Summary

The poerm begins with a metaphor, comparing the death of a great soul to a giant tree falling in the forest. The speaker describes the
immense impact, saying even distant rocks shudder and lions and elephants flee for safety when ancient trees comne crashing down.
Similarly, the passing of a beloved great soul sends shockwaves through the world.
As the poem continues, the speaker turns to directly addressing the actual death of admirable, influential people. Their death leaves
small creatures stunned into mournful silence, overwhelmed beyond fear. The atmosphere feels lighter and drained of spirit, sterilised b;
the loss. Those left behind struggle to breathe and see, agonised by shredded memories of missed opportunities and unsaid words that
now can never be taken back.

The speaker articulates the all-consuming pain and disorientation of the loss, saying reality itself disappears for those who remained
tethered to the deceased. Our souls shrink and wither without their nurturing light, our minds lose inspiration and fall away, reduced to
an ignorant, cave-like darkness.
Yet slowly, through nonlinear healing, a sense of peace blooms as their spirit fills the void. Our restored senses become even more
receptive, whispering that they existed and thus so can we, honouring their memory through continued life. Their lasting impact spurs u:
to live better.

Overall, the poem grapples with the grief, nostalgia, regret, and search for greater meaning after the death of impactful, beloved figures.
Through extended metaphors and vivid imagery,Angelou captures the seismicsignificance and yet intimacies of loss. The poem
ultimately argues loss can connect us more profoundly to life. Its cyclical nature implies while death may fell great trees, new growth
inevitably follows.

Line-by-line explanation of the poem

When great trees fall.

rocks on distant hills shudder,

The speaker uses an evocative extended metaphor here, comparing the monumental impact of a great person's death to the immense
shaking of the earth when massive, ancient trees come crashing down in a forest. The imagery suggests the death sends shockwaves that
reverberate through the natural world, with even solid bedrock on distant hills shuddering in response.

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 regrets gnaws at us.

Great souls die and

our reality, bound to
them, takes leave of us.

The speaker articulates how when these central figures die, our very sense of reality that was tethered to them disappcars, unmooring us
and leaving us untethered in their absence. We feel cast adrift.
Our souls,
dependent upon their
nurture,
now shrink, wizened.

The speaker describes the feeling of our very souls becoming diminished and drained without the spiritual nourishment and care of the
belovedwe've lost. There is a sense of withering within, of shrinking down into weaker, more wizened versions of ourselves.
Our minds, formed
and informed by their
radiance,
fall away.

Without their presence and inspiration, our ways of thinking that were shaped and developed under their radiant influence now feel
diminished, unable to be sustained. Our minds lose their light.
We are not so much maddened
as reduced to the unutterable ignorance
of dark, cold
caves.

More than simply driving us mad, the enormity of the loss leaves us reduced to a state of inexpressible, primordial ignorance, like
creatures suddenly condemned to the darkness of caves. This powerfully conveys disorientation.
And when great souls die,
after a period peace blooms,
slowly and always
irregularly.

With the beautitul phrase "peace blooms," the speaker indicates that in time, peace and healing can gradually emerge after the initial
anguish. But the process is always slow and nonlinear.
Spaces fill:
with a kinu
soothing electric vibration.
There is a sense of the void left behind beginning to fill with an uplifting spirit, a comforting electricity and vibration, as if the person's
enduring energy still resonates.
Our senses, restored, never
to be the same, whisper to us.
Our senses are imagined restored but forever changed, now more alert and sensitive as they whisper to us, made more receptive by the
loss.

They existed. They existed.

We can be. Be and be
better. For they existed.

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 Angelou rose to prominence after the publication of her seminal memoir IKnow Why the Caged Bird Sings in 1969. The book was a
brutally honest account of her upbringing as a young black girl growing up in the Deep South. It struck a chord with readers, bringing
Angelou critical acclaim. She went on to write six more autobiographies about her illustrious career as a singer, actress, activist, and
professor. Angelou's works focused on family, identity, racism, and overcoming adversity.
Angelou established herself as a poet as well, publishing collections such as Just Give Mea Cool Drink of Water 'fore I Diiie, which
was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize. Her poenm "On the Pulse of Morning" was even chosen for President BillClinton's inauguration in
1993, a significant milestone.
Aside from the arts, Angelou was an outspoken civil rights activist. Shecollaborated closcly with Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm
X,contributing her skills to the movement. President Barack Obama awarded her the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2011 for her
artistic contributions and advOcacy for justice.

Angelou's spirit continues to burn brightly decades after her death in 2014.
Workbook answers/solutions

Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)

1. Which extended metaphor is used in the poem?

A. The deaths of great men B. The falling of great trees C. Nature D. Big and small animals
Answer: B. The falling of great trees
2. When do animals seek safety?

A. When the earth shakes B. When wolves howl C. When great trees fall D. When hunters appear
Answer: C. When great trees fall

3. What positive happens when great men die?

A. Our senses are benumbed. B. Our memory is suddenly sharpened. C. We feel sorry for ourselves. D. We feel pity for great men.
Answer: B. Our memory is suddenly sharpened.
4. In what state are we thrown suddenly when we hear about the death of a great sol?

A. Sullen B. Indifferent C. Sorrowful D. Amusing

Answer: C. Sorrowful

5. What do great men generally care for?

A.Our souls B. Our bodies C. Our wealth D. Our health
Answer: A. Our souls

6. The phrase dark cold, caves' symbolises in the poem.

A. Cheerfulness B. Depth of mind C. Despair D. Ignorance

Answer: C. Despair

7. What happens to our souls on hearing the news of a great man who has impacted our lives greatly?
A. We begin to cry. B. We become mad. C. We become silent. D. Our souls shrivel.

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 PASSAGE-2 When great trees fall
inforests,
small things recoil into silence,
their senses
eroded beyond fear.
I.What does the fall of great trees symbolise in the poen?
Answer: The fallof great trees symbolises the deaths of great persons, conveying the impact and disruptions caused by the loss of a
significant person.
II.What happens to big animals when great trees fall?
Answer: When great trees fall, big animals such as lions and elephants seek safety, indicating a widespread fear and the search for
security in the face of sudden changes.
III. What happens to small things when great trees fall?

Answer: When great trees fall, small things recoil into silence, their senses eroded beyond fear, highlighting the profound impact even
on the smallest creatures.
IV. Explain. Their senses/eroded beyond fear'.

Answer: This phrase suggests that the small creatures are so deeply affected by the fall of great trees that their usual sense of fear is
surpassed, leaving them ina state of numbness and shock.
V. When great men die, what kind of 'clarity' do we have all of a sudden?

Answer: When great men die, we experience a'hurtful clarity', asudden understanding of the valuable soul lost, which brings sharp
and painful realization of their significance and our loss.
PASSAGE-3 When great souls die,
the air around us becomes
light, rare, sterile.
We breathe, briefly.
Our eyes, briefly,
see with
a hurtful clarity.

I. What image from the world of nature has been used earlier in the context?
Answer: The image of great trees falling has been used earlier in the context to symbolise the deaths of great persons and their impact.

II. What happens when great trees fall?

Answer: When great trees fall, there is widespread disruption; animals seek safety, and the natural order is momentarily disturbed,
symbolising the effect of a great person's death on society.
II. We breathe, briefly'. There is a pause after 'breathe' here. What is its significance?

Answer: The pause signifies amoment of shock or realization, reflecting how the death of agreat soul momentarily takes our breath
away, highlighting the immediate and profound impact on us.
IV. What kind of 'clarity' does the poet refer to?
Answer: The poet refers to a 'hurtful clarity', a painful yet clear realization of the loss of a valuable soul, which brings a sharp focus on
what was unsaid or undone.

V. What do we come to remember when great men die?

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 Answer: The word 'nurture' suggests the care, guidance, and support provided by the departed souls, which was crucial to our
development and well-being.
PASSAGE-6 Our minds, formed
and informed by their
radiance, fall away.
We are not so much maddened
as reduced to the unutterable ignorance of
dark, cold
caves.

I. Howhas the poet compared the world of nature with the human world earlier in the context?

Answer: The poet has compared the world of nature with the human world by using the metaphor of great trees falling to symbolize the
deaths of great persons, illustrating the profound impacts these events have in both realms.
II. What happens when someone emotionaly attached to us departs forever?
Answer: When someone emotionally attached to us departs forever, our reality shifts, our souls shrink, and we are thrown into a state of
despair and ignorance, reminiscent of dark, cold caves.
III. How are our minds affected by great souls?

Answer: Our minds, formed and informed by the radiance of great souls, are deeply affected by their departure, leading to asense of
loss and a reduction to ignorance.
IV. In what state of mind are we thrown when great souls die?

Answer: When great souls die, we are thrown into astate not so much of madhess as of profound ignorance and despair, akin to being
in dark, cold caves.

V. Explain the reference to the ignorance of dark, cold caves.

Answer: The reference to the 'ignorance of dark, cold caves' symbolizes the profound sense of loss, disorientation, and the lack of
understanding that envelops us following the death of a great soul.
PASSAGE-7 And when great souls die,
after a period peace blooms,
slowly and always
irregularly. Spaces fill
with a kind of
soothing electric vibration.

I. What is suggested by the fall of great trees earlier in the context?

Answer: The fall of great trees is suggested to symbolize the deaths of great persons, illustrating the profound and
these losses have. wide-reaching impac

II. How do we feel when great men die?

Answer: When great men die, we feel a profound sense of loss, difficulty in breathing, and a painful clarity about the significance of the
loss, followed by a period of mourning and reflection.
III. How does the poet refer to time as a healer here?

Answer: The poet refers to time as a healer by suggesting that after a period, peace blooms slowly and always irregularly,
that healing from the loss of a great soul is a gradual and uneven process. indicating
IV. What kind of 'spaces' are referred to here?

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 people deeply. The poet uses this comparison to highlight the monumental impact of the death of inspirational figures on society.
5. Explain the meaning of the line - "When great souls die, the air around us becomes light, rare, sterile."
Answer: This line symbolises how the world feels different after inspirational figures pass away. The air lacks their presence which
energised and enriched the lives of others. There is a void left behind which makes the atmosphere feel empty and meaningless. The
inspirational qualities dissipate from the environment when enlightened souls leave.

6. How does the death of inspirationalfigures inmpact human senses as per the poem?
Answer: As per the poem, when influential personalities die, people's senses are impacted. Their vision becomes sharpened and their
memory startsexamining allthe unsaid words. This happens because people start reminiscing about the great individuals and wishing
that they had spent more time with them orexpressed themselves better. There is an increased sensitivity and sharper perception of loss.
7. What happens to the human soulafter the death of inspirational personalities?
Answer: The poem suggests that the human soul becomes very dependent on enlightened personalities for nourishment. When such
great souls die, the souls of those left behind feel weakened and experience a sense of shrinking. Their guiding light is gone, so their
souls also feel lost and lack purpose.The demise of inspirational figures leaves the souls of others unnurtured.
8. How does the poet describe the state of the human mind after the death of great souls?
Answer: The poet says that the human mind is deeply impacted by the death of inspirational personalities who enlightened it. The
radiance of uch great souls informed and formed the minds of others. When these enlightened figures die, the minds of people left
behind feel like they are falling away into darkness and ignorance. There is a reduction of knowledge and awareness.

9. How does the poem transition from despair to hope?

Answer: In the first few stanzas, the tone melancholic as the poet describes the deep sense of loss and ignorance that is felt after the
death of great souls. However, the tone shifs in the last stanza to reflect slight hope and optimism. The poet conveys that after aperiod
of grief, peace blooms and there is a sense of soothing vibration. The message is that while the inspirational figures are gone, their
memories can still enrich our lives.

10. What does the poet mean when she says *spaces fill with a kind of soothing electric vibration"?

Answer: This line signifies that after the initial grieving period, there is a sense of acceptance and peace. While the void left by the
grea
souls cannot be filled entirely, there is a comforting energy that replaces the sadness and turmoil. The poet hints that the inspiring
personalities continue to impact us positively in an intangible way even after death. Their aura and vibrations remain.
11.How can human beings change for the better after the death of great souls?
Answer: In the last lines, the poet says We can be. Be and be better. For they existed." This conveys that while death
takes away
inspirational figures, their lives and examplesremain to enlighten us. We can honour them by striving to be better - to develop
ourselves, help others and contribute meaningfully. Their existence itself motivates us to elevate ourselves.
12. Identify and explain the literary device used in the fllowing line from the poem - "Our
examines," memory, suddenly sharpened,

Answer: The literary device used in this line is personification. The poet personifies memory as if it is a living thing
sharpened and can examine things. Giving the abstract conceptof memory these animate abilities allows the poet to that can be
how people start reminiscing and evaluating their interactions with the deceased. convey effectively
Personification makes memory seem more alive.
13. What is the impact of inspirational personalities on the environment?
Answer: The poemn suggests that the presence of inspirational personalities enriches the very
air nourishing and meaningful. When they die, the atmosphere feels environment around them. They make the
devoid of their spirit. There is a void in the environment which feel:
sterile without their vibrant energy. Inspirational figures uplift the ambience during their
lifetime.
14. How does the poet highlight the dependence of human
souls on great personalities for nourishment?
Answer: The poet uses words like dependent", "nurture" and "shrink" when talking
about the impact on the human soul after the death

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 23. Comment on the poet's use of figures of speech in When Great Trees Fall'.

Answer: Maya Angelou uses several figures of speech effectively in the poem. The central metaphor compares deaths of great souls to
faling trees. Personification is used to give human attributes to abstract concepts like memory and air. Repetition of "when great
trees/souls fl" rcinforces the core idea. Alliteration like "sterile silence" stresses the desolation. These devices allow the poct to
creatively communicate deep emotions and complex ideas related to grief and bereavement through artistic language.

24. How does the poet portray the dependence of human souls on inspirational personalities?

Answer: Words like "dependent", "nurture" and "shrink" paint human souls as drawing sustenance from great figures when they live.
Souls "shrink" and fel "wizened" when the enlightened beings die, like plants deprived of nourishment. The lyrical language highlights
the profound spiritual connection. Souls don't just admire great personalities, but actually depend on them for direction. Their demise
leaves sous unanchored and undernourished due to severed attachment.

25.What picture of the human mind does the poet paint after the passing of inspirational figures?
Answer: The poem depicts the human mind as being enveloped by darkness and ignorance after inspirational luminaries meet their
demise. There is avivid image of minds "falling away" from the enlightened state that great souls inspired, into avoid of unawareness.
The referenceto "unutterable ignorance" conveys the magnitude of the knowledge lost, suggesting minds regress and lose their spirit of
enquirywithout the illuminating presence. It paints agrim view of stunned, disoriented minds unable to cope.
26. How does the poem reflect on unrealized regrets about inspirational figures after they die?
Answer: Lines like "memory gnaws on kind words unsaid" and "promised walks never taken" capture the remorse people feel about
failing to fully express appreciation when inspirational figures were alive. There is regret about lost chances to connect. The sharpened
memory highlights unresolved emotions. The poignant focus on unfulflled intent reflects how people are left grappling for closure
about relationships cut short by death.
27. Critically analyse the significance of the title When Great Trees Fall' based on the poem.
Answer: The title 'When Great Trees Fall' is deeply significant as it encapsulates the core motif of the poem -uprooting of towering
personalities who nourished the landscape of ideas. It foregrounds the enormous impact of the death of inspirational figures, while the
poetic device of personification adds gravitas. The visual imagery of falling trees evokes loss of livesthat provided stability, meaning
and enrichment. The title effectively foregrounds the grief while also highlighting continuity of legacy, as fallen trees become
nourishment.
28. How does the poem reflect on the permanence of loss against the temporariness of life?

Answer: By mourning the acute pain of bereavement, the poem examines the permanence of loss against the fleetingness of life.
Evocative phrases like "spaces fill", "air becomes sterile", "minds fall away" highlight the enduring void left by the departed. Their
inspirational aura dissipates permanently. The poem reflects on how even legendary lives are temporary, but the sorrow of their loss
stays permanently etched in collective consciousness. It muses philosophically about impermanence in a poignant manner.
29. Comment on the significance of the visual imagery used in the poem When Great Trees Fall',

Answer: Visual imagery in the poem powerfully conveys the emotions around losing inspirational figures. The central motif of falling
trees paints a dramatic scene that stirs the imagination. Phrases like "dark, cold caves" evoke desolation, while soothing electric
vibration" bints at solace. The vivid portrayal of animals hunkering down captures the wider impact. The visuals allow the reader to
vividly picture and empathise with the loss. They make the sentiments more accessible through relatable scenes.
30. How does the poem reflect on the dependence of human souls and minds on inspirational figures?
Answer: The poem explores the deep reliance of the human soul and mind on enlightened personalities for meaning and direction. Soul:
are depicted as drawing "nurture" from them, while minds are "informed and formed" by their radiance'". Their demise leaves souls
"wizened" and minds in "unutterable ignorance", like plants suddenly deprived of sunlight. This conceptualization reflects how
inspirational figures profoundly shape psyche and worldview. Their loss leaves us unanchored.

31. What is the central message about the human experience conveyed in When Great Trees Fall?

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 A.Through phrases related to light and dark B. Through references to cold and heat C. Through metaphors about trees and Ilowers D.
Through symbols of vibration and silence

Answer: A. Through phrases related to light and dark

10. What does the poet say about the impact of great souls on the environment around them?
A. They make the air toxic B.They create alot of noise C. They make the air enriching D. They cause alot of pollution
Answer: C. They make the air enriching
11. What happens after great souls pass away?

A. People feel energized B.People feel suicidal C. People feel relieved D. People feel unmoored
Answer: D. People feel unmoored
12. How does the poem describe the human mind after the death of inspirational figures?

A. As sharpened and uplifted B. As enlightened and hopeful C. As terrified and paranoid D. As darkened and ignorant
Answer: D. As darkened and ignorant
13. What does the poet compare the death of great souls to?
A. An earthquake B. A wildfire C. A blooming flower D. Falling trees

Answer: D. Falling trees

14. How does the poem capture regret about great souls after they pass away?
A. Through criticism of their works B. Through excitement to move on C. Through references to unsaid words D. Through eagermess to
forget them
Answer: C. Through references to unsaid words

15. What happens after the initial period of grieving great souls?
A. People feel energized B. People feel suicidal C. People feel relieved D. People find some peace
Answer: D. People find some peace

16. How does the poet say we can honor great souls who have passed away?

A. By celebrating their lifc annually B. By critiquing their bad deeds C. By striving to be better D. By reminiscing about them forever
Answer:C. By striving to be better

17. What does the poet say aboutthe aura of inspirational figures after they die?
A. It becomes stronger B. It fades away slowly C. It disappears rapidly D. It lingers resonantly
Answer: D.It lingers resonantly
18. What aspect of humanity does the poem mainly explore?
A. Jealousy about fame B. Grief over mortality C. Celebrity culture D. Quest for innovation
Answer: B. Grief over mortality

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