Question 1

What imagery does the poet use to delineate Summer’s day more picturesquely than any painter could?
2. What do you understand by ‘Psalteries of Summer’?
3. In which lines are creatures attributed with human qualities? How does this add to the beauty of the Summer’s day?
4. How would you explain the image of the ‘Hindered Flags’?
5. Why are the pronouns referring to the Sun capitalised?
6. Give examples from the poem to show that great poetry is a result of close observation of natural phenomena.

Accepted Answer

1. The poet uses vivid and delicate imagery such as “The Trees like Tassels hit – and – swung –” and “Far Psalteries of Summer – Enamoring the Ear” to paint a lively and musical picture of a Summer’s day. The imagery evokes movement, sound, and the interplay of light and shadow, which together create a more picturesque and dynamic scene than a static painting could.

2. ‘Psalteries of Summer’ refers to the musical sounds of summer, likened to the psaltery, a stringed musical instrument. It symbolizes the harmonious and enchanting sounds produced by nature during summer, such as the rustling of leaves and the singing of birds.

3. Creatures are attributed human qualities in lines like “A Bird sat careless on the fence – One gossiped in the Lane” where the bird is described as 'careless' and 'gossiping', human traits. This personification adds charm and liveliness to the scene, making the summer day feel animated and relatable.

4. The image of ‘Hindered Flags’ refers to bright flowers that are compared to flags that are hoisted but somewhat restrained or hindered. This metaphor suggests the flowers’ vibrant colors and delicate movements, akin to flags fluttering but held back, adding a visual and tactile dimension to the poem.

5. The pronouns referring to the Sun are capitalised (“Himself”, “His”) to personify the Sun, giving it a majestic and almost divine presence. This elevates the Sun from a mere celestial body to a character with will and agency in the poem.

6. Examples include the detailed observations of the trees swinging like tassels, the musical comparison of natural sounds to psalteries, and the personification of birds and flowers. These show that the poet’s close observation of nature’s subtle details results in rich and evocative poetry. — Each question is answered by analyzing the poem’s language and imagery. The poet’s use of similes, metaphors, and personification is explained to show how they contribute to the vivid depiction of a Summer’s day. The capitalization of pronouns is interpreted as a poetic device to personify the Sun. Examples from the poem are cited to demonstrate the poet’s keen observation of nature.

Question 2

You came across ‘dulcimer’ in the poem ‘Kubla Khan’. Did you note down ‘Psaltery’ as another musical instrument? They are very similar. Look up the illustrations for the two in an illustrated dictionary. Find out in what ways they are different from one another.

Accepted Answer

The dulcimer and the psaltery are both stringed musical instruments but differ in structure and playing technique. The dulcimer typically has a trapezoidal shape and is played by striking the strings with small hammers, producing a bright, percussive sound. The psaltery, on the other hand, is usually a flat, wooden instrument with strings stretched across it, played by plucking the strings with fingers or a plectrum, yielding a softer, harp-like tone. Thus, while both are ancient instruments used to create melodic music, their design and method of sound production distinguish them. — By consulting an illustrated dictionary, one can compare the images and descriptions of the dulcimer and psaltery. The dulcimer’s trapezoidal shape and hammer-striking technique contrast with the psaltery’s flat body and plucking method. This comparison highlights their differences despite their similarities as stringed instruments.

Question 3

What imagery does the poet use to delineate Summer’s day more picturesquely than any painter could?
2. What do you understand by ‘Psalteries of Summer’?
3. In which lines are creatures attributed with human qualities? How does this add to the beauty of the Summer’s day?
4. How would you explain the image of the ‘Hindered Flags’?
5. Why are the pronouns referring to the Sun capitalised?
6. Give examples from the poem to show that great poetry is a result of close observation of natural phenomena.

Accepted Answer

1. The poet uses vivid and delicate imagery such as 'The Trees like Tassels hit – and – swung –', 'Far Psalteries of Summer – Enamoring the Ear', and 'Bright Flowers slit a Calyx And soared upon a Stem Like Hindered Flags – Sweet hoisted – With Spices – in the Hem –' to paint a lively and musical picture of a Summer’s day. These images evoke movement, sound, and colour, making the scene more picturesque than any painter's visual representation.

2. 'Psalteries of Summer' refers metaphorically to the sounds of summer being like the music produced by a psaltery, a stringed musical instrument. It suggests that the natural sounds of summer (like birdsong, rustling leaves) are melodious and enchanting.

3. Creatures are attributed human qualities in lines such as 'A Bird sat careless on the fence – One gossiped in the Lane'. Here, the bird is described as 'careless' and 'gossiped', which are human traits. This personification adds charm and liveliness to the depiction of the Summer’s day, making nature seem animated and social.

4. The image of 'Hindered Flags' refers to flowers that are like flags that are hoisted but somewhat restrained or limited in their movement. This metaphor suggests the delicate and restrained beauty of the flowers, fluttering gently like flags caught in a breeze.

5. The pronouns referring to the Sun are capitalised ('Himself', 'His') to personify the Sun, giving it a majestic and almost divine status, emphasizing its importance and presence in the poem.

6. Examples include the detailed observations of the trees swinging like tassels, the musical quality of summer sounds likened to psalteries, and the personification of birds and flowers. These show that the poet’s close observation of nature’s subtle details results in great poetry. — The answers are derived by analyzing the poem's imagery, metaphors, and personification. Each question is answered by referencing specific lines and explaining the literary devices used by Emily Dickinson to create vivid pictures and sounds of a Summer’s day. The capitalisation of pronouns is explained as a poetic device to personify the Sun. The examples demonstrate how close observation leads to rich poetic expression.

Question 4

You came across ‘dulcimer’ in the poem ‘Kubla Khan’. Did you note down ‘Psaltery’ as another musical instrument? They are very similar. Look up the illustrations for the two in an illustrated dictionary. Find out in what ways they are different from one another.

Accepted Answer

The dulcimer and the psaltery are both stringed musical instruments but differ in shape, playing technique, and historical context. The dulcimer is typically trapezoidal and played by striking the strings with small hammers, producing a bright, percussive sound. The psaltery is usually a flat, wooden box with strings stretched across it and is played by plucking the strings with fingers or a plectrum, producing a softer, harp-like tone. The dulcimer is associated more with folk music traditions, while the psaltery has medieval origins and was used in early European music. — By consulting an illustrated dictionary, one can compare the physical structure and playing methods of the dulcimer and psaltery. Understanding these differences helps appreciate the metaphorical use of 'Psalteries of Summer' in the poem, evoking a delicate, stringed musical quality.

Question 5

Who is Emily Dickinson and what is she known for in the context of nineteenth-century American poetry?

Accepted Answer

Emily Dickinson was a quintessential American poet of the nineteenth century known for her introverted life and unique poetic style characterized by unconventional capitalization, extensive use of dashes, and unusual imagery. For example, she wrote 1789 poems, most published posthumously. — Emily Dickinson is recognized as a major nineteenth-century American poet. She lived a reclusive life and published very few poems during her lifetime. Her poetry is distinctive for its style, including unconventional capitalization and dashes, which contribute to its unique rhythm and imagery.

Question 6

What poetic devices are prominently used by Emily Dickinson in the poem 'Trees' to create vivid imagery?

Accepted Answer

Emily Dickinson uses personification, metaphor, and unconventional capitalization and dashes to create vivid imagery. For example, the trees are described as 'like Tassels' that 'hit – and – swung', and the Sun is personified with capitalized pronouns. — The poem 'Trees' uses personification by attributing human qualities to trees and the sun, metaphors like comparing trees to tassels, and stylistic features such as dashes and capitalization to enhance the imagery and rhythm.

Question 7

In the poem 'Trees', what does the phrase 'Psalteries of Summer' metaphorically represent?

Accepted Answer

The musical sounds produced by miniature creatures during summer — The phrase 'Psalteries of Summer' metaphorically refers to the delicate and harmonious musical sounds created by tiny creatures in summer, likening them to the strings of a psaltery, a musical instrument.

Question 8

Identify the lines in the poem 'Trees' where creatures are attributed with human qualities (personification). How does this enhance the poem's depiction of a summer day?

Accepted Answer

Creatures are personified in lines like 'The Trees like Tassels hit – and – swung' and 'A Bird sat careless on the fence'. This personification makes the natural scene lively and relatable, enhancing the beauty and vividness of the summer day. — By giving human traits to trees and birds, the poet animates nature, making the scene more dynamic and engaging. This helps readers visualize and feel the summer day's subtle movements and sounds.

Question 9

Explain the imagery of 'Hindered Flags' in the poem 'Trees'. What does this metaphor signify?

Accepted Answer

'Hindered Flags' refers to bright flowers that are compared to flags hoisted on stems but somewhat restricted. This metaphor signifies the vibrant colors and delicate movement of flowers swaying gently, adding to the visual richness of the summer day. — The metaphor likens flowers to flags fluttering in the breeze but 'hindered' suggests they are partially restrained by their stems or environment. This creates a vivid image of nature's subtle motion and beauty.

Question 10

Why are the pronouns referring to the Sun capitalised in the poem 'Trees' by Emily Dickinson?

Accepted Answer

To personify the Sun and emphasize its importance — Capitalizing pronouns referring to the Sun personifies it, giving it human-like qualities and emphasizing its significance and agency in the poem's natural setting.

Question 11

Give examples from the poem 'Trees' that demonstrate how great poetry results from close observation of natural phenomena.

Accepted Answer

Examples include the detailed description of trees swinging 'like Tassels', the sun's changing appearance 'Then Half – then utter hid', and the depiction of miniature creatures producing a tune. These show the poet's keen observation of nature's subtle details. — The poem's vivid imagery and personification reflect the poet's attentive observation of natural elements and their interactions, which is essential for creating evocative poetry.

Question 12

Compare the psaltery and the dulcimer as musical instruments mentioned in relation to the poem 'Trees' and 'Kubla Khan'. How do they differ?

Accepted Answer

A psaltery is a flat soundboard with strings plucked or strummed, while a dulcimer, especially the hammered dulcimer, has strings struck with small hammers. The psaltery produces a delicate sound, and the dulcimer has a resonant tone. — Both are stringed instruments, but the psaltery is played by plucking strings over a flat board, whereas the dulcimer is played by hammering strings, creating different sound qualities which enrich the poem's musical imagery.

Question 13

What is the significance of the sun being described as having 'Estates of Cloud' that can 'enfold Him Eternally from view' in the poem 'Trees'?

Accepted Answer

It personifies the sun as having a will to hide behind clouds — The metaphor of 'Estates of Cloud' suggests the sun has domains or places to hide, personifying it with choice and whim, which adds depth to the imagery of changing sunlight.

Question 14

Which of the following best describes the tone of Emily Dickinson's poem 'Trees'?

Accepted Answer

Reflective and observant — The poem's tone is contemplative and attentive to the subtle details of nature, reflecting on the beauty and complexity of a summer day.

Question 15

Fill in the blank: In the poem 'Trees', the phrase 'Far Psalteries of Summer' refers to the _____ created by miniature creatures.

Accepted Answer

musical sounds / melodies — The phrase metaphorically describes the delicate and harmonious sounds produced by tiny creatures, likened to the strings of a psaltery, a musical instrument.

Trees

Trees — Study Notes

Trees

Responding to the Poem

Language Study

Practice Questions — Trees

All 21 Chapters in Kaliedoscope