Chapter 4.1 – Under the Greenwood Tree

Maharashtra Board Textbook Solutions – Standard Seven

📖 About the Poem

“Under the Greenwood Tree” is a beautiful song taken from the play As You Like It written by William Shakespeare.
The poem highlights the joy of living a simple life close to nature, away from ambition and worldly desires.

📝 Paraphrase of the Poem

The poet William Shakespeare describes the happiness of living in nature without fear of enemies or worldly troubles.

He invites people who share his feelings to join him under the greenwood tree. He says that they should sing cheerfully and enjoy the sweet and happy notes of the birds. He encourages them to come and live in the forest, where they will find no enemies except winter and rough weather.

He further calls those who avoid ambition, who enjoy living in the sunlight, and who are satisfied with whatever food they receive. Such people, he says, will find true peace and contentment in the lap of nature. The poet repeats that in this simple forest life, there are no real enemies except winter and rough weather.

📚 Meanings

  • Hither (Old English) – here
  • Rough weather – winter
  • Shun – reject or deliberately avoid

📌 POINTERS

1️⃣ Old Words from the Poem

Find the old word used for each of the following:

  • Towards – Unto
  • Here – Hither
  • Does – Doth

2️⃣ Write in Your Own Words

(a) Who does the poet invite to join him?

Ans: The poet invites people who share his feelings and who wish to live a simple and peaceful life.

(b) How should that person sing?

Ans: That person should sing merrily and cheerfully like a sweet bird.

(c) What message does the poem convey?

Ans: The poem conveys that if a person avoids ambition and lives a simple life close to nature, he will be happy and free from enemies, except winter and rough weather.

3️⃣ Pick Out the Lines that Mean

(a) Sing in such a manner:

Ans: “And turn his merry note, unto the sweet bird’s throat.”

(b) One who wishes to join me:

Ans: “Who loves to lie with me.”

(c) Who gives up his desire for wealth, power, fame, etc.:

Ans: “Who doth ambition shun.”

(d) Life in the forest is free from ill-wishers:

Ans: “Here shall he see no enemy.”

(e) Happy to eat whatever he can get:

Ans: “Seeking the food he eats, And pleased with what he gets.”

4️⃣ Find from the Internet and Write Down

(a) In which century did William Shakespeare write his famous plays?

Ans: William Shakespeare wrote his famous plays between the 16th and 17th centuries (approximately 1585–1613).

(b) From which play is this song extracted?

Ans: The song is extracted from the play As You Like It, a pastoral comedy first performed in 1603. It appears in Act II of the play.

(c) Which character from the play sings this song?

Ans: Amiens, a lord in the forest, sings the song to encourage others to leave courtly ambition and enjoy life in nature.

✍️ 5️⃣ Be a Poet – Complete the Poem

Completed Poem:

I’d love to live a life that’s free,
Relax under a shady tree,

And fall into a dreamy sleep,
With no strict hours, forced to keep.

And sing aloud a merry song,
Untrodden paths, as I walk along.

You ask me what I’d get to eat?
Fruits and nuts and berries sweet.

You ask me with whom I’d get to play,
Birds and animals, happy and gay.

And if a woodcutter put a chop,
Firmly I’d put a stop.

So that’s the life I’d like to lead,
Free from worries, free from greed.

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