Quick Examples for "The Black Walnut Tree" Essays Symbolism and Metaphors in "The Black Walnut Tree" Explore the use of symbolism and metaphors in Mary Oliver's poem "The Black Walnut Tree." How does the black walnut tree symbolize different aspects of the family's history and identity? Analyze specific metaphors to support your interpretation. Imagery and its role in conveying emotion Analyze the imagery employed by Mary Oliver to convey the speaker's evolving emotions and perspectives toward the black walnut tree. How do the images contribute to the theme of resilience in the face of hardship? Examine the relationship between the family and the tree. black walnut tree throughout the poem. How does this relationship change from beginning to end? What does the tree represent in terms of family history and heritage? The impact of the past on the present present and about the future in “The Black Walnut Tree.” How does the poem illustrate the idea that ancestral actions and decisions still influence subsequent generations? Interpreting Dreams in the Poem Explore the meaning of the dream mentioned in the poem, where the daughter imagines her “fathers out of Bohemia filling the blue fields with fresh and generous Ohio.” How does this dream contribute to the overall message and meaning of the poem? The Black Walnut Tree AP Lit Essay Example The poem “The Black Walnut Tree” by Mary Oliver uses symbolism, metaphors, and imagery as some of the literary devices of the poem. These literary devices also portray the theme of how resilient a family can be in times of difficulty. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay May Oliver uses imagery to show the relationship between the tree and the family by describing how “it will shake its dark branches, destroying the house” ”. (7-8)This description of the destroyed house shows how they saw the tree at the beginning of the poem. However, this is also when they only think about money. Later in the poem, the mood towards the tree changes when the speaker realizes that they would "crawl in shame into the void we had created in our own yard and our father's." .”(27-29) This shows the pain they would feel if they lost a piece of their family history. How wrong it would be to simply sell everything their ancestors made. However, the tree can also symbolize their current family and family history, as mentioned above. This can also be seen in a dream the daughter had where her “fathers were out of Bohemia filling the blue fields of fresh and bountiful Ohio…”. (22 -24) This dream represents how he sees the tree as more than just a tree. It's their family and everyone who lived before them. In conclusion, Mary Oliver uses the symbol of a black walnut tree to show the theme of how the past can still affect the present and future causing difficulties, she also uses metaphors and imagery to convey the speaker's feelings towards the tree or his ancestors. The poem "The Black Walnut Tree" by Mary Oliver uses symbolism, metaphors, and imagery as some of the literary devices of the poem. These literary devices also portray the theme of how resilient a family can be in times of difficulty. May Oliver uses imagery to show the relationship between the tree and the family by describing how it “will shake its dark branches, destroying the house.” (7-8)This description of the destroyed house shows how they saw the tree at the beginning of the poem. However, this is also when they think.