In your life, there is one person… you may know them, you may not, but there is someone out there in this world that would do anything for you. They are happy when you're happy, they are sad when you're sad, and that says a lot about a person who cares more about others than themselves. In this poem, the caring, kind, and non-self absorbed character is not a person, it is actually a tree. “The Giving Tree” by Shel Silverstein pursues the topic/theme of sacrifice and love, by showing how the tree gave so much to the boy as he grew up, to make sure he was happy… because if the boy is happy, then the tree is happy.
The giving tree is a parent figure towards the boy. He needed money, so the tree gave him apples to sell. He needed a house, so he cut off the trees branches to build one. He wanted a boat, so he cut
…show more content…
Everyone should feel lucky about what they have, and the boy in the poem The Giving Tree, did not understand the amazing thing he had… the tree. The tree would play with him, and the tree was there for him, but the boy took every amazing thing the tree had for granted. Some quotes from the poem that explain this topic well are… “Come, boy, come and climb up my trunk and swing from my branches and eat apples and play in my shade and be “happy” “I am too big to climb and play said the boy.” “I want to buy things and have fun. I want some money. Can you give me money? ”The boy didn’t think once about what the tree wanted, he just thought of himself. Throughout the story… the one thing the tree wanted was to have the boy climb up her trunk, swing from her branches, eat apples, play in her shade, and be happy. But as the tree gives all it has to the boy… she never really gets what she wants. Being greedy is not a good thing in life, and I feel that this poem helps people understand it a lot
Although the tree may be hard to bear , it mustn't be chopped down because it is equal to that of a family member, Family may be a burden occasionally, but shall never fail and wither away. Mary Oliver shows the importance of the family’s tree by applying to a moral , spiritual , literal , and historical context with the utilization of personification , imagery , and symbolism. The readers view that The moral aspect of this poem is that the mother and daughter , the women of the family are unable to chop the tree down because they believe the tree is what has held the family together for all of this time , and it has so much value to the family. Literally the tree may present a burden to the family due to its age , however historically the tree’s leaves are getting heavier every year because the tree has been been in the family for years. So the weight is associated with all the years the tree has been passed down and the past members of the family.
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 because he is knows the Tree will not reject him, and that the Tree even feels sorry on his behalf because of his misfortune. Although some argue that the Tree and the Boy have a mother-son relationship, implying that she is willfully sacrificing for the Boy, it does not disprove that the Boy takes advantage of her, and that she lets him do it. Self care is defined by the Oxford Dictionary as “the practice of taking an active role in protecting one 's own well-being and happiness” and as “the practice of taking action to preserve or improve one 's own health.”
The story shows how you should always be thankful for what you have because it could be gone within a second. Growing up underprivileged definitely teaches you things that you would not have learned or viewed in that way if you were middle class/upper class. Growing up poor can have a huge effect upon yourself, but you learn, develop and become
He or she may have a creative personality who would spot more beauty in nature and look deeper into it than others could ever imagine. While the elder tree in this poem could represent a tree that he grew up with in his backyard and is his favorite place to relieve his stress. “The wheat leans back towards its own darkness And I lean toward mine,” could play the part of the speaker minding his or her own business when “Between trees, a slender woman lifts up the lovely shadow Of her face, and now she steps into the air, now she is gone,” (Wright). These two lines out of the poem show that he or she does not like people.
“Mom and Dad smiled at each other and laughed. It was a sound that Tree hadn’t heard from them in the longest time” (132). This shows how Tree wasn’t sure his parents were ever going to get along again, but they end up having a good time. This is an example of how family matters most and hope is always around. This situation gave Tree strength to preserve.
This passage from “A white Heron”, by Sarah Orne Jewett, details a short yet epic journey of a young girl, and it is done in an entertaining way. Jewett immediately familiarizes us with our protagonist, Sylvia, in the first paragraph, and our antagonist: the tree. However, this is a bit more creative, as the tree stands not only as an opponent, but as a surmountable object that can strengthen and inspire Sylvia as she climbs it. This “old pine” is described as massive, to the point where it, “towered above them all and made a landmark for sea and shore miles and miles away.” (Line 8).
The poem gives more depth to the princess as a character, as well. In the poem, she says, “Divided into two, I am a tree, the branches are too high for me to see, the roots too hidden from reality.” A unique way to think of a tree, it shows intelligence and thoughtfulness and not just naive kindness. Although there are many ways to interpret this line, it is most likely that the roots represent her father and the branches represent her future. The line also has notes of sadness, showing her worry for her father.
In A Christmas Carol, Charles dickens relates themes of Christmas, loneliness and Family, to the overall Theme of Compassion. The book is set during the time of Christmas to symbolize generosity, selflessness and love. While it looks at the world from the eyes of an old, rich, grumpy man, whom is the exact opposite, and has yet to understand what it means to care for others. Dickens uses this character of Scrooge, to symbolize greed, selfishness and hatred that is found in a person and in a society. While he introduces other characters to represent the good that has surrounds him.
At its core, “The Black Walnut Tree” is a conflict between the sentimental and what practically needs to be done. Throughout the poem, the author utilizes a very matter-of-fact and almost dismissive tone as the daughter and her mother debate whether or not to sell the tree and finish paying off a loan that they owe. As the poem progresses, this matter-of-fact tone transitions into figurative language as the black walnut tree takes on a more symbolic view. Mary Oliver shows in “The Black Walnut Tree” that the tree symbolizes the family’s heritage and all that their father has sought to accomplish, and, while the mortgage weighs down the family, cutting down and selling the tree would, in a sense, betray the family and what it stands for. Written in free verse, “The Black Walnut Tree” takes a straight forward and casual approach to the topic and is most apparent
The author uses of “leaping”, “bounding”, and “generous” to show some of the positive tone shift. This positive tone help show the happy memory that their ancestor experience because of the tree. Because of this sole reason, the characters treasure the tree and decided to keep it there because of the bond it share with the family. The mother and daughter also know that they would, "crawl with shame in the emptiness" meaning that they would be ashamed if they cut the
“The Scarlet Ibis” “It was in the clove of seasons, summer was dead but autumn had not yet been born, that ibis lit in the bleeding tree” (Hurst 350). James Hurts creates a depressing tone, or attitude, by using figurative language, symbolism, and imagery. This sad story is about a child who is born with a deficiency and expected to die however, lives. His brother soon realizes that Doodle is not like the other kids so he pushes him to be like the others, which actually hurts him more. Figurative Language helps show the gloomy tone throughout the story from the first paragraph onwards.
(1) In Charles Dickens’, A Christmas Carol, the characters help develop the theme, kindness and thankfulness are the keys to happiness. Contrasting Scrooge to other characters in the novella proves this theme. (2) A kind and thankful character is one who values family over wealth and is grateful to others. Ebenezer Scrooge, Bob Cratchit, and Scrooge’s dynamic character best prove this theme. (3a)
But what The Giver ' s society made the largest mistake they could, they tried to make their place happy by taking everything that makes people happy, and
Consequently, the theme not only shows the value of hope, but also how Scrooge had a major change of heart when he received hope. Formerly, Scrooge was very vain and had an abject spirit. His life was without much hope of any happiness. The different themes in “A Christmas Carol” help people like Scrooge to realize how fortunate they are. In addition, Scrooge learns that he is very fortunate to have all of the things he does, and that hope can be the key to happiness.
Dana Gioia’s poem, “Planting a Sequoia” is grievous yet beautiful, sombre story of a man planting a sequoia tree in the commemoration of his perished son. Sequoia trees have always been a symbol of wellness and safety due to their natural ability to withstand decay, the sturdy tree shows its significance to the speaker throughout the poem as a way to encapsulate and continue the short life of his infant. Gioia utilizes the elements of imagery and diction to portray an elegiac tone for the tragic death, yet also a sense of hope for the future of the tree. The poet also uses the theme of life through the unification of man and nature to show the speaker 's emotional state and eventual hopes for the newly planted tree. Lastly, the tree itself becomes a symbol for the deceased son as planting the Sequoia is a way to cope with the loss, showing the juxtaposition between life and death.