CHSE Odisha Class 12 Alternative English  Short Stories Chapter 2 The Tree Question Answer

CHSE Odisha 12th Class Alternative English Short Stories Chapter 2 The Tree Question Answer

Section – I

Questions For Discussion

Question 1.
How does the writer describe the river in the spate? Did it cause havoc in the village: What was the time of the flood?
Ans:
When the river was in full spate, it bulged up sounding like a thousand hooded hissing cobra. It did not play havoc in the village. The flood came a little past midnight.

Question 2.
What did the villagers do to meet the crisis?
Answer:
As people suddenly realized that the situation was much more grave than they had imagined they raised their lanterns. They ran to take shelter under the banian tree.

Question 3.
The leaves chattered incessantly in their familiar language of hope and courage. How does this statement portray the banian tree?
Answer:
The leaves of the banian tree made sounds as they usually do. Inspiteofthe approaching danger, they behaved in a similar way without paying any attention to the flood and its associated dangers. They were a symbol of courage and boldness which attribute the same qualities to the banian tree.

Question 4.
What were the story behind the mound and the tree?
Answer:
The mound contained the ruins of a certain king’s palace. The king dared to cut down a few branches of the tree to make room for his palace. Perhaps he planned to destroy the tree, but before he could do so a terrific storm had broken out. The palace collapsed and formed a mound. The tree, it was said had taken off down to the Himalayas or other such meaningful places at the command of a certain great soul who lived under it.

Question 5.
Write briefly about the “banian goddess”. What does this portrait reveal about the village? Do you make an element of humor and satire in the description?
Answer:
The “banian goddess” had to regular priest attached to her. Whoever so desired could approach her and sprinkle vermilion on her. In course of generations, the vermilion crust had come to account for the greater part of the goddess’s body. Devotees usually did not prostrate to her, they bowed when they passed by complex and formidable matters were referred to the deities of distant temples whereas small issues were put forth before her. Children in particular found her quite helpful in regard to crises arising out of undone home works or the ill-humored primary school pundits. It works with an element of humor and mild satire in the description.

Question 6.
How does the author describe the different trunks of the banian tree? Are the descriptions given in a serious or light-hearted vein? Do they reveal the orthodoxy and superstition of the villagers?
Answer:
At the foot of one of the trunks rested the tiny “banian goddess”. The revered and sacred bull of the village relaxed beside another trunk, eyes shut and jaws moving. An old woman from the neighboring village on her way back from the bi-weekly market set learning against another trunk. In a hollow at the foot of another trunk raised a family of snakes that had earned the reputation of being conscientious and harmless. The description reveals the orthodoxy and superstition of the villagers.

Question 7.
How was the tree godly? What did it symbolize?
Answer:
The tree was taken to be immortal by all without anybody having to be told about it. Immortality being an attribute of the gods, it was godly. Nobody would flaunt a decision that had been arrived at in a meeting under the tree. There was the seal of some power invisible and inaudible.

Section – II

Questions For Discussion

Question 1.
What is the central incident in the section?
Answer:
The banian tree being swept away by the flood and its fall and uprooting consist in the central incident in this section.

Question 2.
What attitude of the villagers is reflected in the words of the retired head pundit? How does he interpret the fleeing of the birds and snakes from the tree?
Answer:
The retired head-pundit said, “far from the good sign, snakes, and birds fleeing this great shelter”. It indicates the head pundits’ superstitious attitude. Fleeing of the birds and snakes from the tree had taken place owing to the human sins to the excess. They were going to face the consequences for their ill deeds.

Question 3.
How do the villagers react to the words of the college-going young men? What is distinctive about the attitude of the young men
Answer:
When the college-going young men said that the banian tree was felling which would take away a chunk of earth. But the villagers reacted against it telling that they were studying in college, and would they be able to save the tree with their English, Algebra, and all that abracadabra.

Question 4.
What does Srikant Das, the Vaishnav, observe about the impending fall of the tree? Does it reflect the orthodoxy and superciliousness of the villagers?
Answer:
Srikant Das, the Vaishnav observed that not only those boys but everybody in the village has his share of sin. And if the tree was going to collapse it was because it could not bear the burden of its sins. It reflects the orthodoxy and superciliousness of the villager.

Question 5.
Do you find a contrast between the two generations in this section? Explain
Answer:
Two generations such as the old and young are contrasted in this section. The old cling to the ancient orthodox values and the young college students provide a reaction of the student against old and hackneyed beliefs.

Section – III

Questions For Discussion

Question 1.
What is the primary concern of the villagers in this section? In which context did Manoj Das bring in the names of some important villagers? What tone do you mark in the description?
Answer:
The primary concern of the villagers in this section is to protect them as the representatives of peoples of that sort. Manoj Das brings in the names of important villagers to let the readers know how much individuals take the lead in superstitious attitudes. There is a tone of mind satire in the description.

Question 2.
What did the old Brahmin do when the tree was about to be swept away by the flood?
Answer:
The old Brahmin rushed to the remnants of the tree. He sat down on the muddy ground a spot which had been considered dangerously unsafe even by the snakes and mustering all his strength pulled up the small stone that has stuck to the spot. Holding the unrooted crowd that watched him breathlessly.

Question 3.
How did the villagers behave when the tree was about to be swept away by the flood?
Answer:
When the tree was gone, the villagers were excited to utter, “Haribol, Haribol”. They kept up the poignant chant with all their hearts all looking stupefied and some aping.

Question 4.
How does the story end? Is it a satisfactory ending?
Answer:
The story ends with the frantic attitude of the villagers towards the idea of superstition in connection with the appearance of the banian Goddess and the unreasoning belief of the people that the ending is not satisfactory ending. The story is brought to an end abruptly with the child’s words.