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Trees Notes

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25 views6 pages

Trees Notes

English

Uploaded by

hajajg66
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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"The Trees" by Adrienne Rich:

Adrienne Rich wrote "The Trees" during a time of significant social and
political movements, particularly around gender equality and environmental
awareness. The poem, while ostensibly about trees, is layered with
symbolism that can be interpreted as a commentary on women's liberation
and the broader human struggle for freedom from oppression. The imagery
of trees moving out of the confines of a house into an empty forest can be
seen as a metaphor for breaking free from restrictive environments and
reclaiming a natural space that has been long neglected or suppressed.

Line-by-Line Explanation and Analysis:

1. "The trees inside are moving out into the forest,"


- Explanation: The trees, which were confined inside, are now moving out
into the open forest.
- Analysis: This line suggests a transition from a controlled, artificial
environment to a natural one. The trees symbolize individuals (or women)
breaking free from domestic confinement to reclaim their place in the world.

2. "the forest that was empty all these days"


- Explanation: The forest has been empty for a long time.
- Analysis: The emptiness of the forest symbolizes a space or domain
that has been neglected or devoid of life and presence. This could
represent a societal area (like women’s rights) that has been ignored or left
unoccupied.

3. "where no bird could sit"


- Explanation: The forest was so empty that even birds couldn't sit there.
- Analysis: Birds often symbolize freedom or life. The absence of birds
suggests that the forest was lifeless, reinforcing the idea that this space
was uninhabitable or unwelcoming until now.

4. "no insect hide"


- Explanation: No insects could find a place to hide in the empty forest.
- Analysis: Insects hiding in a forest symbolize the small, unnoticed forms
of life that sustain an ecosystem. Their absence further emphasizes the
barrenness of the forest, which is now about to be revived.

5. "no sun bury its feet in shadow"


- Explanation: The sun couldn't even cast shadows in this empty forest.
- Analysis: The lack of shadows indicates a lack of trees to create them.
This line reinforces the idea of the forest's previous emptiness, lacking the
natural interplay of light and dark that trees provide.

6. "the forest that was empty all these nights"


- Explanation: The forest has also been empty at night.
- Analysis: The repetition of the forest being empty day and night
underscores its long-standing desolation, highlighting the transformative
change that is about to occur.

7. "will be full of trees by morning."


- Explanation: By morning, the forest will be filled with trees.
- Analysis: This line anticipates the restoration of life and vitality. It
suggests a hopeful change where what was once barren will soon be
vibrant and full.

8. "All night the roots work to disengage themselves from the cracks in the
veranda floor."
- Explanation: Throughout the night, the roots of the trees work to free
themselves from the cracks in the floor.
- Analysis: The roots symbolize deep-seated connections or
entanglements that are difficult to break. The struggle to disengage
suggests the effort required to break free from long-established constraints,
such as societal or domestic expectations.

9. "The leaves strain toward the glass"


- Explanation: The leaves are reaching out towards the glass window.
- Analysis: The glass represents a barrier, separating the inside
(confinement) from the outside (freedom). The leaves’ straining signifies a
strong desire to break free from this barrier and move into the open world.

10. "small twigs stiff with exertion"


- Explanation: The small branches are stiff from the effort of trying to
move.
- Analysis: This line conveys the physical and emotional strain of
breaking free from a restrictive environment. The stiffness indicates how
long they have been constrained, making movement difficult and painful.

11. "long-cramped boughs shuffling under the roof like newly discharged
patients half-dazed, moving to the clinic doors."
- Explanation: The large branches, cramped from being indoors, move
awkwardly like patients who have just been released from a hospital.
- Analysis: The comparison to patients highlights the disorientation and
tentative steps involved in gaining freedom after a period of confinement.
The boughs’ movement suggests a mix of relief and uncertainty as they
leave the controlled environment of the house.

12. "I sit inside, doors open to the veranda writing long letters in which I
scarcely mention the departure of the forest from the house."
- Explanation: The speaker sits inside, writing letters with the doors
open, but barely mentions the significant event of the trees leaving.
- Analysis: The speaker’s indifference or detachment might reflect
societal complacency or personal reluctance to acknowledge the
importance of the change happening. This could be seen as a critique of
those who remain passive or uninvolved in significant social movements.

13. "The night is fresh, the whole moon shines in a sky still open"
- Explanation: The night feels fresh, with the moon shining in a
wide-open sky.
- Analysis: The freshness of the night and the openness of the sky
symbolize a new beginning or opportunity. The open sky contrasts with the
previously enclosed environment, suggesting that freedom is now within
reach.

14. "the smell of leaves and lichen still reaches like a voice into the rooms."
- Explanation: The scent of leaves and lichen enters the room, almost
like a voice.
- Analysis: The "voice" of nature suggests that despite the trees’
departure, their presence and influence remain. This could symbolize the
lasting impact of liberation movements, even as they progress beyond
initial boundaries.

15. "My head is full of whispers which tomorrow will be silent."


- Explanation: The speaker’s mind is filled with whispers that will
disappear by tomorrow.
- Analysis: The whispers could represent doubts, fears, or societal norms
that are losing their power. The anticipation of silence suggests that these
concerns will fade as the movement toward freedom continues.

16. "Listen. The glass is breaking."


- Explanation: The glass is shattering, signaling a significant event.
- Analysis: The breaking glass is a powerful metaphor for the shattering
of barriers or constraints. It marks the final step in the trees' (or individuals’)
liberation, as the physical and metaphorical boundaries holding them back
are destroyed.

17. "The trees are stumbling forward into the night."


- Explanation: The trees are moving forward into the night, albeit
awkwardly.
- Analysis: The stumbling suggests that while the trees (or those they
represent) are moving towards freedom, it’s not an easy or straightforward
process. The night could symbolize the unknown future or the challenges
that come with newfound freedom.

18. "Winds rush to meet them."


- Explanation: The wind rushes to greet the trees as they move forward.
- Analysis: The wind's welcoming movement suggests that nature (or
society) is supportive of this change. It creates a sense of momentum and
inevitability in the trees’ journey toward liberation.

19. "The moon is broken like a mirror,"


- Explanation: The moon appears shattered, like a broken mirror.
- Analysis: The broken moon could symbolize the fragmentation of old
perspectives or the shattering of illusions. Just as a broken mirror reflects
multiple images, the breaking of the moon might suggest a new,
multifaceted understanding of reality.

20. "its pieces flash now in the crown of the tallest oak."
- Explanation: The pieces of the broken moon reflect in the top of the
tallest oak tree.
- Analysis: This imagery suggests that the tallest oak, now free,
embodies the broken pieces of the old order, reflecting them in a new light.
It symbolizes the culmination of the trees’ journey, where they have not only
liberated themselves but also altered the world around them.

Hidden Symbolism and Meanings:

- The Trees: Symbolize individuals or groups, particularly women, who


have been confined or oppressed, now seeking liberation and reclaiming
their rightful place in the world.
- The House/Veranda: Represents the controlled, domestic
space—society's traditional roles and expectations.
- The Forest: A metaphor for the natural world or a liberated space that has
been neglected but is now being reclaimed.
- Glass: Symbolizes barriers to freedom, both physical and metaphorical.
The breaking of the glass is a pivotal moment of liberation.
- The Moon: Represents the old order or established perspectives, which
are now breaking apart, allowing for new realities to emerge.

Overall, Adrienne Rich’s "The Trees" is a richly symbolic poem about the
struggle for freedom and the transformative power of breaking free from
societal constraints. The imagery of the trees moving out into the forest
serves as a powerful metaphor for the feminist movement and other
liberation struggles, highlighting the tension, effort, and ultimate triumph
involved in such a journey.

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