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ICSE Class X Notes 2026 : English Paper 2 (English Literature) (Fravashi Academy, Nashik)

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2D 32 Prashyun Gunjal
Fravashi Academy, Nashik
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Here are study notes for "When Great Trees Fall" by Maya Angelou, tailored for ICSE Class 10 preparation. Poem Overview Maya Angelou uses an extended metaphor to compare the death of "great trees" in nature to the passing of "great souls" in human life. The poem moves through the stages of grief from the initial shock and despair to gradual healing and final acceptance. Stanza-by-Stanza Analysis 1. The Shock in Nature (Stanzas 1 2) Imagery: The poet describes the physical impact when massive trees fall. Reactions: Inanimate objects react: "rocks on distant hills shudder" 1. Powerful animals are humbled: "lions hunker down" and elephants run for safety 1. Small creatures: They "recoil into silence," their senses numbed by fear 1. Meaning: The fall of a great leader or figure disrupts the natural order, causing fear and silence across the ecosystem. 2. The Immediate Reaction to Human Death (Stanza 3) Shift in Tone: The poem transitions from nature to humanity: "When great souls die" 1. Atmosphere: The air becomes "light, rare, sterile," suggesting a vacuum or emptiness left behind 1. Physical Sensation: We breathe only "briefly," indicating shock or anxiety 1. Paradox: Our vision gains a "hurtful clarity" we suddenly see the reality of loss very clearly 1. 3. Regret and Memory (Stanza 4) Grief: Memory becomes sharp and painful. Regret: The living focus on "kind words unsaid" and "promised walks never taken" 1, 2. This highlights the guilt often felt by survivors about unfinished business. 4. The Loss of Identity (Stanzas 5 6) Dependency: Our reality was "bound to them" 2. Without them, we feel untethered. Spiritual Decay: Without their nurture, our souls "shrink, wizened" (become shriveled like old fruit) 2. Intellectual Loss: Our minds, which were formed by their "radiance," seem to fall away 2. Despair: We are reduced to an "unutterable ignorance," compared to living in "dark, cold caves" 2. This represents the lowest point of depression and confusion. 5. Healing and Legacy (Stanzas 7 8) Turning Point: "After a period peace blooms" 2. Healing is described as a slow, irregular natural process. New Atmosphere: The empty spaces fill with a "soothing electric vibration" 2. Resolution: Our senses are restored, though we are changed forever ("never to be the same") 2, 3. Final Message: The whisper "They existed" brings comfort. The legacy of the great soul empowers the living to "Be and be better" 3. Key Themes The Universality of Loss: Grief affects everyone, from the "lions" (strong people) to "small things" (common people) 1. Nature vs. Humanity: The poem parallels natural calamities with emotional devastation. Resilience and Hope: The poem ends not in despair, but with the motivation to improve oneself because the great soul existed 3. Literary Devices Extended Metaphor: The "Great Trees" represent influential people or "Great Souls." Personification: Rocks "shudder," peace "blooms" 1, 2. Imagery: Visual ("lions hunker down"), Tactile ("dark, cold caves"), Auditory ("silence," "whisper") 1, 2, 3. Alliteration: "breathe, briefly" 1, "Be and be better" 3. Would you like me to create a Flashcard Set to help you memorize the key quotes and themes, or perhaps a Quiz to test your understanding of the poem?

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