Where The Red Fern Grows is a great book that features a classic story of a human-animal relationship. This story is different, however, not just because of the setting or plot, but because of its themes. There is a variety of themes that the book showcases from hard work and dedication to the underdog and miracles of God. My favorite theme is ‘the underdog’ which shows Billy working harder than the rest just because he’s younger. In the coon hunting tournament, we see Billy is against adults even though he’s only fourteen and he still manages to win. The dogs are also small in size but big in fight and never give up, even if it costs them their lives “In his fighting heart, there was no fear.” In the book, Billy often goes to his Grandpa's shop to give some of the coon hides. When he goes his Grandpa is usually talking with other hunters about how great of a hunter Billy is and when Billy arrives with his coons they all believe him. He has won the coon hunting competition, saved Little Ann from drowning, cut down the biggest tree in the whole forest, and became the best hunter of the county. Another theme that is really important is determination which is what Billy and the dogs use to win the coon hunting competition. Billy …show more content…
The book also showcases the importance of family and the love shared between one another. We see Billy sharing candy with his sisters, Billy trying to help out his family that struggles with financial problems, and even promises his youngest sister the Gold Cup from the tournament. Billy isn’t the only one, as we see the whole family worries about each other and do actions that are correlated by their family. “While Mama was bundling me up, Papa lit my Lantern. He handed it to me saying ‘I’d like to see a big coonskin on the smokehouse wall this morning.’ the whole family followed me out to the
There are many diverse tones in the book about what people were feeling at the time. One tone in Bud not Buddy is terrified. In the book, a six years old boy named Jerry in the home was told by the case worker that he was sent to a foster home with three others girls. The text states, “’Jerry you’ll be in a family with three little girls’… Jerry looked like he’d found out they were going to dip him in a pot of boiling milk.”
He always wants to help someone else in need before himself, whereas the father is only concerned about their own personal wellbeings. He “is the one” who worries about their ethical choices and wants to help a stranger in any way he can (259). McCarthy proves the importance of the boy’s spirit of love for other people when his dad dies and he must take the leap of faith to continue along the road with a new family. Despite all the corrupted people they encountered beforehand, the boy meets someone who is “carrying the fire” (129). This mantra by the father and son, symbolizes hope and humanity. The qualities Steinbeck labels for a writer to create in his writings can be summed up in “carrying the fire” since the two never did give up. It is the greatness of the heart and spirit Steinbeck notes that is “inside [them]. [And] [i]t [is] always there” (279). It is noteworthy that even in the midst of death and ashes, the two are able to hold onto their relationship and sanity. The “good guys” can continue to carry meaning and structure in their lives, even in a time where society turned into a battle to survive on the remnants of
Family relationships are our first introduction to living with other people. In the novel, Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk, Billy Lynne is part of a small family that lives in Stovall, Texas. He lived with his mother, father, and two sisters. Like most families they were not without drama and were as dysfunctionally close as some families. Billy’s sister, Kathryn states, “Some days I think I am living in a bad country song.” [79] Kathryn is referring to the father’s infidelity and their mother’s crass attitude toward the now disabled provider. A sentiment that that they all share, in some small way in their hearts, but they still loved each other. This was evident through the chapter entitled: “Bully of the Heart.”[74] The scene that was described when Billy arrived for his short visit home was a hallmark moment for the family. The tears and hugs mixed with laught...
Buddy demonstrates acts of sacrifice for his family. Buddy is down to earth and he has always been that way. He has always been happy with his life and made the best of what he had. He never blamed anyone for anything. He is always willing to do anything for his family. Throughout the book Buddy shows sympathy and compassion towards his family. He is representing the family by getting an education. He shows the courage to break the chain of poverty and create not only himself, but his whole family into a “somebody”. “Charley told that several months back he had picked up a kid from Buddy’s school, and Charley asked that kid whether he know Buddy or not. He told Charley that Buddy was the best
On page 138 Billy says to Rubin, “I told him I hadn’t given up. My dogs were still hunting when they gave up, I would, too.” Billy was determined to find the ghost coon and win the money. He hadn't given up yet. Rubin and Rainie told him that the coon disappeared into the tree but it wasn't there. When the wind came little Ann got its scent and the coon was in a wooden pool right next to them. Billy didn't stop trying to find the coon and it paid off because he found
The Lanyard written by Billy Collin’s describes a memory of childhood gift made, while he was at camp. Also shows mother’s unconditional love for their kids. It is an interesting poem. Mom’s play main role in our life. There are two opinions in this poem. One is that an adult opinion and the other is a child opinion.
I learned a lot from this book I learned not to get in gangs and stay true to your family. I liked a quote in this story it said “things are rough all over” to me that meant no matter where you are where you go things are going to be rough so just stop running away from problems because it’s just going to create more. Dally and Sodapop both kind of remind me of myself because I don’t care about nothing but I can understand people and the different things they like and nothing don’t scare me. I think the theme of this story is to be your brothers keeper.
In this part of the story Billy needs a coon skin to train the dogs how to hunt. He goes to his grandfather for suggestions. His grandfather's suggestion seems a
Most young kids have little responsibility other than maby some school work and a few chores, otherwise they are free to be kids and certainly not given the responsibility to take care of someone else. for instance “anything else that’s got to be done my father dose.” “All I have to do is mind my brother Raymond witch is enough.” This quote shows that she has been given the awesome responsibility of taking care of her brother. This is her job as a 10 year old. Instead of being a kid she must assume an adult responsibility . Which includes protecting him from bullies… tough job for a 10year old. As time and life go by squeaky, while she is doing something she loves more than anything else realises something else she never realized about her brother Raymond. This is shown in the text when it says “and by the time he comes over I’m jumping up and down, so glad to see him my brother Raymond, a great runner in the family tradition. This quote shows that despite all of her complaints there is nothing like family and she loves her brother. I spite of watching over him all the time it took this a 50 yard dash for her to realize that after all his following her he was a great runner just like her. Sometime when you are with someone all day you might not notice something that you are in common with them and they are right in front of
It deals with obstacles in life and the ways they are over come. Even if you are different, there are ways for everyone to fit in. The injustices in this book are well written to inform a large audience at many age levels. The book is also a great choice for those people who cheers for the underdogs. It served to illustrate how the simple things in life can mean everything.
This book is about helping out your family and always being there for them. Lucas says “I will pick cotton until the day I die if that’s what I have to do for my family.” That shows that while going through hard times, Lucas will always be there for his family. The book address the importance of having good relationships with your family. Lucas say’s “Me and Pappy argue sometimes, but no matter how bad the argument is we always make up because, we are family and that’s what family does.” This proves that while we all deal with arguing with our parents in our life, making things right is always the best thing to do because after all they know what’s right and just want the best for you. I think this is a really enjoyable book and other people will love it
Overall Billy is treated very badly by his family and teachers bar Mr Farthing who acts as a sort of father figure towards Billy, Mr Farthing is also the only one who takes any interest in Billy’s talents and interests. As I said before Billy is most certainly an underdog but that just helps the reader feel for him even more because you can empathise with Billy in some way or another.
A person's family can represent their strongest and most important relationships in their life. Billy Pilgrim’s family members definitely would have things to say about the way his behavior changes as he ages. Despite the fact that Pilgrim begins his travels as a young man, his family is not exposed to Billy’s experiences until he begins to share them with the whole world. In
The novel features two major characters, a man and his son, as they travel south through the barren landscapes of America. The most striking feature of this father-son relationship is the amount of devotion and interdependence that exists between them. The man cares for his son with a fatherly love that is nearly non-existent in a world filled with “bad guys”, and the man is extremely committed to maintaining his morals and passing them on to his son. This can be seen through his repeated statements of them being “the good guys” who are “carrying the fire”, and he also assures his son that they would never eat other humans or do any other inhumane actions. Even though he does have a kind heart, the man is also equipped
...le he was gone from home he could not get his sister off his mind. He saw her everywhere he went, and everything reminded him of her. She needed him to be there to support her as a brother, and help her get through life. Their bond was so special because it was the two of them against their crazy, mid-life crisis mother.