Summary of “My Own True Family”

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

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Introduction of the poem

The introduction of the poem describes the speaker’s entry into an oakwood while seeking a stag. The encounter with the mysterious old woman sets the tone for a surreal and transformative experience in the natural world, laying the foundation for the poem’s profound message about the connection between humans and nature.

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Summary of the poem

The poem “My Own True Family” is about a person who has a dream of entering an oakwood forest where he meets an old woman who has a secret inside her bag. After the woman opens the bag, the person is surrounded by the oak trees and is tied to a stake. The oak trees reveal that they are the person’s true family and that they have been harmed by being chopped down and torn up. The oak trees then make a demand that whenever the person sees an oak tree felled, they must swear to plant two. If they do not, the oak trees will root the person among the oaks. The dream has a profound impact on the person and changes them. When they wake up, they are no longer just a human, but they feel like they have the heart of a tree.

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The characters of the story

The Speaker: The poem is narrated by an unnamed individual who enters an oakwood in search of a stag. This character’s experience and transformation are central to the poem.

The Old Woman: The encounter with an old woman in the oakwood is a pivotal moment in the poem. She is described as a “knobbly stick and rag” and holds a secret within her little bag. She appears enigmatic and possibly supernatural, initiating the speaker’s transformative experience.

The Oak Trees: The oak trees themselves take on a personified role as they surround the speaker after he is tied to a stake. They claim to be the speaker’s “own true family” and convey a profound message. They demand a promise from the speaker that he will plant two oak trees for everyone who is felled. The oak trees symbolize the natural world and its connection to humanity.

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)