WGTF Evaluation

GOENKA AND ASSOCIATES EDUCATIONAL TRUST
VASANT VIHAR HIGH SCHOOL AND JUNIOR COLLEGE
GRADE: 10 ENGLISH LITERATURE
POEM: WHEN GREAT TREES FALL- EVALUATION
MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS:

1. Which extended metaphor is used in the poem?
A. The deaths of great men B. The falling of great trees
C. Nature D. Big and small animals
2. When do animals seek safety?
A. When the earth shakes B. When wolves howl
C. When great trees fall D. When hunters appear
3. What positive happens when great men die?
A. Our senses are benumbed. B. Our memory is suddenly sharpened.
C. We feel sorry for ourselves. D. We feel pity for great men.
4. In what state are we thrown suddenly when we hear about the death of a great soul?
A. Sullen B. Indifferent C. Sorrowful D. Amusing
5. What do great men generally care for?
A. Our souls B. Our bodies C. Our wealth D. Our health
6. The phrase 'dark cold, caves' symbolizes in the poem.
A. Cheerfulness B. Depth of mind C. Despair D. Ignorance
7. What happens to our souls on hearing the news of a great man who has impacted
our lives greatly?
A. We begin to cry. B. We become mad. C. We become silent. D. Our souls shrivel.
8. Which figure of speech is used in the line 'We can be. Be and be'?
A. Personification B. Irony C. Alliteration D. Sarcasm
9. What does the phrase "and when great souls die" suggest in the context of the poem?
A) The end of an era B) The beginning of a new life
C) The destruction of nature D) The birth of a legacy
10. According to the poem, how does the universe respond when great souls pass away?
A) It celebrates with joy B) It mourns with a cosmic wail
C) It remains indifferent D) It retaliates with fury
11. What does the speaker imply about the impact of great souls on others in the poem?
A) They leave no lasting impact B) They inspire and uplift
C) They cause despair and hopelessness D) They are easily forgotten
12. How does the poem suggest that one should honor the memory of great souls?
A) By forgetting their existence B) By ignoring their contributions
C) By mourning endlessly D) By continuing their work and legacy.
REFERENCE TO CONTEXT
EXTRACT 1:
I. How is the metaphor of 'great trees' used in the poem?
Answer: The metaphor of 'great trees' is used to symbolize the deaths of great persons.
When a great tree falls, it causes widespread disruptions, akin to the effects felt by
people when a significant person in their lives dies.
2. What does the shuddering of 'rocks' on distant hills symbolise?
Answer: The shuddering of 'rocks' on distant hills symbolizes the far-reaching impact of
the death of a great person. It signifies how the loss is felt widely, causing even distant
and seemingly unrelated elements to react.
3. How do animals behave when great trees fall? Why?
Answer. Animals behave with fear and seek safety when great trees fall. Lions squat in
fear in tall grasses, and elephants walk awkwardly to seek shelter. This behavior is due
to the immediate danger and disruptions caused by the falling of great trees, mirroring
the unsettling effect a great person's death has on people.
4. What happens to small things when great trees fall?
Answer: When great trees fall, small things recoil into silence, their senses eroded
beyond fear. This indicates that the impact of a great tree's fall is profound and affects
even the smallest creatures, causing a state of shock and numbness.
5. What idea does the poet give by using the extended metaphor of the fall of 'great
trees'?
Answer: By using the extended metaphor of the fall of 'great trees', the poet conveys
the idea that the death of a great person has a significant and wide-ranging impact,
causing immediate disruption but eventually leading to a state of peace and inspiration
to live better lives, acknowledging the greatness of those who have passed.
When great trees fall in forests, small things recoil into silence, their senses eroded
beyond fear.
EXTRACT 2 When great trees fall in forests, small things ………………. beyond fear.
I. What does the fall of great trees symbolise in the poem?
Answer: The fall of great trees symbolises the deaths of great persons, conveying the
impact and disruptions caused by the loss of a significant person.
2. What happens to big animals when great trees fall?
Answer: When great trees fall, big animals such as lions and elephants seek safety,
indicating a widespread fear and the search for security in the face of sudden changes.
3. What happens to small things when great trees fall?
Answer: When great trees fall, small things recoil into silence, their senses eroded
beyond fear, highlighting the profound impact even on the smallest creatures.
4. Explain. 'Their senses/eroded beyond fear.
Answer: This phrase suggests that the small creatures are so deeply affected by the fall
of great trees that their usual sense of fear is surpassed, leaving them in a state of
numbness and shock.
5. When great men die, what kind of 'clarity' do we have all of a sudden?
Answer: When great men die, we experience a 'hurtful clarity', a sudden understanding
of the valuable soul lost, which brings sharp and painful realization of their significance
and our loss.
PASSAGE-3 When great souls die, the air around us becomes light, rare, sterile. We
breathe, briefly. Our eyes, briefly, see with a hurtful clarity.
I. What image from the world of nature has been used earlier in the context?
Answer: The image of great trees falling has been used earlier in the context to
symbolise the deaths of great persons and their impact.
2 What happens when great trees fall?
Answer: When great trees fall, there is widespread disruption; animals seek safety, and
the natural order is momentarily disturbed, symbolising the effect of a great person's
death on society.
3. 'We breathe, briefly. There is a pause after 'breath' here. What is its significance?
Answer: The pause signifies a moment of shock or realization, reflecting how the death
of a great soul momentarily takes our breath away, highlighting the immediate and
profound impact on us.
4. What kind of 'clarity' does the poet refer to?
Answer: The poet refers to a 'hurtful clarity', a painful yet clear realization of the loss
of a valuable soul, which brings a sharp focus on what was unsaid or undone.
5. What do we come to remember when great men die?
Answer: When great men die, we suddenly remember all the moments spent with
them, the kind words unsaid, and the promised walks never taken, leading to a sense of
regret and loss.
SOME ANALYTICAL QUESTIONS:
1.What is the central idea of the poem 'When Great Trees Fall' written by Maya
Angelou?
Answer: The central idea of the poem 'When Great Trees Fall' is about the deep sense of
loss and grief that is felt when someone great passes away or dies. It talks about how
the death of important and inspiring people leaves a void in the lives of those left
behind.
2. What does the poet compare the death of great souls to in the poem 'When Great
Trees Fall'? Why has she chosen this comparison?
Answer: In the poem, the poet compares the death of great souls to the falling of huge,
old trees in a forest. When massive trees fall, it impacts all the creatures living in the
forest. Similarly, when influential personalities who have nurtured society pass away, it
affects people deeply. The poet uses this comparison to highlight the monumental
impact of the death of inspirational figures on society.
3. Explain the meaning of the line - "When great souls die, the air around us becomes
light, rare, sterile."
Answer: This line symbolises how the world feels different after inspirational figures
pass away. The air lacks their presence which energised and enriched the lives of others.
There is a void left behind which makes the atmosphere feel empty and meaningless.
The inspirational qualities dissipate from the environment when enlightened souls leave.

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GOENKA AND ASSOCIATES EDUCATIONAL TRUST

VASANT VIHAR HIGH SCHOOL AND JUNIOR COLLEGE

GRADE: 10 ENGLISH LITERATURE

POEM: WHEN GREAT TREES FALL- EVALUATION

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS:

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