An Overview of Important Questions Class 11 English Woven Words Chapter 10 Poem
FAQs on Important Questions Class 11 English Woven Words Chapter 10 Poem
1. What are the most important expected questions from Felling of the Banyan Tree for CBSE Class 11 English board exams 2025–26?
- Explain the symbolic significance of the banyan tree in the poem. (5-mark expected)
- Discuss the emotional conflict between tradition and modernity as portrayed by the poet. (4-mark frequently asked)
- Describe how the poet uses imagery to create a mood of loss. (3-mark)
- ‘Felling the tree was like felling a human being.’ Justify this statement based on the poem. (HOT - High Order Thinking Skill)
2. How does the poem Felling of the Banyan Tree reflect the theme of uprootedness and loss of heritage? [Frequently asked/PAA]
The poem powerfully depicts uprootedness by paralleling the family's physical relocation with the destruction of the ancient banyan tree, symbolizing both personal loss and the fading of cultural memory. The act of felling the tree signifies abandonment of heritage in the face of modern progress, a recurring theme in CBSE board's literature pattern.
3. What are the key 3-mark and 5-mark question trends for Felling of the Banyan Tree in CBSE exams?
- 3-mark trend: Short analysis of literary devices (e.g., metaphor, personification), and brief thematic questions.
- 5-mark trend: Critical evaluation—cultural significance, character contrast (poet vs. father), or broader environmental message. Both types are common as per CBSE 2025–26 marking scheme.
4. Why do examiners frequently ask about the role of the poet's grandmother in the poem Felling of the Banyan Tree?
The grandmother embodies traditional beliefs and reverence for nature. Her opposition to cutting trees introduces a key exam theme: generational conflict and respect for cultural or religious values, which examiners use to test understanding of character motivation in CBSE Class 11 English questions.
5. Explain with examples how the poem uses personification. [Important for conceptual clarity]
The banyan tree is personified as a living being with deep roots and a long life, emphasizing its near-human presence. This device intensifies the sense of violence and loss, a typical 3-mark or HOTS question in recent CBSE English papers.
6. What is a common misconception students have about the poem’s message, and how should it be addressed?
Many students focus solely on loss of trees or environmental damage, but the poem also explores emotional displacement and erosion of traditions. For accurate, higher-mark answers, address both ecological and personal/cultural levels, as highlighted in recent board evaluation criteria.
7. According to CBSE’s latest exam guidelines, how should students structure answers to 5-mark questions from Felling of the Banyan Tree?
- Start with a direct, concise thesis statement.
- Support with at least two literary examples or quotes.
- Make a connection to the poem’s broader theme (e.g., tradition vs. modernity).
- End with a brief critical comment or personal reflection, as per CBSE Class 11 English guidelines for 2025–26.
8. What exam-relevant contrasts are drawn between the poet and his father in the poem?
The poet is depicted as sensitive, sentimental, and nature-loving, while the father is pragmatic and focused on progress. This contrast is central to CBSE’s custom questions about generational differences and values in literature for the 2025–26 syllabus.
9. How does Felling of the Banyan Tree illustrate the conflict between modern progress and cultural beliefs? (Frequently Raised by Board)
The father’s insistence on clearing the land for modern construction, despite the grandmother’s belief in the tree’s sacredness, embodies the tension between modernity and tradition, a repeated focus area for high-mark questions as per the latest CBSE English sample paper patterns.
10. What is the importance of the poem’s concluding lines in understanding the poet’s final feelings? (Expected 4-mark)
The closing lines highlight the poet’s sense of lingering loss and nostalgia, suggesting that memories of the banyan tree—and what it represented—continue to haunt him. This emotional aftermath is a common angle for HOTS-based CBSE English questions.
11. Why is the banyan tree described as ‘sacred’ in the poem, and how should students interpret this for the exam?
The banyan’s ‘sacredness’ connects to local traditions and the idea that certain trees possess spiritual value. Examiners expect students to discuss both literal cultural beliefs and the symbolic meaning of sanctity when answering such questions in CBSE Class 11.
12. What error could lower scores in answers about the ‘massacre’ imagery, as seen in past CBSE marking?
- Omitting explanation of how the term ‘massacre’ heightens the sense of violence and emotional trauma.
- Not linking imagery to the overall theme of devastation, a mistake that leads to partial marks according to previous years’ CBSE English board marking schemes.
13. How can a student effectively compare the environmental and emotional impacts of the tree’s destruction? (HOTS)
- Environmental impact: Permanent loss of a natural landmark, disruption of ecosystem.
- Emotional impact: Deep sense of loss, identity crisis, severing of links to tradition and childhood memories.
- CBSE rewards answers that integrate both aspects in a well-structured argument, as per 2025–26 criteria.
14. In what ways do examiners test understanding of the term ‘raw mythology’ in this poem?
‘Raw mythology’ refers to the unfiltered, deep-rooted beliefs associated with the banyan tree, considered sacred by some family members. Examiners are likely to ask how these beliefs influence actions and emotional responses in the poem—connect your answer to both tradition and character interpretation for full marks.
15. What type of value-based or HOTS questions may appear for Felling of the Banyan Tree in 2025–26 board exams?
- How does the poem prompt us to reflect on our relationship with nature?
- If you were in the poet’s position, how would you handle the conflict between family and environment?
- What lessons about respecting cultural heritage can be drawn from the poem? These HOTS/value-based questions are being increasingly emphasized by CBSE English examiners.











