Treasure Chest Workbook Answers Poem 1 A Work of Artifice
A Work of Artifice Poem Comprehension Questions Answers
Question 1.
Read the following verse paragraph and answer the questions that follow:
The bonsai tree
in the attractive pot
could have grown eighty feet tall
on the side of a mountain
till split by lightning.
But a gardener
carefully prune it.
i. What is a bonsai tree? Explain the metaphor associated with the bonsai tree.
ii. Where is the bonsai tree grown?
iii. Why does the poet say that the bonsai tree could have grown eighty feet tall?
iv. Where could have the bonsai tree grown? Why it is denied to grow there?
v. What does the word lightening suggest in this context?
vi. Explain the metaphor associated with the gardener. What does the word prune suggest in this context?
Answer:
i. Bonsai is the art of growing artificially dwarfed varieties of trees and shrubs in pots. Bonsai, however Is a globally popular Japanese gardening technique which involves miniaturizing trees so that they can be grown in a pot. The bonsai tree is an extended metaphor that runs throughout the poem.
The tree however represents a woman oppressed in the patriarchal world. Like a bonsai tree which is grown in the limited space of a pot, women too are forced to live under limited space and opportunity so that they can be easily domesticated and dominated.
ii. The bonsai tree is deliberately grown in a decorative pot so that it remains as a piece of art, delightful to look at.
iii. The poet regrets that the bonsai tree is denied of growing to the height of eighty feet like all other big tree, grown on the side of a mountain. The natural right of the tree is denied only for the sake of beautifying the indoor.
Similar is the case for the women who like a bonsai tree are deprived of their fundamental rights and are forced to live within a limited space with limited opportunity. This however ails the poet who thus, bemoans that a tree which could have “grown eighty feet tall” is deliberately restricted to “nine inches”.
iv. The bonsai tree could have grown on the side of a mountain by being exposed to nature with all its lethal effects like lightening. But unfortunately it is denied of its natural surrounding and forced to grow up in a pot. This is all because of the gardener’s deliberate attempt to dwarf the tree for the sake of beautifying the indoor.
v. Lightening here refers to the natural calamity which often harms a tree exposed to nature. But, there is more to the surface meaning of it. The poet might be indicating the fact that the tree is consoled with the assurance of its safety from the inimical world outside when placed in a pot. This exactly the way women are made to believe that they are weak and fragile and they must remain indoor. The aim however is to shatter their chance to grow up.
vi. Like the bonsai tree, the gardener too is an extended metaphor that runs throughout the poem. The gardener however is a significant representative of the patriarchal world who knows the way to oppress a woman. Hence, he dwarfs an eight feet tree to nine inches and justifies his action saying that it is the ‘nature” of the tree ‘in to be small and cozy, domestic and weak”.
Question 2.
Read the following verse paragraph and answer the questions that follow:
It is nine inches high.
Every day as he
whittles back the branches
the gardener croons,
It is your nature
to be small and cozy,
domestic and weak;
how lucky, little tree,
to have a pot to grow in.
i. What is nine inches high? Why?
ii. What does the gardener do the branches of the bonsai tree every day?
iii. What does the gardener croon to the tree?
iv. Why does the gardener croon to the bonsai tree every day?
v. Why is the bonsai tree considered lucky?
Answer:
i. The bonsai tree which the gardener grows in the pot is nine inches high. The gardener deliberately restricts its height to nine inches. This is because of his attempt to dwarf the tree so as to make it look beautiful.
ii. Every day the gardener trims the branches of the bonsai tree so that it remains small forever. This is however a deliberate attempt to deny the natural growth of the tree so that it remains beautiful to look at.
iii. Every day the gardener routinely sings to the bonsai tree reminding it about its nature to remain perennially small. The gardener also says that the bonsai tree is weak and fragile hence it is essential for the tree to remain indoor and be confined in a pot.
iv. The regular crooning of the gardener is not without a cause. It is a systematic attempt to brainwash the tree and make it believe that the bonsai tree is born weak and its nature is to remain small forever. The word “small” actually refers to its inherent inability to grow unrestrained amidst its natural surroundings.
The gardener simply deceives the tree with such false notion Just to establish his authority. This is meaningful in the sense that in the world of patriarchy, women too are deceived with such Ideas which destroys their confidence and their ability to grow up. The bonsai tree however is the symbol of an oppressed woman and the gardener on the other hand is the representative of the strict patriarchal society which limits the growth of a woman.
v. The bonsai tree is made to believe that it is weak and its nature is to remain small forever. Hence, the gardener says that the tree is fortunate to be safe in the pot where it grows with the constant care of the gardener.
Question 3.
Read the following verse paragraph and answer the questions that follow:
With living creatures
one must begin very early
to dwarf their growth:
the bound reet,
the crippled brain,
the hair in curlers,
the hands you
love to touch
i. What should begin at the early stage?
ii. What does the poet mean by “dwarf their growth”?
iii. What is meant by bound feet?
iv. Whose brained should be crippled? Why?
v. What hands does the poet refer to in this excerpt? How should the hands be taken care of?
vi. Describe in your own words the process of restricting the growth explored in this excerpt?
Answer:
i. The process of restricting one’s growth should begin at early stage. The poet actually hints about the ways women are restricted from growing up both mentally, and physically. The aim is to domesticate them so that men can have permanent control over them.
ii. The expression ‘dwarf their growth” means to limit the opportunity. Like the bonsai tree which is deliberately dwarfed for beautifying indoors, women too are controlled from growing up both mentally and physically so that men have permanent control over them.
iii. The poet here refers to the pre-20th century Chinese beauty practice of binding the feet of women from childhood so that their feet remain tiny and beautiful.
iv. The brain of women should be disabled to disallow their free thought and enlightenment. This however will facilitate men to have permanent control over them. Women should remain obsessed nurturing their beauty. They will remain as beautiful objects like the bonsai tree, delightful to look at. Here lies the success of the patriarchal society which always tends to cripp’e the brain of women.
A Work of Artifice Poem Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
Question 1.
Where is the bonsai tree grown?
a. on the side of mountain
b. pot
c. garden
d. near the lake
Answer:
b. pot
Question 2.
The bonsai tree could have grown to ……….
a. nine feet
b. nine inches
c. eight feet
d. four feet
Answer:
c. eight feet
Question 3.
What is the height of the bonsai tree?
a. eight feet
b. nine inches
c. four feet
d. nine feet
Answer:
b. nine inches
Question 4.
What does the gardener do to the tree everyday?
a. he trims the branches of the tree
b. he waters the tree
c. he brings the tree to the open space
d. he cuddles the tree out of love
Answer:
a. he trims the branches of the tree
Question 5.
The gardener is the symbol of ………..
a. philanthropy
b. an oppressor
c. an artist
d. a beautician
Answer:
b. an oppressor
Question 6.
The bonsai tree is the symbol of ……….
a. liberty
b. an oppressed woman
c. successful woman
d. enlightened woman
Answer:
b. an oppressed woman
Question 7.
The gardener says that it is the nature of the tree to be ……….
a. big
b. green
c. small and cosy
d. beautiful
Answer:
c. small and cosy
Question 8.
Why is bonsai tree considered lucky?
a. because it is small in size
b. because it looks beautiful
c. because the gardener loves it
d. because it is grown in pot with care and support as it is week in nature
Answer:
d. because it is grown in pot with care and support as it is week in nature
Question 9.
What must begin at very early stage?
a. the training of growing up with sound body and mind
b. the process of limiting one’s growth
c. the training of facing the world outside
d. none of the above
Answer:
b. the process of limiting one’s growth
Question 10.
Whose growth does the poet actually mean to be dwarfed?
a. the gardener
b. the world of patriarchy
c. women
d. all living creature
Answer:
c. women
Question 11.
A girl’s feet are bound because …………….
a. the feet will remain tiny and beautiful
b. the feet can grow unrestrained
c. they will not be able to walk and remain home forever
d. the they will experience pain which the patriarchal world wants to inflict upon them
Answer:
a. the feet will remain tiny and beautiful
Question 12.
What should be done to a woman’s brain?
a. brain should be crippled to stop women from being matured
b. brain should be stuffed with knowledge
c. brain must be nurtured properly so that a woman can grow up being dignified
d. Nothing should be dome to the brain.
Answer:
a. brain should be crippled to stop women from being matured
Question 13.
Hands of women are expected to be …………….
a. coarse
b. big in size
c. tender
d. nothing specified
Answer:
c. tender
A Work of Artifice Poem Annotations with Comments
Lines 1 to 7:
bonsai: the art of growing artificially dwarfed varieties of trees and shrubs in pots. Bonsai, however is a globally popular Japanese gardening technique which involves miniaturizing trees so that they can be grown in a pot.
Attractive : decorative
could have grown: this however suggests that the tree is denied of its natural growth and is deliberately dwarfed for the purpose of indoor decoration on the side….
mountain : even the tree is denied to grow in its natural surrounding
gardener : a person who tends and cultivates a garden
prune: to cut off or cut back parts of for better shape or more fruitful growth.
Comments:
Bonsai tree : The bonsai tree is the symbol of oppressed women, forced to live under strict patriarchal norms. Like the tree, women too are denied of freedom. They are domesticated and are encouraged to nurture their beauty and remain attractive like the “small” bonsai tree.
could have grown eighty feet tall: The word “could” actually hint about the possibility of women to grow unrestrained. But, like the bonsai tree they too are denied of their growth. In this sense the poem is a strong protest against gender inequality.
Gardener : He is a representative of the strict patriarchal society which limits the growth of a woman. The gardener however trims the branches of the poor tree and disallows its complete growth. This is indicative of the way women are forced to lead limited lives. Their dreams are shattered by being caged indoor and they are made to believe that they are inferior objects meant only for decoration.
Lines 8 to 16:
nine inches high: the height of the bonsai tree is deliberately restricted to nine inches.
Whittles: shapes, trim.
Whittles back the
branches: trim the branches to beautify the tree
Croons: hum or sing in a soft, low voice,
Small: small In size.
Cozy: comfortable
Domestic: tamed
Weak: feeble
Lucky: Lucky because the tree is delicately grown In pot with constant care and support. Moreover, it Is protected from the natural extremities by being kept indoor.
Pot: the pot suggests the limited space where the tree is grown to restrict its natural growth
Comment
gardener croons: Crooning however suggests the joy of the gardener while brainwashing the tree. The tree however is made to believe that it is weak and the best option is to confine the tree in a pot with enough care and support, Instead of allowing it to grow unre-strained amidst its natural surroundings. The deceptive nature of the gardener is evident here.
Lines 17 to 24:
Early: refers to childhood
Dwarf: limit
Dwarf their growth: limit their growth so that they remain indoor and beautify themselves
Bound feet: refers to the pre-20th century Chinese beauty practice of binding the feet of women from childhood, so that the feet remain tiny and beautiful.
crippled brain: Not only is the woman’s body subject to transformation, but her mind too is disabled, brainwashed and maimed by the patriarchal society
curler: a device for putting a curl into hair.
the hair in curlers: echoes an image of youth. Women are also brainwashed to retain their childhood innocence where
hands you …… Love to touch: appearance plays an important role. A sweet appearance will definitely make a woman attractive in male eyes. hands are expected to remain delicate. A woman with tender hands is considered pure and perfect.
A Work of Artifice Poem Paraphrase
Lines 1 to 7:
The bonsai tree which is presently placed in a beautiful pot is denied of its natural growth. It could have grown to the height of eighty feet, on the side of a mountain. It might have grown strong by being exposed to nature with all its lethal effects like lightening. But, a gardener carefully trimmed it and denied its natural growth amidst natural ambience.
Lines 8 to 16:
The bonsai tree is now only nine inches high. Everyday the gardener trims the branches of the poor tree and drones with pleasure, while reminding the tree of its nature to remain perennially small. The gardener assures the tree saying that it is fortunate to-be safe in the pot where it grows with the constant care of the gardener. The tree however is weak and fragile. The best option is to confine the tree in a pot with care and support, instead of allowing it to grow unrestrained. amidst its natural surroundings.
Lines 17 to 24:
It must be remembered that the early ‘stage of life is the best time to limit one’s growth. This however helps to ensure a perfect beauty of an’ object, trimmed carefully. For example, it is a well known’ practice of binding the feet of women from childhood, so that the feet remain tiny and beautiful.
Women however are also brainwashed to retain their childhood innocence and remain playful and attractive. Their hands are expected to remain delicate which adds richness to their beauty. It must be remembered that a woman with tender hands is a pure and perfect woman.
A Work of Artifice Poem Summary by Marge Piercy
The bonsai tree, placed in a beautiful pot is denied of its natural growth by the gardener. The tree could have grown to the height of eighty feet, on the side of a mountain. It might have grown strong by being exposed to nature with all its lethal effects like lightening. But, a gardener carefully trims the tree and denies its natural growth amidst natural ambience.
Thus the bonsai tree is now only nine inches high. Every day the gardener trims the branches of the poor tree and drones with pleasure, while reminding the tree of its nature to remain perennially small. The gardener assures; the tree saying that is fortunate to be safe in the pot where it grows with the constant care. The tree however is weak and fragile.
The best option is to confine the tree in a pot with care and support, instead of allowing it to grow unrestrained amidst its natural surroundings. It must be remembered that the early stage of life is, the best time to limit one’s growth. This however ensures a pepper shape of a body with innocent mind.
For example, the poet refers to the pre-20th century Chinese beauty practice of binding the feet of women 4 from childhood, so that their feet remain tiny and beautiful. A woman’s early life is the best time to brainwash her mind so that she remains forever obsessed nurturing her beauty.
Retaining her innocence will add richness to her beauty for which a woman should be taught to remain playful and attractive. Moreover, her hands are expected to remain delicate as a woman with tender hands is considered a pure and perfect. Thus, the bonsai tree in the poem is the symbol of an oppressed woman, systematically controlled.
The gardener on the other is a significant representative of the patriarchal world who knows the way to oppress a woman. Hence, he dwarfs an eight feet tree to nine inches and justifies his action saying that it is the “nature” of the tree “to be small and cozy, domestic and weak”. In this sense, the poem is about gender inequality prevalent in a male dominated world.
A Work of Artifice Poem Introduction
Written in 1970, A Work of Artifice by Marge Piercy was published in her 1999 collection, The Art of Blessing the Day: Poems with a Jewish Theme. The poem explores how women are forced to succumb to the norms and dictates of a patriarchal society which ask her to ‘belong’ against her own wishes.
The gardener who feels elated with his “work of artifice”, is basically a representative of the strict patriarchal society which limits the growth of a woman. The bonsai tree on the other hand, is the symbol of an oppressed woman, neatly shaped and systematically controlled so that they remain only an object of beauty, delightful to look at.