The First Walk With Old Dan and Little Ann

Authors Note:

The main character, Billy, in Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls first buys his dogs in the town and this is about the scene after he picks up the dog. The purpose is to understand how he was feeling and what I believe they were thinking about him.  

“I hadn’t gone far before I realized that the reception I got wasn’t what I thought it would be. People began to stop and stare, some even snickered.” This was what was running through Billy’s mind when he just picked up his dogs from the town.  The author never clarified why they were laughing at innocent Billy.

Many scenarios where running through my head. Are they laughing because he isn’t wearing shoes? Does he look funny? Do the dogs look funny? Or are they just plain mean. Then I came to my theory. Maybe they are laughing because this little boy from the country is walking around with two hunting dogs. How in the world was he able to pay for those and he isn’t old enough to go hunting with those dogs anyway? Most people that see a little boy walking around with no shoes and two dogs would stop and wonder what is going on with him.  They judge a book before they actually open up and see the contents.

Although I have my theory, Billy has no idea of why they were laughing. How would he respond to them if he knew why? From knowing all of Billy’s thoughts and actions I see him as a sensitive boy. He was already hurt and embarrassed from everyone in town laughing at him, if he knew the reason he might feel insecure or scared to ever go back into town again.

This scene relates to our lives today. For example, anyone might be walking down the hall and they notice some people stare or snicker. Yet, most of the time no one clarifies why they did this. When we are in that position you most likely will not want to go through that again. Like Billy, he never wanted to back into town because of that.

In conclusion people in town were probably judging him, and thinking little of him because of his looks and age. If Billy knew that that was the reason he would feel more insecure or scared to enter the town again. Lastly, this scene from the story can relate to our world and society today. 

Informative Piece

                                                          Authors note:

In Where the Red Fern Grow by Wilson Rawls there is a person vs. nature conflict.. The purpose is to show how it is person vs. nature and how he reacted and how it affected the rest of the story.

Where the Red Fern Grows By Wilson Rawls is about a boy struggling against the forces of nature in his journey along the way. This is a person verses nature, the person is Billy and he is going against the mountain lion in the forest. Billy struggles against the mountain lion which causes both of his dogs to get injured horribly.

            First of all, the conflict is when Billy goes hunting a mountain lion starts to attack him and his dogs. Of course a boy Billy’s age would be frightened, as well as the dogs. In this situation, there were no cell phones or anything to let someone know they were in danger. The dogs aren’t that large of animals so they don’t have an advantage against a mountain lion.

            For a moment, put yourself in Billy’s shoes, you are getting attacked by a mountain lion and what are you? Calm? Not even close. Billy was frightened and shocked so he couldn’t fight back as well if he knew this was coming. In shock, there isn’t much control you have over your body.

            Lastly, when Billy sees the red fern, he knows that only red ferns are planted by angels. Billy sees it as his dog’s angels placing the red fern there for him. Sometimes when today’s people lose a loved one there is something that symbolizes them. For example when you see a certain kind of bird or when something good happens. For Billy seeing the red fern is when he accepted that the dogs are in a better place. Even though the Mountain Lion won the battle, Billy was the one who came out alive and well.

            Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls is about a boy struggling against the forces of nature and his journey along the way. Sadly, Billy and the two dogs weren’t that much competition to the mountain lion.  Billy was frightened and or shocked so there is not much control over what you are doing. In the end, Billy accepts the fact that his dogs are gone, and aren’t coming back, and the Red Fern helps his accept that.

Old Red Mule.

Old Red Mule.

Authors Note.

This essay is using a quote from “Where The Red Fern Grows” by Wilson Rawls. This is explaining how this makes the main character feel and how he thinks of himself.

    Billy from “Where the Red Fern Grows” by Wilson Rawls was just about to go out for his first hunting trip with his two new dogs, Old Dan and Little Ann. Billy’s mother is quite worried about Billy because she doesn’t want anything to happen to him. His father is the one who is not so worried about it, because he trusts and knows his son is going to do a fantastic job. While Billy and his father were having a conversation Billy thought to himself, “He doesn’t even talk to me like I was a boy any more. He Talks to me like I was a man. These wonderful thoughts made me feel just about as big as our old red mule.” This quote portrays a lot about how his father and him have grown so far in the book.

    The quote shows that Billy feels confident and more equal with his father. I know that today, kids want to be treated like adults, most of the time they aren’t responsible enough to deserve that. However, Billy has become more responsible and has grown a lot. His father believes this too, how I know? He trusts his 13 year old son to go into the woods with two dogs to hunt. That takes a lot of trust in your child. He would only allow this if he knew that Billy could handle himself and his dogs out there.
     Lastly, Billy stated that he feels as big as his old red mule. I believe that saying this he could be feeling proud, strong, or fearless. Billy has shown that he is proud of his dogs and proud that he taught them how to hunt. He is also strong, being able to have go into the words requires some strength. Fearless, because for most kids going out into the woods on your own at such an age might be frightening, yet, Billy is not nervous.

    This quote wasn’t major but it did stick out and show so far how he has grown. Also how his father trusts him. They way Billy feels about himself has changed and shows that he is still growing and learning. 

Speech About Billy

    “Where the Red Fern Grows” is about a boy about a boy named Billy who saves up enough money in two years to buy 2 dogs. Once he buys the dogs he teaches them how to hunt. Billy has a mom, dad, and 3 sisters. They aren’t wealthy, and they live away from the town.

    Billy is a Christian boy, his attitude is very good. When his parents can’t buy the dogs for him because they don’t have enough money he was sad but he understood that they couldn’t. Also instead of being mean to his siblings he is nice to his 3 sisters. He values his family and his two dogs. Billy’s effect on all the other characters is that he makes his parent’s proud by saving up all the money on his own and taking care of the dogs. If this was in the Dad’s point of view some parts of it would interesting because you could know what he is thinking about his son and what he thinks about the dogs. Or in the Mom’s point of view there would probably be a lot of worries but it wouldn’t make the story complete. The story being in Billy’s point of view is perfect because it shows how he bonds with the dogs.

    Billy reminds me of Katniss of the hunger games because they both aren’t scared of much. Billy wasn’t scared to sleep in the forest and Katniss wasn’t afraid of a lot when she was in the Games.

Katniss Everdeen

Authors Note:

This essay is a Character Development on Katniss Everdeen from The Hunger Games.

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins was truly an outstanding book. You read about all of the adventures. When you’re reading you feel like you are actually there with the main character. In this book, Katniss Everdeen, is the main character. You see everything from her point of view.

            In the begging of this book, Katniss is a teenage girl who is out hunting every day with her best friend. She goes hunting to collect food for her family. This shows that she is responsible and has skills. She has fears though, fears of losing Prim; her sister. Fears of not being able to get enough food for dinner, fears of getting caught in the woods, and the biggest fear, being called to the Hunger Games. And that is exactly what happens.

            During the games, Katniss develops many extraordinary skills, which makes her a stronger person. Katniss has to evaluate situations more thoroughly while she’s in the games. Since Peeta and she are in act to be in love she discovers that maybe these feelings are just an act anymore. Although she gains a lot she finds herself having nighmares more and more after the games. These night mares seem to make her weaker, easier to scare. Even though Katniss loses some of her strength she still as a lot left.

            Overall, Katniss Everdeen’s character has changed so much throughout the book. She has become stronger, collected more fears, have the chance of finding love, evaluating situations, and lastly, gained a friend who knows exactly what she has been through.