U From Betty Smith's A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
"The one tree in Francie's yard was neither a pine or a hemlock. It had pointed leaves which grew along
green switches which radiated from the bough and made a tree which looked like a lot of opened green
umbrellas. Some people called it the Tree of Heaven. No matter where its seed fell, it made a tree which
struggled to reach the sky. It grew in boarded-up lots and out of neglected rubbish heaps and it was the
only tree that grew out of cement. It grew lushly, but only in the tenement districts."
Question 11
1 pts
How does the setting contribute to the symbol's figurative meaning?
The tree growing boarded-up lots" and "out of neglected rubbish heaps" further emphasizes its ability to grow in
harsh conditions
The "green umbrellas" reflect nature's inherent whimsical qualities.
The "green umbrellas" show how accomodating the tree's environment is
The tree growing "boarded-up lots" and "out of neglected rubbish heaps" further emphasizes how it is impossible
for the tree to thrive in its surroundings.