Write a note on the use of imagery and allusions in Toru Dutt’s “Our Casuarina Tree”.

Write a note on the use of imagery and allusions in Toru Dutt’s “Our Casuarina Tree”.

Toru Dutt’s ‘Our Casuarina Tree’ is included in The Ancient Ballads and Legends of Hindusthan. It is the last poem in the collection. In its form and the content the poem ‘Our Casuarina Tree’ reminds us of Keats’ odes. The lyric deals with themes of nostalgia, longing, imagination and transcendence. The word ‘our’ adds a personal touch to the poem. The word implies that the tree was not just an ordinary tree for the poet. It was a part of her life and memory, an integral aspect of her childhood that she shared with her brother and sister. The poem brings out her nostalgic recollection of the past. The graden which repeatedly recurs in her letters constituted an important aspect of her poetic psyche. The tree thus emerges not only as a symbol of her bygone days of childhood but it also subtly hints at the poet’s intense craving for permanence and eternity.

The opening image, which compares a large creeper crawling around the tree to a “huge Python” (1), might at first seem dark and foreboding, but the image ultimately emphasizes the great strength of the tree itself. For some readers, the tree symbolizes the ancient and venerable culture of India, while the huge encircling creeper symbolizes the potentially deadly influence of colonialism. Most immediately, though, the creeper itself seems to add a kind of beauty to the tree; it, after all, is called a “scarf” (6), a word with fairly positive connotations.

Literary allusions are abundant in this poem. In "Our Casuarina Tree," the first line uses zoomorphism, describing the vine in animal terms (as a python). This is used to illustrate movement, making the tree seem more actively alive and also, by implying movement, there is a subtle indication of the process of time. This again is a simile compareing the creeper to a huge, dangerous, python. Another simile compares the unmoving baboon to a statue. In the last line of the second stanza, the speaker uses another simile to describe the water-lillies "like snow enmassed."...............................................................................................................................................

TO GET COMPLETE STUDY MATERIAL JOIN NSOU ENGLISH COACHING

SHARE

Milan Tomic

Hi. I’m Designer of Blog Magic. I’m CEO/Founder of ThemeXpose. I’m Creative Art Director, Web Designer, UI/UX Designer, Interaction Designer, Industrial Designer, Web Developer, Business Enthusiast, StartUp Enthusiast, Speaker, Writer and Photographer. Inspired to make things looks better.

• 
• 
• 
• 
•