'The Giving Tree' By Shel Silverstein

The speaker conveys family value is more important than any monetary value. The tree represents the growth of the family and how it is now intertwined with the house through the, "roots in the cellar drains" (Oliver 11). Nothing can replace the sentimental value the tree represents. There is a shift in the theme from the beginning. The speaker wanted to sell the tree for the money, demonstrating theme that sometimes things must be sacrificed in order to provide for practical needs.

The tree would take care of the boy. When the boy would come each time to ask for something the tree was willing to give anything

The literal language used in the beginning of the free verse does not imply the tree having any symbolic meaning to the speaker and her mother. It is casually said- “My mother and I debate, we could sell the black walnut tree…[to] pay off the mortgage” - which defines that in these lines the tree has not yet been introduced with its symbolic purpose. Initially, the tree is viewed as a property they are willing to sell. They rationalize the idea by noting that there are “roots in the

The book opens up to an adult Gene, visiting his old school years later. He comes back after fifteen years to get closure. He visits the buildings that were once so familiar to him, and reflects on how he’s changed, and the constant state of fear that had been so familiar then. But the main reason for his visit is to see the tree. There is a tone of regret as he remembers what happened so long ago, and how it all started.

“ You are weak when you lie because you aren't strong enough to face the truth” - quotediary.me The book “ The Giving tree” written by Shel Silverstein was created into a children's book in 1964. This book was written for children but, it also had certain ideas for older people. The book is about a tree and how much she loves a boy. She loves this boy so much that she would do anything for him even if it ended up hurting her. In the book “ The Giving Tree” Shel Silverstein emphasized that the Giving Tree was weak because she loved the boy more than herself, she let the boy take whatever he wanted from her just to make him happy including, things that made her who she was, and she never taught

Personification also contributes to the relationship by making the tree a lively component of the family instead of a passive object in the back yard. A relationship necessitates at least two parties so it is necessary that the tree be a part of the family. At the end of the poem, “the black walnut tree swings into another year” when the family decides to keep it. This shows that the family respects the tree as its own entity and presence. First, this personifies the tree as free and leisurely because swings are usually for play. It also contextualizes the tree as having a

At one point in a person’s life, one usually finds a companion so strong they would do anything for them. At least, there is a common misconception that one can give their all to somebody they care for, simply because they care. The downside is, the relationship turns for the worse. When the giver gives, the taker becomes greedy, and often times, the giver sticks around even when they are being clearly exploited. Being taken advantage of and naivety come together hand in hand. Therefore, in Shel Silverstein’s The Giving Tree, the Tree is naive and being taken advantage of because she puts the Boy’s happiness and well-being ENTIRELY above her own, ultimately leading to her self destruction. The Boy also habitually returns to reap the benefits of the Tree

The tree represents Gene’s growth in maturity and age from being a teenager who is frightened by the magnitude of the tree to an adult who looks at it as unthreatening and small. Whilst revisiting the tree as an adult, Gene utters that the tree reminds him of the enemies of childhood that, once faced again, seem insignificant (14). When Gene is reflecting upon the first time he jumped off of the tree, he states the tree “flooded [Gene] with a sensation of alarm all the

"My first class is biology. I can't find it and get my first demerit for wandering the hall. It is 8:50 in the morning. Only 699 days and 7 class periods until graduation,"(6). Speak, by Laurie Halse Anderson, is a novel following the freshman year of Melinda, the narrator, who was a victim of rape at an end-of-the-summer party.

There were no longer those two boys who used to visit the tree. The tree died with their friendship.

The theme conveyed through the Giver is that individuality should be valued. The story takes place in a utopian society where everything is the same. There are no choices, no color, and no love in the Community of Sameness. The novel starts out a month before the Ceremony of Twelve, where the 12 year olds each get assigned a job. Jonas gets the assignment of the Receiver of Memory, and he soon finds out that lying is permitted, and receives several memories of the past without sameness, with pain too. He has the ability to see beyond, and finds out that he and the Giver are the only people in the Community that have the ability to see, as well as hear beyond. Similar to the phenomenon of an apple changing quality and his friend Fiona’s hair doing the same

When I first read this book I was astounded by how selfish the boy was toward the tree. He would go to the tree and ask more and more from her, even is doing so would end up hurting the tree in the end. He would not only ask the tree for all these favors but he would give her nothing in return for doing so. He would use her and then not return again until he needed something else from the tree. This could easily be compared to an abusive relationship like the second view prompted. When you are in an abusive relationship the abuser only wants what is best for them and doesn’t think twice about their partner’s feelings or how what they are doing might affect them;

Many people believe that this mimics Whitman's life. Living in a life of social separation much of the time, he still managed to succeed not only with his writing, but also in life itself. However, in line five Whitman goes on to say that he wonders how the tree could grow such joyous leaves while being alone. He himself says that he could not survive if put in the same situation. Whitman did however lead a joyous and happy life in many peoples opinion, even though he did not enjoy the social life many other had during his lifetime. His own opinion of himself not being lonely may be frayed in order to spare the image he proposes to the public in his writings. The next few lines are interesting because of the way they could possible spell out Whitman's life. In the poem, he breaks of a twig, wraps some moss around it, and takes it to he room and places it in plain view. This may parallel his life by way of his memory. The twig may represent pieces of his memory that were enjoyable to him. He then takes the twig and places it in his room signifying that he wants to be able to constantly see those fond memories. Again Whitman replies by saying he did not do this to remind him of his friends, but in reality he may have just said this to help keep a good report with his readers about his lifestyle.

The Giving Tree is a modern children literature written by Shel Silverstein, which is also one of his first successful piece of work. It is about an apple tree who always gives and gives and a boy who always takes and takes. This might be another story to read before bed times for the kids but however, it portrays so many things, from deforestation to modern society. Personally, I believe that The Giving Tree portrays the theme of selflessness versus selfishness, like the unconditional love a parent has for his or her child.

Growing up I have tender memories of watching the majestic oak tree go thru numerous seasons. Each change of time brought on another milestone in my life. Climbing the branches I learned so much about life and myself. Looking down from the tree I learned more about others then I would being stuck on the ground alone. At the age of 5, I can fondly remember my step father building a tree house in that oak tree and attaching a rope swing. The addition of the treehouse brought a new love into my life, but it never took away love of my tree.