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    1.3. Trees are the Kindest Things I Know - My English Book - Std 8 - Marathi and Semi-English Medium - Maharashtra Board

    • Jul 2
    • 9 min read

    Updated: Jul 6

    SECTION 1 — Chapter Information / पाठ परिचय

    Detail

    Information

    Chapter

    Unit 1 — Chapter 1.3: Trees are the Kindest Things I Know

    Type

    Poetry

    Poet

    Harry Behn

    Textbook

    My English Book, Std 8, Maharashtra State Board

    Assessment

    School-level examination following MSBSHSE guidelines

    मराठी टीप: हा पाठ शालेय परीक्षेत येतो. हे पाठ्यपुस्तक इयत्ता ८ वी साठी आहे — MSBSHSE च्या मार्गदर्शक तत्त्वांनुसार तयार केलेले.


    SECTION 2 — About the Poet / कवी परिचय

    Harry Behn was an American writer and poet. This poem is about the selfless and gentle nature of trees. Students should notice his simple and musical style of writing, which perfectly paints a beautiful picture of nature in our minds.

    मराठी टीप: हॅरी बेहन हे एक अमेरिकन कवी होते. या कवितेत त्यांनी झाडांच्या निस्वार्थ आणि शांत स्वभावाचे अतिशय सुंदर आणि सोप्या शब्दांत वर्णन केले आहे.

    Exam Tip: The poet's name and the poem's central idea (the kindness of trees) may be asked as a short answer.


    SECTION 3 — Full Text / पूर्ण कविता

    Stanza 1 Trees are the kindest things I know, They do not harm, they simply grow. And spread a shade for sleepy cows, And gather birds among their boughs.
    Stanza 2 They give us fruit, in leaves above, And wood to make our houses of, And leaves to burn on Hallowe'en, And in the Spring new buds of green.
    Stanza 3 They are the first when day's begun To touch the beams of morning sun. They are the last to hold the light, When evening changes into night.
    Stanza 4 And when a moon floats on the sky They hum a drowsy lullaby Of sleepy children long ago... Trees are the kindest things I know.

    SECTION 4 — Stanza-wise Meaning / कडव्यांचा अर्थ


    Stanza 1:

    Trees are the kindest things I know, They do not harm, they simply grow. And spread a shade for sleepy cows, And gather birds among their boughs.

    English Meaning: The poet feels that trees are the kindest living things because they never hurt anyone. They just grow peacefully, give cool shade to resting cows, and provide a home for birds in their branches. मराठी अर्थ: कवीच्या मते झाडे सर्वात दयाळू असतात कारण ती कोणालाही इजा करत नाहीत. ती शांतपणे वाढतात, गाईंना सावली देतात आणि पक्ष्यांना फांद्यांवर निवारा देतात. Exam Tip: Questions about how trees help animals and birds are likely from this stanza.


    Stanza 2:

    They give us fruit, in leaves above, And wood to make our houses of, And leaves to burn on Hallowe'en, And in the Spring new buds of green.

    English Meaning: Trees give us sweet fruits to eat and useful wood to build our homes. They give us dry leaves for autumn festivals and bear fresh green buds when the spring season arrives. मराठी अर्थ: झाडे आपल्याला फळे आणि घरे बांधण्यासाठी लाकूड देतात. ती सणांसाठी सुकी पाने देतात आणि वसंत ऋतूत त्यांना नवीन हिरवी पालवी फुटते. Exam Tip: Questions about what trees offer human beings come from this stanza.


    Stanza 3:

    They are the first when day's begun To touch the beams of morning sun. They are the last to hold the light, When evening changes into night.

    English Meaning: Because trees are tall, their leaves are the first to catch the early rays of the morning sun. They are also the last things to hold the sunlight as evening turns into the dark night. मराठी अर्थ: झाडे उंच असल्यामुळे पहाटेची पहिली सूर्यकिरणे त्यांच्यावर पडतात. तसेच संध्याकाळ होताना दिवसाचा शेवटचा प्रकाशही झाडांवरच रेंगाळतो. Exam Tip: Questions about trees and sunlight are found here.


    Stanza 4:

    And when a moon floats on the sky They hum a drowsy lullaby Of sleepy children long ago... Trees are the kindest things I know.

    English Meaning: At night, when the moon is in the sky, the wind blowing through the trees sounds like a soft song. This sweet song helps tired children fall fast asleep. मराठी अर्थ: रात्री आकाशात चंद्र आल्यावर, वाऱ्यामुळे झाडांचा जो आवाज येतो, तो लहान मुलांसाठी गायलेल्या अंगाईगीतासारखा (lullaby) वाटतो. Exam Tip: Questions about the 'lullaby' and what trees do for kids appear from this stanza.

    SECTION 5 — Poetic Devices / काव्यात्मक उपकरणे

    Device / उपकरण

    Example from poem

    Simple Effect

    मराठी स्पष्टीकरण

    Personification (चेतनगुणोक्ती)

    "They hum a drowsy lullaby"

    Gives trees the human ability to sing a song.

    झाडांना माणसासारखे अंगाईगीत गाताना दाखवले आहे.

    Alliteration (अनुप्रास)

    "spread a shade for sleepy cows"

    The 's' sound is repeated for a musical effect.

    's' या अक्षराचा आवाज कवितेत नाद (संगीत) निर्माण करतो.

    Repetition (पुनरावृत्ती)

    "Trees are the kindest things I know"

    Emphasizes the main central idea of the poem.

    झाडांचा दयाळूपणा ठसवण्यासाठी ही ओळ पुन्हा वापरली आहे.

    मराठी टीप: या पाठातील अलंकार लक्षात ठेवा — परीक्षेत नाव आणि एक उदाहरण विचारले जाऊ शकते.


    SECTION 6 — Central Theme and Values / केंद्रीय भाव आणि मूल्ये


    6A. Theme Table / विषय सारणी

    Theme / विषय

    How it appears

    Kindness of Nature (निसर्गाचा दयाळूपणा)

    The poem highlights how trees provide shade, food, and shelter without asking for anything in return. (झाडे निस्वार्थपणे सर्वांना मदत करतात.)

    Peace and Harmony (शांतता आणि सामंजस्य)

    Trees do not harm anyone; they simply grow and make the world beautiful. (झाडे कोणालाही त्रास न देता शांतपणे वाढतात.)


    6B. Values / मूल्ये

    • Selflessness (निस्वार्थपणा) — Trees show selflessness by giving their fruit, wood, and shade to others freely.

    • Gentleness (सौम्यता) — Trees show gentleness by singing a soft lullaby for sleepy children instead of making harsh noises.


    6C. Central Message / केंद्रीय संदेश

    Trees are the most selfless and kind creations of nature, and we should appreciate and protect them for everything they give us. मराठी टीप: झाडे निसर्गातील सर्वात निस्वार्थ घटक आहेत, आपण त्यांचे रक्षण केले पाहिजे, हा या कवितेचा संदेश आहे.


    SECTION 8 — Practice Questions / सराव प्रश्न


    Read the following extract carefully and answer the questions (Types 1 to 6):

    Trees are the kindest things I know, They do not harm, they simply grow. And spread a shade for sleepy cows, And gather birds among their boughs.They give us fruit, in leaves above, And wood to make our houses of, And leaves to burn on Hallowe'en, And in the Spring new buds of green.

    TYPE 1 — True/False (1M each · 5 questions)

    1. State True or False: 'Trees harm other living things as they grow.' Answer: False. 2. State True or False: 'Trees spread their shade for sleepy cows.' Answer: True.

    3. State True or False: 'Birds gather in the branches of the trees.' Answer: True.

    4. State True or False: 'Trees give us wood to make our houses.' Answer: True.

    5. State True or False: 'Trees give us new buds of green in Winter.' Answer: False. मराठी टीप: कवितेतील माहितीवरूनच उत्तर द्या. (True म्हणजे बरोबर, False म्हणजे चूक).


    TYPE 2 — Choose the Correct Alternative (1M each · 5 questions)


    1. What do trees spread for sleepy cows? a) Fruits b) Leaves c) A shade d) Water Answer: c

    2. Where do birds gather? a) In the houses b) Among their boughs c) On the grass d) In the sky

    Answer: b

    3. What do trees give us in the leaves above? a) Money b) Fruit c) Stones d) Birds Answer: b

    4. What is burnt on Hallowe'en according to the extract? a) Wood b) Plastic c) Fruit d) Leaves

    Answer: d

    5. In which season do new buds of green appear? a) Summer b) Autumn c) Spring d) Winter

    Answer: c मराठी टीप: चुकीचे पर्याय गाळून कवितेत दिलेली अचूक माहिती निवडा.  


    TYPE 3 — Answer in One Word/Phrase (1M each · 4 questions)


    1. According to the poem, what are the kindest things? Answer: Trees.

    2. Who sleeps in the shade of the trees? Answer: Cows.

    3. What part of the tree is used to make houses? Answer: Wood.

    4. What do trees gather among their boughs? Answer: Birds. मराठी टीप: उत्तर एका शब्दात किंवा वाक्यांशात द्या. पूर्ण वाक्य लिहिण्याची गरज नाही.


    TYPE 4 — Complete the Lines (1M each · 4 questions)


    1. Complete the line: 'Trees are the kindest things I ________.' Answer: know 2. Complete the line: 'And spread a shade for sleepy ________.' Answer: cows 3. Complete the line: 'And wood to make our houses ________.' Answer: of 4. Complete the line: 'And in the Spring new buds of ________.' Answer: green मराठी टीप: कवितेच्या ओळी आठवून रिकाम्या जागी योग्य शब्द भरा. यमक जुळणारे (rhyming) शब्द ओळखायला सोपे जातात.


    TYPE 5 — Answer in 2-3 Sentences (2M each · 5 questions)


    1. What does the poet mean by the line "They do not harm, they simply grow"? Answer: The poet means that trees are very peaceful and gentle. Unlike humans or wild animals, trees never hurt anyone and just quietly grow in their place. मराठी टीप: झाडे कोणालाही इजा न करता शांतपणे एकाच जागी वाढतात, हे स्पष्ट करा.


    2. How do trees help animals and birds?

    Answer: Trees help animals by spreading a cool shade where sleepy cows can rest. They also help birds by providing safe branches (boughs) for them to gather and build nests. मराठी टीप: झाडे गाईंना सावली देतात आणि पक्ष्यांना फांद्यांवर निवारा देतात, हे दोन मुद्दे लिहा.


    3. What do trees offer to human beings according to the extract?

    Answer: According to the extract, trees offer many useful things to humans. They give us tasty fruits to eat and strong wood to build our houses. मराठी टीप: झाडे माणसाला खाण्यासाठी फळे आणि घरे बांधण्यासाठी लाकूड देतात, असे सांगा.


    4. What happens to trees in the Spring season?

    Answer: When the Spring season arrives, trees get a fresh new look. Beautiful new buds of green start growing on their branches. मराठी टीप: वसंत ऋतूत (Spring) झाडांना नवीन हिरवी पालवी फुटते.


    5. Why are leaves gathered on Hallowe'en?

    Answer: Hallowe'en is an autumn festival celebrated in western countries. During this time, dry leaves fall from the trees and are gathered to burn in bonfires. मराठी टीप: हॅलोवीन या सणात झाडांची सुकी पाने जाळण्यासाठी वापरली जातात.


    TYPE 6 — Answer in 4-5 Sentences (3M each · 3 questions)

    1. Why does the poet consider trees to be the kindest things?

    Answer: The poet considers trees to be the kindest things because they are completely selfless. They do not harm any living creature. Instead, they provide shade to animals, shelter to birds, and food and wood to humans. They do all this without expecting anything in return. मराठी टीप: १. झाडे निस्वार्थ असतात. २. ती कोणाला इजा करत नाहीत. ३. प्राणी, पक्षी आणि माणसांना भरभरून देतात, या कारणांमुळे ती दयाळू आहेत.


    2. Explain the poetic device used in the line "And spread a shade for sleepy cows". Answer: The poetic device used in this line is Alliteration. In this line, the consonant sound of the letter 's' is pleasingly repeated in the words "shade" and "sleepy". The poet uses this repetition to create a soft, musical effect in the poem. मराठी टीप: या ओळीत 's' या अक्षराची पुनरावृत्ती (Alliteration) झाली आहे, ज्यामुळे कवितेत नाद निर्माण होतो.


    3. Summarize the gifts that trees give to mankind as mentioned in Stanza 2.

    Answer: In the second stanza, the poet lists the generous gifts trees give to mankind. First, they provide us with fresh, sweet fruit hidden among the leaves. Second, they give us strong wood which we use to construct our homes. Finally, they give us dry leaves for autumn fires and beautiful green buds in the spring season. मराठी टीप: फळे, लाकूड, जाळण्यासाठी सुकी पाने आणि वसंत ऋतूतील नवीन पालवी, या चार भेटींचे वर्णन करा.


    TYPE 7 — Word Meanings / Vocabulary in Context (1M each · 5 questions)

    (Note: Drawn from the whole poem)

    1. The word 'boughs' means...

    Answer: branches. मराठी अर्थ: फांद्या. मराठी टीप: पक्षी झाडांच्या फांद्यांवर (boughs) गोळा होतात.


    2. The word 'beams' means...

    Answer: rays of light. मराठी अर्थ: किरणे. मराठी टीप: सकाळची सूर्यकिरणे (beams of sun) झाडांवर पडतात.


    3. The word 'drowsy' means...

    Answer: sleepy. मराठी अर्थ: झोपाळू / पेंगणारे. मराठी टीप: अंगाईगीत ऐकून मुले झोपाळू (drowsy) होतात.


    4. The word 'lullaby' means...

    Answer: a soft, slow song to put children to sleep. मराठी अर्थ: अंगाईगीत. मराठी टीप: वाऱ्याचा आवाज म्हणजे जणू झाडांचे अंगाईगीत (lullaby) आहे.


    5. The word 'harm' means...

    Answer: to hurt or cause damage. मराठी अर्थ: इजा करणे. मराठी टीप: झाडे कोणालाही इजा (harm) करत नाहीत.


    TYPE 8 — Personal Response (2M each · 2 questions)

    (Note: Drawn from the whole poem)


    1. Do you like this poem? Why or why not?

    Answer: Yes, I like this poem very much. The words are very simple to understand, and it teaches us a beautiful lesson about how we should be kind and helpful to others, just like trees. मराठी टीप: 'होय, मला कविता आवडली', असे सांगून, झाडांचा परोपकारी स्वभाव आपल्याला शिकायला मिळतो, हे कारण द्या.

    2. Which line from the poem do you like the most, and why?

    Answer: My favourite line is "They hum a drowsy lullaby". I like it because the poet beautifully imagines the sound of the wind in the leaves as a loving mother singing a soft song for her child. मराठी टीप: तुम्हाला आवडलेली कोणतीही ओळ लिहा आणि त्यात कवीची कल्पना (उदा. अंगाईगीत) कशी छान आहे, हे साध्या इंग्रजीत सांगा.

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