1. THE GIVING TREE BY: SHEL SILVERSTEIN Vanessa Burdiek, Jordan Kennedy, Kristin Showalter, Laura Staab, Sidney Westervelt

2. GENRE Narrative Poetry – It tells a long narrative poem through the setting, character, and plot Setting: Outdoors/Nature Characters: Tree, Boy, Girlfriend 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 Example: “And then one day the boy came backed and the tree shook with joy and she said…” VB

3. THEMES Selflessness/Selfishness The Tree  Selfless Gives without question: Apples Branches Tree Trunk Stump The Boy  Selfish Only visits when: Needs Money House To Travel – Boat Lonely JK

4. THEMES Environment 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

5. THEMES Religion 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

6. 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 GENDER ROLES

7. The dedication of The Giving Tree, “For Nicky”, turns out to be one of his old girlfriend’s Based on a 2007 online poll, the National Education Association named The Giving Tree one of its “Teachers’ Top 100 Books for Children” FUN FACTS

8. WIKIPEDIA: “THE GIVING TREE” HTTP://EN.WIKIPEDIA.ORG/WIKI/THE_GIVING_TREE WEB RING: SHEL SILVERSTEIN HTTP://SHELSILVERSTEIN.TRIPOD.COM/DEDICATI ONS.HTML WORKS CITED