A Work of Artifice
ICSE · Class 10 · English Literature-Treasure Chest ( Poems and Short Stories)
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Get startedWhat is the central metaphor in A Work of Artifice?
Answer
The central metaphor is the bonsai tree. It represents a woman whose growth and potential are deliberately limited by patriarchal society.
Why is the bonsai tree an effective symbol in the poem?
Answer
A bonsai tree is made small by careful pruning and tying, even though it could grow much larger. This makes it a powerful symbol of a life that is controlled, restricted, and denied full freedom.
What does the gardener represent?
Answer
The gardener represents patriarchal society or the oppressor. He controls the bonsai tree and makes its small size seem natural and acceptable.
What is meant by the line about the tree that could have grown eighty feet tall?
Answer
It shows the tree's true potential. The line suggests that the bonsai could have grown freely and strongly, but its growth was stopped by pruning. This highlights lost freedom and wasted possibility.
What does the line 'It is nine inches high' suggest?
Answer
It shows the result of control and restriction. The tree is kept very small through deliberate pruning, and this small size reflects a life that has been reduced by outside power.
What does irony mean in the poem?
Answer
Irony is when something is said that is opposite to the truth. The gardener says the tree's nature is to be small and weak, but the tree could actually have grown very large. This exposes the false cl…
Why is the gardener's claim about the tree's nature ironic?
Answer
It is ironic because the gardener pretends that the tree is naturally small, while the poem clearly shows that the tree has been forced to stay small by pruning. The claim hides oppression as if it we…
What does the poem suggest about women and domestic life?
Answer
The poem suggests that women were expected to stay inside the home and do household tasks. They were often treated as if they should be small, quiet, weak, and decorative rather than free and independ…
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