Ruskin Bond's 'The Cherry Tree': Poem Analysis, Themes and Figures of Speech

Summary

This document offers an appreciation of Ruskin Bond's poem 'The Cherry Tree', covering its title, theme of resilience, the poet's care for the tree and the figures of speech used. It also begins an appreciation of Emily Dickinson's 'There Is Another Sky', introducing its context as a comforting letter to her brother Austin.

Key points

'The Cherry Tree' is by Indian English poet Ruskin Bond and describes a tree that grows to full bloom after eight years of care.
The main themes are struggle, resilience and persistence against adversity, with the tree symbolising survival.
The poet acts as a guardian and feels a parent's pride at the end of the poem.
Figures of speech include climax, alliteration of 's', personification and onomatopoeia ('hum').
'There Is Another Sky' by Emily Dickinson is an inspirational poem addressed to her younger brother Austin in a time of despair.
Dickinson's poems are usually known by their first line.

Test yourself

Appreciation of the Poem ‘The Cherry Tree’

Poem, Poet, and Title

The poem ‘Cherry Tree’ is composed by the well-known Indian English poet Ruskin Bond. The title clearly indicates that the poem pertains to a cherry tree.

The poet had a desire to plant and nurture his own tree. Despite many threats and obstacles, the tree grew into a full-blossomed tree after a wait of eight years. The poet emphasizes the strong inner instinct of the cherry tree to survive and grow on its own.

Important Themes in the Poem

‘The Cherry Tree’ deals with the themes of struggle, resilience, and persistence against all adversities. It serves as a symbol of survival. The poem clearly emphasizes the importance of these qualities in human life. The bond between the poet and the cherry tree is one of care and nurture. He plays the role of a guardian, and at the end, he feels the same pride a parent feels for their child.

Poet's Opinion

I like the poem for its positive, optimistic tone. The poet has also created a beautiful picture of the cherry tree through the use of figurative language.

Figures of Speech

Climax: "Pink, fragile, quick to fall." Here, words or phrases are arranged in ascending order of intensity or importance.
Alliteration:
1. "Shrivelled the slender stem." The sound of 's' is repeated.
2. "The sun sank." The sound of 's' is repeated.
Personification:
- "Five-month-old child."
- "The young tree struggle upward thrust." (In both places, the tree is given human qualities.)
Onomatopoeia: "I hear the bright bee hum." The poet uses the word 'hum,' which indicates the sound made by the bee. This is an example of Onomatopoeia.

Appreciation of the Poem ‘There Is Another Sky’

Title, Poem, Poet (Introduction)

The American poet Emily Dickinson wrote the poem ‘There is another sky.’ It is an inspirational poem where she comforts her brother during a time of despair. The poet is communicating directly to her younger brother, Austin, perhaps through a letter. In the first line of ‘There is Another Sky,’ the speaker begins by using the line that later became the title. Dickinson’s poems are usually known by their first line.

FAQ

What are the main themes of Ruskin Bond's 'The Cherry Tree'?

The poem deals with struggle, resilience and persistence against all adversities. The cherry tree serves as a symbol of survival.

Which figures of speech are used in 'The Cherry Tree'?

The poem uses climax, alliteration of the 's' sound, personification of the tree and onomatopoeia in the word 'hum'.

Who is the addressee of Emily Dickinson's 'There Is Another Sky'?

The poet is communicating directly to her younger brother, Austin, perhaps through a letter.