Introduction to The Island of Missing Trees
Welcome to your study guide for Elif Shafak’s moving novel, The Island of Missing Trees. This text is part of Unit 2: Place in literary texts for the OxfordAQA International AS and A-level English Literature (9675) syllabus, specifically for exams from June 2028 onwards.
In this unit, we don't just look at where a story happens; we look at "Place" as a character in itself. We will explore how locations like Cyprus and London shape the characters' identities, how borders divide people, and how the natural world acts as a witness to human history. Don't worry if the themes of politics or history seem complex at first—we will break them down into simple, manageable pieces!
Section 1: The Significance of Geographical Locations
The novel moves between two primary locations and two different time periods. Understanding the contrast between these places is essential for your exam.
1. Nicosia, Cyprus (The Past)
In the 1970s, Cyprus is a place of intense beauty but also growing political tension.
- The Happy Fig: This taverna is a crucial "micro-place." It is a hidden sanctuary where a Greek Cypriot (Kostas) and a Turkish Cypriot (Defne) can meet. It represents a place of belonging in a city that is becoming increasingly divided.
- The Green Line: This is a literal and metaphorical border. It represents the partition of the island into North and South. In your essays, you can discuss how this "place" creates social and cultural divisions.
2. London, England (The Present)
Modern-day London is presented as an urban space that feels very different from Cyprus.
- The Garden: Most of the London action happens in Kostas and Ada’s garden. While Cyprus was about wide landscapes and sun, London is about a smaller, more private "place" where the characters try to rebuild their lives.
- Isolation: For Ada, London can feel like a place of isolation. She is disconnected from her family history, showing how "place" can affect our social identity.
Key Takeaway: The novel uses the movement between Cyprus and London to show the journey from a "homeland" to a place of exile.
Section 2: The Natural World and the Fig Tree
The syllabus asks you to explore the significance of the natural world and its beauty or "despoliation" (damage). In this novel, the natural world is not just a background—it is a narrator!
The Fig Tree as a "Place"
The Ficus carica (the fig tree) is a central character. It represents:
- Memory and Roots: The tree is a physical piece of Cyprus moved to London. It carries the "place" of the homeland within its roots.
- A Witness: The tree observes the violence of the 1974 conflict. It represents the natural world as a keeper of secrets that humans try to forget.
- Burial and Survival: When Kostas buries the tree to protect it from the London winter, it becomes a metaphor for how migrants must "bury" their past identities to survive in a new place.
Quick Tip: Think of the tree as a bridge. It connects the geographical location of Cyprus to the urban space of London.
Section 3: Place as a Political and Social Space
In Unit 2, "Place" is often abstract. It's about where you fit into society or how politics divides the land.
Borders and Partition
The novel focuses heavily on the partition of Cyprus. Shafak explores how a single island becomes two different "political spaces" overnight.
- Division: The division of the island reflects the division between the characters. The borders are not just lines on a map; they are barriers to human relationships.
- Colonisation and History: The novel touches on the layers of history in Cyprus—from British colonial rule to the ethnic conflicts. This shows that "place" is built out of layers of time.
Belonging and Identity
How do people identify with their homeland?
- Defne feels a painful attachment to Cyprus, while Kostas finds solace in nature.
- Ada, born in London, feels a "place-less-ness"—a lack of social identity because her parents won't talk about their home.
Key Takeaway: "Place" in this novel is often defined by what is missing (as the title suggests) or what has been lost through war.
Section 4: Authorial Methods (AO2)
To get high marks, you must analyze how Elif Shafak creates these meanings. This is called authorial method.
- Personification: By giving the Fig Tree a voice, Shafak allows the "natural world" to comment on human behavior. This makes the setting feel alive and judgmental.
- Dual Timeline: The structure of the novel (jumping between 1974 and the 2010s) mirrors the feeling of being "split" between two places.
- Sensory Language: Shafak uses smells (honey, lethe), sounds, and textures to describe Cyprus. This makes the language of place vivid and emotional for the reader.
- The Motif of "Roots": This is a double-meaning (the tree's roots vs. family roots). It emphasizes the theme of belonging and isolation.
"Don't worry if you find the tree's narration strange at first! Just remember it is Shafak's way of showing that the environment has a longer memory than humans do."
Section 5: Summary for Exam Success
When writing your Section A essay on The Island of Missing Trees, keep these points in mind:
Common Mistakes to Avoid:
- Only describing the plot: The exam wants you to analyze "Place." Don't just say what happens; explain why the location matters.
- Ignoring the tree: The tree is essential to the "Natural World" requirement of the syllabus. Always include it in your discussion of setting.
- Forgetting the context: Mention the partition and the political divisions of Cyprus to show an understanding of "Place as a political space."
Memory Aid (The 4 B’s of Place):
- Borders: The physical and mental lines that divide Cyprus.
- Belonging: The struggle to feel "at home" in London or a divided Nicosia.
- Botany: The role of the fig tree and the natural landscape.
- Buildings: The significance of the "Happy Fig" taverna as a safe space.
Note: For comparison or further study in this unit, you might look at how other prose texts like Americanah or The Great Gatsby handle the idea of "homeland" and "social identity."