Essay on Shel Silverstein - 1479 Words

amp;#9;Few writers of the twentieth century have made nearly the same impact on the literary society than Sheldon Allan Silverstein. His writing encompasses a broad range of styles, from adult to children’s, comical to unusual. One of his most common styles was that of fantasy: actions and events that cannot logically happen. This style was evident in his works, the Loser, Thumb Face, Warning, Squishy Touch, and Skin Stealer. Through the description of these absurd circumstances, Silverstein was able to entertain readers of all ages. amp;#9;In Sely Friday’s reference to a biography, Shel Silverstein was quoted as saying, amp;quot; . . . I would much rather have been a good baseball player or a hit with the girls. But I couldnt play†¦show more content†¦The problem occurs in the story when the person cannot find the head because almost all sensory perception went along with the head. In the end, the person says, amp;quot; . . . I guess I’ll sit down / On this rock / And rest for just a minute . . . .amp;quot; (p. 25). The rock, as the picture accompanying the poem shows, turns out to be the person’s lost head. This story is obviously impossible considering the biological fact that when a person is decapitated, his/her life ceases. However, with the use of simple end rhyme and an amusing story, Silverstein is able to present a light-hearted view of what could have been a tragedy. amp;#9;Thumb Face, included in A Light in the Attic, is another example of Silverstein’s use of fantasy. The first line of the poem basically says it all: amp;quot;There is a face upon my thumb . . ..amp;quot; (p. 55). For all practical purposes, this is an absurd situation. The speaker goes on to describe the features of the small face on his/her thumb. Certain descriptions of the face imply a sense of minuteness and leave the reader feeling compassionate for it because of its size. For example, Silverstein wrote, amp;quot;It has a little twisty mouth, / And yellow teethies, too.amp;quot; Again, Silverstein uses end rhyme in the pattern of amp;quot;a b c b,amp;quot; which helps move the story along in a definite rhythm. While the subject matter is irrational, Silverstein uses vivid descriptions and a straightforward pictureShow MoreRelatedBeloved Poet, Shel Silverstein680 Words   |  3 PagesGiving Tree during your childhood? Its author, Shel Silverstein, was one of the mos t recognizable children’s poets and poetry icons that has ever lived. He holds a household name due to the fact that despite his past he is able to help form a future in language, poetry, and the arts for the innovators of tomorrow. Silverstein’s works captured the essence of a person’s childhood and changed poetry and children’s literature forever. Sheldon Allan Silverstein was not always the literature icon he quicklyRead MoreA Brief Biography of Shel Silverstein548 Words   |  2 PagesWhen looking at Shel Silverstein it is very important important to consider his early life. Shel was born on September 25 1932 to Nathan and Helen Silverstein, who were divorced. He was born in Chicago Il. He died May 8 1999 he left behind one son named Matthew (Contemporary Authors Online ).Shel grew up in Chicago, He began as a writer and cartoonist in the 50s ( Publishers Weekly). Shel was a muscular man that dressed like a cowboy. When he was writing he was 40 and up to date with what wasRead MoreThe Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein Essay509 Words   |  3 PagesThe Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein The Giving Tree is a modern children literature written by Shel Silverstein, which is also one of his first successful piece of work. It is about an apple tree who always gives and gives and a boy who always takes and takes. This might be another story to read before bed times for the kids but however, it portrays so many things, from deforestation to modern society. Personally, I believe that The Giving Tree portrays the theme of selflessness versus selfishnessRead MoreThe Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein1308 Words   |  5 PagesFor example, Shel Silverstein is not only a unique author but quirky and fun, he paints wild pictures through the words of his story and takes his readers on an adventure of a lifetime. By reading and analyzing the work of an author you can connect with not only the work but the author themselves, you gain a better understanding and through this understanding you can connect the piece to your own life. Shel Silverstein once said, â€Å"If you’re a dreamer come on in† (Shel Silverstein Quotes)a quoteRead More12 / 9 / Shel Silverstein3421 Words   |  14 PagesTyler Washington Dwivevdi Final Paper 12/9/14 Shel Silverstein literary paper Shel Silverstein was born in Chicago, Illinois on September 25, 1930. Shel Silverstein was a song writing musician, author, and an illustrator. He spent his early life serving in the U.S. Army during 1950. He was a cartoonist for many different magazines, and when he joined Playboy, his work became national known. While working at Playboy he started his career of writing poems and songs. Some of his best known works wereRead MoreShel Silverstein and The Giving Tree1342 Words   |  5 Pagesthe worth of parents and their unconditional love along with a guide for parents on what to expect from their children. The story is a guide for a good relationship between kids and their parents inside a story that is loved by all ages. Shel Silverstein created a heartwarming story of a boy and his tree and the love they have for one another, the story represents many things and can be read at any age. The boy represents a son going through the stages of life and finding his way into adultRead MoreBrief Biography of the Poet Shel Silverstein 826 Words   |  3 Pages Shel Silverstein was an outstanding poet, and he has had so many careers in his lifetime and is a very talented man. Silverstein was born in Chicago, Illinois on September 25, 1930 and he died in Key West, Florida on May 10 1999 (www.poets.org). Silverstein served in the U.S. Army in 1950 and got deployed to Korea and Japan then he became a very popular poet (www.poets.org). Silverstein has many characteristic such as being very courageous by going into the army but, also he was a shy man he didn’tRead MoreTo Give or Not to Give in The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein721 Words   |  3 Pagesmiddle age, he asks the tree for a boat and the tree offers its trunk, which the man cuts to build his boat. During his final years, the old man asks the tree for a quiet place to sit and rest, and the tree offers its stump. The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein is a simple story but one that poignantly illustrates the complex philosophical discussion concerning the act of giving and taking. The inimitable question: To give or not to give? The decision to give is a serious matter – a crucial questionRead MoreShel Silverstein832 Words   |  4 PagesShel Silverstein was born in Chicago, Illinois 1932 and died May 10, 1999 from a heart attack. Shel Silverstein was a well know and well liked author/poet. Silverstein noticed his talents when he was twelve years old. When most boys are playing sports and chasing girls, Shel was at home writing and drawing original pieces. His talents were well Ââ€"developed by the time he served in the US Armed Forces during the 1950s. While in the military he was a cartoonist for the Pacific Edition of the militaryRead MoreSummary Of The Giving Tree 1706 Words   |  7 Pagesto make him happy. At first glance you would think that The Giving Tree is just a narrative poem meant to be read to a child as a bed time story. The qualities that Silverstein gave the tree are the tree can talk, can give the boy things, it has emotions and the major thing that showed personification was the fact that Silverstein called the tree â€Å"her†. This gave the tree a gender. Another use of figurative language used in The Giving Tree, is narrative poetry. The Giving Tree had many different