The document provides background information on the novel Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls, including that it is set in the Ozark Mountains of eastern Oklahoma in the early 20th century. It describes the land and environment, and notes that Rawls spent much of his childhood there with his family hound dog, telling stories to his dog. The document also includes chapter summaries and discussion questions about the novel.

1. Where the Red Red Grows By: Wilson Rawls

2. Background This novel is set in the area of the country that the author, Wilson Rawls, knows best- the beautiful hills and river bottoms of the Ozark mountains in eastern Oklahoma.

3. Ozark Mountains

4. Oklahoma

5. United States Map

6. Background This land is characterized by its many streams and river valleys. T he soil is very fertile, ideal for farming, and the wooded areas support a wide variety of animal life, including deer, opossums, raccoons, foxes, and squirrels. Rawls spent much of his time in these woods with the family hound dog. In fact,Rawls told his first stories to his dog.

7. Visual

8. Key Vocabulary Quavering: Shaking or trembling

9. rifle A shadow area near a stream

10. winced Drew back slightly, twisting the face, as in pain or alarm.

11. runt The smallest animal of the litter.

12. Chapters 1-7 1.Describe Billy’s home and family.

13. Chapters 1-7 2. In what ways does Billy attempt to get the dogs he wants?

14. Chapters 1-7 3. Describe three incidents that occur on Billy’s trip to Tahlequah.

15. Chapters 1-7 4. What steps does Billy take to train his dogs?

16. Chapters 1-7 5. How do the events in chapter 1 bring back the memories of the narrator’s childhood?

17. Chapters 1-7 6. Why are dogs so important to Billy?

18. Chapters 1-7 7. How does Billy feel about working in the fields with his father for the first time?

19. Chapters 1-7 8. Describe Billy’s relationship with his grandfather.

20. Chapters 1-7 9. Contrast the way that Billy’s mother and father treat him, particularly when he returns from his trip to get his dogs.

21. Chapters 1-7 10. When Billy is town, some people stare and laugh at him, and others try to beat him up. Why do people often act negatively toward those who seem different.

22. Understanding Character You find out about Billy’s character and the characters of others by what Billy sees, thinks, or does and by what others say to him.

23. Understanding Character 1. Name two of Billy’s character traits.

24. Understanding Character 2. What does Billy’s decision to walk twenty miles to Tahlequah rather than wait a week for his dogs reveal about his character?

25. Understanding Character 3. Why do Grandfather and the sheriff react as they do when Billy tells them what he did to get the dogs?

26. Making Inferences About Characters An inference is a conclusion that you draw from stated information. In a novel, a writer presents a character’s actions, words, and thoughts. From this given information, you can make inferences about the characters.

27. Inferences For example, Billy works hard and saves his money for two years. You can infer from these actions that he is very persistent and highly motivated.

28. Question Inferences 1. What statements made by other characters support this inference?

29. Question Inferences 2. What can you infer about Billy’s character from his actions toward his family when he returns home from Tahlequah?

30. Chapters 8-11 baying: Long deep barking.

31. Chapters 8-11 Momentum: The increasing force of a moving object.

32. Chapters 8-11 Nonchalantly: In a casual way.

33. Chapters 8-11 Belligerent: Showing a readiness to fight.

34. Chapters 8-11 Slough: A swamp, bog, or marsh that is part of an inlet or backwater.

35. Chapters 8-11 1. What commitment does Billy make to his dogs just before the first hunt?

36. Chapters 8-11 2. Describe Billy’s feelings as his dogs are chasing the first.

37. Chapters 8-11 3. How does Old Dan react when Billy takes him hunting without Little Anne?

38. Chapters 8-11 4. Describe what happens during a typical hunt.

39. Chapters 8-11 5. In Chapter 8 Billy realizes that his father,”doesn’t even talk to me like I was a boy any more. He talks to me like I was a man.” Why does this realization make Billy so happy? Why have Father’s reactions to Billy changed?

40. Chapters 8-11 6. Why does Billy insist on cutting down the big sycamore and doing it by himself? How does this action make his family feel about him?

41. Chapters 8-11 7. Give three examples of the bond of love and faithfulness between Billy and his dogs.

42. Chapters 8-11 8. Compare and contrast the hunting skills of Old Dan and Little Anne. How do they complement each other?

43. Chapters 8-11 9. Billy decides that he must ct down a tree that he has enjoyed foe years to fulfill a promise that he made to his dogs. Why is it important for people to keep promises.

44. Understanding Plot Development The sequences of events in a novel is the plot. In Where the Red Fern Grows, the events occur in episodes, separate incidents that together make up the plot.Each episode has a conflict that reaches a climax and is resolved.

45. Understanding Plot Development 1. Briefly describe two episodes that occur while Billy is hunting with his dogs.

46. Understanding Plot Development 2. What is the climax of each episode?

47. Understanding Plot Development 3. How is each episode solved?

48. Key Vocabulary Leering: Looking with harmful intent

49. jubilant Joyful and triumphant

50. gloated Gazed or ginned in scornful triumph

51. Decoration Day Memorial Day

52. Chapters12-15 1. Describe the Prichard boys.

53. Chapters12-15 2. Why does Grandpa call Rainie’s bet?

54. Chapters12-15 3. What happens when Billy finally corners the ghost coon in the tree?

55. Chapters12-15 4. How does the hunt for the ghost coon end?

56. Chapters12-15 5. What are Grandfather’s reasons for arranging the trip for Billy, Papa and himself to the Championship Coon Hunt?

57. Chapters12-15 6. Compare and contrast Billy and the Pritchards.

58. Chapters12-15 7. Why do Billy and the Pritchards want to catch the ghost coon so badly?

59. Chapters12-15 8. What are Billy’s feelings after the death of Rubin? How do you think he will change as a result of Rubin’s death?

60. Chapters12-15 9. Why is it important to Billy that he is treated as an equal by the men at the Championship Coon Hunt? Do you think he deserves to be treated this way ? Why or why not?

61. Chapters12-15 10 Throughout the novel, Billy has experiences that contribute to his maturing. Discuss some of Billy’s responsibilities and experiences and compare them to your own.

62. Key Vocabulary Haggard: Having a worn look from sleeplessness.

63. predatory Living by capturing and feeding on other animals

64. sinews Tendons

65. lithe Flexible and supple

66. berserk Into a violent or destructive rage

67. disembowel Take out the inner organs

68. scourge The cause of serious trouble

69. entrails The inner organs of the animals

70. Chapters 16-20 1. In what ways is Billy the leader of his group during the championship hunt?

71. Chapters 16-20 2. How do the dogs save Billy from the mountain lion?

72. Chapters 16-20 3. What is the result of the fight with the mountain lion?

73. Chapters 16-20 4. Describe Billy’s reaction to the deaths of his dogs.

74. Chapters 16-20 5. What is the legend of the Red Fern?

75. Chapters 16-20 6. Why do Billy and Little Ann risk their lives to help Old Dan as he is fighting the lion?

76. Chapters 16-20 7. Why does Little Ann die?

77. Chapters 16-20 8. What is the meaning of the novel’s title?

78. Chapters 16-20 9. Why is it so difficult to accept the loss of someone or something you care about?

79. Understanding Theme A theme or general idea about life, is revealed through the events of a novel. In the various episodes of this novel, Billy has developed a strong and loving relationship with his dogs.

80. What theme is Wilson Rawls presenting through this relationship?

81. What episodes in the story support the theme that hard work is very rewarding?

82. Evaluating a novel Evaluating a novel means judging carefully how good it is. You comment on its strengths and weaknesses, using your knowledge of literary elements. It is important to remember that when you evaluate, your judgment must be supported by evidence in the novel, not by personal likes and dislikes. For example, if you think the characters in a novel are unrealistic, then by supporting your judgment with details, you could conclude that the work was unsuccessful.

83. Do the characters seem like real people? Why or why not?

84. Do the conflicts in the plot hold your interest?

85. Is the setting described realistically?