Podcast
Questions and Answers
By what method is the story told?
By what method is the story told?
a flashback
What is the setting of the story?
What is the setting of the story?
the Ozark Mountains (Oklahoma)
Who is the main character of the story?
Who is the main character of the story?
Billy; Old Dan and Little Ann
What 'terrible disease' did the main character say he had?
What 'terrible disease' did the main character say he had?
What did Papa give the boy in place of what he wanted, and what was the result?
What did Papa give the boy in place of what he wanted, and what was the result?
Why couldn't the boy have what he wanted?
Why couldn't the boy have what he wanted?
Describe the boy's plan to get what he wanted.
Describe the boy's plan to get what he wanted.
How long did it take for the boy to earn the money?
How long did it take for the boy to earn the money?
What was the grandfather's reaction when the boy told him his plan?
What was the grandfather's reaction when the boy told him his plan?
Describe the boy's journey to pick up his purchase.
Describe the boy's journey to pick up his purchase.
What is the boy's name?
What is the boy's name?
Describe what happened at the depot.
Describe what happened at the depot.
Describe what happened as Billy was walking through town.
Describe what happened as Billy was walking through town.
What did Billy encounter while camping that night, and what did he do about it?
What did Billy encounter while camping that night, and what did he do about it?
What did Billy name his dogs, and why did he give them those specific names?
What did Billy name his dogs, and why did he give them those specific names?
Describe what happened when Billy arrived home with his dogs.
Describe what happened when Billy arrived home with his dogs.
What did Billy's parents tell him they wanted to do someday, and why?
What did Billy's parents tell him they wanted to do someday, and why?
What was the next item that Billy needed, and why did he need it?
What was the next item that Billy needed, and why did he need it?
Whom did Billy talk to when he needed advice about hunting coons?
Whom did Billy talk to when he needed advice about hunting coons?
What did Billy say about his communication with his dogs?
What did Billy say about his communication with his dogs?
How did Billy's parents feel about his hunting?
How did Billy's parents feel about his hunting?
How old was Billy when he went coon hunting for the first time?
How old was Billy when he went coon hunting for the first time?
What did Billy realize about the way his father was talking to him?
What did Billy realize about the way his father was talking to him?
What feeling did Billy get when Old Dan bawled the first time? What did he do after he also heard Little Ann's bawl?
What feeling did Billy get when Old Dan bawled the first time? What did he do after he also heard Little Ann's bawl?
Where had the hounds treed their first coon?
Where had the hounds treed their first coon?
Describe Billy's thoughts and feelings when he saw where the hounds had treed their first coon.
Describe Billy's thoughts and feelings when he saw where the hounds had treed their first coon.
How did the members of Billy's family feel about his decision?
How did the members of Billy's family feel about his decision?
How did Billy's grandfather keep the coon in the tree while Billy went home to rest?
How did Billy's grandfather keep the coon in the tree while Billy went home to rest?
What interesting news about coonskins did Billy's grandfather share with him?
What interesting news about coonskins did Billy's grandfather share with him?
What was the outcome of Billy's efforts?
What was the outcome of Billy's efforts?
What happened to the first coon hide?
What happened to the first coon hide?
What did Billy do with the coon skins? What did he do with the money he made?
What did Billy do with the coon skins? What did he do with the money he made?
Describe both of Old Dan's predicaments and how they were resolved.
Describe both of Old Dan's predicaments and how they were resolved.
Describe Little Ann's predicament and how it is resolved.
Describe Little Ann's predicament and how it is resolved.
What did Billy tell his parents about his evening adventures?
What did Billy tell his parents about his evening adventures?
What happened to Billy after he returned home?
What happened to Billy after he returned home?
Billy asked his mother if God answered all prayers. What was her response?
Billy asked his mother if God answered all prayers. What was her response?
What was the bet Billy's grandfather made with the Pritchard boys? Why did he make it?
What was the bet Billy's grandfather made with the Pritchard boys? Why did he make it?
Why did the Pritchard boys refer to the coon as the 'ghost coon'?
Why did the Pritchard boys refer to the coon as the 'ghost coon'?
At one point while the boys were watching the dogs chase the coon, Billy said he felt good all over. What did he feel good about?
At one point while the boys were watching the dogs chase the coon, Billy said he felt good all over. What did he feel good about?
Why did Billy pay off his bet?
Why did Billy pay off his bet?
What caused Little Ann to throw up her head and whine?
What caused Little Ann to throw up her head and whine?
Where was the coon?
Where was the coon?
What did Billy decide to do about the ghost coon and why?
What did Billy decide to do about the ghost coon and why?
What did Rubin do when Billy asked for his money back?
What did Rubin do when Billy asked for his money back?
What were the dogs doing while the boys were fighting?
What were the dogs doing while the boys were fighting?
What did Rubin do, and what was the result of his actions?
What did Rubin do, and what was the result of his actions?
What did Billy do to show his sorrow for his actions?
What did Billy do to show his sorrow for his actions?
What news did Billy's grandfather tell him a few days after the accident?
What news did Billy's grandfather tell him a few days after the accident?
Who went on the trip?
Who went on the trip?
What happened on the trip that made Billy feel more grown up?
What happened on the trip that made Billy feel more grown up?
Which contest did Billy enter first, and what was the result?
Which contest did Billy enter first, and what was the result?
Where did Billy think they should go on their first night of hunting?
Where did Billy think they should go on their first night of hunting?
Where did the hounds run the first coon?
Where did the hounds run the first coon?
How many coons did the dogs kill on their first night of competition?
How many coons did the dogs kill on their first night of competition?
What about the dogs surprised the judge?
What about the dogs surprised the judge?
Where did Billy want to go on their final night of hunting, and why?
Where did Billy want to go on their final night of hunting, and why?
The judge saw the two hounds stop and stare at Billy at the beginning of the hunt. What was Billy's explanation for these actions?
The judge saw the two hounds stop and stare at Billy at the beginning of the hunt. What was Billy's explanation for these actions?
Why did one of the hunters come around with a small box in his hands?
Why did one of the hunters come around with a small box in his hands?
After the dogs killed the coon, what did they do that surprised the judge?
After the dogs killed the coon, what did they do that surprised the judge?
What was the weather like on this part of the hunt?
What was the weather like on this part of the hunt?
What did the judge think they should do, and what was Billy's reply? What did the men finally do?
What did the judge think they should do, and what was Billy's reply? What did the men finally do?
Describe what happened to Billy's grandfather, including how he was found.
Describe what happened to Billy's grandfather, including how he was found.
What did they do after they had made Grandpa comfy?
What did they do after they had made Grandpa comfy?
Where did the dogs go?
Where did the dogs go?
What did the rest of the hunters do when they found Billy and the hunting party?
What did the rest of the hunters do when they found Billy and the hunting party?
Describe what happened when they found the dogs.
Describe what happened when they found the dogs.
What happened when they got back to camp?
What happened when they got back to camp?
Describe the events when Billy and his father got home.
Describe the events when Billy and his father got home.
What did Billy see his mother doing as he was preparing for bed?
What did Billy see his mother doing as he was preparing for bed?
What animal did Billy think the dogs had treed the night they went to the Cyclone Timber country?
What animal did Billy think the dogs had treed the night they went to the Cyclone Timber country?
How did Billy feel about the animal the dogs had treed?
How did Billy feel about the animal the dogs had treed?
What unusual actions did Old Dan take, and how did Billy feel about it?
What unusual actions did Old Dan take, and how did Billy feel about it?
What animal had the dogs actually treed?
What animal had the dogs actually treed?
Describe the fight between the hounds and the other animal.
Describe the fight between the hounds and the other animal.
How did Billy feel about what his dogs had done?
How did Billy feel about what his dogs had done?
What did Billy discover about Old Dan as they were walking home? What did he do about it?
What did Billy discover about Old Dan as they were walking home? What did he do about it?
What happened to the dogs?
What happened to the dogs?
What did Billy's parents tell him at dinner?
What did Billy's parents tell him at dinner?
What did Billy discover the day the family left the Ozarks? What was the significance of the discovery?
What did Billy discover the day the family left the Ozarks? What was the significance of the discovery?
Flashcards
Billy
Billy
Billy, the main character in "Where the Red Fern Grows", is a determined young boy who lives in the Ozark Mountains of Oklahoma. He has a strong work ethic and a love for dogs, particularly coonhounds.
Old Dan and Little Ann
Old Dan and Little Ann
Old Dan and Little Ann are Billy's loyal coonhounds. They are essential to his adventures and provide companionship and support.
Flashback Narrative
Flashback Narrative
The story is told through flashbacks, revealing significant events from Billy's past as he reflects on his life.
Ozark Mountains
Ozark Mountains
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"Terrible Disease"
"Terrible Disease"
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Financial Struggles
Financial Struggles
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Hard Work
Hard Work
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Billy's Father
Billy's Father
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Billy's Grandfather
Billy's Grandfather
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Family's Desires for Education
Family's Desires for Education
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20-Mile Journey
20-Mile Journey
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Camping Adventures
Camping Adventures
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Dog Names
Dog Names
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Coonskin Training
Coonskin Training
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Bond with Dogs
Bond with Dogs
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Early Coon Hunting
Early Coon Hunting
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Challenges and Conflicts
Challenges and Conflicts
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Old Dan's Fight
Old Dan's Fight
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Emotional Growth
Emotional Growth
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Grief and Loss
Grief and Loss
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Moving to Town
Moving to Town
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Red Fern Symbolism
Red Fern Symbolism
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Bittersweet Ending
Bittersweet Ending
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Study Notes
Story Overview
- Told through a flashback, reflecting on significant life events.
- Set in the Ozark Mountains in Oklahoma, creating a rustic backdrop.
Main Characters
- Main character: Billy, a determined young boy.
- Billy's loyal dogs: Old Dan and Little Ann, crucial to his adventures.
Key Themes and Motifs
- "Terrible disease" referred to as puppy love, highlighting youthful emotions.
- Struggles of a poor family, emphasizing Billy's pursuit of two coonhounds despite financial limitations.
- Strong emphasis on hard work, as Billy saves for two years to buy his dogs.
Family Dynamics
- Billy's father provides practical support, albeit limited due to financial constraints.
- Billy's grandfather shows astonishment at Billy's commitment and plans.
- Parents express desires for better education, indicating a longing for change.
Adventures and Experiences
- Billy's memorable 20-mile journey to retrieve his dogs introduces various characters and challenges.
- Camping experiences; confrontation with a mountain lion demonstrates bravery.
- The names of his dogs reflect personal experiences and emotional connections.
Training and Hunting
- Billy's need for a coonskin to train his dogs drives the story forward.
- The bond between Billy and his dogs is shown through communication and understanding of emotions.
- Initial coon hunting experiences reveal Billy's growth and the loyalty of his dogs.
Challenges and Triumphs
- Conflicts arise with the Pritchard boys and the mythical "ghost coon," deepening the narrative tension.
- Old Dan's fight against Old Blue and the mountain lion showcases the dogs' bravery but results in Old Dan's tragic death.
Emotional Changes and Consequences
- Billy's maturity increases as he experiences successes and losses throughout his hunting journey.
- The struggle with grief over his dogs' deaths leads to Billy's reflections on life and loss.
- The family’s eventual move to town marks a significant transition in Billy's life.
Symbolism and Closing Ideas
- Discovery of a red fern symbolizes sacredness and marks an emotional closure for Billy, representing both loss and beauty.
- The story ends on a note of bittersweet transition, capturing the essence of growing up and the inevitable changes.
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Description
Test your knowledge of 'Where the Red Fern Grows', a touching story set in the Ozark Mountains revolving around Billy and his beloved coonhounds. Explore themes of determination, family, and the innocence of youth through key events in Billy's life. Answer questions about characters, themes, and adventures that define this classic tale.
