The Poplar Field : Summary and Question-Answer

 

The Poplar Field

(The Text)

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Major Themes of The Poplar Field:

• Deforestation
• Loss of nature and natural environment
• Nostalgia (A desire to return to a period or place with happy personal associations)
• Brevity (shortness) of human pleasures
• Approaching end of life

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Summary:

This poem is about nature conservation. Through this poem the poet wants to give the message that it is not good to chop down trees. At the same time, he becomes philosophical when he compares the chopping down of trees to a man's life and death.

The poem starts with the description of a (poplar) forest and the changes which have come after the trees have been cut down. With the trees, all the attractions of the place have also gone.

("And tree is my seat that once lent me a shade")

 

Neither there is the shade, nor is the sweet music of the birds. All the sweet singing birds have gone to another jungle for their shelter. Even the wind does not play there. 

(With the trees, shades have also gone)

(Deforestation takes away the habitat of birds)

Then the poet says that he will die soon. But before his death certainly a new jungle like this will not be there instead of the trees which have been cut down.

He says that the pleasures of a man are not long lived or permanent. Rather, they are shorter than a man's life. The pleasures of a man finish before a man dies.

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Question-Answer

Question 1. Consider this poem as a defense of nature conservation.

Answer : This a poem of nature conservation. The message of the poem is that trees should not be cut down recklessly. Trees are very necessary for human beings. They are very important natural resources. They shouldn't be misused. The poet also says that although we plant trees, but they don't grow as fast as the trees are being cut down in the present time. 

So he says that he can not see another such a jungle before his death. Jungles are also living places or habitats of different birds and animals. If we continue cutting down the trees, we are continuously disturbing the habitat of such birds and animals. 

The poet has been talking about the black birds which used to live in the poplar field.

[All the black-birds have left the place]

 But they all have been forced to search for another living place after the poplar field has been cut down.

(Deforestation isn't only cutting down trees /forests, It's also destroying the habitats  of birds and animals)

In conclusion, we can say that the heavy deforestation and the destruction of other natural resources will ultimately lead the world to a dangerous situation. 

Question 2. Write an essay on "Living in the country".

Answer : There has been a lot of discussion on the topic of living in a city or living in a village. I think both the city and village life have their own advantages and disadvantages. Still, living in the country is more pleasing than living in the cities.

Living in the country is living in the  lap of nature. The country sides are full of trees and greeneries. They not only live with fresh cooling breeze, but also enjoy a pleasing shade. It protects us from scorching heat of the sun. The playing of the wind gives pleasure. The sweet music of the birds makes us happy. The ever flowing streams and rivers are extra charms. They have a nice effect upon us. 

Living in the country side, one can get fresh fruits and vegetables. The country side is more peaceful than in the cities. In the cities there is more noise of vehicles and other things. People in the country side are more simple than the city people. 

People in the country side are humane, hospitable and of helping nature. There is no problem of total unemployment in the country side. Crimes are also less there in the comparison of cities.

 In short, living in the country side is leading a peaceful life.

Of course in the villages, we don't have facilities like transportations, health, higher education etc. It is a personal choice. I like living in the country.

Question 3. Discuss how the poet links up the idea of the cut down poplars with the end of human life and pleasures.

Answer : The poet is sad at the heavy deforestation of the poplar field. It was writer's favorite place. He used to enjoy the cool shade, sweet songs of birds, the reflection of the trees on the river. But with the trees all these pleasures are gone.

The poet is in a sad mood. With the falling of the trees, he finds the falling of human life. One day we will also fall down.

Human life is short and the human pleasures are still shorter. They go away very fast. Trees, which gave the poet pleasure, are gone. 

In this way he has linked the idea of the cut down of the trees with the end of human life and pleasures. 

Question 4. What is the main theme of the poem Poplar Trees?

Answer: The main theme of The Poplar Field is the transient (short-lived) human life and happiness. Life is short, and happiness is still shorter.

The poet has brought both themes together through the felling of the poplar trees and the destruction of the whole jungle. All the pleasures that he used to derive from them have been lost with the trees. He also knows that he too would leave the world very soon.

This also gives a sense of loss that goes together with getting older.

                                                            

(Image credit: Google images/ We Don't Deserve This Planet) 

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Finally, before we leave, the following images will give you a message :

[Save Trees]

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[We live in a society where 100 year old buildings are saved by law of heritage but 1000 years old trees are cut in the name of development. This is so sad. Remember we can’t replace trees that are thousands of years old.]

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