[Summary of The Giving Tree:]

To summarize the story

This story is about a tree and a boy. In the beginning of the story, the boy and the tree play together
every day,and they love each other very much. When the boy starts to grow up, he still likes to be
near the tree, but this time he is with his girlfriend. As he starts to grow up, the boy only comes to
visit the tree when he needs something. At different stages of his life he asks for money, a house, a
boat and a place to rest. Each time the tree provides for his needs until she has nothing left.
Although we are told that the tree is happy to see the boy each time and provide for his needs, we
are left to wonder whether the tree is really happy or not.

Now, the question is, was the tree really happy or not?

What do you think classmates? Who would like to answer my question? Anyone from my
classmates?

Don’t worry, there will be no wrong answers. Just asking your opinion.

[If someone answered the question]

What about the others?

If you were the tree, would you be happy or not? Anyone who would like to answer?

Just like the giving tree, are you willing to give everything to the one you love even you have nothing
left for yourself? Why?

Now, let’s dissect the story “ The Giving Tree” by identifying its literary elements

[Powerpoint]

Identifying the Elements of the Story “ The Giving tree”

Genre: Children’s Fiction

Character: The main and only characters are the boy and the tree. The boy can be a little greedy,
because he always wants things from the tree. He is active and adventurous because he always liked
to climb the tree, and play games with it. The boy is also needy.

Setting:

The setting is in a forest, more towards the residential side of the area.

Plot: There is a life cycle of the boy and the tree

Exposition: The boy meets the tree.

Rising actions: The boy plays with the tree uses its resources and loves it.

Climax: The boy grows up and gets to big to play and love the tree. The Boy returns to the Tree that
he has robbed of everything but her stump of a trunk; however they are now reunited and he has
come to realize how his behavior has affected them both.

Conflict: The conflict within the book stems from the boys greed, and the tree's unwillingness to tell
the boy no. The tree wants what's best for the boy even if it has to potential of hurting itself in the
long run.

The boy stops visiting the tree and it is very lonely.

Falling actions: The boy strips the tree of all the materials and is just left with the stump.

Falling actions: The boy strips the tree of all the materials and is just left with the stump.

Resolution

The resolution is when the boy sits on the stump and is reunited with the tree even though it has no
more resources because they are together, they are both happy because they have each other.

WHAT do you think is THE THEME OF THE GIVING TREE?

Anybody?

THEME 1

Throughout the fiction, there are multiple themes present. Some people think that the book
represents a relationship between a parent and their child. The tree would represent the parent and
the boy would represent the child. Often times, a parental figure gives so much to their children that
they are left with nothing else to give. The selflessness of the parent ends up destroying themselves
in the long run. After giving their children so much, the parent may rarely hear a “thank you” in
reply, but they are still happy because they are able to provide for their children. Some critics view
the tree, or parental figure, as an enabler and some view the boy, or child, as a selfish person who
only takes without being thankful.
The Giving Tree considers the nature of altruism and the obligation to give of oneself in a
relationship. Once there was a tree who loved a little boy. Every day the boy would come to the tree
to eat her apples, swing from her branches, or slide down her trunk… and the tree was happy.

THEME 2

Another popular theme that this fiction represents is the relationship between the Earth and
humans. The tree would represent the Earth and the boy would represent the humans. In this day
and age, human tends to take from the Earth without caring how they are affecting the Earth.
THEME 3

In a religious lens, this book can represent the relationship that God has with His people. The tree
would be God and the boy would be His people, the humans. In these terms, the book demonstrates
that God will always be there for His people if they need help. Religiously, the book can also
represent unconditional love.

“… and she loved a boy very, very much — even more than she loved herself.”
What are the Literary Devices in the story?

1. Personification was used in the story. Because of the phrase “ And the tree was happy”
Personification is a figure of speech in which things are endowed with human qualities
or are represented as possessing human form.

The tree just wants the boy to be happy, and the tree was not able to grant the boy happiness. The
only time the tree was happy was when she saw the boy happy.It says in The Giving Tree that once
the boy played on the tree, he would sleep in her shade. “And the boy loved the tree… Very much…
And the tree was happy.” This clearly shows the tree’s affection for the boy.Overall, the boy takes
everything from the tree, and the tree is still loving him back.

2. Another literary device used is symbolism

Symbolism is a figure of speech that is used when an author wants to create a certain
mood or emotion in a work of literature. It is the use of an object, person, situation or
word to represent something else, like an idea, in literature.

3. Irony
Irony is a figure of speech and one of the most widely- known literary devices,
which is used to express a strong emotion or raise a point. As defined, Irony is
the use of words to convey a meaning that is opposite of what is actually said

4. Parallelism
 Parallelism is a figure of speech in which two or more elements of a sentence
(or series of sentences) have the same grammatical structure. These
"parallel" elements can be used to intensify the rhythm of language, or to draw a
comparison, emphasize, or elaborate on an idea.

5. Allusion
An allusion is a figure of speech that refers to a well-known story, event, person,
or object in order to make a comparison in the readers' minds. 

6. Imagery
Imagery can be defined as a writer or speaker's use of words or figures of
speech to create a vivid mental picture or physical sensation
 And lastly,
7. Paradox
A paradox is a statement that appears at first to be contradictory,
but upon reflection then makes sense. This literary device is
commonly used to engage a reader to discover an underlying
logic in a seemingly self-contradictory statement or phrase. As a
result, paradox allows readers to understand concepts in a
different and even non-traditional way.

What are the lessons that you have learned classmates?

Let me share with you the lessons that I have learned from the story The Giving Tree

Key Lessons from “The Giving Tree”

1.      The power of gratitude

2.      Break out from the bubble of greed
3.      Be careful what you wish for

The power of gratitude

Every now and then, people are not happy with the life they have, and they are in full pursuit for
more. It is almost a global phenomenon that keeps us miserable for the entire life-span.

Some people have never once expressed glimpses of thankfulness, and that is why gratitude must
emerge.

Break out from the bubble of greed

It comes as no surprise that is not easy to tackle that unquenchable hunger. We are taught that
people must always struggle in order to battle through due to lack of money or status.

For precisely that reason, one must figure out a way to shift its mindset and adopt a more open
approach.

Be careful what you wish for

Sometimes the things you crave so deeply, are the things that are going to bring you a lot of
suffering. Take lottery-winners, for example; there are many suicidal cases which are a direct
consequence of winning the lottery.

Stay with both feet on your ground and ponder about your decisions!

Reference: https://www.prindleinstitute.org/books/the-giving-tree/

Conclusion:

The Giving Tree shares the story of a young boy and his lifetime relationship with a certain apple
tree. But it is much more than that. It is also a story of giving (and taking or receiving), friendship,
happiness, loyalty, sacrifice, gratitude, and most importantly - love. The tree ultimately gives
everything for the boy without receiving much in return. The theme or message of the book has
been interpreted in many different ways.

Because they can learn something from it

It is also suitable for adolescence because it talks about being generous