By: Ananya, Adam, and Doka Tree : Symbolism By: Ananya, Adam, and Doka

Where the symbol is introduced The symbol is first introduced in the chapter “Sanctuary” on page 12. “Tree. Tree? It’s too easy. I learned how to draw a tree in second grade…” You just chose your destiny, you can’t change that”(12). Anderson emphasizes the symbol by saying that the tree is Melinda’s destiny. The symbol is also emphasized when Melinda says that drawing a tree is easy. By saying that drawing a tree is easy we can see that she may change her opinion throughout the story to show her growth.

Suggested meaning of the symbol “I tune out and focus on my doodle, a pine tree…I start an apple tree”(55). Anderson uses trees to represent Melinda’s identity crisis. Melinda has trouble deciding on one type of tree to draw and cannot make up her mind just as how she cannot decide on what kind of room she wants. “There’s the Confused Period, when I wasn’t sure what the assignment was. The Spaz Period, when, I couldn’t draw a tree to save my life. The Dead Period, when all my trees looked like they had been through a forest fire or a blight”(151). Anderson uses the trees to represent Melinda’s progress throughout the year in art and as a person. “ All right, but you said we had to put emotion into our art. I don’t know what that means. I don’t know what I’m supposed to feel”(122). Anderson uses the art/trees to show that Melinda is having trouble putting emotion into her art as well as knowing how she feels. Because Melinda doesn’t know how she feels, she isn’t able to make progress in her art or in her life.

Suggested meaning of the symbol cont. “ I turn and focus on my doodle, a pine tree. I’ve been trying to carve a linoleum block in art class. The problem with the block is there is no way to correct mistakes”(54). Anderson uses the tree to suggest that Melinda is unable to deal with her mistakes. Because Melinda calls her mistakes a problem we can assume that she does not like them and is having a hard time making her tree. Melinda is unable to successfully carve her tree because she cannot accept her mistakes and keeps on restarting by getting a new linoleum block.

Trees in the resolution In the chapter “Final Cut” Melinda is turning in her tree after working on it all year. “I look at my homely sketch. It doesn’t need anything. Even through the river in my eyes I can see that. It isn’t perfect and that makes it just right”(198). The tree was previously something that Melinda felt needed to be perfect. Melinda was unable to accept any mistakes and just wanted to restart. In the last chapter Melinda accepts that because her tree isn’t perfect and has mistakes that is what makes it right. Through the novel, the symbol has been used to represent Melinda’s emotions and her progress in life. At the end, Melinda is finally able to express her emotion through her art and accept that she can’t be perfect.

Theme “One of the lower branches is sick. If the tree lives someplace, that branch better drop soon, so it doesn’t kill the whole thing. Roots knob out of the ground and the crown reaches for the sun, tall and healthy. The new growth is the best part”(196) Theme: Although one must reflect on their previous mistakes in order to avoid make the same error, obsessing over the past will not allow growth. Melinda is able to finally let go of her past and start anew just as the tree who is rid of the sick can start to grow again. Even though it is important for Melinda to not make the same mistakes she make leading up to the rape (drinking and leaving the party alone) she needs to let go of the past and start working on her future.