Where the Red Fern Grows

Where the Red Fern Grows Chapters 1-6

Where the Red Fern Grows Ch. 1-6 • Chapter summaries • Characters • Themes • Literary Devices

Chapter 1 "It's strange indeed how memories can lie dormant in a man's mind for so many years. Yet those memories can be awakened and brought forth fresh and new, just by something you've seen, or something you've heard, or the sight of an old familiar face."

Chapter 1 • The narrator, Billy, is coming home from work when he notices a dog fight. • A group of dogs are picking on a red bone hound. • Billy saves it and takes care of it that night which causes him to reminisce about his childhood. • This chapter establishes the tone of the novel. • It will be a sentimental story.

Flashback • A method of narration in which present action is interrupted so that the reader can witness past events. • Usually in the form of a character’s memories, dreams, commentary, or narration. • Young Billy’s adventures are told from the perspective of old Billy.

Point of View • 1st Person • Narrator is a character (Billy) • We see the story only through Billy’s eyes. • We know only what he thinks.

Cause and Effect • If you do something, something will happen. • Cause- a person, thing, or an event that makes something happen. • Effect- the result, the thing that happens • Words that show cause and effect • Therefore, as a result, so, because, for that reason, since, etc.

Vocabulary • Synonyms- a word with the same, or similar, meaning as another word • Ex. Excellent- superior • Context Clues- Hints that you get from words that you understand-all the words around the ones you don’t know. • Synonyms, antonyms, examples, definition

Alliteration • the repetition of usually initial consonant sounds in two or more neighboring words or syllables (as wild and woolly, threatening throngs)

Summary • Describing a text briefly. • Focus on the main idea. • A generalization

Chapter 2-3 • Conflict- Billy wants 2 coonhounds. • Too poor. • His papa gets him a trap. • Finds a sportsman catalog and decides to save money to buy hounds. • After 2 years Billy saves up enough money. • Grandfather agrees to order the 2 hounds for him.

Billy • Protagonist • Filled with Puppy Love • 10 year old boy • Determined • Persistent • Loves to hunt • Intelligent • Resourceful

Vocabulary • Multiple Meaning words • Words that have different meanings • Homonyms- words that are spelled the same but have different meaning, sometimes they are pronounced differently. • Ex. Bass, content, present, tear, etc.

Inference • An educated guess based on the information that you have read. • Respond only to information that you have read. • Requires reading between the lines. • Don’t repeat what you have read

Personification • Figurative language • The act of giving something that is not human– like an animal or object– human qualities. • Ex. The beams of the floor groaned their protest.

Conflict • Main problem of a story • Struggle • 2 types • Internal • External

Character • People or animals in a story • Their traits and interactions help us to understand them • Things to be aware of: • How does the narrator describe the character • How do other characters describe the character • What appears to motivate the character • How and why does a character’s behavior change

Chapters 4-6 • The dogs arrive. • Billy leaves early to pick them up. • He walks 20 miles to Tehlequah. • He returns home after clashing with some bullies and encounters a mountain lion. • He names his 2 pups Old Dan and Little Ann.

Papa • Billy’s father • Farmer • Hard worker • Poor • Tries to make Billy happy • Proud of his son

Mama • Billy’s mother • Billy’s teacher • Worrisome • Part-Cherokee • Religious

Grandpa • Billy’s grandfather • Owner of a general store • Full of imagination • Helpful

Old Dan • Bold • Aggressive • Redbone Hound • Big • Strong

Little Ann • Intelligent • Female • Redbone hound • Smaller • Beautiful

Sequence • Order in which things happen

Vocabulary • Antonym- The opposite meaning of a word • Examples • Cruel-kind • Enter-Exit • Spicy-Bland • Trivial-Important

Themes • The Rewards of persistence • Billy works for two years to save up money. • Billy embodies the virtues of hard work and perseverance. • He doesn’t give up even when confronted by bullies. • Relating to the natural world • Mountain lion • Billy respects nature

Where the Red Fern Grows