Working through Class 8 English Notes Chapter 10 The Cherry Tree Summary in English simplifies the understanding of long chapters.
Class 8 English The Cherry Tree Summary
The Cherry Tree Summary in English
The story revolves around a young boy and a cherry tree, planted by him. Rakesh was a six- year-old boy who lived with his grandfather in a cottage on the outskirts of Mussoorie. Mussoorie did not have many fruit trees, as the soil here was stony and the wind too cold. His parents lived nearly fifty miles away in a small village where they cultivated maize, rice and barley on the lower slopes. Since there were no schools in the village, his parents sent him to stay with his grandfather to study.
One day, Rakesh headed home from school while eating red, sweet and sour cherries which had come straight from the Kashmir Valley. He saved a few cherries for Grandfather and offered them to him after reaching home. Rakesh decided to keep one of the seeds with him, as the cherry seeds are considered lucky. However, Grandfather suggested him to plant it instead.
Rakesh sowed it in a corner of their garden where the soil was softer and less stony. They took care of it and watered it regularly. Soon, tiny twigs began to come out. Rakesh’s heart filled with joy, he called Grandfather and showed him the little miracle he had just witnessed. The plant was thriving until a goat entered the garden, ate all the leaves and left behind only the main stem and two thin branches.
In the next rainy season, a woman who cut the grass came around the garden and swished away the cherry plant along with the lush green grass. Though, Grandfather scolded her but it couldn’t recover anything. Rakesh became extremely sad and hopeless. Grandfather consoled him saying new leaves will be sprouting soon and it turned out to be true. The cherry tree started sending out several new tender leaves.
That monsoon, Rakesh went to his village to help his parents with planting, ploughing and sowing the fields. When he returned to Grandfather’s cottage, he saw a pale pink blossom at a branch of the cherry tree. Although, the tree was less than half Rakesh’s age yet it had grown taller than him. Several birds came and sat on its branches singing the melody. That summer, there were many small cherries on the tree. One warm, sunny afternoon, Grandfather was relaxing in a cane chair under the cherry tree. He told Rakesh that the shade there was just right and he liked looking at the leaves. Rakesh also lay beneath the tree until the stars popped up in the sky. He thought how it was just one tiny seed and now a full grown blossoming tree. Then, one evening, while feeling the soft touch of tender cherry leaves he murmured, ‘Is this how it feels to be a God?’
The Cherry Tree Word Meanings
Page 156
- Stunted – to stop growing (plants), अविकसित
- Sheltered – a place which is surrounded by forests mostly, आश्रययुक्त
- Slopes – hillside, ढलान
- Oak – a type of tree found on the snowy mountains, बलूतणा पेड़
- Deodar – a type of tree found on the snowy mountains, देवदार
- Outskirts – part of a place that is farthest from the centre, सरहद
- Terraced – fields a type of agricultural land that is located on the slopes of the mountain, पहाड़ी इलाकों में स्थित सीढ़ीदार खेत
- Keen – excited or wanting to do something, उत्सुक
- Bunch – a number of things tied together, गुच्छा
- Promptly – immediately, तुरंत
Page 157
- Tang – a strong tangy taste, झंकार चटपटा स्वाद
- Flowerbed – a small area, dug to plant seed, बीज बोने के लिए खोदा गया एक छोटा गड्ढा
- Yielding – not hard or rigid, soft, नर्म
- Bare – uncovered, अनावृत
Page 158
- Eyesight – the ability to see, नज़र
- Haunches – to sit on feet with folded knees, घुटने मोड़कर बैठना
- Peered down – gazed down, नीचे देखा
- Sprinkling – to throw drops of water on plants, पौधों पर पानी का छिड़काव
Page 159
- Privacy – being alone and not disturbed by others, एकांतता की स्थिति
- Plodded – to walk slowly, थके क़दमों से चलना
- Dripped – to fall in small drops, बूँद-बूँद टपकना
- Mist – a cloud made of very small drop of waters in the air, कुहासा
- Curling – to move around in a curve, गोलाई में घूमना
- Sprang – to move quickly, तेजी से चलना
Page 160
- Scrambled – to move quickly, तेजी से चलना
- Scythe – a sharp tool to cut grass, घास काटने का आला
- Foliage – leaves, पत्ते
- Shoots – twigs, टहनियाँ
- Sturdy – powerful/ active, तगड़ा
Page 161
- Praying-mantis – a type of insect, कीड़ा
- Bulging – a piece of ground that is lifted, उभार
- Grumpy – short tempered, चिड़चिड़ा
- Gazed – to look carefully/stare, घूरना
- Nectar – thick juice of fruits, अमृत/फलों का रस
Page 162
- Blossoms – flowers, फूल
- Flitted – birds flying quickly or hiding in the leaves, छुप जाना
- Reclining – bending, झुकना
- Breeze – a blow of light-fresh wind, हवा
- Striding – away mountains stretched over a huge space, पर्वतों की लंबी श्रृंखला
Page 163
- Crept across – to move slowly lying on ground, सरक कर पार हो गया
- Cicadas – a type of insect that creaks loudly mostly in evening, एक प्रकार का कीड़ा जो शाम को जोर से बोलता है
- Bark – the peeling of the trees, पेड़ की छाल