Trees – Class 12 English Chapter 10 Notes & NCERT PDF

About the Poet: Emily Dickinson (1830–1886)

Emily Dickinson is regarded as one of America's quintessential poets of the nineteenth century. She lived an introverted and hermetic (secluded) life and published very few of her poems in her lifetime. Her output — 1789 poems in all — was published posthumously (after her death).

Her poetry is known for unconventional capitalisation, extensive use of dashes, unusual imagery and a compact lyric style. All four are on display in Trees, a poem that paints a summer's day more vividly than a painter could.

Stanza-wise Meaning

Stanza 1 — Trees, tiny creatures and the music of summer

The Trees like Tassels hit – and – swung –

There seemed to rise a Tune

From Miniature Creatures

Accompanying the Sun –

The trees, moving in the wind, are compared to tassels that hit – and – swung; the dashes themselves imitate the swinging motion. From miniature creatures — insects, bees, crickets — rises a Tune, as if they were an orchestra accompanying the Sun.

Far Psalteries of Summer –

Enamoring the Ear

They never yet did satisfy –

Remotest – when most fair

These sounds are the Psalteries of Summer — a psaltery is an ancient stringed instrument (similar to the dulcimer in Kubla Khan). The faint, distant music enamours (charms) the ear, yet never fully satisfies; it is Remotest – when most fair — the most beautiful sounds are the hardest to catch.

Stanza 2 — The Sun who is 'optional'

The Sun shone whole at intervals –

Then Half – then utter hid –

As if Himself were optional

And had Estates of Cloud

Clouds pass across the sky: the sun is whole, then half, then utterly hidden. The poet imagines the Sun as a lordly person who thinks his own presence is optional, possessing Estates of Cloud large enough to hide him eternally from view — except that it is his whim to let the orchards grow. The pronouns Himself, Him, His are capitalised, giving the Sun the dignity of a king or god.

Stanza 3 — Bird, snake and flowers

A Bird sat careless on the fence –

One gossiped in the Lane

On silver matters charmed a Snake

Just winding round a Stone –

A bird sits careless (carefree) on the fence; another gossips in the lane. The silver matters — perhaps bird-song or glinting sunlight — charm a Snake winding round a stone. Creatures are given human qualities: carelessness, gossip, being charmed.

Bright Flowers slit a Calyx

And soared upon a Stem

Like Hindered Flags – Sweet hoisted –

With Spices – in the Hem –

Bright flowers slit the calyx (the green outer covering of a bud) and rise on their stems like hindered flags — flags that are raised but cannot flutter freely, since the petals are held at the base. They are Sweet hoisted, carrying spices (fragrance) in the Hem.

Stanza 4 — Words and paint both fall short

'Twas more – I cannot mention –

How mean – to those that see

Vandyke's Delineation

Of Nature's – Summer Day!

There was more than she can describe. Yet how mean (poor) even the famous painter Vandyke's delineation (portrayal) would seem to those who actually see Nature's own summer day. Nature surpasses art — whether painting or poetry.

Themes

Literary Devices & Form

Word Power

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