The Oak Tree
Symbolism in Writing
Symbolism in Writing
A symbol is the use of a concrete object to represent an
abstract idea.
• The word symbol is derived from the
Greek verb “symballein” which means
“to put together and the related noun
“symbolon” which means “mark”,
“taken” or “sign”.
• The term, symbol, when used in
literature is often a figure of speech
in which a person, object, or situation
represent something in addition to its
literal meaning.
Symbolism in Writing
When determining whether or not an object is a symbol, it is often
beneficial to begin by rereading those passages about the object and also by
asking several questions about that object. Some questions we could pose
about the tree are as follows:
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What do we know about the tree in general?
What kind of tree is it?
Does this kind of tree have any certain qualities or lore about it?
What is the main purpose of the tree within the plot?
What objects have the children found in the tree?
Why does Boo put things in the tree?
The Oak Tree
• Oak trees belong to the genus Quercus
and are members of the beech tree family.
• All oak trees are deciduous, which means
that they drop their leaves during one
season.
• There are over four hundred varieties of
oak trees. Some of the common varieties
include ‘white oak’, ‘black oak’, ‘northern
red oak’ and ‘chestnut oak’.
• The wood of the oak tree is very strong
and is often used in the manufacturing of
furniture.
The Oak Tree
• For centuries oak trees were used in the
construction of boats and ships.
• Oak barrels are used in the distilling of
certain wines and liquors, producing a
pleasing flavor in the final product.
• Oaks consume a large amount of water.
Mature trees sometimes absorb more than
50 gallons of water each day.
• Many European nations use the oak tree as
a ‘national tree’ as it symbolizes strength
and long life.
The Oak Tree
• Oak trees can grow as high as 70 feet and
reach widths of over 9 feet. Their branches
can span between 85 and 135 feet in
breadth!
• Oak trees produce seeds called ‘acorns’
during fall any time after reaching 20 years
and before 50 years of age.
• They can produce an average of 2,200
acorns yearly after reaching 100 years of
age.
• One oak tree in Windsor is said to be over
800 years old. It was planted during the
reign of King John, and has lived through the
reign of 35 monarchs!
The Oak Tree
• The oak remains a symbol of spiritual
significance. The Bible refers to the oak tree
23 times!
• The six pence, one of Britain’s oldest coins,
has an oak tree engraved on it.
• Most acorns that fall to the ground do not
develop into oak trees as they are very
difficult to germinate. In fact, only one out of
every 10,000 acorns develops into an oak
tree!
Oak Trees and Lore
• Oak trees were considered a gateway
between worlds in Celtic mythology. To the
druids, oaks were doorways to other realms.
Oak trees were believed to be the dwelling
places of certain fairies.
• As Celtic Myth Podshow notes, "In Greek
mythology Dryads, faerie-like creatures, lived
in Oak trees. Dryads are actually tree
nymphs. They are very shy except when
around Artemis the goddess who was a
friend to most nymphs. Dryads are very long
lived and very attached to their homes. The
Hamadryad, an advanced form of the species,
would die if their tree died."
The Doorway
• The oak tree of our story could be considered a doorway between the
Dryad-like Boo Radley and the outside world - Jem and Scout.
• Also in Celtic mythology, the parasitic plant mistletoe was closely
associated with the oak. Today, we associate mistletoe with Christmas, only
reinforcing the tree's possible parallelism to a gift tree or Christmas tree.
The Doorway
• Boo continually gives presents to the children through the tree. The
first thing Scout finds in the tree is two pieces of Wrigley's Double
Mint chewing gum. Later items include two Indian-head pennies in a
box, a spool of yarn, a spelling bee medal, a pack of gum, a pocket
watch with an aluminum knife, and soap carvings that resemble Scout
and Jem. Thus, the tree is not only the means of Scout and Jem's
communication with Boo, but it could even symbolize their friendship.
Family Tree
• One symbol of the tree today is in following your family heritage, or
genealogy.
• The Family Tree follows your ancestor family lines through several
generations.
• A family tree may be incomplete (branches missing) for several reasons.
Assignment
• Interview members of your family to create a family tree as far back as you
can go.
• Challenge yourself to go back at least 4 generations.
• Hint- grandparents are a perfect source for this assignment!