Discussion Topic

Old Yeller Plot Summary and Ending

Summary:

Old Yeller is set in post-Civil War Texas, where young Travis Coates is left to manage the family farm. Initially resistant to the stray dog Old Yeller, Travis's feelings change after the dog saves his brother's life and proves invaluable on the farm. The story ends tragically when Old Yeller, bitten by a rabid wolf, must be euthanized by Travis to prevent further harm. Despite his grief, Travis finds hope in a new puppy, Old Yeller's offspring, who carries on his spirit.

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How does the story of Old Yeller end?

The story of Old Yeller is one with a notoriously sad ending, but there is some hope in the resolution. In the beginning, Travis' family takes in a stray puppy. Travis doesn't like the dog because he causes trouble and gets away with it, but after "Old Yeller" saves his little brother's life, he changes his mind. He begins to develop a relationship with Old Yeller. The dog accompanies him when he goes out to hunt and calms the cow when it's time for milking. Travis even comes to love and identify with Old Yeller when the two are injured and recover together.

Towards the end of the story, Old Yeller protects Travis' mother and neighbor from a wolf. Old Yeller is bitten in the fight and begins to show symptoms of rabies. Travis must make the difficult decision whether to let the illness take hold-- possibly putting others at risk-- or to put the beloved dog out of his misery. Travis decides that it is better to shoot Old Yeller than to prolong his suffering or allow him to infect anyone else. Travis falls into a depression after losing his dog, but there is light in his life when he realizes how much the new puppy is like Old Yeller. The neighbor girl had brought one of her dog's puppies, fathered by Old Yeller, to Travis' home as a gift. When the puppy starts causing trouble, Travis realizes that Old Yeller lives on in the little dog.

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What is the summary of the first 34 pages in the book "Old Yeller"?

Depending on the edition you have, the exact amount of plot in 34 pages may differ slightly. The following summary of the first 34 pages was taken from my edition, so be aware that there might be a bit more/less than whichever version you're referring to!

Old Yeller takes place shortly after the Civil War in Texas; the first-person narrator Travis Coates is left to take care of the farm and his family when his father heads off for a cattle drive. The morning after his father leaves, Travis meets Old Yeller, an ugly little dog who's gnawing at a piece of scrap meat. Arliss, Travis's younger brother, demands that the dog be taken in. Travis initially attempts to reject this idea, for he finds the dog to be dirty and ugly.

The next day, Travis goes hunting and kills a deer to feed his brother and mother. When he returns, he finds Arliss and Old Yeller dancing in the family's supply of drinking water. As a result, Travis swears a vendetta on the poor little dog!

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