Transcript The Giving Tree By: Shel Silverstein

THE GIVING TREE
BY: SHEL SILVERSTEIN
Vanessa Burdiek, Jordan Kennedy, Kristin
Showalter, Laura Staab, Sidney Westervelt
GENRE
•
•
Narrative Poetry – It tells a long narrative poem through the setting,
character, and plot
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Setting: Outdoors/Nature
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Characters: Tree, Boy, Girlfriend
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Plot: There is a life cycle of the boy and the tree
Shows sign of fantasy – Tree is personified by it being able to talk and given
a gender
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Example: “And then one day the boy came backed and the tree shook with joy and
she said…”
VB
THEMES
Selflessness/Selfishness
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The Tree  Selfless
Gives without question:
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Apples
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Branches
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Tree Trunk
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Stump
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The Boy  Selfish
Only visits when:
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Needs Money
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House
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To Travel – Boat
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Lonely
JK
THEMES
Environment
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We rely on the environment for all aspects of life/take
advantage of the environment
•
Entertainment
•
Gives us shelter
•
Gives us transportation
•
Provides materials/goods
LS
THEMES
Religion
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The tree symbolizes The Savior by giving selflessly even when we are
unappreciative
•
The tree sacrificed her body for the betterment of the boy in the same way
that Jesus gave his life for mankind
•
Example: Tree could represent Jesus
•
Example: Boy could represent mankind
SW
GENDER ROLES
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The tree is a girl and is very nurturing and giving towards the boy
In return he gives her nothing!
Young boy  Tree nurtures him in the same way a mother
nurtures her son
•
•
“And they would play hide-and-go-seek.”
Older Man  Tree gives sacrificially in the same way a wife gives
to her husband to maintain the relationship
•
“And the tree was happy… but not really.”
KS
FUN FACTS
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The dedication of The Giving Tree, “For Nicky”, turns out
to be one of his old girlfriend’s
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Based on a 2007 online poll, the National Education
Association named The Giving Tree one of its “Teachers’
Top 100 Books for Children”
WORKS CITED
WEB RING: SHEL SILVERSTEIN
HTTP://SHELSILVERSTEIN.TRIPOD.COM/DEDICATI
ONS.HTML
WIKIPEDIA: “THE GIVING TREE”
HTTP://EN.WIKIPEDIA.ORG/WIKI/THE_GIVING_TREE