GOOD TIMBER

Reference to Context:

These lines have been taken from the initial/ middle/ ending part of the poem “Good Timber” written by
“Douglas Malloch.” This poem uses an extended metaphor that compares a brave man to good timber.
The poet presents the idea of the necessity of struggle in life by using beautiful metaphors and symbols.
It is a didactic poem that gives us the lesson to face the hardships and challenges of life bravely and the
same will prepare us for meeting the challenges of life heroically. The poem tells that it is the law of life
that the strongest human characters are shaped by going through a life full of struggle.

Explanation No 1:

In these lines, the poet uses a tree as a metaphor that represents someone who had never had to fight
for anything in his life. This tree had more than enough its basic need like sun, sky, air, and light. A
coddled person or tree who lives an easy life does not worry about resources. They have all the food,
water, air, and light they need to survive. The poet reveals the outcome of such a life in the last two
lines of the stanza. This type of tree will never become head or one of the largest and strongest trees of
the forest. This kind of tree does not have any greatness because greatness can’t be achieved without
struggle. This type of tree often struck down as a useless and inferior creature.

Explanation No 2:

In these lines, the poet talks about a person who never became hardworking and disciplined in his life.
The poet describes a man who was given opportunities to gain and grow and develop his personality
and future a person who does not struggle for a better future, significant personality and unlimited
worldly resources never becomes a brave man and always lives a bad life without development. His
position socially, economically, and morally does not improve because he does feel the need to go
beyond his readily available resources.

Explanation No 3:

In these lines, the poet describes the elements and ways through which fine stuff and good timber grow.
The development of successful life lies in facing hardships and in overcoming hurdles. The poet
compares a man to a tree who gets its strength through snowy storms and strong winds. It has to fight
and face the sun and cold. It encounters throughout its days in the further sky than the scrubby thing
ever did a tree or man who in danger himself and confronts the tragic realities of the world, at last,
grows in nice stuff, fine quality, and good timber.
Explanation No 4:

In these lines, the poet describes the environment of the exalted man and the good timber tree. Where
there is a cluster of great personalities, we can find forefathers of good timber and successful man. Due
to their loftiness, they seem to consult with stars. They tap into a deeper knowledge and talk intimately
with forces that others cannot understand the tree and men share their loss and wounds of hardships
and hostility of their lives which have become common law. It reveals who they are and who they lived.

Paraphrase No 1:

A tree that does not struggle for its basic rights of sun, sky, light, and air, although this tree always gets
its share of water through the rain in open grassy meadows, does not become the head of the forest. It
struck down as a useless and inferior creature.

Paraphrase No 2:

A man who does not work hard on his piece of land for growing and gaining. One who never tries to win
his share in all things like sun, sky, air, and light does not become a brave man this kind of person as
uncultivated as he was born.

Paraphrase No 3:

Good Timber and good qualities always develop in hardships. Stronger winds make the trees more
strong and give potential to them. They get enough power from powerful storms. Good timber in trees
and fine qualities in men always grow due to facing the hardship of summer, winter, rain, and snow.

Paraphrase No 4:

Where there the forest growth is dense, we can find founders or forefathers of both trees and men. Due
to their greatness, they consult with stars. Their broken branches show the wounds and scars of their
struggle against many winds and hardships. At last, this becomes the common law of life that nothing
can be gained without pain.

Q1: What is the significance of the title of the poem “Good Timber”?

Answer:
The significance of the title of the poem “Good Timber” is that we should struggle hard which is
necessary to live a good and full life. There are those people who readily give up everything they need to
survive on the other hand there are those two who must fight from their birth to survive. Their broken
branches and scares are the evidence of their struggle which made them the forest king.

Q2: What is Good Timber? And how does the tree grow into good timber?

Answer:

Timber which is hard and tough and has enough strength to resist against heavy structural load is called
good timber. Trees which lives through broken branches snowy storms and storms winds grow into
good timber.

Q3: What, according to Douglas Malloch, is the fate of those people who do not work hard in life?

Answer:

According to Douglas Malloch the fate of those people who do not work hard in life is that they don’t
live a good and full life. They are often struck down and come to death as useless and inferior creatures.

Q4: How can a person achieve his/her true potential in life? Illustrate it with examples in the poem
“Good Timber”.

Answer:

Q5: What is the central idea of the poem “Good Timber”?

Answer:

The central idea of the poem “Good Timber” is that struggle is necessary to live a full life. Those who
live through the hardship of life, face storms, and adversities in life are blessed with real potential,
tolerance, and brought vision which are the best rewards for struggle.

Q6: What is the rhyme scheme of the poem “Good Timber”?

Answer:

The rhyme scheme of the poem Good Timber is

Aa Bb Cc

Aa Bb Cc

Aa Bb Cc

Aa Bb Cc

Q7: What is the Alliteration? Give its examples from the text.

Answer:

Alliteration is the repetition of initial sounds within a group of words.

Examples from the text:

For sun and sky and air and light

Good timber does not grow with ease

Whose broken branches show the scars?