Summary of “My Own True Family” | Bliss Class 10

About the Author

Edward James ‘Ted’ Hughes (1930-1998) was a distinguished English poet who served as the Poet Laureate of Great Britain from 1984 until his passing. His notable works encompass “Birthday Letters,” “The Hawk in the Rain,” and “Tales from Ovid.” Hughes’ poetry often celebrates the interconnectedness of humans and nature, advocating for the preservation of the environment for the benefit of humanity

(60 Words)

Introduction of the Poem

The poem is about a person who dreams of walking into an oak forest, where they meet an old woman who shows them a hidden truth. The dream teaches the person to care for oak trees and the environment. After the dream, the person feels a deep connection to nature.

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Summary of the Poem Stanzawise

In the first stanza, the speaker describes a dream where they enter an oak forest in search of a stag. They encounter an old woman who seems mysterious and carries a small bag. The woman claims to have the speaker’s secret inside the bag. As she starts to cackle, the speaker becomes fearful. When she opens the bag, the scene changes, and the speaker finds themselves bound to a stake, surrounded by a group of oak trees.

(80 Words)

In the second stanza, the oak trees, which the speaker discovers are their true family, confront them. The trees accuse the speaker of not caring about their destruction. They demand that the speaker make a promise to plant two new trees for every oak that is cut down. If the speaker does not promise, they will face a terrible fate: being transformed into a tree themselves, with their bark wrinkling over them and becoming part of the forest.

(80 Words)

The final stanza reveals the impact of the dream on the speaker. They reflect on how the dream changed them. Upon waking, they return to their human life, but their perspective is altered. Although they walk like a human, their heart feels deeply connected to the trees. The poem concludes with the idea that the dream has given the speaker a lasting awareness of their bond with nature and the responsibility to protect and nurture the environment.

(80 Words)

Summary of the Poem Full

The poem tells the story of a person who dreams of walking into an oak forest, searching for a deer. In the dream, the person meets an old woman who carries a secret in her bag. When she reveals the secret, the person finds themselves surrounded by oak trees, tied to a stake. The trees speak to the person, telling them they are the person’s true family. They warn that if the person does not promise to plant two trees for every oak that is cut down, the person will be turned into a tree. The dream has a strong impact on the person, making them realize the importance of protecting nature. When they wake up, they feel like a human child, but their heart is deeply connected to the trees. The poem highlights the deep bond between humans and nature and the need to protect the environment.

(150 Words)

The Characters of the Poem

• The Speaker: The narrator is a person who experiences a vivid and transformative dream in an oak forest. They are initially searching for a stag but encounter an old woman who reveals a crucial truth about their connection to nature. The dream changes their perspective, making them feel deeply connected to trees.
• The Old Woman: The old woman in the dream is mysterious and carries a bag with a secret. She looks old and ragged. Her role is to teach the narrator about the importance of protecting oak trees. Her actions and strange behavior help convey a crucial message.
• The Oak Trees: The oak trees in the dream act as a group that represents the narrator’s true family. They scold the narrator for not caring about trees and demand a promise to plant two new trees for every oak cut down. They symbolize nature’s importance and the need to protect it.

The theme of the Poem

The theme of the poem revolves around the deep connection between humans and nature. It emphasizes the responsibility of preserving the natural world. The encounter with the oak trees in the oakwood transforms the speaker, highlighting the need to protect and nurture the environment, with a heart now tied to the trees.

(50 Words)