The Giving Tree Literary Elements

Children's Fiction

Anytown America, in the present

The narration is from the point of view of the narrator and reader, as the tale of what happened is recounted to them.

At first the tone is light-hearted and fun, but it darkens, and becomes frustrating, and ultimately sad and melancholy.

The Tree is the protagonist, the Boy the antagonist.

The is no conflict in the book.

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.

The Boy asking the Tree for money foreshadows the way in which he is going to take everything from her for his own selfish needs and foreshadows the fact that his friendship is entirely conditional.

No specific examples

The narrative alludes to the systematic pillaging of the natural world by modern man, and the green / ecology movement that represents the Tree.

The Boy puts the leaves on his head giving the image of a crown. This is a game that he is playing all alone and so he is proclaiming himself to be king of the forest, portraying the image of a selfish king whose rule benefits only himself.

The Boy and the Tree both offer friendship to the other but the Boy's friendship is entirely conditional whereas the Tree's is based on a selfless love and desire for the best for her friend.

There is a parallel between the Boy growing up and his intentions and thoughts about the Tree growing as well; as he ages, his demands become more as he gets caught up in what seems important to him as an adult.

No specific examples

The Tree is personified throughout the story; the key way in which this is evident involves the emotions given to the Tree. When the Boy stops coming to visit with her she is sad and misses him, both emotions that a Tree cannot traditionally feel.