- The question is from the Chapter- The Tree by Manoj Das.
The village meetings where held under the tree. The decisions taken in the meeting under the ageless banian tree was considered final decision carrying the seal of some invisible divine power. The old and ageless banian tree was considered immortal and thus godly.
The tree symbolises divine and immortal power of truthfulness.
Section 2
Notes by Mala Acharya
Q1. What is the
central incident in this section ?
Ans.- This question is from the chapter- The tree
written by Manoj Das.
The central incident of the section-II of the chapter- The Tree is
the fall of the old and ageless banyan tree.
Q2. What attitude
of the villagers is reflected in the words of the retired head-pundit? How does
he interpret the fleeing of the birds and snakes from the tree?
Ans.- This
question is from the chapter- The tree written by Manoj Das.
Nirakar Das is the
retired head-Pundit .The villages obey the head Pandit as an elder of the
village who has so much concern for all villagers.
The head -Pundit Nirakar Das interpreted the fleeing
of the birds and snakes from the tree as a bad luck symbol.
Q3.- How do the
villagers react to the words of the college going young men? What is
distinctive about the attitude of the young men ?
Ans.- This
question is from the chapter- The tree written by Manoj Das.
The villages at a
time shouted to the words of the college going young men for their shocking
predicted description of the fall of banian tree.
The attitude of the young men reflects their
acceptance of the challenges of the havoc situations of the flood.
Q4.- What does
Srikant Das, the Vaishnab , observe about the impending fall of the tree ? Does
it reflect the orthodoxy and superstitiousness of the villagers ? How does
Manoj Das describe the nature of the villagers ?
Ans.- This
question is from the chapter- The tree written by Manoj Das.
The Vaishnav,
Srikanth Das observe that the ground between the tree and the river had tilted
towards the river. He feels that the tree is going to collapse as it cannot bear
the burden of the sins of the villagers anymore.
Yes, it reflects
the orthodox and superstitiousness of the villagers.
The writer, Manoj
Das has described the situation in a typical manner. Finding no solution to the
fall of the tree, the villagers pray to forgive them all for their sins with
surrender to God. It depicts the very culture and tradition of Indian society
where in the midst of different difficult times people surrender to the
omnipotent .
Ans.- This
question is from the chapter- The tree written by Manoj Das.
Yes, there is a
contract between the generation of the villagers.
The elders of the
village considered the huge Banian tree as a divine power protecting them since
generations but due to their sinful acts that tree will be washed away by the
flood. On the other hand the young generation college going boys have no
attachment to the ageless old banian tree .They have no carving for the godly banian
tree which will be uprooted by the havoc of the flood.
Section 3
Notes by Mala Acharya
Q1. What is the prime concern of the
villages in this section? In which context does manos does bring in the names
of some important villagers? What tone do you mark in the description?
Ans.- This question is from the chapter- The
tree written by Manoj Das.
The primary concern of the villagers in
section- III of the chapter- The Tree is to save the ageless old banian tree
from falling.
The
writer, Manoj Das in this section brings the names of some important villagers
like Sridhar Mishra the Homeopath and Raghu Dalbehera here are the only man
with a gun in the village. They have always given a good solution in the
difficult times to all villagers.
There is a tone of fear and helplessness at
the nerve- racking incident of the tree being swept away by the flood.
Q2. How did the MLA console the villagers? What
was his reaction to the votes of the old man? Is it typical of the politicians?
Do you notice any element of humour and satire in his statements?
Ans.- This question is
from the chapter- The tree written by Manoj Das.
The MLA consoled the villages with his
inspiring words to come together to try and save the tree.
The MLA came running to the old man displaying
great concern to the words of the Oldman.
Yes, it is typical of the politicians.
Yes, there is an element of humour and
satire in his statements .The villagers are in the havoc of flood and the MLA
is comparing their situation by expressing that they are in heaven compared to
the low areas of the village where the floor water has entered into their
house.
Q 3. What did the Old Brahmin do when the tree was about to be swept away by the flood?
Ans.- This question is from the chapter- The tree written by Manoj
Das.
When the tree was about to swept away by the
flood, the old Brahmin carried the banian goddess with great care and requested
all brahmins to make place for the goddess.
Q4. How did the villagers behave when the tree
was gone? what did it reflect about them?
Ans.- This question is from the chapter- The tree written by Manoj
Das.
The
villagers were saddened by the sight of the falling of the huge and ageless old
banian tree. Old Bishnu Jena with his deep faith in banian goddess, he falls
into his trance. People came out with drums and other instruments. Old Bishnu
being hypnotised uttered to take birth as thousand trees - here , there and
everywhere.
All
these activities during the falling of the banian tree reflects the inseparable
belongingness an attachment of the villagers with the huge and godly banian
tree.
Q5.
How does the story end? Is it a satisfactory ending?
Ans.- This
question is from the chapter- The tree written by Manoj Das.
The writer, Manoj Das, ends the story with
a positivity by using the words – ‘’ The sun is rising! “– this statement symbolizes
the beginning of a new life and also the words – “reborn as thousand trees.”
Yes,
it is a satisfactory ending.
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