The banyan tree in the NCERT Solutions for Class 11 English Poetry Chapter 10 is a metaphor for the life of the poet and his family. This poem is an autobiographical account of the life of the poet and his family, who had to shift from Baroda to Mumbai. The roots of the banyan tree depict the values which run deep in the foundation of the family. So, cutting off the branches does not tear them down easily until humans strike at the roots, which demonstrates the uprooting of the traditions in a family. According to Hindu mythology, the banyan tree is a religious symbol which adds to its importance in this poem.