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Oooh, it sounds like there's a story here—and we bet it has something to do with dogs. This early incidents preps us to hear a good tale about love, loyalty, and—yep—dogs.
Maybe Billy shouldn't be so quick to dismiss his mom, because this feeling that he's describing sounds a lot like a mom being ready to fight to protect her children.
Okay, fine, Billy is loyal and determined. But we have to ask—the dogs can't really understand what he's saying, so isn't this more about fulfilling his bargain with himself?
Obsession can be ugly, Shmoopers. We're thinking that this kind of blind devotion and loyalty has a negative side, too—one that makes Billy neglect his family, keep his mom up all night with worry, and make him ready to put his dogs in danger to prove how awesome they are. Sometimes it's good just to take a chill pill.
It's no wonder Billy is so loyal—he's got a little furry example to show the way. Old Dan somehow knows to drop the chase and come help Little Ann, just like any loyal friend. Hey, we're not even sure our friends would do this for us.
When Billy first gets the dogs, he sees them as two separate creatures. By the end, though, they've become one unit—so loyal to each other that one won't even keep on living when the other dies.
There's something special about hunting, evidently, because the dogs will work for Billy's parents around the farm, but won't go hunting with anyone but Billy. You can't go killing raccoons with just anyone, after all.
Okay, in anyone else, we'd think that this kind of stubbornness was a little dimwitted, since, you know, we're talking about a blizzard here. But in Old Dan and Little Ann, it's just further proof of their loyalty to Billy.
Old Dan and Little attack the mountain lion that was about to take Billy out. What's impressive here is that they do it together. Check it out: "they," "they," "they," and "their." All the pronouns here emphasize just how much of a unit these little dogs are.
At the beginning of the novel, Billy declared that he would die for his pups. We see that his dogs are just as willing to die for him—and they actually go through with it. Ugh. Seriously, this makes us tear up every time. Previous Next More on Where the Red Fern Grows Navigation Tired of ads?Join today and never see them again. Advertisement - Guide continues below Previous Next Loyalty Well, you'd expect a species that earned the nickname "man's best friend" too be loyal. And boy, are these two little hounds loyal to Billy. Old Dan's loyalty might only be matched by his stubbornness. The thing is, you might as well call this kid "dog's best friend" cause he is one loyal owner. He never leaves his dogs behind, he chops down the biggest tree in the woods for them, and he even swears to lay down his life for them. The sad thing is, they're the ones who end up laying down their lives for him. In Where the Red Fern Grows, loyalty is serious—and deadly—business. Questions About Loyalty
Chew on ThisBilly's loyalty to his dogs has nothing to do with Old Dan or Little Ann specifically. It comes from how hard he had to work to get them. Because Billy's loyalty to his dogs conflicts with his loyalty to his family, it puts Billy in dangerous, sometimes life-threatening positions. Previous Next More on Where the Red Fern Grows Navigation Tired of ads?Join today and never see them again. How is loyalty shown in Where the Red Fern Grows?When Billy first gets the dogs, he sees them as two separate creatures. By the end, though, they've become one unit—so loyal to each other that one won't even keep on living when the other dies.
Where the Red Fern Grows red fern quote?'" "I'm sure the red fern has grown and has completely covered the two little mounds. I know it is still there, hiding its secret beneath those long, red leaves, but it wouldn't be hidden from me for part of my life is buried there too.
Where the Red Fern Grows quotes meet God halfway?Grandpa: And if you want them bad enough, you'll get them, Billy. And if you want God's help bad enough, you'll meet him half way.
What is the lesson learned in Where the Red Fern Grows?As a coming-of-age story, Where the Red Fern Grows deals with the classic theme of maturity as Billy learns to work hard, be a leader, and ultimately deal with the death. But the book also engages with other classic American themes including self-reliance and man's relationship to nature.
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