This document provides context and background information about the characters and setting of the novel. It introduces Richard Knight, the 15-year-old main character who is quiet, sensitive, and loves nature. It describes his father and older brother Gus. It discusses themes of family relationships, understanding, and surprises. The setting is a farm in Iowa during World War I. Minor characters like Richard's sister Angie are also introduced.
2. Synopsis
*Richard Knight is a quiet,sensitive lad of fifteen.He is out deer hunting
with his father and his elder brother,Gus.
*He deliberately misfires to avoid killing the beautiful young buck.
Although his widowed father is disappointed and pained,he allows
Richard the liberty of no deer hunting in future.
*Gus tries to encourage his ʻsmall fry’ brother to be more sociable and
conforming but Richard prefers his own private world of poetry and
nature.
*After helping eldest sister Angie in the kitchen,Richard goes to his room
to reflect on recent events.He recalls his first hunting trip at the age of
eight and the private tears he had shed when Grandpa killed a
majestic deer with one pull of the trigger.
*Inspired,Richard composes a poem to depict the remorse he felt at that
killing.He looks it away in his private drawer of past poems he had
penned .Later on he burns this newest poem because he is afraid his
family would find out and think him to be stranger than he already is.
8. Characters and
charateristics
Main Characters
*15 year old boy who lives on a farm in lowa .
*Blonde hair,tall,pale and slender,like his mother.
*Quiet,sensitive,poetic,imaginative,love nature and all living things,observant.
mature,intelligent,independent,courageous,single minded,outspoken,hard
working,persevering,helpful,compassions,selfless.
*Has a good sense of values-integrity,honestly.
*A loner,a dreamer,does not really fit in with his community.
9. *Dark,brawy,board back.
*Did not finish high school,not interested in poetry and books,but shares
interest in sports with Gus.
*Diligent and dedicated farmer who truly loves is work.
*A good father.
*Kind,observant and understanding,but is not very expressive.
*Authoritative,sensible,sensitive,wise,honest.
*Reaerved,quiet,private person.
Minor
Characters
*Richard’s older brother.
*Dark and brawny like Pa,an outdoor person.
*Brotherly,a mediocre student.
*Athletic,popular,sociable,showy,reckless,
impatient.
*Dark,a little stout,broad build
like Pa and Gus.
*Hard working,responsible,
realisic,selfless,patient,
understanding,non-judgemental
Main Characters
10. Themes
*Love,understanding and family relationship
*Life is full of surprises and ironies
Though often taken for granted by Pa and Gus,Angie proves to be the ʻheart’ of the
family-loving,compassionate and non-judgemental.She knows that Pa has suffered deep
emotional scars and forgives him unconditionally.Richard is able to find some comfort and
safety with Angie in the kitchen whenever he feels left out by Pa and Gus or when he
needs someone to listen to him.
When Pa’s wife died,he had to assume the role of single parent.It must have been tough
to raise three young children and manage farm chores.Angie must have much inner
strength to philosophically tell Richard that Pa is a difficult man but he has lost two
important people in his life and deserves a little patience.Ironically,it is the child who is
ʻmothering’ the father and brothers!
11. Setting
Place:lowa,America-farm countryside of Turtle Lake Country,Richard’s
home and school,Hannah’s home,war trenches in Europe.
Time:World War 1 (1914-1918)
Social:Lower middle class(farmers)and upper middle class(teachers,
Schermers)
Moral Values *Diligence and perseverance
*Compassion and understanding
When Richard tells his father that purposely misfired
out of compassion for the deer,Pa understands and
tells Richard that he does not need to hunt anymore.
Angie left school in the 8th grade to take over her
mother’s responsibilities as a full-time farm woman.
