NCERT Solutions for Class 11 Woven Words Chapter 10

NCERT Solutions for Class 11 English Chapter 10 Felling of the Banyan Tree – complete answers & explanations 

This NCERT solutions blog for Class 11 English Chapter 10 Felling of the Banyan Tree is designed to help students understand the poem in a clear, structured, and exam-oriented manner. Written by Dilip Chitre, the poem reflects the emotional impact of environmental destruction and the loss of tradition. Through vivid imagery and a critical tone, the poet presents the felling of a majestic banyan tree as both a personal and cultural loss. These solutions strictly follow the latest NCERT textbook (Woven Words) and present answers in the exact order of the exercises without adding or omitting any question. 

What this NCERT chapter covers? 

1. The poet’s critical tone towards deforestation 
2. Character portrayal of the father 
3. Symbolism of the banyan tree 
4. Cultural and mythological undertones 
5. Environmental concerns in modern society 
6. Vocabulary and descriptive adjectives 

How to use these NCERT solutions? 

1. Read the poem carefully and observe the emotional tone 
2. Identify strong words that suggest criticism or violence 
3. Understand the symbolic meaning of the banyan tree 
4. Attempt answers in your own words before checking 
5. Revise environmental themes for examinations 

Important tips & tricks for students 

1. Quote powerful words like “massacred” and “slaughter” in answers 
2. Focus on imagery used to describe the banyan tree 
3. Connect the poem with contemporary environmental issues 
4. Write structured answers with 4–5 clear points 
5. Revise symbolic expressions carefully 

NCERT Solutions – Complete Answer Key 

Guess the meaning of the word ‘scraggy’ from the context. 

Scraggy means thin, rough, and uneven in appearance. 

UNDERSTANDING THE POEM 

1. Identify the lines that reveal the critical tone of the poet towards the felling of the tree. 

“Felling them is a crime but he massacred them all.” 
“We watched in terror and fascination this slaughter.” 

These lines clearly reveal the poet’s critical and emotional tone. 

2. Identify the words that help you understand the nature of the poet’s father. 

“told the tenants to leave” 
“structures were demolished” 
“massacred them all” 
“ordered it to be removed” 

These words suggest that the father was authoritative, practical, and determined. 

3. ‘Trees are sacred my grandmother used to say’— what does the poet imply by this line? 

The line contrasts traditional reverence for trees with the modern attitude of destruction. It implies a loss of cultural and spiritual values. 

4. ‘No trees except the one which grows and seethes in one’s dreams’— why is the phrase ‘grows and seethes’ used? 

The phrase suggests that though the tree is physically destroyed, it continues to live intensely in memory and dreams. “Seethes” conveys emotional turmoil and unrest. 

5. How does the banyan tree stand out as different from other trees? What details of the tree does the poet highlight in the poem? 

The banyan tree is described as massive and ancient. It was three times as tall as the house, had a trunk with a circumference of fifty feet, and aerial roots falling from thirty feet or more. It revealed rings of two hundred years, showing its age and grandeur. 

6. What does the reference to raw mythology imply? 

It suggests that the banyan tree represented ancient tradition, cultural roots, and timeless history. Its destruction felt like destroying a myth or sacred past. 

7. ‘Whose roots lay deeper than our lives’— what aspect of human behaviour does this line reflect? 

It reflects the contrast between the temporary nature of human life and the deep-rooted permanence of nature and tradition. 

8. Comment on the contemporary concern that the poem echoes. 

The poem echoes modern environmental concerns such as deforestation, urbanisation, and the loss of ecological balance. It highlights the emotional and cultural loss caused by reckless development. 

TRY THIS OUT 

1. Describe any such experience you have had of the felling of a tree you were attached to. 

Activity Guidance: 
Write about a personal experience where a tree in your neighbourhood was cut down. Mention why you were emotionally attached to it and how you felt after its removal. 

2. Find out the equivalents for sheoga, oudumber and neem in your language and English and the equivalent of banyan in your language. 

Sheoga – Drumstick tree (Moringa) 
Oudumber – Cluster fig tree 
Neem – Indian lilac 
Banyan – (Students should write its equivalent in their own language.) 

3. The adjective ‘scraggy’ is used to describe ‘roots’ in the poem. Find out two other items which could be described as ‘scraggy’: 

scraggy branches 
scraggy hair 

4. Use the following adjectives to describe suitable items 

raw – raw wound / raw emotion 
aerial – aerial roots / aerial view 
sacred – sacred temple / sacred river 

SUGGESTED READING 

1. ‘Death of Grandmother’ by Dilip Chitre. 

Why NCERT solutions help students? 

NCERT solutions help students understand environmental themes, symbolism, and literary devices clearly. Structured, textbook-aligned answers enhance analytical skills and exam performance. 

Strengthen your understanding of poetry and environmental awareness with expert-guided NCERT solutions.