Shane | Shane

At a glance:

Author: Jack Schaefer
First Published: 1949
Type of Plot: Western
Time of Work: 1889
Setting: The Wyoming territory
Principal Characters: Shane, Joe Starrett, Marian Starrett, Robert McPherson (Bob) Starrett, Luke Fletcher, Chris, Stark Wilson, Ernie Wright
Genres: Long fiction, Bildungsroman, Historical fiction
Subjects: Maturation or coming of age, Family or family life, Gender roles, Friendship, Violence, Good and evil, Heroes or heroism, Westerns, Frontier or pioneer life, Guns, Land settlement
Locales: Wyoming

The Novel

Shane has sixteen chapters falling into three five-chapter parts and an epilogue. In chapter 1, Shane rides into a Wyoming valley and meets the Starretts. In chapter 6, Chris is introduced. In chapter 11, Stark Wilson enters.

Bob Starrett, the narrator, observes Shane riding one summer afternoon into the valley where the Starretts have a farm and small herd of cattle near a town dominated by Luke Fletcher and his rowdy ranch hands. Shane courteously asks for water but is persuaded by Joe Starrett, Bob’s husky father, to share supper prepared by Marian,...

Shane | Shane

At a glance:

The Novel

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