Read our complete notes on the novel “Where the Red Fern Grows” by Wilson Rawls. Our notes cover this novel’s summary, characters, themes, and analysis.
Introduction
Woodrow Wilson Rawls, the author of Where the Red Fern Grows, was born in Oklahoma, in the United States of America. He was the son of Minzy O. Rawls and Winnie Hatfield Rawls. Wilson’s mother, Winnie, belonged to a tribe named Cherokee. The authorities gave Winnie the Cherokee land, because of her ancestry, where Wilson spent his childhood.
Wilson’s family led a poor life. His parents were unable to send him and his siblings to school. Hence his mother taught them the lessons at home. Wilson did not entertain the stories which his mother would tell them. However, he took interest in one of the books named Call of the Wild written by Jack London. He was persuaded by that book and wanted to pen a story about a boy and his dogs himself.
The Great Depression in the United States instigated his family to leave their city and travel elsewhere. They moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico, where his father started a job. Rawls would also do odd jobs himself. His ambition was to be a writer and he would start writing wherever would be possible. He would hide his writings in a box so no one would find them. He met Sophie, his future wife, in a construction site working for the Atomic Energy Commission in Idaho.
In the meanwhile, he burnt all his written manuscripts, shunning his dream of becoming a writer. His wife urged him to never shun his dream and keep writing. After that, he wrote two popular novels i-e Where the Red Fern Grows (1961) and Summer of the Monkeys (1976). Apart from a novelist, he earned fame as a motivational speaker as well.
Where the Red Fern Grows is an adventurous story about a boy and his loyal hounds. Billy, the protagonist, earns enough money to buy himself two hounds for hunting coons or “raccoons” in the mountains of Ozarks. The story centers on the adventures of Billy and his hounds and the difficulties they face during the hunt. The book also highlights the reciprocal love between a human being and his dogs.
Where the Red Fern Grows Summary
Chapter I
Billy Colman is the narrator and the protagonist of the story. One day he is on his way home from work. He comes across some dogs fighting on the way. A single hound is encircled by several other dogs. However, the hound is resilient and he defends himself well. This reminds Billy of his childhood when an old dog like this had forfeited its life for him. He feels for the dog and saves him from other hounds. He also feels that the dog is starving. When he looks at his collar he sees his name “Buddie”. This allows Billy to go down his memory lane to his childhood and remember the love he experienced for his own dog.
Billy takes the dog home, offers him food and washes him. He also makes a comfortable place for him to rest. The next night, Billy sets him free. He wanted to keep it forever but thinks it wrong to keep a free soul enslaved. Afterwards, he builds a fire and sits in his rocking chair. He remembers his two hounds from childhood. He takes a look at his shelf and examines the two cups there. With this, he is reminded of the beautiful memories of his childhood.
Chapter II
This chapter starts when Billy is a Ten-year-old boy. He is desperate to have two hounds who can hunt coons. His parents refuse because they cannot afford them. It will cost them $75 and they are unable to pay the hefty price. They propose to get him a sheepdog but he refuses. He is adamant that he will accept only coon hounds. He is distressed because he lives in a great hunting place in the country without having a dog to hunt with.
He bites his time wandering through the vale examining the paths of different animals. The paths of river coons attract him much. Experiencing these things, his desire for the hounds gets even worse. He loses his hunger and cannot rest properly. Mama persuades Papa but he says he does not have enough money. However, he provides him with three small steel traps. Billy feels happy and instantly sets them to catch something in the barn. Samie, his cat, is caught many times in the traps. He also catches other small animals like rabbits, squirrels outside his home but is desperate for a shrewd coon to get caught.
The brightness of his traps soon vanishes and he again demands the hounds from his parents. Papa refuses again citing the same reason. This upsets Billy and he decides to flee but is afraid of the wild animals in the forest. He listens to the sounds of the wild animals all night because he cannot sleep. Mama gets worried but Papa tells her not to worry as the farming season is near and Billy will be busy working in the fields with him. Billy is thrilled about the prospect of being a farmer himself.
Chapter III
Billy assists his father in his fieldwork. In his free time, he gathers the left-overs of the fishermen. He finds different things like blades and empty cans. One day he finds a magazine. Through it, he comes to know about two hunting hounds which are for sale in Kentucky. The seller demands $25 for each but Billy thinks that he can earn $50 with sheer hard work and he decides to earn it. He asks for divine help in getting the hounds he desires.
He devises a plan to earn and save money. He collects things and sells them to the fishermen. He begins to work in his grandfather’s shop. To save money, he empties a cane and uses it as safe. He starts with the 23 cents in his pocket. He starts working in his grandfather’s shop with honesty. Apart from this, he gathers minnows and berries to earn and save $50 he needs.
Two years pass by. He is Thirteen-years-old now. He takes the $50 he has saved in the last two years and goes to his grandfather’s shop. He tells him about the money and asks for his help in getting the dogs. Grandpa becomes emotional on seeing his determination and promises to help him get the hounds. He tells Billy that he will inquire about the dogs and let him know thereafter. He offers him candies and tells him to share it with his sisters. Billy happily returns home.
Chapter IV
Billy patiently waits for Grandpa’s message. Eventually, he informs him that he has booked the pups in Billy’s name. He also tells him that the price has gone down $5 for each and now he will get them for $40 instead of $50. Billy feels so thrilled. However, the issue is he has to receive them at the mail depot in Tahlequah. He asks about the whereabouts of Kentucky from his parents which leaves them suspicious. His grandfather tells Billy that he has an acquaintance with whom he can go there. Billy feels happy and cannot wait to go. He feels restless and decides to go for the dog himself. At night, he takes food with him and creeps out of his home without informing his parents.
He walks towards the town of Tahlequah. When he gets tired, he takes rest and eats some food. People gaze at his untidy hair and rough complexion when he reaches there. He feels amazing seeing those big shops and quality goods. For the first time, he sees his reflection in a windowpane. He understands people’s strangeness at him because he was in a messy condition. He remembers his family and buys gifts for them to make amends for his sudden departure from home. He buys clothes for his mother and sisters and also a pack of candies for his sisters. He buys a gown for Papa as well.
After doing his shopping he goes towards the depot. In the way, he meets some school children who taunt him for his casual look. They also trouble him for his mountainous demeanor. The school bell rings and the children go to their classes. When they leave, he tries to play on the slide but falls. A woman laughs at him. He stands up, gathers his things and goes towards his destination. He is unable to comprehend those people because they either laugh or look at him.
Chapter V
Billy reaches his destination. He is very frightened. The station incharge comes towards him. When the station incharge tells him that he is waiting for a mountainous boy to pick his dogs, Billy introduces himself to be that boy. When he hands him over the dogs, Billy feels emotional and begins to cry. He places the dogs in his bag and starts walking back through the town. Again everybody observes him and laughs at him which makes him awful. One of the kids pulls the ear of one of the dogs. This enrages Billy and he starts fighting with the boys. The marshal saves Billy. He is impressed when Billy tells him how he got those dogs and purchases him a soda pop. Billy accepts the pop and admires the marshall’s kind behavior.
Afterwards, Billy takes his leave. Contrary to his expectations, the bag is heavier. He stays in a cave at night. He prepares food for himself and his dogs. They also cherish some candy as a dessert. He observes his pups looking at their distinguished features. The male is stronger, aggressive and large while the female is impotent and small but seems more shrewd than the male dog. Billy feels assured that they both will create a great hunting team combining power and smartness.
At midnight, Billy gets awake by the sounds of a mountain lion. He feels scared. The male dog barks, competing with the lion’s scream. Both of them are scared. Billy constructs a fire to ward off the lion. He is fuming thinking that someone will hurt his dogs. He is confident to go to every extreme to protect his pups. After some time the lion goes back.
Chapter VI
In the morning after eating some food, Billy resumes his travel. He thinks about how he will face his parents but concludes he will not lie to them. He takes some rest at the place where he had found the advertisement for the dogs. He is in search of good names for his pups. He spots two names “Dan” and “Ann” sculpted on a tree trunk. He names the male “Old Dan” and the female “Little Ann”.
They reach home. His parents are glad to see him. Grandfather had told them all about Billy but they were still worried. Mama is relieved after seeing him home. His sisters are overjoyed seeing the dogs. He gives them the gifts he has brought for them. They are thrilled when they see the gifts. Billy shares his experiences of town with them. Papa discusses the facilities urban people have in their lives. Billy’s parents hope that they will shift to town in the future. After the discussion, everybody goes to sleep.
The next day, Billy builds a doghouse for the dogs. Billy inscribes the names “Old Dan” and “Little Ann” on the neckbands Papa made for the dogs. At night, Billy shares with Mama how God has answered his prayers and helped him get the dogs.
Chapter VII
As Billy gets the dogs, he wants to train them for the hunt. He seeks grandfather’s advice on how to trap a coon and grandfather informs him of an old trick he used as a boy. He instructs him to trap a coon with a simple brace and bit, and use a bright piece of tin as a bait. Billy does as his grandfather advises. The next day, he is certain he will catch some coons but there aren’t any. A week passes and still, there are no coons. Billy feels distressed but Papa calms him down and tells him it may be his scent on the traps that are preventing the coons. He tells him to wait. After some days, when he examines the traps, he notices a tricked coon.
Billy leads his pups to examine the traps. Old Dan finds the coon and jumps at it. Little Ann also takes part. The coon defends himself well and hurts Old Dan. Little Ann ambushes the coon and saves Old Dan. Billy takes them and heads towards home. He is overjoyed that he has caught the giant coon on the river. They all are excited and head towards the river to see the coon. Papa kills and peels it for Billy. He also advises Billy to train the pups sooner rather than later as they are young.
Billy obliges and the next day he begins training the pups. His oldest sister helps him. They train them spreading coon skin everywhere so the pups think of it as coons. Billy realizes that his pups are afraid of swimming. He is resolved that he will tutor them in learning swimming. He carries on training his pups throughout the summer. He also listens to his grandpa and other hunters telling him their thrilling tales. He prepares his pups before the season and allows them to rest for a few days.
Chapter VIII
Billy and his pups are ready for hunting on the opening day. Papa permits him to hunt as much as he can as he does not need him in the fields. Papa convinces Mama that Billy is a man now and she needs not worried about him. The dogs wait for him so that they can leave. His family waves goodbye and they leave for hunting. Immediately, the pups trail a coon. Billy follows them but when he reaches it seems they have lost the track. The coon has, presumably, jumped into the river. The dogs do not follow him into the water as they are afraid.
After some time, they follow the coon in the river but he crosses the river. They again lost their trail. Billy feels disappointed and tells them to forget it and hunt somewhere else. At that time, Little Ann follows the coon in the brush. The male dog follows her. Billy realizes that they have treed — getting the coon into a tree so he cannot escape — a coon. Billy arrives at the spot and notices that it is a giant sycamore tree. He tells his pups he cannot chop it to get the coon but they are adamant and keep barking at the tree.
Billy decides to chop the huge tree. His pups motivate him. He continues till morning. He is tired and needs rest. Papa’s voice awakens him who tells him to abandon chopping the tree. He refuses telling him that he is doing it for his pups. Later, his sister comes with lunch. She is saddened by his craziness but he forces her to flee with a stick. Billy shares his lunch with his pups. He resumes chopping the tree after lunch feeling rejuvenated.
Chapter IX
Billy gets tired of cutting the tree. He feels pain in his body and is unable to continue chopping. He thinks about giving up but sees grandpa approaching. Grandpa advises him to rest properly if he is determined to cut down the tree. Billy is afraid the coon will flee. Grandpa makes a scarecrow to prevent the coon from getting down. They head for home but Old Dan refuses to go and stay by the tree. Grandpa admires him.
They reach home and enjoy their scrumptious meal. Mama feels worried about Billy but Papa calms her down. Grandfather informs Billy that the price of coonskins has upped dramatically because of the coats made of coonskins. Billy sleeps soundly that night. The next day, Little Ann is waiting for Billy to go. When he reaches there, he comes to know that both of them had spent the night by the big tree together. He is delighted with his pups.
Billy resumes cutting the tree. His body aches, he prays for divine intervention. In the meantime, the wind blows which topples the tree. The coon gets out and the pups follow him to catch it. Finally, after some resistance, they get their first coon. Billy is pleased. They head home and everyone sees it. Billy is grateful that God has helped him again.
Chapter X
Mama surprises Billy making him a cap of his first coon’s peel. He chases coons every night with his pups and gets pleasure. He earns money from the skins and offers it to his father. He goes to his grandfather’s shop to sell the skins. He enjoys his time there because he discusses hunting with the old hunters. He loves listening to their tales.
Billy gives us a description of the pups. Old Dane is resilient, hostile and caring. He always defends Little Ann. Little Ann is shrewd. She aids Mama in catching young chickens. She assists Old Dan in difficult situations as well. They hunt together. One day, she alerts Billy to save Old Dan as he is in a muskrat’s den following a coon. Billy helps Old Dan get out, covered in mud. After cleaning him, Billy frees him again. Eventually, they catch the coon.
He gives an account of another hunt. Old Dan got stuck in a hole ascending a tree in which they have treed a coon. He could not move. Billy ascends the tree and shoves him down. He refuses going down because he fancies the coon. Finally, Billy descends and pulls him down grabbing his tail. Eventually, Old Dan gets the coon when he comes out. Billy goes home with his pups.
Chapter XI
Billy shares a story when he and Old Dan rescued Little Ann. Billy goes for a hunt, with his pups, after a snowstorm. It is wet and hazy outside and his parents tell him to be cautious. Soon his pups start trailing a coon. They follow him everywhere and Billy’s family gets excited. After some time, silence prevails. Billy senses something’s not right. He hears the moaning sound of the male dog and follows it.
A horrific scene awaits him. The pups followed the coon. The male pup jumped but the female pup failed and went through the ice. Billy examines the scene with his lantern through the haze, watches the male dog sitting by the female dog, who holds onto the ice with her nails. Billy cannot stand it. He feels helpless and begins to cry. Billy asks God to help him. An idea comes to his mind. He makes a hook from the handle of the lantern. He checks the depth of water which is manageable. He undresses himself and jumps into the river. He struggles to find Little Ann’s collar with the hook. Finally, he finds her and drags her out of the water.
Afterwards, he manages to get out of the water himself. As both of them are iced, he makes a fire to reinvigorate themselves. Firstly, he is worried about Little Ann but feels happy when she is revived. They head towards home. Billy does not tell anyone what happened. When he catches a cold after two days, he informs his mother that it is because of the weather. He inquires about God and whether he helps everyone. His mother answers that he helps only those who really call Him for help.
Chapter XII
Billy’s pups become famous all over the town. His grandfather talks about Billy and his pups in a boastful manner to everyone. One day, Billy comes to Grandpa’s shop. The Pritchard boys meet him there. They both are notorious in town for their violent behavior and nobody likes them. They suggest to Billy a bet of $2 that his pups will not be able to hunt the “ghost coon” in their area. The coon is called “ghost coon” because once he is treed, he vanishes from that particular tree. They also make fun of his pups. Grandpa backs Billy to accept the challenge. They decide to meet next night in the Pritchard’s area. Grandpa tells him to do whatever he can to hunt that coon and he obliges.
The following night, they reach the scheduled place. Billy reminds his pups how much he wants them to hunt that coon. The boys reach and the dogs begin the hunt. The Pritchard boys persuade Billy to give up but he denies. They reach a place where a tree has fallen. Billy observes that Little Ann is on her way tracking the scent. Soon, a giant coon leaps out and goes over Little Ann’s head. The pups follow him. After some time, Billy realizes through Old Dan’s bawls that they have treed the coon. Rubin tells them that the coon will disappear as he always does. Rainie tells him to give them the money as he has lost the bet but Billy knows he has not.
Chapter XIII
The Pritchards and Billy along with his pups are standing near the tree where the coon is hiding itself. The Pritchard boys tell Billy to give up but he does not. He ascends the tree two times but to no avail. He descends and pays the $2 to Rubin. When he pays them the money, wind blows and Little Ann catches the coon’s scent from the wind. She proceeds towards the gate post. Billy comes to know that the coon is there. He prods it with a stick and it comes out running. The pups follow it and “tree” it again. Now Billy is in a position to kill it easily but he decides against it. He descends down the tree without killing it.
In the meanwhile, the Pritchards’ dog comes there. Old Dan and the blue hound snarl at each other. Billy tells Rubin to keep his hound away. He denies and tells him that he should keep his dog away. Billy demands his money back as he has won the bet. Rubin declines and tells him that the challenge was to finish the coon. He also threatens him to not tell anything to his Grandpa. The dogs start fighting. Little Ann joins the fight.
They both attack the Old Blue. Rubin takes Billy’s cleaver and goes to kill his pups. Billy tricks him by placing a stick between his legs. He trips and falls. Billy reaches and breaks the fight. He pulls his pups from the fight.
When he comes back, he sees a terrible sight. When Rubin collapsed, he fell on the ax and it buried in his abdomen. Rubin tells him to pull it out and he does. Rubin dies on the spot. Frightened Billy heads home and shares the news with his parents. Papa immediately informs Grandpa, who is the only authoritative person. They get the body to the Pritchards and explain everything. Rainie is shocked and needs a doctor. Billy feels guilty of the crime. Papa tells Billy to keep distance from the Pritchards.
Billy goes to Rubin’s grave with some flowers. He places the flowers on the grave carefully. While returning the hound senses something and barks. Mrs. Pritchard comes out of the house. She examines the surroundings but does not notice anyone. She notices the flowers on the grave and becomes emotional. Billy returns home. After feeling better, he again readies his pups for the hunt.
Chapter XIV
Billy goes to his grandfather’s shop. His grandfather expresses his guilt over what happened. Then he tells him about a coon hunting championship which will take place in six days. Grandpa tells him to participate in it with his pups. He tells him that he has already submitted the entrance fee for taking part. Billy is thrilled to hear this. Grandpa tells him to train his pups for the championship and make sure that they get some rest also. He receives some candies from his Grandpa who tells him his sisters should receive an equal share in it.
Billy reaches home and informs everyone about the championship. He convinces his Papa and he has no problem going with him. Billy does extra chores in his home with his Mama because he knows they will not be home for some days. He trains his pups accordingly and tells them about the championship. He promises his sister to give her the gold cup if he returns triumphant. On the fifth morning, as advised by Grandpa, they meet at the store. On the way to the store, Billy tells his father that the female dog feels afraid of gunshots. Grandma helps Grandpa pack everything for the journey. She waves them goodbye and they depart.
Chapter XV
They begin their journey towards the encampment. They halt at night to eat and take rest. Grandpa prepares dinner while Billy and Papa make places to take rest. They also prepare hay-beds for the pups. Grandpa prepares healthy food for the pups to make them strong for the championship. They eat their meal and go to sleep. Billy couldn’t sleep because he was thrilled thinking about the championship. He wakes up hearing some wild sounds but his grandfather calms him telling him not to worry.
In the morning, they proceed their journey towards their destination. After reaching there, they build their tent. Billy wanders through the encampment to observe other people and their hounds. He is taken aback by the large number of people and scared by the fine hounds. His grandfather tells him to participate in the beauty contest starting the next morning. He is not willing but he participates with Little Ann. He prepares Little Ann and goes where the contest is taking place. The contest begins and the judges remove the pups that are not good. After some time, Billy notices that only his female dog and one other dog is remaining. He becomes nervous. The jury decides to claim the winner by “the walk”. The walk is done to see which dog is more graceful. Little Ann wins the contest by walking slowly and gracefully. Billy feels proud and gets emotional.
The jury announces the rules for the contest. Five participants will go out for a hunt with a judge each night. The pups with more coon skins on the night will be declared the winner of that particular night and qualify for the runoff final. The championship will take place in five nights and everyone will wait for his turn. Billy’s turn is on the fourth night. He spends his free time enjoying himself with other participants. He looks a bit weird but they give him due respect.
In the morning, a blue hound comes triumphant having treed three coons. The next night, no hound beats him and they all get eliminated. On the third morning, another pair equals the record set by the first hound. Billy heads towards his pups, on the fourth morning, and gives them healthy food. Grandpa has bragged about Billy’s pups hunting six coons in a single night. A hunter comes and asks if that’s true. Billy laughs knowing it is wrong.
Chapter XVI
Billy’s pups begin the hunt. The judge accompanies Billy, his father and grandfather. They go down the river for hunting. Soon, they catch a coon and tree it. Everyone is thrilled. After skinning it, they carry on. They tree the second coon at the far side of the river. They chase it and finally tree it. In the meantime, Billy’s grandfather falls into the river. They make fire and Grandpa is revived.
Immediately, the pups look for the next coon. The male dog trees it but when they reach there, there is no coon. He seems to have tricked the pups. They suggest going elsewhere but Billy refuses to go elsewhere. He is hopeful that his pups will find it. The pups search for it and through determination and a little bit shrewdness, on part of Little Ann, they tree it. The judge admires the pups’ cooperation and togetherness. Billy feels satisfied and pleased.
Back in the camp, everyone cheers them. Other hunters also praise the determination with which the pups work. That night, Billy sleeps with his pups. For the final round, only three sets of pups are left. Other people are betting and gathering money for the winner. A hunter gives his support to Billy but tells him to be wary of other pups as well. Billy decides with his grandfather to head towards the marsh for hunting. The judge reaches the spot and Billy gives a nod to his pups.
Immediately, they find a coon and tree it. The coon jumps and evades them. He goes to the river followed by the dogs. Old Dan denies his escape and it is skinned. The judge is amazed by the love shared by both the dogs. Afterwards, the dogs head towards the darkness.
Chapter XVII
A snowstorm is on the horizon and everyone, except Billy, wants to return. He knows his pups are chasing a coon and he wants to carry on. Rainstorm comes down pouring making it difficult for them to see and they advise turning back but Billy refuses. He knows his pups will never give up even in this storm. They all agree to follow him. Billy tells his father to fire, knowing that Little Ann will get frightened and will come to him. Little Ann finds Billy when the gun is fired. She leads them towards Old Dan. Old Dan barks which suggest that he has treed a coon. He approaches Old Dan and mops the ice.
In the meantime, Grandpa is seen nowhere. They search for him but in vain. Finally, the female dog spots him. He is lying unconscious because of the severe sleet. They make fire trying to reinvigorate him and succeed. Grandpa suggests carrying on the hunt. The pups are standing at the tree. Papa chops it and three coons jump out of it. The pups follow the two and the third escapes. When both of them are skinned, the dogs follow the other one. Billy is nervous thinking that his pups are in storm but his grandfather calms him. He takes one coonskin and puts it warm over Grandpa’s bruised ankle.
Chapter XVIII
The storm gets bitter and Billy is dying to find his pups. Other hunters accompany him in his search. Mr. Kyle urges some men to take Grandpa to the encampment. Mr. Benson leads Billy to the pups. The pups are covered with ice and they have treed a coon. Billy is in need of that coon to become champion. Everyone admires their shrewdness and teamwork. Mr. Kyle names it “the deepest kind of love”.
A man shoots and the coon jumps out. The pups kill it and they return to the camp. No one is there except Grandpa. He is in his tent waiting for them. Billy gets the champion cup and the cash prize worth $300. He is over the moon and gives the money to his father. Billy’s grandfather reaches Dr. Latham to cure his ankle. Billy and his father steer the buggy home. They take care of Grandpa’s store. Finally, they head towards home. Billy feels proud of the cup.
They are warmly welcomed at home. He hands the cups to his sisters, respectively. Mama feels grateful that God has answered her prayers when Billy tells her about the money. They celebrate their victory with a lavish dinner. Billy and Papa share the tales of their time at the camp. Later, Billy sees his parents loving the pups and giving them food. His parents want him to help Grandpa in his store and he agrees.
Chapter XIX
Billy continues with his hunting. He goes out with his pups and they, immediately, track something. Billy reaches and sees that it is not a coon rather a mountain lion. He gets afraid. Suddenly, the lion attacks the pups. He is shredding them to pieces. Billy feels nervous and takes his axe to fight the lion. The pups save Billy as the lion attacks him. They both come in the way of the lion. He grabs Old Dan by the throat. Billy buries the axe into the lion’s back. Its grip is released. The pups kill it, though they are badly bruised. Billy scrutinizes their bruises. The female dog is feeling fine despite one cut. However, the male dog is bleeding continuously. Billy feels nervous, he puts mud on the bruise to stop bleeding.
They head towards home. The male dog groans, when Billy finds him he cannot stand the sight. Old Dan’s intestines are out and are caught in a bush. He frees him and carries him on his back. His mother takes care of Old Dan. Billy shares the story and everyone is sad. Old Dan cannot cope with the wounds and he breathes his last. Papa tells Billy that he need not to worry as he still has the female dog. That night he couldn’t sleep. When he goes outside, he finds the female dog lying next to the male dog. Billy runs towards the fields and cries until he could cry no more. He passes the night in the fields and returns home in the morning.
He decides to bury Old Dan and makes a box for his burial. He refuses Papa’s help in burying Old Dan. He is buried on the brink of the mountainside, where flowers grow in spring days. He admires his loyalty. After a couple of days, Billy’s mother tells him to look for the female dog. He discovers her under a bush. She is too weak to move. Billy tries some water but in vain. She opines that life is meaningless without Old Dan. Billy puts her on the stairs outside. She escapes and moves towards the male dog’s grave. She dies there next to her partner in the hunt. Billy feels miserable and cries. His parents calm him and tell him to leave.
At home, his parents convince him to move to town for a better lifestyle and more opportunities. Billy does not like the idea of quitting the countryside. His mother consoles him telling him that God’s way of doing things is better for all of us. Billy couldn’t sleep that night gazing at the empty doghouse. In the morning, he buries her next to the male dog. He inscribes their names on a stone as well and feels satisfied.
Chapter XX
The family quits the countryside the succeeding spring. They feel happy and rejuvenated. Billy decides to visit the pup’s graves for the last time. When he reaches there, he observes a red fern has grown there. He remembers an old Indian folk tale. The tale is about a girl and a boy who got lost in a storm and died due to cold. In the following spring, when their bodies were found, a pretty red fern had grown between them. According to the legend, only an angel plants the seeds of the red fern. It never dies and makes the place holy. Billy summons his parents and siblings. They feel amazed. Billy bade farewell to his pups. They begin their journey and look back, for the last time, at the sight.
Billy, now a man, tells us that he has never visited his childhood town again and wishes to visit soon. He yearns for the hilly trails, to examine his home, to visit the woods and finally to see his pups. He believes in the existence of the fern possibly grown tall and covering his pups’ graves.
Where the Red Fern Grows Characters Analysis
Through characters writers express their opinions about a particular subject. They are tools for their writers to share their ideas. They provide an outlet to their writers. Some writers choose human beings as their characters while others pick animals as well. In this novel, Wilson Rawls picks human beings as well as animals as his mouthpieces. The whole story revolves around the protagonist, Billy Colman, and his pups, Old Dan and Little Ann. They will be explored as under;
Billy Colman
Billy is the leading character as well as the narrator of the story. He is an old man and he shares his childhood experiences with his readers. Through the course of the story we, as readers, come to know about several traits in his personality. Wilson Rawls openly portrays his character and there is nothing hidden in the portrayal of his character.
Billy’s first quality is his determination. As a country boy, he longs for two coonhounds and demands but his parents refuse because they cannot afford the money. Billy works hard for two long years, with courage and perseverance, to earn and save the required money for buying two hounds. He is determined to get the hounds and backs it up with courage and perseverance. He ends up earning the required money and getting the hounds.
When he gets them, he immediately trains them for the hunt. When they tree their first coon in a huge sycamore tree, he becomes happy. His family members tell him to avoid chopping the tree, as it is very huge, but he is determined to do so. He chops continuously for a couple of days, without taking ample rest and food, and succeeds. His determination does not allow him to stop. His determination also leads him to find his pups in the rainstorm, when everyone suggests leaving the place. His resolve and will power push him to look for his pups in the sleet.
Secondly, Billy is attached to his family and his pups. He loves them from the core of his heart. He cares for his parents and shares everything with his sisters. He also does house chores with his mother when she needs him. He buys gifts for his parents and sisters when he returns from the city.
He is devoted to his dogs as well. He takes care of them, provides healthy food and proper shelter. He feels sad when they get hurt. He sacrifices his being for the pups. He, bravely, rescues Little Ann from the icy water without considering his own wellbeing. He protects Old Dan from the Pritchards’ dog. He also kills a mountain lion because he attacks his pups. He is loyal to them and takes pride in their victory.
Old Dan and Little Ann
The two pups are also significant in the story. The whole story revolves around Billy and his pups. They are great coon hunters. The male dog is belligerent, aggressive and powerful. The female one is small but shrewd. Both of them are great hunting partners. Old Dan’s aggressiveness fully complements Little Ann’s smartness. They work in tandem for their hunt. They are very loyal to each other. They are connected to each other. They help each other in the hunt. Their chemistry allows them to fight for one another.
They eat together, sleep together and hunt together. Little Ann trails the scent of the coon in hunting while Old Dan uses his physical power to tree the coon. Both of them protect each other’s lives. Old Dan protects her life by alarming Billy when Little Ann is in icy water. Little Ann saves Old Dan’s life, when he is in a den of a muskrat, by alarming Billy. They support each other.
They are loyal to each other as well as to their master Billy. They save Billy’s life from the mountain lion. They also lick each other’s wounds. They live for each other. Little Ann does not want to live when Old Dan dies. She dies soon proving her loyalty.
Themes in Where the Red Fern Grows
Themes are the main ideas explored in a literary piece. When a writer wants to address an issue, he picks that problem and shares his opinion about it. In this literary piece, Wilson Rawls shows us the loyalty shown by the dogs to his master. He also gives us an insight into an individual’s determination. The major themes of the novel are discussed below;
Determination
Determination is the significant theme of the novel. All the characters, from Billy to his pups, are determined to pursue their goals, in one way or the other. Billy is determined to get the two hounds. For this, he works hard for two long years to earn money. His determination keeps him motivated in this process. He earns money, saves it and then spends it on buying two coonhounds.
It is Billy’s determination that keeps him motivated to chop the huge sycamore tree in which the pups have treed the coon. His pups also show strong will power. When he goes home to take rest, Old Dan is determined to stay there to ensure the coon does not escape. They trail a coon on the championship night, even in a strong rainstorm, to prove Billy victorious. All three main characters, Billy and his pups show strong will power to support and help each other.
Loyalty is Love
“Loyalty is the deepest form of love”, one character opines in the story. Billy and his pups remain loyal to each other throughout the story. When Billy gets his pups, he vows to protect them. He provides them with healthy food and proper shelter. In turn, the pups follow every order he gives them. They also act according to his instructions while hunting.
The three of them share a strong bond with each other. They understand each other well. Billy protects them from every miserable situation. He saves Little Ann when she falls into a river. He jumps into the icy water and drags her with the help of a hook. He also saves Old Dan in a muskrat den and also in the rainstorm on the championship night.
Returning the favor, the pups save Billy from the mountain line. They risk their lives to save the life of their master. Billy buries the axe in the lion’s back and he dies but the damage has been done to Old Dan. Old Dan could not cope with his injuries and die. Little Ann does not want to live after his death and she dies also. This relationship epitomizes the idea of loyalty.
Coming of Age
Rawls’ main character, Billy, slowly and gradually matures and comes of age in the course of the novel. At the start, he is a child and cries on petty issues but as the story progresses he becomes a responsible individual. He immediately patronizes his pups and vows to protect them from every harsh situation.
He experiences good as well as bad situations which prove fruitful in his coming of age. He earns and saves money, with determination, to get the pups. He leads his pups in the hunt and becomes their master at a very young age. Secondly, he becomes a famous figure in the Ozarks due to his hunting adventures with his beloved dogs. He takes decisions on his own and tries to back it up with strong will power. He becomes the protector of his pups and saves their lives often.
On the other hand, he also faces the dark realities of life. Rubin’s death makes him strong and it enables him to cope with harsh circumstances afterwards. He also bears the losses of his beloved pups with courage and strength. It gives strength to his belief that nothing is immortal in this world.
Where the Red Fern Grows Literary Analysis
Wilson Rawls’ novel is a great adventurous tale abound in hidden meanings. The narrator shares his childhood experiences with his readers. The experiences are shared in chronological order. The plot of the novel is well-knit. Every situation is well connected to another situation. The story goes smoothly from one phase to another. There are no loopholes in the plot. All the events smoothly progress towards the conclusion. He tactfully addresses the subject matter.
We know that dogs are loyal but Rawls’ story epitomizes this notion. This novel is an epitome of mutual love and loyalty between a boy and his dogs. Billy, the master, provides his pups every comfort. He offers them healthy food and comfortable home. He protects them in every miserable situation that occurs to them. He takes a parental role in order to protect them. In turn, his pups love him. They follow his orders during the hunt. They also focus on the instructions he gives them. They even save his life from the mountain lion which results in Old Dan’s death.
Rawls beautifully depicts hilly life in the novel. He tells us about the life people live there. Mostly, they are farmers and poor people. They earn their bread through farming. He also portrays the marshes, swamps and meadows in an attractive manner. Through imagery, the readers experience them. He gives us insight into the hunting adventures. The people love hunting and Billy loves to listen to their hunting adventures.
The novel also propagates gender roles set at that time. Men, like Papa And Grandpa, are portrayed as strong while women, like Mama, are portrayed as emotional and weak. When Billy goes for the hunt on his first night, his mother feels worried for him. On the contrary, his father calms his mother and assures her that nothing will happen. Papa, as a man, sees Billy as an adult now and feels proud of him. Mama, representing the womenfolk of the time, is weak and emotional while Papa is brave and courageous. He wants Billy to take risks as a man.
Wilson Rawls also highlights the religious spirituality in the countryside and people’s belief in God.
Billy, time and again, seeks help from God in his hunting endeavors which shows his religious background. Her mother also supports him and feels happy that her son is near to God. God, too, helps him in the most precarious situations throughout his endeavors. He believes in miracles and miracles happen to him time and again. There are many examples of the Divine intervention, in the story, which make him a firm believer in God.
The Red Fern is symbolic
Rawls ends his novel with an optimistic note. The “red” is a symbol of rebirth and revival. The red fern symbolizes a new life. When Billy buries the dogs, he tells us that a part of him is buried here. This shows that he has buried his past with his dogs. Now they are leaving the country life, so the red fern symbolizes the future opportunities which await him and his family in the city. He and his sisters will get a better education and his parents will enjoy a comfortable life which they have dreamed of.
