One Person to Love
You are blessed with someone who cares about you when you’re going through a tough path. In the poem “The Giving Tree”, by Shel Silverstein, he explains about a tree which would want to make the boy happy by giving him what it has for him. This compares to a caring mother and a son. In the poem, the tree would always make the boy happy when the tree says, “Take my apples, Boy, and sell them in the city”. The boy does not have anything, so the tree told the boy to pick apples to sell them to get money. Since the mother cares about her child, she would do anything for him, even giving up her own well-being. A loving mother would always offer their love conditionally to their child no matter if they get into an argument. When the tree stated, “But you may cut off my branches and build a house.” it is saying how the tree wants what’s best for the boy by having a roof over its head. A mother can be poor and not have money, but she would
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When the boy was coming to the tree, it said, “Well, an old stump is good for sitting and resting. Come, Boy, sit down. Sit down and rest”, which explains that this tree has nothing left to give to the boy, but a place to sit.Like the tree, it represents a mother that no matter what, the mother will always be there for the son. Eventually both the mother and son will get old and the son will know that no matter what age, his mom will always be his mom. The tree still cares about the boy, so it said, “I wish that I could give you something [...]”. However, since the boy took all of her belongings, she has nothing else to give. A caring mother is the one that would be there for their son when a rigorous route gets in the way and also mothers are the one that buys all the toys, food, and clothes for the son not friends or family. Friends and family will be there to support, but the mom will stay forever and be by their side throughout their
“Don’t judge a book by its cover.” This is a phrase that has been uttered numerous times to children by their parents. This aphorism has been used to not only apply to books but also people. In The Black Walnut Tree by Mary Oliver, the speaker faces a conflict between the literal and figurative meaning of a tree in her yard. In the beginning of the poem, the mother and daughter “debate” selling the tree to “pay off their mortgage.” But with a shift from literal language to figurative language comes a symbolic representation of the tree, one that represents family heritage and their ancestors’ hard work.
Additionally, she experiences her fall from innocence as she grows up and sees the ugly side of the world. Each year, each chapter, it is shown of how she learns more of the darkness in the world- more about her poverty, her father’s drunkenness, and her class status. Here Francie’s mother states, “Sometimes I think it's better to suffer bitter unhappiness and to fight and to scream out, and even to suffer that terrible pain, than to just be... safe. At least she knows she's living.” (Page) Certainly, these words speak to every human being who has to work painfully to live; that life itself is despondency. Additionally, the strength of Francie is compared to the symbolization of the tree in front of their tenement. The tree that grows in Brooklyn symbolizes the hardship and perseverance of life. The tree which struggles to live almost no soil, light, or water, but it strives to live. Just as how Francie will live no matter how sick and tired she is of this world. In conclusion, Francie Nolan speaks to the readers to stay strong through the harsh circumstances.
The joy of conceiving a child is a beautiful thing. How is it that a man and a woman can come together and create such a creature? How is it that a woman can carry life in her for nine months? Many children are their parent’s joy. Even through the cries, the puke, the feces, and everything. Somehow we still find the heart love them uncontrollably. Many commercials show on television about children overseas dying due to starvation and diseases. What is a parent to do when they lose that very thing they created? What do they do when their son or their daughter is suddenly taken away from them or in more serious cases they die? Infant death is one of the saddest things that a parent can go through. I cannot even imagine the pain and the hurt that an infant death could cause towards loved ones. This is the situation we find in Dana Gioia’s poem “Planting a Sequoia.” In this emotional poem, the speaker describes the process of burying an infant loved one. The setting was in Sicily, which is an island in Italy. The poem is told from a father’s perspective. It addresses how the planting of a sequoia will continue to live and grow as a symbol of the first son’s birth, which is now dead. A sequoia is said to be one of the longest living trees and is said to live longer than humans. Dana Gioia was describing in the poem how when every other family member has died off, the sequoia, which is buried for the speaker’s son, will forever remain through generations.
Throughout the history of the world, there has been many societies. All these societies had similar structures and ideas, but they all are different by their own special traditions and ways of life. Similarly, both our society and the society in The Giver share similar ideas, but they are different in certain areas. For example, they both celebrate birthdays and have family units, but they have their own way of doing so. Based on the celebration of birthdays and the formation of family units, our society is better than the society in The Giver by Lois Lowry.
Betty Smith’s novel A Tree Grows In Brooklyn is a tale of poignant family relationships and childhood and also of grim privation. The story revolves around the protagonist of the story, young Francie Nolan. She is an imaginative, endearing 11-year-old girl growing up in 1912, in Brooklyn, New York. The entire story revolves around Francie and the Nolan family, including her brother Neelie, her mother Katie and her father Johnny. An ensemble of high relief characters aids and abets them in their journey through this story of sometimes bleak survival and everlasting hope. As we find out, the struggle for survival is primarily focused against the antagonist of this story, the hard-grinding poverty afflicting Francie, the Nolan’s and Brooklyn itself. The hope in the novel is shown symbolically in the “The “Tree of Heaven””. A symbol used throughout the novel to show hope, perseverance and to highlight other key points.
The imagery of an aspen tree that Celan employs in this poem makes it clear to the reader that his mother was killed and that she was killed before she was able to grow old. This ties into the theme of loss of generation. Paul Celan’s mother did not ever get the chance to become an elder, and she was unable to see younger generations of Jewish people develop as many of them were also killed with her.
When this tale is looked at from a deeper perspective, it is learned that the mothers wish is to be loved and not have to worry about her child that has come in the way of her and her
However, on a deeper level, we all have a Giver of sorts in our lives, and that we all have people who pass on memories and stories of what life was like before us. She said that her mother was her “Giver” and she was the “Receiver” during her mother’s last days. She would sit with her mother and all her mother wanted to do was tell her stories of her life.
While the elephant/mama had grown accustom to her royal lifestyle at the dollhouse in the store, she began to be snooty to her family. In replying to why she had been at the store so long she stated, "I'm part of the establishment...and this is my house." (5). It is not until she has been separated from her possessions and the family that she realizes how well off she was when the family was together. When she sees the father and child cutting the tree, she is "completely overwhelmed" (127). Until then she had only thought of herself. She realizes the error of their split as "a world of love and pain was printed on her vision" (128).
In “The Tree,” the speaker talks to a tree and express thanks for its “delightful shade” (1). The speaker goes on to talk of the others who benefited from the existence of the tree and gave it something back in return, such as the birds singing, travelers praising it’s welcome shade, and nymphs making crowns from its blooms. The speaker wonders what she can do to repay the shade given her by the tree. She decides to wish something for the tree’s future. She wishes, “To future ages may’st thou stand / Untouch’d by the rash workman’s hand” (19 – 20). Ultimately, she wishes something such as “some bright hearth” (32) be made from the tree at its death.
The Tree of Heaven is crucial to the novel as it represents the lives of poor people and it also suggests that Francie will grow up to become much stronger despite her struggles surrounding her impoverished family. There are multiple references to trees in the first third of the story. Multiple character refer to the tree in order to talk about strength and the hardships of growing up. The setting of the story is also very important in shaping Francie as a character because it allows the audience to see Williamsburg through Francie’s eyes and create more of an understanding of her situation and feelings. In the beginning of the novel, it is also evident that Francie takes great pleasure in books and reading which displays her childlike wonder. The idea of imagination and childlike wonder is very important to Francie as a character because it shows the reader that even though she is in this very difficult situation, she is still a young child having to deal with people in her community shaming her family. Mary Rommely, Katie’s mother, also discusses the importance of imagination with her just after Francie is born. She tells her “the child must have a valuable thing which is called imagination. The child must have a secret world in which live things that never were. It is necessary that she believe.” The theme of gender difference is also an important part of the story. Normally in a household, the man would be in charge of the house and finances, but because of Johnny’s alcohol problem, Katie must become much stronger and take control in the house. After Francie is born and Katie is having her discussion with her mother, Mary grows upset because she believes being born a woman leads to a life of
She knows her son would not want her to be in this pain and dwell on something she cannot change which is why the author states “But soon afterwards, when the child had been buried, it appeared by night in the places where it had sat and played during its life, and if the mother wept, it wept also, and, when morning came, it disappeared.” The little boy is referred to as ‘it’ because he is only appearing in the mother’s mind as she reminisces all of the memories they shared. The mother eventually comes to an understanding with this terrible incident and at peace for herself and her little boy when the story reads “Then the mother gave her sorrow into God’s keeping, and bore it quietly and patiently, and the child came no more, but slept in its little bed beneath the earth.” She finally let go. Also, in the last quotation, this is showing that the mother now worships God above all and is putting her faith in him. As opposed to the beginning of the story where the author states “THERE was once a mother who
We gained control of many things. But we had to let go of others” (97). In the book The Giver by Lois Lowry, no one has seen a rainbow after a storm, no one knew what colors were; what choosing was; what it meant to be an individual. Everyone lived in complete Sameness, and never learned what it meant to be an individual. By eliminating as much self expression as possible in Sameness and society, Jonas's community has rejected the individuality of a society where people are free to move society forward. In The Giver individuality is represented by colors, memories, and pale eyes.
The holiday season are often thought of as happy and joyous moments, which are intended to spend with close family and friends. People all over the world spend this time to think about all the things that are most important to a person’s life. Movies help portray the holiday season as a time to spend with loved ones, and a time where the greatest blessings are the things that are near and dear to one’s heart. Literature helps to provide a different perspective as to how one can look at a situation during the holidays. Charles Dickens’ novel A Christmas Carol and Elizabeth Gaskell’s North and South are both examples as to how a person can gain another perspective from the main objective of the story. Both Dickens and Gaskell used certain situations
In "A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens, Ebenezer Scrooge undergoes a transformation as a result of his encounters with three ghosts and becomes a kind, happy, and generous man. His greedy, cruel, and grumpy demeanor is replaced seemingly overnight, but he doesn’t just wake up and decide to be nice. It takes three Spirits to change his outlook on life - The Ghosts of Christmases Past, Present, and Future. The Ghost of Christmas Past makes Scrooge begin to regret his selfishness, and the Ghost of Christmas Present begins to teach him about others. This second Ghost helps to make him realize that money doesn't buy happiness. The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come, however, teaches the most profound lesson of all: unless he changes, no one will care if Scrooge dies. Because of the Ghosts, by Christmas morning Ebenezer Scrooge is a completely different person from the man who went to bed on Christmas Eve.