41. In which year was Our Casuarina Tree first published?
a) 1856
b) 1879
c) 1882
d) 1895
Answer: c) 1882
Explanation: Our Casuarina Tree was first published in 1882, and it marked a significant moment in Indo-Anglian literature. Written by Toru Dutt, the poem reflects personal loss and the beauty of nature through the lens of her childhood memories. The year 1882 is notable because it represents a time when Indian poets were still pioneers in English-language poetry, making Dutt’s work a key milestone in the development of Indian English literature.
42. In which poetry collection was Our Casuarina Tree included?
a) A Sheaf Gleaned in French Fields
b) Ancient Ballads and Legends of Hindustan
c) Gitanjali
d) The Golden Threshold
Answer: b) Ancient Ballads and Legends of Hindustan
Explanation: Our Casuarina Tree is included in the poetry collection titled Ancient Ballads and Legends of Hindustan, published posthumously. This collection reflects Dutt’s engagement with both Indian mythology and English poetic traditions. The poems in this collection explore Indian themes, and Our Casuarina Tree stands out as a personal tribute to her childhood, nature, and lost loved ones, blending romanticism with nostalgia.
43. What is the structure of the poem Our Casuarina Tree?
a) A sonnet
b) Free verse
c) A narrative poem
d) A five-stanza poem with a unique rhyme scheme
Answer: d) A five-stanza poem with a unique rhyme scheme
Explanation: The structure of the poem is divided into five stanzas of varying lengths, each contributing to the flow of the poet’s emotions. This formal yet emotional structure enables Dutt to express her memories, attachment to nature, and nostalgia effectively. The unique rhyme scheme (ABBA CDDC EEE) used in the poem enhances its rhythm and emotional impact, making it stand out as a deeply reflective and personal work.
44. What was the title of Toru Dutt’s first major collection of poems?
a) “The Lotus”
b) “A Sheaf Gleaned in French Fields”
c) “The Casuarina Tree”
d) “The Indian Flowers”
Answer: b) “A Sheaf Gleaned in French Fields”
Explanation: Toru Dutt’s first major collection of poems was titled “A Sheaf Gleaned in French Fields” (1876). This work consists mainly of translations of French poems by writers like Victor Hugo and Charles Baudelaire. It also includes a few of Dutt’s original poems, showcasing her poetic talent. The collection reflects her deep engagement with both Western literary traditions and Indian themes, marking her as one of the early Indian writers in English literature. It was published posthumously by her father after her untimely death.
45. What is the literary genre of Our Casuarina Tree?
a) Romantic poetry
b) Epic poetry
c) Pastoral poetry
d) Elegiac poetry
Answer: d) Elegiac poetry
Explanation: The poem is a deeply personal and mournful reflection on loss, memory, and the poet’s love for her departed companions, embodied through the casuarina tree. Its tone is lamenting, as seen in lines like “till the hot tears blind mine eyes” and “the tree’s lament,” which are hallmarks of elegiac poetry—a genre focused on expressing sorrow, often for the dead, and meditating on mortality. While it has elements of nature (like pastoral poetry), emotional depth (like romantic poetry), and a narrative quality (somewhat like epic poetry), its primary focus on grief and remembrance aligns it with the elegiac tradition. The dedication of a “lay” to honor the tree and the lost loved ones, along with the plea to escape “Oblivion’s curse,” further reinforces this genre.
a) Romantic poetry: It has romantic elements (nature, emotion, nostalgia), but it’s not primarily about individualism or transcendence, key romantic traits.
b) Epic poetry: It’s not a long narrative of heroic deeds; it’s lyrical and personal.
c) Pastoral poetry: It describes nature but isn’t focused on rural life or shepherds; the tree’s role is symbolic, not idyllic.
d) Elegiac poetry: Fits best due to its mournful tone, tribute to the dead, and reflective mood.
46. How many lines are there in Our Casuarina Tree?
a) 40
b) 45
c) 50
d) 55
Answer: d) 55
Explanation: The poem contains 55 lines, which is a moderate length for a reflective lyrical poem. The relatively concise structure allows Dutt to express her emotions clearly while maintaining an intimate tone throughout. Each line contributes to the overall sense of reflection and nostalgia, enhancing the personal connection the poet has with the Casuarina tree and the memories associated with it.
47. What inspired Toru Dutt to write Our Casuarina Tree?
a) The deforestation of Casuarina trees
b) The loss of her childhood companions and memories associated with the tree
c) A folk tale about a Casuarina tree
d) Her studies in France and England
Answer: b) The loss of her childhood companions and memories associated with the tree
Explanation: The poem was inspired by Dutt’s personal grief over the loss of her childhood companions and the memories tied to the Casuarina tree. She had strong emotional connections to the tree, which represented her past, family, and the love she shared with her companions. The tree’s presence in the poem symbolizes how memory and nature intertwine to preserve what is lost over time.
48. What type of poem is Our Casuarina Tree in terms of subject matter?
a) A personal and reflective poem
b) A political poem about colonialism
c) A religious hymn
d) A poem about scientific discoveries
Answer: a) A personal and reflective poem
Explanation: Toru Dutt’s Our Casuarina Tree is deeply personal and reflective, focusing on her emotional connection to the tree and the memories associated with it. The poem meditates on loss, nostalgia, and the passage of time, drawing from the poet’s own experiences and personal grief. It offers a timeless reflection on memory and the healing power of nature to preserve emotional connections.
49. Which poetic tradition influenced Toru Dutt’s writing style?
a) Modernism
b) Romanticism
c) Postcolonial literature
d) Symbolism
Answer: b) Romanticism
Explanation: Toru Dutt was heavily influenced by Romanticism, particularly its emphasis on emotion, nature, and individual experience. In Our Casuarina Tree, Dutt reflects the Romantic interest in nature as a means to express deep personal emotions, such as longing, loss, and nostalgia. The Romantic tradition’s focus on the subjective experience of the poet is central to the poem, where the tree becomes a symbol of memory and emotional connection.
50. Why is Our Casuarina Tree considered unique in Indo-Anglian literature?
a) It is one of the earliest English poems by an Indian poet
b) It is the longest poem written in English by an Indian poet
c) It is the first poem written about a tree
d) It is written in blank verse
Answer: a) It is one of the earliest English poems by an Indian poet
Explanation: Toru Dutt, born in 1856 and writing in the 1870s, was a pioneer in Indo-Anglian (Indian English) literature. When Ancient Ballads and Legends of Hindustan, which includes “Our Casuarina Tree,” was published posthumously in 1882, it marked one of the earliest instances of an Indian poet mastering English poetry with sophistication. At a time when English was primarily a colonial language in India, Dutt’s fluent, emotionally rich work stood out, blending Indian themes (the casuarina tree, her childhood) with Western poetic traditions (Romanticism, elegiac forms). This made her a trailblazer in Indian literature in English, alongside figures like Henry Derozio, though she’s notable for her lyrical depth and personal voice.
51. What was the full name of Toru Dutt?
a) Torulatta Dutt
b) Toru Bala Dutt
c) Tarini Dutt
d) Toru Kumari Dutt
Answer: a) Torulatta Dutt
Explanation: The full name of Toru Dutt was Torulatta Dutt. She was one of the earliest Indo-Anglian poets, writing in English and French. Dutt made significant contributions to Indian English literature, blending Indian themes with Western poetic traditions. Her work was characterized by melancholic nostalgia, love for nature, and personal reflections, marking her as a unique voice in the literary world despite her early death at the age of 21.
52. When was Toru Dutt born?
a) 1856
b) 1861
c) 1877
d) 1849
Answer: a) 1856
Explanation: Toru Dutt was born March 4, 1856, in Calcutta (now Kolkata), India, into a Bengali Brahmin family. Despite her early life being marked by the loss of loved ones, she became a pioneer of Indo-Anglian literature. Her works in English represented a fusion of Indian themes and Western literary styles, influenced by the Romantic era. Her poetry continues to be celebrated for its emotional depth and vivid depictions of nature and memory.
53. What was the cause of Toru Dutt’s early death?
a) Malaria
b) Tuberculosis
c) Smallpox
d) Cholera
Answer: b) Tuberculosis
Explanation: Toru Dutt died on August 30, 1877, at the age of 21, from tuberculosis (often referred to as consumption in her time). This disease also claimed the lives of her siblings—her brother Abju in 1865 and her sister Aru in 1874—making it a tragic recurring affliction in her family. Her frail health, worsened by the loss of her siblings and the damp climate of Calcutta, contributed to her early demise, as noted in historical accounts of her life.
54. Toru Dutt is often considered the first Indian poet to write in which language?
a) Hindi
b) Sanskrit
c) English
d) Bengali
Answer: c) English
Explanation: Toru Dutt is widely regarded as one of the first Indian poets to write in English, helping pioneer Indo-Anglian literature. Her works are significant because she mastered English and used it to explore Indian themes through a Western literary tradition. Her poetic style combines Western Romanticism with Indian emotional depth, making her an important figure in Indian literature in English.
55. Which country did Toru Dutt visit for her education?
a) United States
b) France and England
c) Australia
d) Germany
Answer: b) France and England
Explanation: In 1869, at the age of 13, Toru Dutt traveled with her family to Europe. She spent time in France, where she attended a school in Nice and learned French, and then in England, where she studied at a college in Cambridge in 1871–1873. This exposure to European culture and literature, particularly English Romantic poets like Wordsworth and French writers, deeply influenced her writing, including “Our Casuarina Tree.” She returned to India in 1873 due to her worsening health.
56. Which of the following books was written by Toru Dutt?
a) The Golden Threshold
b) A Sheaf Gleaned in French Fields
c) Gitanjali
d) Songs of Life and Death
Answer: b) A Sheaf Gleaned in French Fields
Explanation: Toru Dutt authored A Sheaf Gleaned in French Fields, a collection of English translations of French poetry, published in 1876 during her lifetime. She collaborated with her sister Aru on many of these translations, showcasing her fluency in French and English. “Our Casuarina Tree” appeared later in Ancient Ballads and Legends of Hindustan, published posthumously in 1882.
57. What was the major theme of Toru Dutt’s poetry?
a) Social justice
b) Nostalgia, nature, and loss
c) Scientific discoveries
d) Politics and revolution
Answer: b) Nostalgia, nature, and loss
Explanation: The major themes in Toru Dutt’s poetry revolve around nostalgia, nature, and loss. She often expressed longing for her homeland, childhood, and lost loved ones. Her poems reflect a deep connection to nature, using natural imagery to explore personal and emotional experiences. Through her elegiac tone, she captured the beauty of life and the sadness of mortality, blending Romanticism with personal sorrow.
58. Which Indo-Anglian poetry collection was published posthumously by Toru Dutt’s father?
a) Sita and Other Poems
b) Ancient Ballads and Legends of Hindustan
c) The Lotus and the Moon
d) Poems from the East
Answer: b) Ancient Ballads and Legends of Hindustan
Explanation: After Toru Dutt’s death in 1877, her father, Govin Chunder Dutt, edited and published Ancient Ballads and Legends of Hindustan in 1882. This collection includes “Our Casuarina Tree” and other poems, showcasing her talent in blending Indian themes with English poetic forms. It’s one of her most celebrated works and a key contribution to early Indo-Anglian literature.
59. In which language, other than English, did Toru Dutt write?
a) Bengali
b) French
c) Sanskrit
d) Tamil
Answer: b) French
Explanation: While Toru Dutt is best known for her English poetry, such as “Our Casuarina Tree,” she also wrote in French. During her time in France (1869–1870), she became fluent in the language and produced original works, including a novel, Le Journal de Mademoiselle d’Arvers, published posthumously in 1879. She also translated French poetry into English, as seen in A Sheaf Gleaned in French Fields (1876).
60. What poetic device is used in the line “Like a huge Python, winding round and round”?
a) Metaphor
b) Simile
c) Alliteration
d) Personification
Answer: b) Simile
Explanation: In this line, simile is used, which is a direct comparison made using “like” or “as.” The poet compares the creeper winding around the tree to a huge python, emphasizing the way the creeper tightly coils around the tree’s trunk. The use of “like” indicates a simile, which vividly describes the snake-like movement of the creeper. This comparison serves to create a strong visual image in the reader’s mind, making the tree appear dynamic and alive.
