The Yearling
Rawlings, Marjorie Kinnan
Readability: 7
Setting: Northern Florida near Lake George
Main Character: Jody, age 12.

Jody went slowly and hesitantly toward the house. He heard his mother's voice raised in anger. She had discovered the shotgun, and she had discovered Flag. He must now confess to his father what had happened. After being thoroughly reprimanded by his father, Jody went to his room and closed the door. He heard a shot and his mother saying,"I cain't shoot straight. You know I cain't. " Flag lay floundering on the ground.

The Yearling is the story of one year in the life of a young boy, Jody Baxter. Jody is at the age when he is about to come into manhood. He has an understanding Pa, but Ma is sometimes rather harsh in her treatment of him.

Pa allows Jody to have a pet fawn, whose mother Jody and Penny had killed in order to save Penny's life when he was "snake bit". Jody and Flag grow up, but Jody learns that he must give up the yearling or be hungry, for the deer destroys the crops of the Baxters. When the deer destroys part of the third crop, Father decrees that Flag must be shot. Jody fails in the task. The mother wounds the deer, and Jody kills him, but runs away from home. He returns, however, a much wiser young man, realizing the decisions that must be made for survlval.

Questions:

1. The Yearling has three important themes. Name one.


2. Account for Ma Baxter's harshness toward Jody.


3. What enemies did Penny and the Baxter family have?


4. What special people did Jody and his father visit when they went to Volusia?


5. What are some of the things you would like or dislike to do that Jody did?