The Black Walnut Tree
In Mary Oliver’s “The Black Walnut Tree,” Oliver employs personification, split section, and conflict between literal and figurative to establish the tree’s role in the family as a symbol of both the adversities and the rewards that arise from their endeavor to preserve their family history.
The personification of “black walnut tree swing through another year of sun” is used to convey the fresh and renewed spirit of the family once they decide to keep their family together. The idea of the tree “swinging” represents a cheerful spirit. Since the author chooses to embody this cheerful spirit in her writing, it demonstrates the idea of family and home; money tends to draw people apart, but happiness and favor comes with the idea of an object like the walnut tree that forges the relationship in a family. Since the mother and child decided to keep the tree for the
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In the first section the mother and daughter are the only two people present in this section and they are trying to plan whether they should sell the tree. There are also some images that are used in the beginning of this poem that create a negative image in the reader’s mind. The negative tone provided with the uses of “dark”, “smashing”, and difficult” show the reader the hard time the character are going though. In the second section, the characters are reminded of the significant of the black walnut. The author show this by shifting the tone of the poem to positive. The author uses of “leaping”, “bounding”, and “generous” to show some of the positive tone shift. This positive tone help show the happy memory that their ancestor experience because of the tree. Because of this sole reason, the characters treasure the tree and decided to keep it there because of the bond it share with the family. The mother and daughter also know that they would, "crawl with shame in the emptiness" meaning that they would be ashamed if they cut the
However , all they have to do it cut off one limb , so it can be healthy again. The tree is like Melinda , once they remove the dead part , will have healthy girl. Melinda’s dad says "He's not chopping it down. He's saving it. Those branches were long dead from disease.
In contrast with the tree; the walls family were always beaten down due to poverty, spun in different directions by the wind; as in the millions of miles they move about through the country but they also have strong roots as well. Rose; Jeanette’s mother shows a deep interest and fascination over the tree. She loves to study and make portraits about it. In Rose’s perspective the tree is her view about her family; deep underneath their dysfunctional roots of trial and hardships they face; there is a strong bond of love and compassion that they have together as a
In his memory, the tree is a “huge lone spike”(13) or an “artillery piece”(13), but when he sees it again it looks small and innocuous. Though the tree itself has not changed, Gene's perspective, which has changed over the years, is what is enabling him to face the tree without it haunting him. At the time of the incident, in his youth, the tree was a symbol of fear and forbidding. At the end of the novel, the tree has become a symbol of profound changes in perspective that time and growth can give people. “This was the tree, and it seemed to me standing there to resemble those men, the giants of your childhood, whom you encounter years later and find that they are not merely smaller in relation to your growth, but that they are absolutely smaller, shrunken by age….”(14).
Zora Hurston's “Their Eyes Were Watching God” follows Janie Mae Crawford quest to woman hood and self discovery. Having to go to adulthood from childhood at the early age of sixteen this story helps show Janie’s struggle and the realizations of her dreams going through the hardships of three marriages. And, being a black woman in early 20th century America. The author used nature as symbolism to help guide us through Janie journey to finding herself. One of the most powerful metaphors to nature in this novel would be the blossoming pear tree.
Sunlight poured through the trees. The trees sparkle as well as the people the family encounter. Even the Misfit (leader of killers) shows an almost imperceptible spark of goodness right at the end of the story, and this comparison with "mean" trees that sparkle illustrates the sacred view of life. "
Seemingly a simple, artistic description of a tree, these words also show the changed feelings of the speaker at the end of their journey through this swamp. After all their struggles that they once found difficult to even understand, the reader suddenly pictures this beautiful, inspirational tree, signifying a new life along a new journey. That newfound optimism also signifies closure for the speaker, and proves that they are capable of overcoming anything and nthat the resulting personal growth makes all struggles worth it in the
As the uses for each resources grew, more attraction is brought to each. With the trees,people all around herd of the wonderful thneed, but were oblivious to the beginning of the damage it would cause(Seuss). Similar to the Lorax, at Easter Island the trees were not seen as something that would go away. Thereso the tribes began to cut them down also unaware of the impending danger. All occasionsrepresent what the tragedy of the commons means, and shows the peril that may come with it.
Therefore, if she and her mother chose to chop the tree down, they would “crawl with shame in the emptiness [they’d] made.” The shift from literal language to figurative language establishes the shift from a practical view of the tree to an emotional one. The speaker also uses vivid imagery, employing words with a more positive connotation, such as “fresh” and generous,” which contrasts the negatively connotated words used in the first half of the poem. The use of figurative language also draws more attention to the second section of the poem as it makes it more interesting to read. Therefore, the language highlights the importance of family over money with the black walnut tree symbolizing the family’s
The theme that the author is portraying, is that sometimes in life it's hard to do things that seem impossible, but we as humans can do anything if we put our minds to it. The figurative language that was present within the book was incredible. As a result, my options were limited. The first figurative language that symbolizes the importance of a forest was described, “This forest eats itself and lives forever” (5). This particular quote gave non living things, humans characteristics.
And his two good girls and his good little man Oakened as they grew. The first of dual implications of “oaken” initially delineates only the racial classification of Reed and his “dark” family, yet by stanza five a second concept is evident (376). The innate qualities of the oak tree--the strength, endurance, and perseverance in the face of adversity--characterized Reed, who announces that he will “fight” for his home when he finds it (377).
A.E. Stallings’ “First Love: A Quiz” was a shocking poem that could leave a reader quite flabbergasted by the end. Looking simply at the title, what comes to mind is a simple quiz in a frivolous teen magazine article, but what lies beneath the surface is much more dark and filled with hurt. From the title that may make one believe this is to be a story of a child’s first love, to the last stanza, in which readers could be taken aback by the blatant change in mood, stating “the place he took me to…is called by some men hell and others love” (22,29), describing the difference between a relationship of compassion and consent between one another, and a relationship in which one person abuses their power. The figurative language and metaphors used
“Mom and Dad smiled at each other and laughed. It was a sound that Tree hadn’t heard from them in the longest time” (132). This shows how Tree wasn’t sure his parents were ever going to get along again, but they end up having a good time. This is an example of how family matters most and hope is always around. This situation gave Tree strength to preserve.
This kind of description shows the reader how impressive and majestic this tree is, as it puts a vivid picture in the reader’s mind as something that is not only unrivaled in terms of altitude, but it can also be seen from the sea, which highlights its stature as a wholly independent object. Old as it is, this pine is strong, and does not need any assistance from the ecosystem surrounding it. The importance of this giant tree, along with other details that make the story more interesting, is what dramatizes this young heroine’s adventure.
But like her tree she has no idea how to feel like she is living, not just surviving. The tree is changing as she is because the tree is a perception of her emotions, and who she is doing throughout the
The agony the writer is feeling about his son 's death, as well as the hint of optimism through planting the tree is powerfully depicted through the devices of diction and imagery throughout the poem. In the first stanza the speaker describes the setting when planting the Sequoia; “Rain blacked the horizon, but cold winds kept it over the Pacific, / And the sky above us stayed the dull gray.” The speaker uses a lexicon of words such as “blackened”, “cold” and “dull gray” which all introduce a harsh and sorrowful tone to the poem. Pathetic fallacy is also used through the imagery of nature;