THE BONSAI TREE: QUESTION ANSWERS OF EVERGREEN WORK BOOK

 

ASSIGNMENTS
 
1. Text-based Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
 
Read the following questions and select the correct option:
 
1. Select the option that shows the correct relationship between the statements (1) and (2)
 
1. The bonsai tree can grow very tall.
2. It is carefully pruned to prevent its growth to serve as a decorative piece.
 
(a) 1 is the cause for 2.
(b) 1 is an example of 2.
(c) 1 is independent of 2.
(d) 1 is a contradiction of 2.
 
Ans. 1. (d) 1 is a contradiction of 2.
 
2. Which of these statements is NOT true?
(a) The bonsai tree is an extended metaphor for a woman in patriarchal society.
(b) The growth of a woman is deliberately stunted in a man-dominated society.
(c) A woman is brainwashed to be careful only about her looks from the beginning.
(d) The poet urges all women to revolt against their oppressors.
 
Ans. (c) A woman is brainwashed to be careful only about her looks from the beginning.
 
3. Every day as he
Whittles back the branches
the gardener croons,
 
Select the word that shows the mood of the gardener, as revealed by the above- mentioned lines.
 
(a) sad
(b) thwarted
(c) happy and self-satisfied
(d) jealous
 
Ans. (c) happy and self-satisfied
 
4. Which of these attributes are NOT generally associated with women by men in patriarchal societies?
1. intelligent
2. mentally strong
3. weak
4. attractive
5. confident
6. capable of taking independent decisions
 
(a) 2,3,4
(b) 1, 2, 5 and 6
(c) 3, 4, 5 and 6
(d) 1, 3, 4 and 5
 
Ans. (b) 1, 2, 5 and 6
 
5. how lucky, little tree,
to have a pot to grow in.
 
Which figure of speech is used in these lines?
(a) simile
(b) oxymoron
(c) irony
(d) pun
Ans. (c) irony
 
6. What does the word 'artifice in the title of the poem 'A Work of Artifice' mean?
(a) art
(b) trickery
(c) intelligence
(d) skill
Ans. (b) trickery
 
7. Which of these statements is NOT true?
(a) Women are themselves responsible for their plight in society.
(b) Women are conditioned to willingly accept stereotypical roles.
(c) The gardener represents the stereotypical male.
(d) Women need to protest against their suppression.
Ans. (a) Women are themselves responsible for their plight in society.
 
8. Which of these attributes are NOT generally associated with women by men in patriarchal societies?
(a) intelligence
(b) dependence
(c) obedience
(d) weakness
Ans. (a) intelligence
 
9. How does the gardener feel as he addresses the bonsai tree ?
(a) sad
(b) happy
(c) excited
(d) happy and proud
Ans. happy and proud
 
10. Why are women's feet bound in some cultures?
(a) to punish women
(b) to make women slaves
(c) to make women realize their unimportance
(d) to make them small and look attractive
Ans. (d) to make them small and look attractive
 
11. What would have happened to the bonsai tree if it had not been pruned?
(a) it would have died
(b) it would have grown 80 feet tall
(c) it would have looked attractive
(d) it would have borne fruit.
Ans. (b) it would have grown 80 feet tall
 
12. The tone of the speaker in the poem is
(a) condescending
(c) entertaining
(b) amusing
(d) solemn
Ans. (a) condescending (disdainful)
 
13. Select the option that best suggests that the poem is talking about women.
(a) it is your nature/to be small and cozy
(b) the crippled brain/the hair in curlers
(c) the hands you/love to touch
(d) the bonsai tree/in the attractive pot
Ans. (d) the bonsai tree/in the attractive pot
 
14. What is the theme of the poem? Select the correct option:
(a) Men are oppressors.
(b) Social conditioning is used to prevent women from flourishing to their full potential.
(c) Women are conditioned to feel happy in being small and weak.
(d) Women must protest against their stereotypical role in society.
Ans. (b) Social conditioning is used to prevent women from flourishing to their full potential.
 
15. Which of these figures of speech is extensively used in the poem?
(a) personification
(b) metaphor
(c) simile
(d) alliteration
Ans. (b) metaphor
 
 
2. Comprehension Passages
 
PASSAGE-1
 
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:
 
The bonsai tree
in the attractive pot
could have grown eighty feet tall
on the side of a mountain
till split by lightning
But a gardener carefully pruned it.
It is nine inches high.
 
(i) What kind of tree is a bonsai? What does it stand for in the poem?
Ans. Bonsai, a globally popular Japanese gardening technique, which involves miniaturizing trees so that they can be grown in a pot. It is considered a form of art and is highly acclaimed the world over. In her poem "A Work of Artifice," Marge Piercy uses a bonsai tree as an extended metaphor to comment on the manner in which women are regarded by society. The tree through the use of imagery is used to symbolize how women are oppressed and their potentials are constrained by males.
 
(ii) Where could it have grown fully? What has stunted its growth?
Ans. It could have grown eighty feet tall in its natural environment on the side of a mountain. Its growth is stunted by the gardener's careful pruning, and whittling it, thus stunting its growth.
 
(iii) Who does the gardener stand for in the poem? Why does it not let the bonsai tree grow to its full potential?
Ans. The gardener, in the poem, represents the patriarchal society or the forces that restrict women's growth and potential by constant oppression and torture forcing them to remain an object of pleasure and enjoyment for men.
 
(iv) Why does the gardener want the bonsai to remain small and weak? What is its implication in the poem?
Ans. The gardener wants the bonsai to remain small and weak for aesthetic purposes and control, reflecting societal pressure to conform to traditional beauty standards and limitations on women's growth.
 
Implication:
 
This restriction symbolizes patriarchal society's constraint on women's potential, limiting their opportunities. It highlights the damaging effects of societal expectations, stifling individual growth and autonomy. The controlled bonsai tree represents women's lives shaped by oppressive norms, underscoring the need for empowerment and change.
 
Or,
Ans. The gardener wants the tree to remain small and weak as he wants to make it attractive and decorative. But this shows a condemning tone because a tree's nature is to be anything but small, this also represents how men expect women to conform to their standards. The gardener takes pride in shaping the tree to his own purposes, imposing his own will on it so that it conforms to his wishes. The gardener dwarfs the tree by pruning it when it pruned, when it had the potential to grow "eighty feet tall."
 
 
(v) What is the main idea projected in the poem?
Ans. The main idea is that social conditioning restricts women's potential, mirroring the gardener's manipulation of the bonsai tree. The speaker criticizes the societal norms and highlights the grave consequences of limiting women's potential and forcing them to remain an object of pleasure and enjoyment for men.
 
PASSAGE-2
 
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:
 
Every day as he
whittles back the branches
the gardener croons,
It is your nature
to be small and cozy.
domestic and weak:
 
 
1. What is the function of the ‘gardener’? What function of the ‘gardener’ referred to in the poem is in reality regressive (peechhei or badhna/decline/deterioration/rudhivadi/avnati ki or badhna) and harmful? How?
 
Ans. The gardener tends to the tree and carefully prunes it. He whittles the tree which is regressive and harmful in reality, for it is a way to prevent the tree from growing to its original height of eighty feet and manipulating it to remain only nine inches high. The tree is forced to remain small and look beautiful like a show piece. This represents the ugly, oppressive and lustful aspects of men who always want women to dance like the toys throughout life in the hands of men.
 
2. In what tone does the gardener speak? What picture do you form of the gardener in your mind as he speaks to the bonsai tree?
 
Ans. The gardener is condescending (upeksha karna/nicha dikhana/ahankar karna/ghamand karna) to the bonsai tree in the way that you would console a child or a baby who cannot fully comprehend things. He manipulates and dwarfs its growth when it has the potential to grow to eighty feet. I feel the gardener tortures the tree and is manipulative. The gardener leaves an impression of himself that he cannot be trusted. as one imagines the tree as it is and the tree as it might have been and this feels one with sadness. Suddenly we are no longer admiring the minute beauty of the bonsai but are imagining all of its lost potential.
 
(i) Tone and image of the gardener
 
Ans. The gardener speaks in a soothing, gentle, and patronizing tone, conveying a sense of superiority. As he speaks, I imagine the gardener as a calm, self-satisfied figure, perhaps smiling, with a sense of control and dominance over the bonsai tree. His tone and demeanor imply a conviction that his actions are benevolent and necessary. This image highlights the insidious (dangerous/menacing) nature of patriarchal oppression, often disguised as care or protection. The gardener's tone masks the harm caused by his restrictive pruning. His words and actions reinforce societal constraints.
 
(iii) In what way is the gardener wrong?
 
Ans. The gardener is wrong in imposing his will on the bonsai tree, stifling its natural growth and potential. He perpetuates harmful stereotypes (social prejudice/samaajik poorvagrah/rudhivaadita), dictating what the tree should be ("small and cozy, domestic and weak"). This reflects societal pressures limiting women's choices and aspirations. The gardener's actions deny the tree's self-sufficiency and independence. By pruning the tree, he restricts its possibilities, mirroring patriarchal constraints on women. His words reinforce (strengthen) damaging gender roles.
 
Or,
Ans. The gardener is wrong in his patronizing attitude He treats the tree as a mere possession that he can literally manipulate rather than treating it as an independent life. He prunes and whittles its branches to give it an unnatural shape and size. The tree (woman) is forced to accept a position that may or may not be suited to it and thus is highlighted the falseness of this imposed nature.
 
(iv) What do the last two lines suggest?
 
Ans. The last two lines "It is your nature to be small and cozy, domestic and weak" suggest the gardener's attempt to internalize and naturalize the tree's constrained state. This implies that societal expectations can become deeply ingrained, making individuals believe their limitations are inherent. The lines highlight the dangers of internalized (incorporated/integrated/adopted) oppression and the need for critical self-reflection. They underscore the importance of challenging harmful norms and promoting empowerment.
 
(v) What does the word "croons" mean? What does it imply?
 
Ans. "Croons" means to sing or hum softly, often in a soothing manner. The word implies the gardener's gentle, almost loving tone, which belies the harm caused by his actions. This contrast highlights the insidious nature of patriarchal oppression, often presented as benevolent or protective. The gardener's crooning tone masks his control and dominance, underscoring (calling attention to/accentuating/highlighting/emphasizing) the need for critical awareness.
 
Or, Ans. Croons means to speak gently and intimately to as done to a baby to give it the impression that it is loved and cared for. This idea makes it seems like the gardener is condescending to the bonsai tree in the way that you would console a child or a baby who cannot fully comprehend things. Crooning is generally used to manipulate a child who is upset and has to be pampered and coddled to make it listen and do what is required.
 
 
PASSAGE-3
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow :
 
how lucky, little tree.
to have a pot to grow in.
With living creatures
one must begin very early
to dwarf their growth.
 
(i) Who is the speaker? Who is being addressed?
The speaker is the poet/narrator, critically reflecting on societal norms. The addressee is the bonsai tree, symbolizing women and their constrained potentials. Through this address, the poet highlights the restrictive environments and expectations imposed on women.
 
(ii) What does the pot mean in the metaphorical context of the poem ? Give its relevance to the development of women?
 
Ans. In the metaphorical context, the pot represents:
 
1. Societal constraints: Limiting women's opportunities, choices, and autonomy.
2. Restrictive roles: Expecting women to conform to traditional gender norms.
3. Controlled growth: Stifling women's intellectual, emotional, and professional development.
4. Artificial boundaries: Imposing rigid expectations, suppressing individuality.
 
Relevance to women's development:
 
1. Limited access to education and resources.
2. Restricted career choices and advancement.
3. Suppressed autonomy and decision-making.
4. Internalized oppression, self-doubt, and low self-esteem.
 
(iii) What do males do to stunt the growth of women?
 
Ans. Patriarchal society, represented by males, stunts women's growth through:
 
1. Systemic oppression: Institutionalized sexism, unequal laws, and policies.
2. Socialization: Teaching women to prioritize domesticity over personal ambitions.
3. Stereotyping: Perpetuating harmful gender roles and expectations.
4. Economic control: Limiting financial independence and opportunities.
5. Cultural norms: Enforcing modesty, silence, and submission.
6. Education and resource restrictions: Denying access to knowledge and skills.
7. Violence and intimidation: Using fear to maintain control.
 
 (iv) Bring out the significance of the last two lines. ("With living creatures one must begin very early to dwarf their growth.")
 
Ans. These last two lines signify:
 
1. Early socialization: Societal expectations are imposed on women from a young age.
2. Internalized oppression: Women are conditioned to accept limitations as natural.
3. Long-lasting impact: Early conditioning has lasting effects on women's growth and potential.
4. Evaluation of patriarchal norms: The speaker highlights the harm caused by restrictive societal expectations.
 
(v) What stereotypical (orthodox/ conventional/ hackneyed) role do women play in life?  How are they tricked to perform it?
 
Ans. The stereotypical roles played by women are:
 
1. Caregivers and nurturers
2. Domestic managers
3. Submissive partners
 
They are tricked to perform it through:
 
1. Socialization and conditioning
2. Cultural norms and expectations
3. Education and media representation
4. Economic dependence
5. Fear of rejection and isolation
 
PASSAGE-4
 
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow :
 
the bound feet,
the crippled brain,
the hair in curlers,
the hands you love to touch.
 
(i) Which shift in context is brought out with these lines?
Ans. These lines shift the context from the bonsai tree metaphor to explicit examples of societal constraints/ restrictions imposed on women.
 
(ii) In which context are women's 'feet' bound? Why?
 
Ans. Women's feet are bound in some cultures (notably ancient China) to:
 
1. Prevent natural growth.
2. Achieve an aesthetically pleasing, small foot size.
3. Symbolize beauty and femininity.
4. Demonstrate obedience and submissiveness.
 
So that women's mobility and autonomy can be controlled and they can be used as the bonsai trees.
 
 (iii) Why are women made to look attractive?
 
Ans. Women are made to attractive so that:
 
1. Patriarchal beauty standards can be maintained.
2. Societal validation and acceptance can be obtained.
3. Marriageability and social status can be retained.
4. Male gaze and approval can be upheld.
5. Economic opportunities (e.g., modeling, entertainment) can be availed.
 
This emphasis on attractiveness leads to:
 
1. Objectifying women.
2. Reinforcing harmful beauty standards.
3. Distracting from intellectual and personal growth.
4. Perpetuating gender roles and stereotypes.
 
(ii) The last two lines "the hair in curlers, the hands you love to touch" are ironic. How?
 
Ans. The irony lies in:
 
1. Contrasting societal expectations (beauty) with genuine human connection (love).
2. Highlighting the artificial (curlers) versus natural (hands).
3. Exposing the objectification of women's bodies (hands to touch).
 
(iii) What does the poet seem to lament? What does she expect of women?
 
Ans. The poet laments:
 
1. Societal constraints on women's growth
2. Internalized oppression
3. Loss of autonomy and agency
 
The poet expects women to:
 
1. Recognize and challenge societal norms
2. Assert autonomy and individuality
3. Prioritize personal growth and empowerment
4. Reject harmful beauty standards and stereotypes
 
 
PROJECT ASSIGNMENTS
 
 
1. Comment on the title of the poem "A Work of Artifice". Bring out its relevance.
.
 
Ans. The title suggests that the poem explores the artificial constraints imposed on women, likening their lives to a crafted, artificial work of art. "Artifice" implies deception, manipulation, and unnatural creation.
 
Relevance:
 
- Highlights societal expectations forcing women into predetermined roles
- Critiques patriarchal norms controlling women's lives
- Emphasizes the tension between natural growth and artificial constraints
 
2. What is this poem about?  What is the message of the poem?
 
Ans. The poem explores the restrictive lives of women in patriarchal societies.
 
Message:
 
- Women's potential is stifled by societal expectations
- Artificial constraints limit their growth and autonomy
- Internalized oppression perpetuates harmful norms
 
3. In what mood is the poet? How does she proceed to bring out the plight of women in the patriarchal society?
 
Ans. The poet's mood is critical, reflective, and empathetic.
 
Tone:
 
- Sarcastic (e.g., "How lucky, little tree")
- Ironical (e.g., "to have a pot to grow in")
- Concerned (e.g., "one must begin very early to dwarf their growth")
 
The poet proceeds to:
 
- Use metaphors (bonsai tree) to illustrate constrained growth
- Highlight internalized oppression ("It is your nature to be small")
- Critique societal norms controlling women's lives
 
4. Comment on the imagery used in the poem.
Ans. The imageries used in the poem are:
- Bonsai tree: symbolizes controlled growth, artificial constraints
- Pot: represents societal expectations, limitations
- Pruning: illustrates suppression of natural growth
- "Dwarf their growth": emphasizes artificial constraints
 
Other imagery:
 
- "Whittling back the branches": control, manipulation
- "Croons": soothing tone masking harm
- "Small and cozy, domestic and weak": societal expectations
 
The imagery creates a vivid picture of women's restricted lives, emphasizing the need for change.