Discussion Topic
The role of weather as a character in "Where the Red Fern Grows."
Summary:
The weather in "Where the Red Fern Grows" symbolizes the emotional and physical challenges faced by the characters. It often reflects the mood and intensity of various scenes, acting almost as a character itself by shaping the environment and influencing the events in the story.
How is weather portrayed as a character in chapter 17 of Where the Red Fern Grows?
In chapter 17 of Where the Red Fern Grows, Billy and his hounds are competing for the gold cup when a storm arrives. Through the use of personification, the author seems to portray the storm as a character in the story. For example, a "moaning sound" can be heard as the storm arrives. By giving the storm human qualities, the reader more fully understands the obstacles created by the weather. As Billy searches for his hounds, he notices that the storm has an impact on his inability to determine the hounds' location. Although he sometimes hears the dogs, the wind creates confusion. At one point, Billy recalls that "the north wind seemed to be laughing at us." This use of personification portrays Billy's feelings that the storm is working against him.
Just as another character in the story could affect the outcome of the hunt, the storm itself...
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could affect the outcome. This is another way in which the storm seems to be portrayed as a character. Instead of simply competing against the other hunters in the competition, Billy must also compete against the storm. For example, as a result of the storm, Billy almost loses his grandpa. Little Ann alerts Billy to Grandpa's location where they find him unconscious. By overcoming the difficulties created by the storm, Billy and his hounds show the extent of their bond.
How does the weather become a character in "Where the Red Fern Grows"?
The author uses personification throughout chapter 17 to give human-like qualities to the weather. Personification is a literary device that gives human qualities to inanimate objects.
While Billy is competing for the gold cup, a storm starts to roll in. Below are excerpts of personification from chapter 17:
A low moaning sound could be heard in the tops of the tall sycamores.
Strong gusts of wind growled and moaned through the tops of the tall timber.
I couldn't hear anything above the roar of the blizzard.
Straight into the face of the storm she led us.
I could hear the roar of the blizzard back in the thick timber of the bottoms.
Through the use of personification, the author makes the reader feel as if the weather is a character in the novel. The weather is acting against Billy and could cause him to lose not only the gold cup, but his beloved dogs. While Billy is eager to continue on through the storm, he begins to grow worried when he can no longer hear his dogs. The others want to turn back, without the dogs. Billy convinces them to move on through the treacherous storm. While they eventually find Little Ann, Old Dan is nowhere in sight. They end up finding both dogs, but Billy's grandfather is now lost. The storm has created havoc among the men and becomes a large part of the story as a result.