Good Timber

Themes in Good Timber

In ‘Good Timber’ Malloch explores themes of struggle,
fulfillment, and nature. Those who live through “broken
branches” and storms will become “Good timber.” This
theme is common within Malloch’s work. He was often
concerned with depicting different ways life can be lived
and how the most fulfilling lives come to be. By using
nature as the source of his imagery he is tapping into a
source that all people are familiar with. The extended
metaphor that lasts throughout this poem ensures that
everyone understands what the strength is that he’s
talking about. A fulfilling life can only come after one has
worked hard. This is a roundabout way of saying that
nothing worth having comes easy.

Structure and Form of Good Timber

‘Good Timber’ by Douglas Malloch is a four stanza poem
that is separated into sets of six lines or sextets. It is one of
Malloch’s most well-known pieces and follows a consistent
and structured rhyme scheme. The lines conform to a
pattern of aabbcc, alternating as the poet saw fit from
stanza to stanza. This was a common structure for Malloch.
His rhyming pairs carry a reader through the piece from
beginning to end. The couplets give the poem a sing song-
like sound, resembling a song lyric.
Literary Devices in Good Timber
Throughout ‘Good Timber’ Malloch makes use of several
literary devices. These include but are not limited
to metaphors, alliteration, and enjambment. This entire
poem is one extended metaphor comparing trees to human
beings. The tree mentioned in the first stanza represents
someone who has never had to fight for anything in their
life. This man had more than enough “sun and sky and air
and light.” Although this initially seems like a good thing,
the speaker turns the text in a different direction.

These flourishing “trees” or coddled people do not live

good, or even full, lives. They are often struck down and
come to death as “scrubby things[s].” This type of person
is contrasted with one who “does not grow with ease.”
Their life might be rougher, but they are made of “Good
timber.”

Alliteration is an interesting formal device that can be sen

through the repetition of consonant sounds at the
beginning of multiple words. For example, “broken
branches” in stanza four and “storm” and “strength” in
stanza three. Enjambment is also an important technique
to take note of in ‘Good Timber’. Readers can look to the
transitions between lines one and two of the first stanza
and lines three and four of the second stanza for examples.

Analysis of Literary Devices Used in Good

Timber
Douglas Malloch used various literary devices to beautify his poem. Some
of the major literary devices used in this poem show their impact on
its beauty.
 1. Assonance: Assonance is the repetition of vowel sounds in the
same line, such as the sound of /e/ in “The tree that never had to
fight” and the sound of /o/ in “But stood out in the open plain.”
2. Alliteration: Alliteration is the repetition of consonant sounds in the
same line in quick succession, such as the sound of /m/ in “manly
man.”
3. Consonance: Consonance is the repetition of consonant sounds in
the same line, such as the sound of /m/ in “Never became a manly
man” and the sound of /s/ in “Whose broken branches show the
scars.”
4. Enjambment: It is defined as a thought in verse that does not come
to an end at a line break; rather, it rolls over to the next line. For
example;

And they hold counsel with the stars

Whose broken branches show the scars
Of many winds and much of strife.

5. Imagery: Imagery is used to make readers perceive things involving

their five senses. Douglas Malloch has used imagery in this poem
such as “Good timber does not grow with ease”, “By sun and cold, by
rain or snow” and “Where thickest lies the forest growth.”
6. Metaphor: It is a figure of speech in which an implied comparison is
made between objects that are different in nature. Douglas Malloch
has used the extended metaphor of a tree to show the significance of
struggle and hard work in life.
7. Symbolism: Symbolism is using symbols to signify ideas and
qualities, giving them symbolic meanings that are different from the
literal meanings. The poem shows symbols such as trees, wind,
storm, and strength to compare them with life’s struggles.

Analysis of Poetic Devices Used in Good Timber

Poetic and literary devices are the same, but a few are used only in poetry.
Here is an analysis of some of the poetic devices used in this poem.

1. End Rhyme: End rhyme is used to make the stanza melodious.

Douglas Malloch has used end rhyme in this poem, such as
“fight/light, plain/rain, and king/thing.
2. Repetition: This device is used to emphasize a point. The poem
shows the use of repetition of some verses, such as “For sun and sky
and air and light.”
3. Rhyme Scheme: The poem follows the AABBCC rhyme scheme,
and this pattern continues until the end.
 4. Stanza: A stanza is a poetic form of some lines. There are four
stanzas in this poem, with each comprising six verses.

Q.1) What is the significance of the title of

the poem ‘Good Timber?’
Answer:
The title of the poem ‘Good Timber’ holds significance with respect to the message
of the poem. The poet has artfully compared good timber with good men. He
believes that it is not easy for both timber and men to become good without going
through hard times. It is a bare fact that the more they suffer, the more they become
worthwhile and beneficial for society.
Q.2) What is good timber? How does tree
grow into good timber?
Answer:
Good timber faces adversity and hard times with bravery. It is the one that
encounters the forces of nature such as strong winds and unfavourable conditions
throughout life, due to this it becomes vital, good, and beneficial. A tree can only
grow into good timber when it passes through the tough test of the scorching sun,
cold and hot weather, snow, rain.
Q.3) What, according to Douglas Malloch,
is the fate of those people who do not
work hard in life?
Answer:
According to Douglas Malloch, those people who do not work hard never excel in
any field of life. They can not have a strong personality and can never develop their
social, moral, and economic position. Such people live and die without achieving
anything significant in their life.
Q.4) How can a person achieve his/her true
potential in life? Illustrate it with
examples from the poem ‘Good Timber.’
Answer:
A person can achieve his true potential only when he faces hardships, difficulties and
tough times with courage and determination. According to the poet, a man becomes
strong when encounters and overcomes adversity in life. Hardships, unfavourable
conditions, difficult situations polish our abilities and capabilities thus, helping us in
becoming good human beings. A person does not become strong if he gets
everything easily without putting in hard work. Douglas compares good timber with
men as timber has to bear harsh winds, rain, sunshine, and snow to become good
and beneficial, the same is the case with men.
 Q.5) What is the central idea of the poem
‘Good Timber?’
The central idea of the poem ‘Good Timber’ is that in order to become good and
beneficial one has to face hardships and difficulties in life. Both timber and man have
to overcome adversity with courage and determination. The struggle is a key to
success to live a perfect, valuable life otherwise both of them die without achieving
anything worthwhile in their life.

Q.6) What is the rhyme scheme of the

poem ‘Good Timber?’
Answer:
‘Good Timber is one of the outstanding works Douglas. It comprises four stanzas,
each having six lines. The poem is well-structured and follows a beautiful, consistent
rhythmic pattern. The rhyme scheme of the poem is AABBCC.
Q.7) An extended metaphor is a poetic
device in which two unlike things are
compared in a series of lines of a poem.
Give the example of extended metaphor
from the poem ‘Good Timber.’
Answer:
The whole poem is an example of extended metaphor as the poet has skillfully
compared good timber with man. He is of the opinion that both timber and man have
to go through tough times of life to become good and beneficial. If they do not do so
they would not be able to achieve anything significant in their life.
Q.8) What is alliteration? Give its
examples from the poem ‘Good Timber.’
Answer:
Alliteration is the occurrence of the same letter or sound at the beginning of adjacent
or closely connected words. The poet has used this literary technique of alliteration
quite beautifully throughout his poem ‘Good Timber,’ for instance, sun and sky,
manly man, storm and strength, sun and snow, good and grow, and broken
branches.
A. Write a paraphrase of the following lines.
STANZA #1
Where thickest lies the forest growth
We find the patriarchs of both.
And they hold counsel with the stars
Whose broken branches show the scars
Of many winds and much of strife
This is the common law of life.
 Paraphrase:
Good timber and good man select the thickest part of the forest growth as their
abode, both of them are the leaders of their species. From their chosen place, they
are able to communicate with stars and hold counsel with them. Their broken
branches and scars on their bodies are a clear reflection of the fact that they have
faced harsh winds and struggled really hard as this is the common law of life.
B. Read the poem ‘Good Timber’ carefully
and write a paragraph in retrospection
about the feelings that the poem evoked
in you.
Answer:
After reading the poem, I feel quite motivated and energetic. The reason behind is
that the poet has beautifully compared man’s life with that of timber. He has given a
clear message through the lines of ‘Good Timber’ that one has to bear hardships in
order to get success in life. Yes, it is true. Similarly, those who lead an easy-going
life are unable to achieve anything worthwhile. They just came and go from this
world without any recognition or appreciation. I feel that if we apply this simple rule in
our lives we would be able to excel and develop a strong personality that may
impress or motivate others.’
STANZA #2
The tree that never had to fight

For sun and sky and air and light,

But stood out in the open plain

And always got its share of rain,

Never became a forest king

But lived and died a scrubby thing.

The 2nd stanza of this section begins with a description of a particular type of tree
and its life. From the first stanza, it is clear that the tree stands for man. Is an
extended metaphor that extends the length of the poem by which the mullahs use
the trees to represent human beings and they lead different lives.

He first speaks of the tree he never had to fight. It is clear from this line alone that he
despises such a person. “Fighting” already seems necessary. In the following lines,
he explains how a tree or a man who lives a simple life does not worry about
resources. They have all the food, water, air and light they need to survive. These
requirements are not registered for them. Also, because of their position, they
“always” get enough rain.
The status of a tree speaks in such a way that much of one’s life is determined by its
birth. No one can choose the life in which they were born. The tree did not have to
fight for it. The last two lines indicate the end of such a life. This type of tree will
never become the “King of the Jungle” or one of the largest, strongest trees in the
forest. It will live and die “a dirty thing.” It may have a position, but it did nothing to
advance its inner strength.

Stanza #3
The man who never had to toil

To gain and farm his patch of soil,

Who never had to win his share

Of sun and sky and light and air,

Never became a manly man

But lived and died as he began.

In the next 6 lines of “Good Timber,” the speaker compares the tree to a man who
has never “become a man.” This man lived a similar life. He never had to “work/get
his own piece of land and cultivate it.” Just as the tree was given all the elements of
life that it needed, so the man was given his “share” without effort.

The last two lines reinforce the comparison between man and tree. Without
progress, he “died as he began.” Socially, morally and economically his position did
not improve as he did not feel the need to go beyond his readily available resources.

Stanza #4
Good timber does not grow with ease,

The stronger wind, the stronger trees,

The further sky, the greater length,

The more the storm, the more the strength.

By sun and cold, by rain and snow,

In trees and men good timbers grow.

The third stanza of ‘Good Timber’ is committed to describing what makes “good” or
healthy, “wood”. A tree that has a long and successful life “does not grow easily.” It
encounters “strong winds” and “more skies” in its day than the “scrubby” tree has
ever encountered. It also survives more storms and an uncommitted amount of sun,
cold and “rain and snow”.

The last line connects a good wooden tree with a “man”. The same force created
both kinds of life.