Our Casuarina Tree.
[please bear with me. i was actually searching for a crit appr. myself..DX. ;P]
so
essentially, Dutt is praising the 'Casuarina Tree', [obv.] and her associated memories with it[her siblings/childhood friends].
okay, so, first stanza.
'The giant' is clearly the casuarina tree, wearing the 'scarf' [the creeper, or 'python']. this basically says, its a huge tree['its very summit near the stars'] and thick, since it is very strong['no other tree could live']. mostly this stanza deals with the physical aspects of the tree itself: 'rugged, indented trunk', giving us an image of age and endurance, 'summit near the stars', same thing; 'gallantly the giant..], strength, majesty[not majesty, another word...eh.] and so on. the flowers are somewhat reminiscent of ceremonial garlands, and with the majestic[or not] theme[in India, Dutt's homeland, it is a common custom to hang flower garlands on important people on special occasions]. the gathering of the birds and animals reiterate its importance, as a meeting place[theres another word im thinking of...DX]. the 'sung darkling' portion agains deals with imagery; the 'sweet song' that acts as a lullaby, that goes on forever.
second stanza.
This is Dutt's personal memories now, of the Tree. She describes the baboon that sits upon it, and its 'puny offspring' [offtopic, but i despise the use of that word. anyways.], the 'kokilas', which i belieave means cuckoo birds[dont sue me though] and the cows, and the water lilies. all of this gives the tree an element of..mobility? more like, it brings it to life. ish. before, it was presented as majestic[dang..] and so forth, vagualy unattainable, a bit too lofty. by referencing it with cows and birds and monkeys, it birngs it to life; it seems more homely, friendly..amiable, sort of. the waterlilies-and-snow add a bit of elegance to the image.
the third stanza is the poets confession, that all this so far actually means naught to her. her love is entirely based on her memories; 'sweet companions', who are clearly dead now. she speaks of her friends with emotion, remembering bygone days. the 'dirge-like murmur' is an allusion to their death. as she remembers her friends, she also rememebers their deaths, which is also now, in a roundabout way associated with the tree. the 'tree's lament', personifies the tree with her own emotions.
is that helpful? prolly not. there are two stanzas left...but i have to go now. models tomorrow. DX. i hope i wasnt too annoying.. : ).
"Our Casuarina Tree" is a poem by Toru Dutt that explores themes of memory, nostalgia, and the passage of time. The poem centers on a majestic casuarina tree that the speaker and her siblings used to play under in their childhood. Through vivid imagery and sensory details, Dutt captures the deep emotional connection the speaker has with the tree and how it serves as a symbol of their shared experiences and the lasting impact of their childhood bond.
You need to read it and do the summary yourself. Wiki will not help you cheat. Time to get to work.
"Les Casuarinas" by Toru Dutt is not considered an elegy. It is a lyrical poem that reflects the beauty and majesty of the casuarina tree. Elegies typically focus on themes of grief, loss, and mourning.
immortality of tree and its relation with poetess describing her and siblings sweet memories
The Casuarina tree is an Australian Desert Oak tree of course native to Australia. (I recommend going to the town of Casuarina and the Casuarina mall!)
The Casuarina Tree was created in 1926.
The Casuarina Tree has 288 pages.
The casuarina is an exception . It reproduces by seeds but its seeds are not found in fruits but found in cones . Casuarina is classified under Gymnosperms.
The casuarina tree holds significance for the poet because it symbolizes emotional attachment and memories associated with the tree. The poet likely spent time under the tree or has a personal connection to it, making it dear to them.
The scientific name of agoho is Casuarina equisetifolia.
The Casourina tree is a medium sized tree usually 15-25m tall. The tree stabilises sand dunes and can grow in soil with poor nutrients. The tree is able to survive in dry and nutrient poor-soil due to its "leaf teeth" which reduce water loss by transpiration. The twig performs the photosynthetic function of the leaf and is cylindrical in cross section which hides the stomata to further prevent water loss. The plant also has the ability to fix nitrogen and store it to make proteins because the tree doesn't get much from the sand or soil around it.
the tree is his favorite tree
The she oak has the ability to fix nitrogen and store it, ensuring a steady supply of this element which is essential for making proteins as the sand contains no nutrients. The leaves of casuarina trees have been reduced to small "leaf teeth" to reduce the loss of water by transpiration.
Romanticism in Indian poetry, influenced by Western ideas, focused on themes of nature, emotions, and individualism. Major poets like Rabindranath Tagore and Sarojini Naidu incorporated these elements in their works, blending them with Indian cultural and spiritual beliefs. This resulted in a unique blend of romantic ideals with traditional Indian sensibilities.