Senior Intermediate English Notes - Prose THE GIVING TREE

Shel Silverstein Introduction Common for all the answers : Shel Silverstein is one of the most celebrated classic poets of America. A versatile genius, he authored a number of childrens books, styling himself as Uncle Shelby in them. Silversteins writings are known for their unique quirky and conversational style. Seemingly very simple on the surface, there is an understatement very intricately woven in every work of his. The Giving Tree is a classic example. 1. Describe the relationship between man and nature as described in the poem The Giving Tree. Ans. The poem The Giving Tree is a touching story about the lifelong relationship between an apple tree and a greedy boy. While the tree epitomizes self-sacrifice and unconditional love for the boy, the boy symbolizes greed and ingratitude. All Take and No Give, is what we see in the boys relationship with the apple-tree. He drains the apple-tree of its all, taking advantage of its selfless love for him. At every stage in his life - as a boy, an adolescent and then as a man - he benefits greatly from it. On his every visit, the tree happily allows the boy to amputate a piece of it, to help him earn an income, build a house and construct a boat, without the slightest sense of remorse. It longs for him when he doesnt turn up. It feels immense joy in fulfilling his needs. In the end, even after being reduced to a mere stump, it readies itself to become his place to sit and rest in his old age. The irony in the story is the boy doesnt utter a word of gratitude to it, not even once. The story reflects modern mans selfish attitude towards Nature. He lives on it, but never cares for it. In his attitude there is no gratitude. 2. 3. Ans. The tree found its joy in the joy of the boy. Explain with reference to the poem The Giving Tree The Giving Tree, is a celebration of unconditional love. Illustrate. The poem The Giving Tree is a touching story about the lifelong relationship between an apple tree and a greedy boy. As the tree epitomizes self-sacrifice and unconditional love for the boy, the boy symbolizes selfishness and ingratitude. As a boy, then as an adolescent and later as a grown-up man, at every stage, the boy sought after the tree for many things. And the apple tree like a loving mother fulfilled all his needs unconditionally. During his childhood, it became his playmate. It let him swing from its branches and eat apples. It lulled him to sleep when he slumbered in its shade. When he grew up and wanted some money it offered him it apples to sell. Whenever, the boy did not turn-up for years, it longed for him. And when he appeared again, it beamed with joy. It generously allowed him to amputate a piece of it, every time, to help him construct a house and build a boat to sail to far-off places. Thus, the boy kept exploiting the tree emotionally until nothing was left of it but the stump. Yet it never grudged or grumbled, for it found its joy in the joy of the boy. In the end, even as a mere stump it offered itself to be his place to sit and rest. The irony in the story is that the boy never uttered a word of gratitude, not even once. The appletree, thus stands for unconditional love and self-sacrifice. Thus The Giving Tree is a celebration of unconditional love. ANNOTATIONS : 1. And they would play hide-and-go-seek. Introduction : The given lines are culled from the though-provoking poem The Given Tree. It is written by Shel Silverstein, one of Americas versatile writers, well-known for childrens fiction and comedy. The poem is about an apple-tree that epitomizes unconditional love and a boy who symbolizes selfishness and greed. Context : In the context of elucidating how the boy and the apple tree loved and enjoyed each others company, the poet has penned these words. Explanation : The boy lived his childhood fully in the company of the apple tree. For him, the tree was his be all and end all. In the same way, the tree too loved him out and out and very passionately yearned to please him in its own way. It became his playmate. It eagerly waited for him everyday, and when he appeared, it beamed with joy. It entertained him, letting him climb and swing from her branches. Like a loving mother, it gave him apples to eat and lulled him to sleep in its cool shade. They both even played hide-and-go-seek for sometime. At every stage, the tree felt great joy in satiating the boy by fulfilling his juvenile needs.

Nagaraj

Senior Intermediate English Notes - Prose

2. I want to buy things and have fun. Introduction : The given lines are culled from the though-provoking poem The Given Tree. It is written by Shel Silverstein, one of Americas versatile writers, well-known for childrens fiction and comedy. The poem is about an apple-tree that epitomizes unconditional love and a boy who symbolizes selfishness and greed. Context : In the context of explaining, how the boy exploited the tree emotionally taking advantaged of its love for him, the poet penned these lines. Explanation : As a grown-up, the boy did not see the tree for a long time. Earlier, he visited the tree daily, climbed it up, swung from its branches and slept in its shade. The tree found great joy in entertaining him. It longed for him every day, and beamed with joy, when he made his appearance again. One day, after many years the boy went to the tree. The tree innocently asked him to climb it and swing from its branches. But the boy refused to do so. He added that he was too old to do that. Without the slightest concern for it feelings, he told it that he had been there to ask it to give him some money to meet his needs. The tree happily gives him her apples so that he would make some bugs by selling them. 3. Then you can sail awayand be happy. Introduction : The given lines are culled from the though-provoking poem The Given Tree. It is written by Shel Silverstein, one of Americas versatile writers, well-known for childrens fiction and comedy. The poem is about an apple-tree that epitomizes unconditional love and a boy who symbolizes selfishness and greed. Context : In the context of explaining, how the boy exploited the tree emotionally taking advantaged of its love for him, the poet penned these lines. Explanation : The boy forgot the tree every time he had benefited from it. He visited the tree far and far between only to ask it for some favour. Earlier, he used to visit the tree daily and played with. The tree too found great joy in entertaining and longed for him every day. It beamed with joy, when he made his appearance again. After amputating the tree of its branches to construct a house, the boy did not show up again for a long time. The tree felt down in dumps. But one day, the boy returned again, not to play with the tree but to ask it for a boat. He said that he wanted a boat that would take him away from there. Then the tree said, Cut down my trunk and make a boat. The boy, without qualms did so and disappeared until he became old. This touching context holds a mirror to the depravity that has crept into humans who selfishly continue to exploit Nature. Sadly, he loves the gift more than the giver. Despite all the harm caused to it, like a loving mother, Nature has always loved to give him everything for no returns. 4. I wish that I could give you something..but I have nothing left. Introduction : The given lines are culled from the though-provoking poem The Given Tree. It is written by Shel Silverstein, one of Americas versatile writers, well-known for childrens fiction and comedy. The poem is about an apple-tree that epitomizes unconditional love and a boy who symbolizes selfishness and greed. Context : In the context of explaining, how the boy exploited the tree emotionally taking advantaged of its love for him, the poet penned these lines. Explanation : These touching words of the tree melt even the hardest soul. The unkindest cut in the story is that the boy expects more from the tree even after reducing it to a mere stump. In the end, the boy goes to the tree, now as an old man. The tree feels overwhelmingly happy to see him but at the same time deeply regrets for having left with nothing to give him. It has given him everything its apples, branches and trunk and what not. So, it very sorrowfully says that it wished it had something to give him. And yet as a mere stump it offers itself to him as a place to sit and rest in his old age. Thus the tree stood for true love and boy for selfishness and greed.

Nagaraj