1 PHGC ENGLISH LCC SEM I

OUR CASUARINA TREE

TORU DUTT

About
Our Casuarina Tree is a poem published in 1881 by Toru Dutt, an Indian poet. In
this poem Toru Dutt celebrates the majesty of the Casuarina Tree that she used
to see by her window, and remembers her happy childhood days spent under it
and revives her memories with her beloved siblings.

The Text

LIKE a huge Python, winding round and round

The rugged trunk, indented deep with scars,
Up to its very summit near the stars,
A creeper climbs, in whose embraces bound
No other tree could live. But gallantly
The giant wears the scarf, and flowers are hung
In crimson clusters all the boughs among,
Whereon all day are gathered bird and bee;
And oft at nights the garden overflows
With one sweet song that seems to have no close,
Sung darkling from our tree, while men repose.

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When first my casement is wide open thrown

At dawn, my eyes delighted on it rest;
Sometimes, and most in winter,—on its crest
A gray baboon sits statue-like alone
Watching the sunrise; while on lower boughs
His puny offspring leap about and play;
And far and near kokilas hail the day;
And to their pastures wend our sleepy cows;
And in the shadow, on the broad tank cast
By that hoar tree, so beautiful and vast,
The water-lilies spring, like snow enmassed.

But not because of its magnificence

Dear is the Casuarina to my soul:
Beneath it we have played; though years may roll,
O sweet companions, loved with love intense,
For your sakes, shall the tree be ever dear.
Blent with your images, it shall arise
In memory, till the hot tears blind mine eyes!
What is that dirge-like murmur that I hear
Like the sea breaking on a shingle-beach?
It is the tree’s lament, an eerie speech,
That haply to the unknown land may reach.

Unknown, yet well-known to the eye of faith!

Ah, I have heard that wail far, far away
In distant lands, by many a sheltered bay,
When slumbered in his cave the water-wraith
And the waves gently kissed the classic shore
Of France or Italy, beneath the moon,
When earth lay trancèd in a dreamless swoon:
And every time the music rose,—before
Mine inner vision rose a form sublime,
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Thy form, O Tree, as in my happy prime

I saw thee, in my own loved native clime.

Therefore I fain would consecrate a lay

Unto thy honor, Tree, beloved of those
Who now in blessed sleep for aye repose,—
Dearer than life to me, alas, were they!
Mayst thou be numbered when my days are done
With deathless trees—like those in Borrowdale,
Under whose awful branches lingered pale
“Fear, trembling Hope, and Death, the skeleton,
And Time the shadow;” and though weak the verse
That would thy beauty fain, oh, fain rehearse,
May Love defend thee from Oblivion’s curse.

BENGALI TRANSLATION

িবশাল ময়াল সােপর মত চািরধাের জিড়েয় আেছ

অমসৃণ গােছর িড় ক, এবং গভীর তিচ সৃি কেরেছ

গােছর চূ ড়া পয যা আকােশর তারার কাছাকািছ

এক লতা গাছ ঝাউ গাছ বেড় উেঠেছ, যার আিল েনর ব েন

কান কান গাছ বাঁচেত পাের না। িক সাহিসকতার সােথ

এই িবশাল গাছ ওই লতা ক হণ কেরেছ গলাব িহেসেব এবং গােছর ফু ল িল ঝু লেছ

রি ম থাকায় থাকায় সম ডাল িলেত

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যার ওপর সারািদন ধের পািখ মৗমািছ জেড়া হয়

এবং ায়ই রাি বলােত বাগান থেক ভেস আেস

িমি মধুর গান য িলর যন মেন হয় কান শষ নই

আমােদর গােছ পািখরা রাি েবলায় গান কের যখন মানুেষরা িব াম নয়

যখন িদেন থমবােরর জন আমার কাঁেচর জালনা টা খালা হয়

ভারেবলা আনে র সােথ আমার চাখ িগেয় পেড় গােছর ওপর

মােঝ মােঝ এবং শীেতর বিশরভাগ সময়ই গােছর মগডাল এর উপর

এক ধূসর রেঙর বানর একা বেস থােক মূিতর মত

বেস বেস স সূেযাদেয়র ল কের, তখন িনেচর ডাল িলেত

তার পুচেক বা া লাফালািফ কের এবং খলা কের

এবং দূের এবং কােছ কািকল পািখরা নতু ন িদেনর আগমন জানায়

এবং ঘুম গ েলা সািরব ভােব তােদর চারণভূ িমেত যায়

এবং িবশাল পু েরর উপর পিতত ছায়ােত

য ছায়া ঝাউ গাছ সৃি কেরেছ, খুব সু র এবং িব ৃ তভােব

তারমেধ িলিল ফু ল েলা ফু েট আেছ পুি ভূ ত বরেফর মত

িক গাছ র িবশালতার জন
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গাছ আমােদর কােছ ি য় না

এই গােছর তলায় আমরা কত খলা কেরিছ; অেনক বছর পার হেয় গল

ওি য় স ীরা, তামােদর ভােলােবেসিছলাম গভীর ভােলাবাসা িদেয়

ধুমা তামােদর জন এই গাছ িচরিদন আমার ি য় হেয় থাকেব

তামােদর ৃিত িমি ত গােছর ছিব জেগ ওেঠ

আমার ৃিতেত, তারপর উ অ আমার চাখ িলেক িস কের দয়

িক ওই গােনর মত মমর িন যা আিম নেত পাই

যা পাথুের সমু তেটর উপের ঢউ ভাঙার শে র মত?

এ হেলা সই গােছর কা া, যা নেত ভু তু েড় লােপর মত

যা হয়েতা কান এক অজানা দেশ পৗঁছায়

স িল অজানা তবুও িব ােসর চােখ স িল খুব জানা

আিম ওই িবলাপ েনিছ অেনক দূর থেক

কান এক দূেরর সমু তীর থেক

যখন সমুে র ঢউ িল তার হার মেধ ঘুিমেয় থােক

এবং ওই ঢউ িল মৃদভ
ু ােব চু ন কের যায় কান এক িকংবদি তট ক

তা হয়েতা চ ােলািকত াে র বা ইতািলর

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যখন পৃিথবী ঘুেম ম থােক হীন ঘেরর মেধ

এবং িতবার ওই স ীত জেগ ওেঠ

আমার মানস চ ু েত, স জেগ ওেঠ মিহমাি ত েপ

ও গাছ, আমার সুেখর যৗবেন তামার প

আিম দেখিছ, আমার িনেজর ি য় মাতৃ ভূ িমেত

তাই আিম আনে র সােথ এক গান িনেবদন করিছ

তামার স ােন, ও গাছ, তােদর ি য় গাছ

যারা এখন িচর িব ােম শাি েত েয় আেছ

তারা িছেলা আমার জীবেনর থেকও আমার কােছ বিশ ি য়, হায়! তারা আজ আর নই

যখন আমােদর িদন শষ হেয় যােব তখনও তামার িদন চলেত থাকেব

বরেডল উপত াকার সইসব মৃতু হীন গােছেদর সােথ

যােদর ভয় র ডালপালার তলায় িবরাজ কের ান

"ভয়, কি ত আশা, মৃতু , ক াল,

সময় এবং ছায়া" এবং যিদও আমার এই কিবতা খুবই দুবল

তবুও আমার কিবতা আনে র সােথ বলেব তামার সৗ েযর কথা

হয়েতা আমার এই ভােলাবাসা তামােক র া করেব িব ৃিতর অিভশাপ থেক

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I) Short answer type Questions

a)​ W
​ hat is the creeper compared to?
The creeper is compared to ​a python.

b)​ H
​ ow does the creeper appear on the tree?

The creeper ​is winding the trunk of the casuarina tree ​round and round It embraces the tree
very ​tightly.

c)​ D
​ escribe the garden during the night.

During the night the garden is ​filled with an endless song. ​It is ​sung from the dark side of the
garden.

d)​ H
​ ow does the poet spend her winter?

The poet spends her winter ​watching the baboon that sits like a statue ​on top of the tree, its
offsprings run and play in th lower branches, the ​cows grazing ​and the ​water lilies springing ​in
the pond.

e)​ N
​ ame the bird that sings in the poet’s garden.

Kokila ​is a type of bird ​similar to the cuckoo ​that sings in the poet’s garden

f)​ Why is the casuarina tree dear to poet’s heart?

​

 The Casuarina tree is dear to poet’s heart ​not only for its impressive appearance ​but also
for ​the nostalgic memories of her happy childhood ​that it brings to her.

g)​ D
​ oes nature communicate with human beings?

Yes, ​nature communicates with human beings.

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h)​ W
​ hat has Wordsworth sanctified in his poem?
Wordsworth has sanctified ​the yew tree of Borrowdale valley ​in his poem.

i)​ To whom does Toru Dutt want to consecrate the tree’s memory?
​

Torn Dutt wants to consecrate the tree’s memory ​to her be loved ones who are not alive.

j)​ The casuarina tree will be remembered for ever. Why?

​

The casuarina tree will be remembered for ever. Because the poet expresses her wish that ​the
tree should be remembered out of love ​and not just because it cannot be forgotten.

ii)Read the lines given below and answer the questions that follow.

A) A creeper climbs, in whose embraces bound

No other tree could live.
i.​ Which tree is referred to in the above lines?
​

Ans: Casuarina tree ​is referred to in the above lines.

ii.​ How does the tree survive the tight hold of the creeper?
​

Ans:The tree survives the tight hold of the creeper ​because the tree is very strong.

iii.​ Why does Toru Dutt use the expression ‘a creeper climbs’?
​

Ans:The creeper is winding the tree upwards round and round. So Toru Dutt uses the
expression ‘a creeper climbs’.

B) The giant wears the scarf, and flowers are hung In crimson clusters all the
bough among!
i.​ Who is the giant here?
​

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Ans: The Casuarina tree ​is the giant here.

ii.​ Why is the scarf colourful?

​

Ans: Here the ​scarf refers to the winding creeper’s flowers​. They are colorful.

C) “Fear, trembling Hope, and Death, the skeleton,

And Time the shadow”, and though weak the verse

That would thy beauty fain, oh, fain rehearse,

May Love defend tree from oblivion’s curse.

1. What does the poet mean by the expression ‘May love defend thee
​

from oblivion’s curse?’

Ans: Here ‘oblivon’s curse’ means the ‘curse of forgetfulness’. ​The tree should be
remembered out of love ​and not just because it cannot be forgotten.

2. What does the expression ‘fain’ convey?

​

Ans: The expression ‘fain’ conveys ​the eagerness of the poet ​or the poem.

3. What does the poet convey through the expression ‘Fear, trembling
​

hope’?
Ans: The poet conveys (her) ​humans’ state of mind ​through the expression ‘Fear,
trembling hope’.

D) Like a huge Phython, winding round and round.

The rugged trunk, indented deep with scars,

Up to its very summit near the stars,

A creeper climbs, in whose embraces bound

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1. What is compared to python?

● A creeper is compared to ppython.
2. Where​ is the tree’s summit?
● The tree’s summit is near the stars.
3. Who embraces who?
● The creeper embraces the casuarina tree.
4. Mention the figure of speech mentioned in this line.
● Figure of speech: Simile.
5. What is the rhyme scheme of the above lines?
● Rhyme scheme: a b b a
6. Pick out the rhyming words mentioned in the above lines.
● Rhyming words: round - bound; scars - stars

E) No other tree could live. But gallantly

The giant wears the scarf, and flowers are hung

In crimson clusters all the boughs among

Whereon all day are gathered bird and bee;

1. How does the tree stand?

● The tree stands like a giant.
2. Where are flowers hanging?
● Flowers are hanging from the creeper among the boughs of the trees.
3. What does the scarf refer to?
● The scarf refers to the winding creeper’s colourful flowers.
4. what are gathered on the tree?
● Bird and bees are gathered on the tree.
5. What is the rhyme scheme of the above lines?
● Rhyme scheme: a b b a
6. Pick out the rhyming words mentioned in the above lines.
● Rhyming words: gallantly - bee; hung - among

F) And oft at nights the garden overflows.

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With one sweet song that seems to have no close,

Sung darkling from our tree, while men repose.

a) What does the garden overflow with?

The garden overflows with a sweet song.

b) What time is referred here?

Night time is referred to here.

c) Who heard the song?

The poet heard the song.

d) What is the rhyme scheme of the above lines?

Rhyme scheme: a a a

e) Pick out the rhyming words mentioned in the above lines.

Rhyming words: overflows - close - repose

d) How does the poet see the casuarina tree?

The poet sees the casuarina tree through her casement, wtsteam

G) A grey baboon sits statue-like alone

Wathcing the sunrise; while on lower boughs.

a) What is compared to the baboon?

A statue is compared to the baboon.

b) What does baboon mean?

Baboon is a kind of monkey that lived in Asia and Africa.

c) What is the baboon watching?

The baboon is watching the sunrise.

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H) His puny offspring leap about and play;

And far and near kokilas hail the day.

a) What does “offspring” refer here?

‘Offspring’ refers to a young one of the baboons.

b) What does the offspring do?

The offspring leaps and plays among the boughs of the casuarina tree.

c) What are kokilas?

Kokilas are birds like cuckoos.

d) What does ‘puny’ mean?

Puny means ‘sturdy or weak’.

e) What does the poet watch on the tree?

The poet watches a baboon, birds, a bee, and an offspring of the baboon.

I) By that hoar tree, so beautiful and vast,

The water-lilies spring, like snow enmassed.

a) What does ‘hoar’ mean?

Hoar means cluster (or) group of trees.

b) What is compared to the water-lilies’ springing?

‘Enmassed Snow’ is compared to the water-lilies’ springing.

J) Dear is the Casuarina to my soul:

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Beneath it we have played; though years may roll

a) What does the tree bring to the poet?

The tree brings nostalgic memories of the poet’s happy childhood.

b) What does the poet recollect himself?

The poet recollects her childhood days.

c) Where did they play?

They played among the boughs of the casuarina tree.

K) What is that dirge-like murmur that I hear

like the sea breaking on a shingle-beach.

a) What does the poet hear?

The poet hears the (dirge) murmuring sad songs.

b) What does the poet compare the murmur to?

The poet compares the murmur to the sound of sea waves breaking on the (shingle) rocky
beach.

L) I saw thee, in my own loved native clime.

Therefore O foam would consecrate a lay

a) What does “thee” refer to?

‘Thee’ refers to the casuarina tree.

b) Where does the poet see the tree?

The poet sees the tree in her own beloved native land.

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M) With deathless trees-like those in Borrowdale,

Under whose awful branches lingered pale.

a) Which deathless tree is compared to here?

The yew tree in Borrowdale is compared to the casuarina tree.

b) What is meant by Borrowdale?

Borrowdale is a valley in England.

c) Whose poem is referred to here ?

Wordsworth’s poem is referred to here.

iii)Explain the following lines with reference to the context.

a)​ D
​ ear is the Casuarina to my soul;

Context :​ The above line is taken from the poem ‘OUR CASUARINA TREE’ written by Toru Dutt.

Explanation: ​The poet says that the Casuarina tree is very dear to the poet’s heart not only
for its impressive appearance but also for the nostalgic memories of her happy childhood that
it brings to her.

Comment ​: The poet expresses her love to the casuarina tree.

b)​ I​ t is the tree’s lament, an eerie speech,…

Context ​: The above line is taken from the poem ‘OUR CASUARINA TREE’ written by Toru Dutt.

Explanation: ​The poet strongly believes that nature communicates with human beings. The
poet could communicate with the tree even when she was in a far-off land as she could hear
the tree lamenting her absence.

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Comment :​ The poet personifies the tree and believes that it laments over her absence.

c)​ ​Unto thy honor, Tree, beloved of those

Who now in blessed sleep for aye repose,
Context ​: The above line is taken from the poem “OUR CASUARINA TREE” written by Toru Dutt.

Explanation: ​The poet sanctifies the tree. He consecrates the tree’s memory to her loved ones.
But they are not alive. He praises the tree that it is so loveable to both living and dead.
Comment ​: The poet says that the tree is so dear to everyone.

iv) Identify the figure of speech used in each of the extracts given below and
write down the answer in the space given below. The first one is done for you.
a) “​LIKE a huge Python,​ winding round and round ​(Zoomorphism/Simile)
The rugged trunk, indented deep with scars”,

b) “A creeper climbs, in whose embraces bound

No other tree could live. But gallantly
The giant wears the scarf,​ and flowers are hung......” ​(Personification)

c) “A gray baboon sits statue–​like alone’​’ ​(Simile)

d) “The water-lilies spring, ​like snow enmassed.​”(​ Simile)
​ irge - like murmur​ that I hear​(Personification)
e) ​“What is that d
Like the sea​ breaking on a shingle -beach?​(Simile,)

a) Zoomorphism / Simile

b) Personification

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c) Simile

d) Simile

e) Personification, Simile

a) Zoomorphism

Describing the vine in animal terms (as a python). This is used to illustrate
movement, making the tree seem more actively alive and also implying
movement. This is a subtle indication of the process of life.

v)Answer each of the following questions in a paragraph of 100–150 words.

a. Describe the reminiscences of the poet, when she sees the casuarina tree.
Poem : Our Casuarina Tree

Poet : Toru Dutt

Theme : Reminiscences of the poetss

Outline : ​casuarina tree - tall and strong - creeper - scarf- Birds - song - watching - ​baboon -
offspring - cows - water lilies - dear to poet’s heart - nostalgic memories - communicate - tree
laments - immortalizes - yew tree -remembered out of love

The casuarina tree is tall and strong, with a creeper winding around it like a python. The tree
stands like a giant with a colourful scarf of flowers. Birds surround the garden during day time.
The sweet song of the birds is heard at night. The poet is delighted to see the casuarina tree
through her casement. The poet spends her winter watching the baboon sitting on top of the
tree. Its offspring leaps and plays among the boughs of the tree. The cows are grazing and the
water lilies are springing in the pond. The Casuarina tree is dear to poet’s heart not only for its
impressive appearance but also for bringing the nostalgic memories of her happy childhood.

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The poetess could communicate with the tree even when .she was in a far-off land. She could
hear the tree laments in her absence. She immortalizes the tree through her poem like the poet
Wordsworth who sanctified the yew tree of Borrowdale valley in his poem. She expresses her
wish that the tree should be remembered out of love and not just because it cannot be
forgotten.

b. How does nature communicate with the poet?

Poem​ ​:​ Our Casuarina Tree

Poet :​ Toru Dutt

Theme :​ Nature communicates with the poet

Outline :​ Casuarina tree - dear to poet’s heart - nostalgic memories - communicate - tree
laments - immortalizes - yew tree -remembered out of love

The Casuarina tree is dear to poetess’s heart not only for its impressive appearance but also for
the nostalgic memories of her happy childhood that it brings to her. She strongly believes that
nature communicates with human beings. The poet could communicate with the tree even
when she was in a far-off land as she could hear the tree lamenting over her absence. The poet
consecrates the tree’s memory to her loved ones, who are not alive. She immortalizes the tree
through her poem like the poet Wordsworth who sanctified the yew tree of Borrowdale valley
in his poem. She expresses her wish that the tree should be remembered out of love and not
just because it cannot be forgotten.

c. The poet immortalizes the tree. Elucidate.

Poem : ​Our Casuarina Tree Poet : Toru Dutt

Theme :​ The poet immortalizes the tree.

Outline :​ Casuarina tree - dear to poet’s heart - nostalgic memories - communicate - tree
laments - immortalizes - yew tree -remembered out of love

The Casuarina tree is dear to poetess’s heart not only for its impressive appearance but also for
the nostalgic memories of her happy childhood that it brings to her. She strongly believes that
nature communicates with human beings. The poetess could communicate with the tree even
when she was in a far-off land. She could hear the tree lamenting her absence. The poetess

OUR CASUARINA TREE ASHRAFUL HAQUE

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consecrates the tree’s memory to her loved ones, who are not alive. She loves them above all.
For their sake, she immortalizes the tree through this poem like the poet Wordsworth who
sanctified the yew tree of Borrowdale valley in his poem. She expresses her wish that the tree
should be remembered out of love and not just because it cannot be forgotten. 

ESSAY

Introduction

Appearance of the tree

Nature and the tree

Reminiscences of the poet

Immortalize the tree Conclusion

Introduction:

Tom Dutt was a Bengali poet. In this poem the nostalgic memories of her childhood days are
shared by her picturesquely.

Appearance of the tree:

The Casuarina tree is tall and strong. A creeper is winding around it like a python. The tree
stands like a giant with a colorful scarf of creeper’s flowers.

Nature and the tree:

Birds surround the garden during day time. The sweet song of the birds is heard at night. The
poet is delighted to see the casuarina tree through her casement. The poet spends her winter
watching the baboon sitting on top of the tree. Its offspring leaps and plays among the boughs
of the tree. The cows are grazing and the water lilies are springing in the pond like snow.

Reminiscences of the poet:

The Casuarina tree is dear to poet’s heart not only for its impressive appearance but also for
bringing the nostalgic memories of her happy childhood. The poet could communicate with the
tree even when she was in a far-off land. She could hear the tree laments over her absence.

Immortalize the tree:

OUR CASUARINA TREE ASHRAFUL HAQUE

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She consecrates the tree’s memory to her loved ones, who are not alive. She loves them above
all. For their sake, she immortalizes the tree through this poem like the poet Wordsworth who
sanctified the yew tree of Borrowdale valley in his poem.

Conclusion:

Finally, She expresses her wish that the tree should be remembered out of love and not just
because it cannot be forgotten.

Moral: ​Nature can communicate with human beings.

OUR CASUARINA TREE ASHRAFUL HAQUE