'The Giving Tree' lesson notes

23/02/2011 13:41

The Giving Tree _handout.doc (38 kB)

 

The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein

 

This week we looked at another story by Shel Silverstein. The Giving Tree is a story about giving and taking.

 

1. Plot and Language

We looked at the plot and sorted out the things the tree gave to the boy and the things the boy did to the tree. Also, it is not hard for us to notice both the plot and language follow a repetitive pattern, especially with the repetitive conversations between the tree and the boy, which makes the story fast-paced but easy to read.

 

2. Theme 

The tree kept giving things to the boy, from its leaves, branches, apples to shade, until in the end there was only an old stump left. And during the time, the boy got a happy childhood, money, a house and a boat from the tree. When he got old and had nowhere to go, he still had the stump from the tree to sit on and rest.

 

It seemed like we all agreed in class that the tree is the giver and the boy is the taker. Victor said the boy was very selfish. Yes, he just thought of his own benefits and offered nothing to the tree. But if you agree on this, you need to think about the tree's motivation or reasons for keeping giving to the boy. Vergil said the tree felt lonely and needed company. When it offered something to the boy, it gave the reasons for the boy to come bac. That was the way how the tree maintained the relationship with the boy. So, the hidden reasons can be for love, friendship, care or personal satisfaction.

 

3. Apply to real life 

In class, I asked you 'Can you think of similar relationships you have in your real life?' Winnie's group and Smithy's thought about parents and children, Gwen's group girlfriend and boyfriend / sugar daddy and mistress (haha), Vergil mentioned human being and the nature. I think these are all interesting answers. And you really did a good job in making and acting out your own drama-- 'The Giving Father / Boyfriend / Mother'. Especially, the second group applied the repetitive patterns to their drama--

 

Father: 'Come here, son. Play with me/  Spend some time with me.'

Son: 'Sorry, dad. I can't. I have to... / I want to have...'

Father: 'Oh, son. I don't have... But I have money. Will you take money to ...?'

...

 

4. Something critical thinking for further discussion

As mentioned above, we all agreed in class that the tree is the giver and the boy is the taker. But we cannot stop asking the question-- How can this one- way relationship last? If the tree doesn't get anything in return from the boy, it lacks the motivation for giving. So it is necessary for us to change our perspective when we analyze the relationship between the tree and the boy. Ok, the tree needed friendship. But why did the tree have to completely rely on the boy? Why didn’t the tree open up to the whole world and look for the friendship from somewhere else? For example, from the birds, flowers, grass, bees or another child? Or maybe the tree loved the boy? And to keep the boy happy was more important than to keep itself happy? Does this kind of relationship sound familiar to you?...

 

Thanks again for joining the Litrtr class. For next week's story, please check with the front desk.