Trees Can Speak

~ Alan Marshall

1. 'Half the troubles of this world comes from collections of

specks like those.' What is your opinion of the above
reflection?
Ans: The quoted words sound true because they suggest
that a significant portion of the world's biggest troubles
arise from the accumulation of small and seemingly
insignificant substances which more often than not, is the
case.

2. What is unique about the man referred to as Silent Joe?

Ans: Silent Joe, according to the storekeeper, is known for
speaking rarely. If he does utter a word, it is usually something
simple like "hullo". Instead of speaking, Silent Joe primarily
uses gestures like nodding or shaking of head to convey his
thoughts and feelings.

3. Why does the narrator perceive the bush as beckoning like

a friend while looking at silent Joe?
Ans: The narrator describes how Silent Joe looks at him and
compares him to a bush. However, it is not a sense of
remoteness or pity that silent Joe feels for the narrator. His
calm demeanour and natural eye colour “greenish-grey of the
bush” suggests a profound connection with nature and its
surrounding wilderness. Despite Silent Joe’s minimal
communication, his non-verbal gesture conveys a sense of
kinship and deep understanding with the narrator. It fosters a
feeling of warmth and companionship akin to a friendly
greeting, making it seem as though, the trees spoke through
him.

4. What did the man do as he reached his spot?

Ans: The man reached a spot where the stream widened into a
pool. He squatted on his heels and scooped some water into
the dish. He stood up and bending over the dish, began to wash
the dirt it contained by swinging it in a circular motion.

5. Which line suggests that the narrator was specially-abled?

Ans: "I lifted my crutches ...pool".
The above line suggests that the narrator of the story “Trees
Can Speak” was specially -abled.
6. How did the narrator describe silent Joe's smile after he
said half the problems of the world come from collections
of specks of gold like those found by him?
Ans: The narrator describes Silent Joe's smile as one taking a
long time to develop, comparing it to that of an egret in
flight, as the smile, just like an egret, had come and gone.

7. Who did the narrator see as he looked up after hearing

footsteps?
Ans: The narrator saw a man carrying a prospector's dish,
clambering down the bank, as he looked up hearing the
footsteps.

8. How did the narrator describe Joe's eyes?

Ans: The narrator observed that Joe's eyes were the greenish
grey of the bush, and there was no hostility in his look.
 9. What did the narrator come to know about the man from
the shopkeeper?
Ans: The narrator came to know from the shopkeeper that
the man never spoke, and few people had heard him say a
few words like 'hullo'. He made himself understood by
shaking or nodding his head. This was the reason he was also
called silent Joe.

10. What observation did the narrator make about the muddy
water as Silent Joe washed the dirt from his dish?
Ans: The narrator sat down and observed silent Joe, who
poured some muddy water into the clear pool. The mud rolled
along the sandy bottom, twisting and turning in whorls until it
faded into a faint cloud moving swiftly with the current.
11. "There was no hostility in his looks… just a searching"
What impression do you make from this?
Ans: The impression conveyed by the statement "there was no
hostility in his looks" suggests that Silent Joe, though a taciturn,
was not unfriendly towards others. He appeared attentive and
observant, with a deep sense of curiosity. He seemed to
maintain inner peace and was not without respect for those
around him.
12. "Get anything?"
a) Who is the speaker in the above line?
Ans: The narrator who is a physically challenged boy is the
speaker in the above line.
b) Who is the one spoken to in the above line?
Ans: The man with the nickname Silent Joe is the listener in the
above line.
c) What did Silent Joe point to the narrator?
Ans: Silent Joe pointed the narrator's attention to the three
specks of gold resting on the outer edge of the dish.

Textual Questions
13.“If I could only understand him I would understand the
bush, I thought.”
What was the speaker’s observation about silent Joe’s
silence? (Shubhayan)
 Ans: The speaker, a physically challenged boy, observed that
the silence of Silent Joe was like trees, which was remote.
This creates a sense of a deep connection that the man
shared with nature. The boy said that if he could understand
silent Joe, he could also understand the language of the
bushes. He perhaps implied that the silence of Silent Joe was
not the silence of absence of speech but the eloquent silence
of the trees.

14.What did silent joe do for the benefit of the narrator?

(Adrish)
Ans: The narrator, was a physically challenged boy who had
to use crutches to walk. So, Silent Joe studied the track to go
to the mine for the narrator’s benefit. Leading the path
through the forest, he kicked the limbs aside and broke the
branches of wattles drooping over the path that skirted the
foot of the hill in order to help the boy navigate the path
smoothly.
15. Describe the view of the opening of the shaft through the
eyes of the protagonist. (Souryashis)
Ans: The protagonist, a physically challenged boy, saw a
mound of yellow clay which rose from around the edge of
the shaft. There was a windlass which was erected on top
of the mound and spanned the opening. Also, there was a
heavy iron bucket which dangled from the roller.

16. Describe the track to the mine. (Souryashis)

 Ans: The track skirted the foot of the hill, and was going
through the thick timbers of the Australian bush. It was a
wild track, with limbs and branches of wattles which
drooped over it. At the very end, it dipped sharply and
reached a small clearing.

17.What did the narrator face, on peering down from top of

the mound into the darkness? (Sunrit)

Ans: The narrator, when he climbed on top of the mound,

peered down into the darkness. A movement of air which
was dank with the moisture of buried rocks and clay, welled
up and broke coldly on his face as he did so.

18.Why was Silent Joe looking at his mine with a pleased

expression? (Anuska)

Ans: Silent Joe was looking at his mine with a pleased

expression because it was the first time when somebody
showed interest in what he had done and appreciated it.
Usually, people looked down upon him since he did not
communicate verbally, but only shook or nodded his head or
used physical gestures to express himself.

19.Describe the track through which the narrator and his

companion walked through. (Partho)

Ans: The track that the narrator and his companion had
taken passed through a dense wood. There was a canopy
 of branches and the shoulders of the narrator and his
quiet companion, Silent Joe, were spangled with leaf
patterns formed by the sunlight that filtered through the
foliage. There was a leaf-mould breath of earth which rose
from the foot-printed moss. Finally, the track dipped
sharply and ended in a small clearing.

20.What did the narrator push and where? How did it fall
down? (Tuhin)

Ans: The narrator pushed a small stone over the edge of

the mine.

The stone flashed silently from sight, speeding through a

narrow darkness for a tense gap of time and then rang an
ending from somewhere deep down in the earth.

21.Explain the lines --- "We moved into thicker timber. The
sun pierced the canopy of branches and spangled our
shoulders with leaf patterns. " (Snigdhatapa)

Ans: The narrator and his companion moved through the

path that led them through the dense woods where the
sun pierced through the canopy of branches and spangled
their shoulders with leaf patterns. This serves to explain
that the forest was rather dense and the light of the sun
could only filter with difficulty through the deep foliage to
form patterns of leaves.

HOTS Question
22.. What does the silence and remoteness of Silent Joe
signify? (Framed by Partho)
Ans: The silence of Silent Joe did not seem like an ordinary
silence; it seemed meaningful. People do not always need to
use verbal communication to express themselves, they can
express themselves with the help of gestures and postures.
That silence can be eloquent, holds true for Joe. The narrator,
in the story, does not hear even a single word from Silent Joe,
yet he gets all his questions answered and doubts clarified. It
was through silence that the two had forged a strong
connection with one another in which their mutual
understanding served as the basis of communication instead of
articulated words.

23.What do you understand from the relationship of the

narrator and Silent Joe? (Framed by Ankit)
Ans: The relationship between the narrator and Silent Joe
seemed to be built on silent communication with the
expressions making their friendship stronger. The narrator,
mostly out of curiosity, made Silent Joe enjoy the attention he
had never experienced from any other person. Silent Joe, on
the other hand, upon seeing the narrator physically challenged,
had developed a softened attitude toward him. Ultimately,
their mutual trust helped them forge a strong bond of
friendship which even made Silent Joe speak, perhaps after
a very long time.
Fact
 Alan Marshall himself contracted polio as a child, which limited
his mobility. Some believe "Trees Can Speak" might be
influenced by his own experiences. The story's protagonist, a
young narrator is similarly restricted in his movement, finding
solace and companionship in the natural world around him.
24. “The bucket twisted slowly…I was alone.”
a. What did the narrator see while he was moving down?

The narrator, who was afflicted with polio, saw a spiraling

succession of jutting rock and layers of clay as he moved down
the shaft.
b. When did the narrator start feeling alone?
After the narrator bumped to a side, the shaft took a turn and
continued down at an angle. The opening soon got eclipsed, as
though detaching him from the rest of the world, making him
feel alone.
c. Why did the narrator feel alone?
The narrator was already alone in the shaft while he was going
down. Even though, the man, who was making the bucket
move down was present on the top of the shaft, the darkness
around him made him feel cut off from the rest of the world. It
perhaps felt like he was in a different world. So, he felt lonely.

25.Why do you think the narrator could not climb the ladder
going down the mine even though he could climb ladders?
Ans: The narrator ,that is the young boy’s mind was full of
unwavering power, real and formidable determination that
many healthy people lack .Normal ladders have strong steps to
keep one’s feet on it for some time .They provide support and
stability. This was why he could climb normal ladders without
worry but the ladder mentioned in the story was made of
fastened rope and lashed saplings and was without any solid
platform to stand on. So it was tough for the narrator to climb
it.
26. Why do you think silent Joe looked at the narrator with
sympathetic concern?
Ans: The speaker, silent Jo was a very
introvert kind of person. He hardly spoke to
anyone despite his hardest problem. He
always tried to express himself using
gestures and postures. With a questioning
glance he actually wanted to know the cause
of the boy’s ill fate . Thus, the old man felt
pity for the boy.
27. What did Silent Joe do after the narrator asked if he was
coming down the ladder?
Ans: - Silent Joe nodded and confirmed that he was coming
down the ladder. Then he caught hold of the bucket handle and
lifted it. As a result, the narrator was swung out over the shaft.
The bucket slowly revolved, and then stopped and began a
reversing movement. He grasped the windlass and removed a
chock. He braced himself against the strain and his powerful
arms worked slowly like crankshafts, lowering the narrator into
the cold air of the shaft.
28. Why have the powerful arms of the
man compared to crankshafts ?
Ans: - The man used controlled motion
to work the windlass much like a
crankshaft’s movement. Secondly, a
crankshaft is a very sturdy piece of
powerful machinery. Comparing it to the man’s arms implies
that the man had substantial amount of strength. Finally, the
continuous rotation of a crankshaft implies tireless effort,
which, in the context, reflects the man's persistence in using his
strength.
29. From the narrator’s description, how do you think was the
shaft he was about to enter like?
Ans: - The final sentence of the paragraph mentions "cold air".
Cold air usually settles in depressed areas, and the smell of
frogs could indicate a damp environment. This depicts a vivid
scene of a likely chilly, possibly even wet, space beneath the
shaft that the narrator was about to enter.

30.What was the idea suggested by the boy to the old man so
that he could see the gold reef of the old man?
Ans: The young boy could not climb down the rope as his leg
was afflicted by polio and could not be moved. So, he wanted
to get down the rope with the help of a bucket attached to the
rope.
31. Do you think the young boy mentioned in the story was
adventurous? Cite some instances from the story. [HOTS]
Ans: Yes, the boy was daring and bold. He wanted to go down
and see the gold mine from where the old man used to get
gold. “Do you think you could lower me down in that bucket?”
suggests the courageous mindset of the young boy.
32. Why does the narrator Alan Marshall say that "why did I
come down here? This is damn silly thing to do."
ANS: - The phrase "Why did I come down here? from Alan
Marshall's "Trees Can Speak" captured the narrator's initial
doubts or disbelief regarding the idea of communicating with
trees. "This is a damn silly thing to do." This line suggests a brief
moment of hesitation or reflection as the narrator considers
the unusual circumstances that surround them. They might be
doubting their own actions or goals, and they might be
wondering why they let themselves become involved in
something that seems so unusual or unlikely. This inner
monologue could be an attempt to highlight the narrator's
mental struggle or uncertainty as they navigate the unknown
territory of communicating with trees.
33. “I expected him to demur…..danger involved”
a. Who is referred to as ‘he’ here ?
Ans: Silent Joe is referred to as ‘he’ here.
b. Who is the speaker of the above words?
Ans: The narrator of the story, ‘Trees Can Speak’ by Alan
Marshall is the speaker of the above words.
c. What did ‘I’ expect from ‘he’ in the above quoted
 lines?
Ans: The narrator expected silent Joe to demur. It would be a
natural reaction and the narrator expected him to shake his
head in an expressive communication of the danger involved.
34. What is the essential message communicated through
the story?
Ans: One very relevant word to
describe the essence of the story is
‘harmony’.
In 'Trees Can Speak,' the narrator
learns about the deep bond
between humans and nature. The
story emphasizes love and
understanding for the environment and also between two
individuals who are very different from one another. Trees, like
the narrator, are shown to communicate and offer wisdom.
Through this, the narrator learns about harmony and the
interconnectedness of all life forms. The comparison of the
man to a tree highlights generosity and compassion. Overall,
the story encourages readers to connect more deeply with
Nature and be open to its teachings.
35) ‘‘But he didn’t hesitate.’’
a) Who is the speaker of the above line ?
Ans : The speaker of the above mentioned line is the narrator
of the story, ‘Trees Can Speak’ by Alan Marshall.
b) Who is being referred to as ‘he’ in the above line ?
Ans: Silent Joe is being referred to as ‘he’ in the above
mentioned line.
c) What did he do after that?
Ans: Silent Joe reached out across the shaft and drew a bucket
to the edge for the narrator to go down the shaft. The narrator
placed his crutches on the ground and straddled it . His legs
hung down the sides of the bucket and the handle laid between
his knees. The narrator grasped the rope and questioned the
prospector if he was coming down the ladder.
36. What did the narrator do to save himself? What does this
tell us about the narrator?
Ans: The narrator of the story, the young boy pushed against
the side of the shaft to save his legs from being scraped against
rocks.
The narrator was truly a courageous, daring and fearless
despite being physically challenged due to polio infection.The
experience could be quite intimidating even for the supposed
wholesome lot , to go down to the depths of the gold mine
without any light . The narrator, curious as he was, took the
risk. This young boy indeed had a lot of will power and
determination. His actions spoke eloquently about his
confidence, persuasive skills and strength of personality.
Fact:-
1. Alan Marshall was not only a poet but also a prominent
Australian writer and social activist. Despite losing his right arm
in a workplace accident at the age of 18, Marshall went on to
achieve significant success in his writing career, becoming
known for his vivid portrayals of Australian life and landscape.
His resilience in overcoming adversity and his dedication
to storytelling make him an inspiring figure in both literature
and disability advocacy.

2. Alan Marshall is that he wrote his most famous work, "I Can
Jump Puddles," using a typewriter by holding a pen in his
prosthetic arm. This remarkable feat showcases his
determination and creativity, demonstrating how he adapted
to his physical limitations to pursue his passion for writing.
Marshall's ability to overcome challenges and continue his
literary pursuits serves as an inspiration to many aspiring
writers and individuals facing adversity.

36.) “A heavy darkness pressed against me”

i)Who is referred to as ‘me’ here?
Ans: The narrator of the story “Trees Can Speak”, by Alan
Marshall has been referred to as ‘me’ here.
ii)Describe the scenario as the darkness pressed against ‘me’.
Ans: The narrator was eager to see the reef from where Silent
Joe extracted gold. The narrator asked him if he could lower
him down the shaft in a bucket, and Joe, understanding the
narrator’s intense desire, agreed to help him. The narrator
straddled on the bucket keeping his legs hanging down the
sides and the handle between his knees. He slowly revolved the
bucket to lower the narrator down the shaft. While the
narrator was going down, he experienced a heavy darkness
pressing against him.
37.What did the narrator do on reaching down the floor of the
shaft?
Ans: The narrator, immediately after reaching the floor of the
shaft, slid off the bucket he was sitting in and placed himself on
the ground beside it.

38. What made the ladder creak?

Ans: Silent Joe who was coming down the ladder, had caused
that creaking sound as his feet pressed on the rungs of the
ladder.
39.How did the narrator feel at this time and who was beside
him? What did he do?
Ans: The narrator felt conscious of someone near him in the
dark. The person was Silent Joe who was as sensitive as the
narrator.
He flared a match and ignited a candle using it.
40.. Describe the flame.
 Ans. The flame was shaped like a yellow stiletto which rose
towards Silent Joe's face
and shrank back to the
drooping wick. He
sheltered it with his hand
till the wax melted and the
shadows moved away to a
tunnel.
41.. From where did the tunnel
branch?
Ans. The tunnel branched from
the foot of the shaft.
42. “I’m a fool’, I said”
Why did the narrator think himself to be a fool?
Ans: The narrator had left his crutches
back there by the shaft’s brink above the
ground. He was physically challenged and
was aware that walking was impossible
without the aid of his crutches. So, he
considered his actions as foolish and
unwise.
43. “I answered the unspoken
intention"
i) What intention is being referred to here and why is
it unspoken?
 Ans: The narrator, being physically challenged, needed his
own crutches to walk which he had left on the ground above.
He realized his mistake and felt a surge of frustration. The
man, Silent Joe understood the situation and silently offered
help, not by speaking rather conveying it through
expressions, to carry the narrator on his back. The narrator,
being equally sensitive, accepted the offer with gratitude as
if it was conveyed to him through words. This has been
referred to as ‘unspoken intention’ here.

ii) What traits of character of the narrator and Silent

Joe can be inferred from this context? [HOT]
Ans: The given context clearly suggests that the narrator is
sensitive enough to understand Joe’s thoughts and feelings just
by looking at his expressions. He was intuitive and shared a
powerful connection with Joe. He was keenly observant as well
because he noticed every small detail in the man’s expression
as well as his surroundings. Joe on the other hand, being
equally sensitive, had the ability to express anything without
using words. It seemed that he was confident about his
expressions which provided clarity even in silence and both
were comfortable in this mode of communication.
44) " 'Thanks very much. I'm not heavy.' "
What did the man do next?
Ans: The man bent down and lifted the narrator to his back.
The narrator felt that beneath his faded blue shirt, his shoulder
muscles first bunched then
slipped into movement.

45)"I rose and fell to each

firm step."
Why did the speaker rise and
fall to each firm step? What does this tell us about the man?
Ans: The man bent down and lifted the narrator to his back. He
crouched low as he walked so that the head of the narrator
would not strike the rocks projecting from the roof of the
tunnel. Thus, the narrator rose and fell to each firm step of the
man.
This tells us that the man genuinely cared for the narrator
and was careful enough in his steps not to hurt him. He
enjoyed the curiosity of the narrator and wanted to show him
the upcoming source of gold.

46)How does the bond between Silent Joe and the narrator
challenge our understanding of communication in the story
'Trees Can Speak'? [HOT]
Ans: The bond between Silent Joe and the narrator in Alan
Marshall's "Trees Can Speak" demonstrates that
communication extends far beyond spoken words. Despite
Silent Joe's remoteness and the narrator's physical disability,
they share a profound connection that is expressed through
their actions and the natural world around them. The quote
“Actions speak better than words” is highly applicable in this
story. The story suggests that trees and nature hold a language
of their own that is silence which conveys emotions, thoughts,
and a sense of belonging much stronger than articulated
words.
47) How did the specially-abled narrator get off silent Joe’s
shoulder at the end of the drive? What was the reaction of
Silent Joe?
Ans: Silent Joe stopped and lowered the narrator gently to the
ground at the end of the drive.
Joe held the candle close to the face and pointed a heavy finger
at the narrow reef which formed a diagonal scar across the
rock.
48)“So that’s it! I exclaimed.”-Why do you think the narrator
was so excited?
Ans: The narrator was in a mine for the first time and was
extremely curious and excited to find gold and all other
treasures of the underworld. When Silent Joe pointed towards
a narrow reef, the narrator understood that there may be
specks of gold inside and that is why he exclaimed in such an
overjoyed manner.
49.How did Silent Joe understand that there may be specks of
gold inside the narrow reef which he pointed at?
Ans: Many villagers did not interact with Silent Joe so they did
not know anything about him. The narrator had established a
strong bond of friendship with him and he had brought the
narrator to his mine. When he was asked if that was his mine,
he nodded his head with a pleasant explanation which suggests
that Silent Joe had been working on it for many years.
Therefore, he was experienced enough to look at a rock and
say if there was any speck of gold inside.
50.)How did Silent Joe find the gold in the shattered pieces
collected by the narrator?
Ans: Silent Joe saw the
narrator observing the
shattered pieces. He bent his
head near the narrator’s head
and looked at the pieces
picked up by the narrator and
reached out his hand to take it
away. Then, he licked the piece
to reveal an indication of a
speck of gold adhering to the
surface.
51)How did Silent Joe help the narrator observe the rocks
found inside the reef?
Ans: The narrator being physically challenged could not himself
bend down to pick up a piece from the reef. Thus, Silent Joe
helped the narrator pick up a piece by lifting a small bar from
the ground and driving it into the vein.
Fun fact: Even though gold is a valuable metal, the amount of
gold you actually mine from a ton of rock is very small. In
some cases, it's less than an ounce!
52.. “I was excited at the find. I asked him many questions.”
What does this tell us about the speaker's character?
Ans: The narrator of the story seems to be a curious person
who is eager to see the reef where Joe collected the gold,
despite his disability. He shows enthusiasm when he spots the
specks of gold in the prospector’s dish and inside the reef.
53. Despite Silent Joe’s lack of speech, the narrator was able
to comprehend all that he intended to express. Explain. [HOT]
Ans: Joe was a silent observer who interacted with his
surroundings. Although he did not speak, his emotions were
clearly visible on his face. Despite his lack of speech, he was a
highly expressive person, as his actions spoke louder than his
words. This often made him seem mysterious to others but
friendly enough to sensitive people like the narrator.
Fun Fact: Spending time in quiet environments can stimulate
the growth of new cells in the part of your brain linked to
learning and memory.

“I think it’s time.....as if a tree had spoken.”

54) Who is referred to as 'he' here?
Ans: The narrator's quiet friend who only used gestures and
expressions to communicate , commonly known as Silent Joe
by many, had been referred to as 'he' here.
55) How did the narrator prepare himself to leave the shaft?
Ans: The narrator was carried to the foot of the shaft by his
companion, Silent Joe. On reaching the foot of the shaft, the
narrator tied his knees together with a string and placed his
legs in the bucket. He sat on the edge of the bucket clasping
the windless rope and waited , and was ready to leave the
shaft.
56) Why do you think the narrator prepared to leave the shaft
in such a way instead of using the ladder?
Ans: The narrator did not want to use the ladder because he
was specially abled. His right leg was affected by polio. Also he
was not much confident to use the ladder , since the ladder
was made up of lashed saplings, unlike an iron or a wooden
ladder , which would have been much more stronger.

57) Why do you think the world of birds and trees and
laughter was remote as a star?
Ans - The narrator of the story "Trees can Speak" was of curious
nature and so he wanted to see the narrow reef which formed
a diagonal scar where the specs of gold were found . In order to
see it, he went with Silent Joe, the prospector deep inside the
shaft to see the specs of gold.The shaft was so deep that after
they reached the bottom, claimed by the narrator that the
world of birds and trees and laughter was remote as a star to
them as they were very far from where they were at that time.
58) How do you get to know that it was hard to step without
lighting a candle in the dark mine of gold ?
Ans - A statement in the story 'the Trees can Speak' by Alan
Marshall refers that the darkness had texture and weight like a
blanket of black. This specifies that it was hard to step without
lighting a candle in the dark mine.
59) Why do you think the narrator crashed against the side?
Ans:-The narrator had crashed against the side of the mineshaft
probably because the bucket in which the narrator was sitting
became too weak to bear the weight of the narrator as it was
used to carry loads of gold from the mine. As the narrator's
friend Silent Joe was pulling it, it started to move round and
round and crashed against the walls of the mine.
60) How did the narrator manage to get out of the mineshaft?
Ans:-The narrator sitting in the bucket crashed against the side
of the mineshaft. The bucket tipped as it got stuck in the
extending portions of the stones termed as the 'tongues of
stone’. The bottom moved up and out and was tilted as the
edge broke free. The narrator held his friend's hand which was
like an extended branch of a tree.
61) Why did the narrator say he emerged from a sediment of
darkness and bounced upwards into a growing light?
Ans-The narrator's statement of emerging from a sediment of
darkness and bouncing from a growing light is a metaphorical
expression. This means transformation from isolation as inside
the windlass, it was very dark and remote like Silent Joe who is
mute and isolated. The growing light outside the windlass,
represents the growing bond between Silent Joe and the
narrator as they learn to communicate without words or
expression to form a true and meaningful friendship.

62) Who suddenly burst into dazzling sunlight?

Ans: The narrator of the story, ' Trees Can Speak ', Alan
Marshall, burst into dazzling sunlight.
63)“An arm reached out; a hand grasped the handle of the
bucket"- Whose arm has been referred to here?
Ans: The narrator's silent friend , mentioned as Silent Joe, many
a times, who did not used to speak often, has been referred to
here in the mentioned line.
64) Why was there an lift and by whom was the lifting done?
What did he felt after that and why?
Ans: There was a lift because the narrator's friend, Silent Joe
must have pulled him out of the shaft.
The narrator felt the solidity of the earth beneath him, which
made him feel better as it was not in motion anyway. He
perhaps enjoyed the sun rays falling on his face after such while
being in the dark with a flickering candle.
65) Why that grey box-tree seemed strangely?
Ans: - The grey box- tree seemed strangely because Silent Joe
was looking like it. Like the grey box tree, Silent Joe is depicted
as stoic and resilient despite his hardships. Just as the tree
withstands harsh environmental conditions, Silent Joe also
experiences social isolation due to his muteness.
66) Why did the narrator thank the man?
Ans: The narrator felt that in the world of darkness and silence
he was only one who was alive. When he was brooding he felt
that as if he was rising like a bubble and moved in void. It was
actually the man who was pulling the rope from above to help
the narrator to come out of the mine. So, the narrator later
thanked the man for his kindness and pity for him.
67) What simile did the narrator used for the man when they
were chatting and why?
Ans: The narrator compared the man’s interest of listening to
him using a direct comparison or simile as dry earth absorbs
water. The man, referred in the story,never spoke in words and
communicated through gestures and postures. The narrator,
being an able writer, was master pieced in understanding the
feelings of people. The narrator told the man about himself and
something about the people he had met. Just like dry earth
absorbs water without making any word, the narrator felt the
power of interest of the man listening to his words, which
made him to tell more and more things to the man.

68)Why was the narrator compared to a tree?

Ans: Just as trees stand tall and silent, Silent Joe is portrayed as
resilient man despite his muteness. The comparison
emphasizes his inner strength and endurance in the face of
societal challenges. Like a tree, he remains rooted in his
convictions and identity despite external pressures.

69) What does the goodbye said by Silent Joe symbolizes ?

Ans: After their conversation is over, Silent Joe, who is typically
mute, says "goodbye" to the narrator. This act of speaking a
single word, carries significant symbolic weight in the story. It
represents Silent Joe's comfort and trust in the bond he has
formed with the narrator, allowing him to open up and express
himself in a way he rarely does with others.