The Apple Tree and the Farmer – Detailed Summary
Book: Samacheer Kalvi 6th English
Term: Term 1
Unit: Supplementary Chapter 2
Lesson Name: The Apple Tree and the Farmer
About the Lesson
“The Apple Tree and the Farmer” is a gentle and meaningful story about gratitude, kindness, and the value of trees. It shows how a farmer, who once loved and benefited from an apple tree, later thinks of cutting it down when it grows old and bears fewer fruits. In the end, he realizes that the tree is still valuable because it gives shelter to many birds and animals.
Detailed Summary of the Lesson
1. The Farmer and His Village Life
Once there lived a farmer in a village, up in the hills, beside a forest. On his farm he grew many kinds of vegetables, and he also had a big apple tree. For many years, the farmer and his family enjoyed the tastiest apples from that tree.
2. Childhood Memories Under the Tree
The tree was not just a fruit-bearing tree. It was also part of the farmer’s childhood. As a boy, he and his friends played under it. They played hide and seek around it, climbed it, swung on it, and plucked apples in season.
This makes the tree a symbol of memory, happiness, and long companionship.
3. The Tree Grows Old
As the years passed, the boy became a man and took over the farm. The apple tree also became old. It still stood large and shady, but it bore fewer and fewer fruits. Though it gave cool shade in summer, nothing grew well under it because of the wide shadow.
4. The Farmer’s Decision to Cut the Tree
The farmer began to think practically. He felt that the space covered by the old tree could be used for growing more vegetables. Since the tree was giving fewer apples, he decided to cut it down.
This is the turning point of the story. The farmer forgets, for a moment, all the joy and benefits the tree had given him in the past.
5. Birds and Animals Living in the Tree
Meanwhile, the tree had become a home for many living creatures. Birds built nests in its branches. Small animals used its hollow spaces and shade for shelter. The tree was not useful only to the farmer; it was useful to nature as a whole.
6. The Farmer Notices Their Fear
When the farmer prepared to cut the tree, the birds and animals living in it became frightened. They seemed disturbed because their home was in danger. This makes the farmer stop and think.
7. A Change of Heart
Suddenly, the farmer understands the truth. The tree may not be yielding many apples now, but it is still valuable. It gives shelter to birds and animals. It provides shade. It has served the family for years and still serves other creatures.
The farmer realizes that it would be wrong and selfish to cut it down. So he changes his decision and allows the tree to live.
8. The Real Message of the Story
The story teaches that we should not measure everything only by immediate profit. Old things, especially trees, may continue to have value even when they stop giving us the same benefits as before. Gratitude and compassion are more important than selfish gain.
Central Idea of the Lesson
The central idea of “The Apple Tree and the Farmer” is that trees remain valuable even when they grow old. They give shelter, shade, and life to many creatures. Human beings must show gratitude and kindness instead of thinking only about personal benefit.
Moral / Message
- Do not be selfish or ungrateful.
- Trees should be protected, not destroyed for small gain.
- Old things still have value and purpose.
- Nature supports many living beings, not only humans.
Main Character
| Character | Role in the Story |
|---|---|
| The Farmer | A man who first plans to cut the old apple tree, but later realizes its value and spares it. |
| The Apple Tree | A loving and useful tree that gives apples, shade, memories, and shelter to birds and animals. |
| Birds and Small Animals | Creatures that live in the tree and remind the farmer of its continuing value. |
Important Exam Points from the Lesson
| Topic | Important Point |
|---|---|
| Where the farmer lived | In a village, up in the hills, beside a forest |
| What he grew | Many kinds of vegetables and also an apple tree |
| What the family enjoyed | The tastiest apples from the tree |
| Childhood game mentioned | Hide and seek |
| Why the farmer wanted to cut the tree | It was old, bore fewer fruits, and its space could be used for vegetables |
| Why he changed his mind | The tree was home to birds and small animals |
| Main lesson | Protect trees and do not be ungrateful |
Character Sketch of the Farmer
The farmer is practical, hardworking, and initially a little selfish. He thinks of cutting the tree because he wants more space for farming. But he is not cruel by nature. Once he realizes that the tree is a home for many creatures, his heart changes. This shows that he is thoughtful and capable of compassion.
Importance of the Apple Tree
- It gave delicious apples for many years.
- It gave shade during summer.
- It was part of the farmer’s childhood memories.
- It became a shelter for birds and small animals.
- It taught the farmer a lesson in gratitude and kindness.
Vocabulary to Remember
- Orchard – a place where fruit trees are grown
- Shade – cool shelter from sunlight
- Hide and seek – a children’s game
- Plucked – pulled from a tree or plant
- Season – time of the year when fruits grow
- Hollow – empty space inside something
- Shelter – a safe place to live or stay
- Compassion – kindness and sympathy
- Gratitude – thankfulness
- Selfish – thinking only about oneself
TET Exam Focus / Repeated Textbook-Based Question Areas
Very Important Focus: These are repeated textbook-based question areas commonly seen in guide and question-bank patterns.
- Where did the farmer live?
- What did the farmer grow on his farm?
- What did the farmer and his family enjoy from the tree?
- How did the farmer and his friends enjoy the tree in childhood?
- Why did the farmer want to cut the apple tree?
- What was growing in the tree besides apples?
- Why did the farmer change his decision?
- What game is mentioned in the lesson?
- What is the main message of the story?
- Why is the apple tree important even in old age?
- Who were affected by the farmer’s decision?
- What does the story teach about nature?
How to Write This in Exam
For a short answer, write that the story is about a farmer who wants to cut an old apple tree, but later spares it after realizing that many birds and animals live in it.
For a long answer, include the farmer’s childhood memories, the old tree bearing fewer fruits, his plan to cut it, the birds and animals living there, and his change of heart.
Sample Exam Answer
“The Apple Tree and the Farmer” is a moral story about gratitude and kindness. A farmer had an old apple tree on his farm. His family had enjoyed tasty apples from it for many years, and as a boy he had played under it with his friends. When the tree grew old and gave fewer fruits, the farmer decided to cut it down and use the space for vegetables. But then he realized that many birds and small animals lived in the tree. So he changed his mind and let the tree stand. The story teaches us to protect trees and not to be ungrateful.
Short Conclusion
“The Apple Tree and the Farmer” is a simple but powerful lesson about gratitude, compassion, and environmental awareness. It teaches that trees continue to serve life in many ways, even when they are old. For exams, it is an important lesson because it contains direct factual questions, moral-based questions, and character-based questions.
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