The chapter” Woodman Spare That Tree” is a poem written by George Pope Morris. The BOSEM solutions for this chapter are a comprehensive guide to aid the students studying in the Board of Secondary Education Manipur. Students can access the study materials related to this chapter on this page.
Chapter Name: Woodman Spare That Tree
Subject: Modern English
Lesson: 7
Class: 7
Board: Board Of Secondary Education Manipur (BOSEM/BSEM)
Contents: Substance of the poem, Questions and Answers.
Woodman Spare That Tree
Woodman, spare that tree!
Touch not a single bough!
In youth, it sheltered me,
And I’ll protect it now.
‘Twas 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 old oak stand.
My heartstrings round thee cling,
Close as thy Bark; old friend!
Here shall the wild bird sing,
And still, thy branches bend.
Old tree! The storm will brave!
And woodman, leave the spot;
While I have a hand to save,
Thy axe shall harm it not.
_George Pope Morris
BOSEM solutions for class 7 English Chapter 7
About the Poet
George Pope Morris was an American editor, poet, and songwriter. He was born on October 10, 1802, in Philadelphia, USA, and died on July 6, 1864, in New York City. He is best known for his poem “THE OAK,” which is the original version of the poem “Woodman, Spare That Tree.”
The substance of the Poem:
“Woodman, Spare That Tree” by George Pope Morris exemplifies the compassion of an old man toward an old oak tree. The poem reveals his deep love and affection for the tree and how it is connected to his family. The poet reminisces about the days when he sought shade under the tree and realizes that it is his responsibility to protect the tree from harm. He urges the woodman not to “cut its single bough.” All the cherished memories of his glorious childhood with other family members are recollected in one frame.
To the woodman, it may be just an old tree, but for the poet, it was a friend who silently witnessed his past. The tree was planted by his forefathers, making it a source of pride for their family.
The poet symbolically represents the selfish nature of mankind, highlighting how trees are often cut down without considering their importance in the ecosystem. The poem concludes with the poet’s intense emotional attachment to the tree as he expresses, “My heartstrings round thee cling.” He asserts that no one can harm the tree as long as he is there to protect it.
Answer the following question.
Q1. Why does the poet want the woodman to spare the tree?
Ans: The poet wants the woodman to spare the tree because the tree is very dear to him. It was planted by his forefather and he had fond memories of is childhood around the tree, where he sought its shade, played with his sisters, kissed by his mother and his father placed his hand lovingly. So, he cannot easily let anyone cut down his old friend.
Q2. Give the various reasons for which he wants to protect the tree.
Ans: There are various reasons:
- The old oak tree was planted by his forefather near the cottage.
- He sought its shelter when he was an idle boy, he played there with his sister, his mother kissed him and his father lovingly held his hands under the tree.
- The old oak tree is his old friend who was the silent witness of his past.
Q3. What does the poet mean when he says,
- And I’ll protect now?
Ans: Here in this line, the poet exerts his form stand to save the tree from being harmed at any cost. He believed that it was his duty and responsibility to save his old friend. It shows his great bond with the tree.
- I sought its graceful shade.
Ans: The line meant that when the poet was an idle boy he used to seek or find peace under the shade of the tree.
- Forgive the foolish tear?
Ans: In the given line, the poet requested the woodman to forgive his foolish tear which was the result of his glorious childhood memories. The connection of the tree with his family members made him emotional. Those loving incidents were so dear to him that he could not see the old oak tree harmed. So, he wanted to protect the tree from any harm.
- My heartstrings round thee cling?
Ans: Here, the poet shows his deepest feelings of love or pity for his old oak tree. He loves the tree for those memorable incidents; it has become an inseparable part of his life. The tree is very close to its bark. Likewise, the poet is a very close and inseparable part of the tree.
- Old tree! The storm will brave?
Ans: Here, the poet expressed that the oak tree has grown old and weak. That even a storm can easily destroy the tree. Rhyming Word: A rhyming word is a repetition of a similar sound in the final stressed syllable and following syllables of two or more words. Most often used for effect in the final position of lines of poems and songs.
