The Giving Tree

By Shel Silverstein

Valorie Seger
Becky Broussard
Allison Carlson

Natasha
Jazmin Sanchez Shayakhmetova
Worksheet Options for
Furthering Your
Lesson/Integrating Into
Other Subjects
Problem/Solution
Worksheet
Naming Parts
of a Tree
Identifying and
Describing
Character Traits
 Efficacy of “The Giving Tree”

Is this book effective in getting its point across?

Are the illustrations effective?

Is the language/ the way its written effective? For which

grades?

What could be changed in order to make it more effective?

Discussion Questions
 1). Some critics of the book argue that the book
encourages selfishness, narcissism, and
codependency. In what ways can you argue that
this is true? Untrue?
 2). What do you think about the way the story
ends? Would you say it is a happy ending? A sad
one? Do you think that it’s important for young
readers that the stories they read have a happy
ending? Why it why not?
 3). Since its release The Giving Tree has raised
many questions in commentary. Does it
symbolize a codependent relationship? Is it
about parenthood and loss? Is it a warning
against giving too much? Is it a lesson on giving
your all? There lacks a consensus on the main
point of the parable. What do you believe it is?
Explain.
4). In the story the tree gives up all of her natural
resources so the boy could be happy, but in the
end of the story she says she has nothing left to
give. To what extent does this symbolize the way
we as a society use our natural resources?