In the story "The Giving Tree" by Shel Silverstein, the tree gives the boy various parts of herself at different stages of his life to make him happy:
- As a child, the boy enjoys climbing the tree, swinging from its branches, and eating its apples. The tree gives him apples to eat and play with.
- When the boy grows older and wants money, the tree offers her apples for him to sell in the city.
- Later, when the boy wants a house, the tree tells him to cut off her branches to build one.
- When the boy needs a boat, the tree suggests he cut down her trunk to make it.
- Finally, when the boy returns as an old man, tired and needing a quiet place to rest, the tree, now just a stump, offers herself as a seat.
Throughout the story, the tree gives parts of herself-apples, branches, trunk- and finally her stump, always happy to give and help the boy, even as she becomes depleted
. Thus, the tree gives the boy apples, branches, trunk, and ultimately her stump.
