The Giving Tree Book Summary

The Giving Tree – A Connection Between Humans and Nature

Brief Summary:

Highlighting the effectual connection between nature and humans, “The Giving Tree” is written aesthetically by Shel Silverstein. It is a children’s picture book that evokes the story of a little boy developing an emotional bond with a tree. But, the point here is that this bonding should be identified as positive or drift to the negative side. Indeed, the relation is effective enough to develop two different analyses of the story. The best part of the book is that it has been stated as one of the most contentious books in children’s literature. 

Analyzing the Key Factors:

Meeting the Characters:

The novel introduces a boy in his childhood, who develops a strong emotional bond with an apple tree. Indeed, the apple tree has always been a giver because whenever the boy is hungry, he plays on the trunk of the tree and eats its apples. He even carves Me+T on the bark to express his emotions and fondness for the tree. Whenever the boy gets time, he loves to play with the tree by climbing on its bark, hanging on the branches as a swing, and eating the apples. The tree likes to give special attention to the child and always addresses the kid as a boy. They both develop great sort of relationships and always prefer to spend time. 

Effectual Bonding:

As the story starts developing, the boy grows from child to adult. But, his connection with the tree remains the same. He comes there to rest and eat the apples from the tree. On the other hand, the tree is always happy to give shade and apples to him. Indeed, the tree used to help the boy by giving some of his parts. This means that he used to give him apples that could be sold and the boy could earn money. When he became an adult, the boy brought his girlfriend to introduce her to the tree. They both inscribe their names on the bank of the tree too. Now that the boy turned adult, the tree helped him make a house from his bark and wood. In fact, the tree was always happy to give something or the other to the boy. 

After making the house from the bark of the tree, the boy started living with his girlfriend. On reaching a later stage in life, the tree helps the man (Boy turning Old) by giving him wood through which he can make a boat to travel. In the act of giving, the tree kept on losing its existence day by day. Lastly, when the tree is left as a stump having the carving of Me + T, the tree is sad. The old boy comes to meet the tree for the last time and the tree expresses its sadness by not being able to provide shade or apples. But, the boy wants a quiet place to sit and rest which the tree could give. Even in the last stage of giving, the tree was happy. 

The Act of Giving and Taking:

In the act of giving by the tree and taking by the boy, it is evident that the tree has been proving its worth to the guy. On the other hand, the boy is developing a thankful relationship with the tree. In fact, the tree’s help can be referred to as an act of self-sacrifice in making others happy.