Learning Objectives
- Understand the bond between a boy and a fawn
- Learn about themes of compassion, responsibility, and moral obligation
- Analyse Jody's character and his decision-making
- Practice comprehension and expressive reading skills
Key Concepts
About the Story
Author: Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings. The chapter is an extract from her novel "The Yearling."
Setting: The story is set in the backwoods of Florida, USA, in a rural farming family. The main character is a young boy named Jody Baxter.
Theme: Compassion, responsibility, and the relationship between humans and animals. The story explores the idea that if you cause harm, you have a duty to make things right.
Story Summary
Jody's father, Penny Baxter, is bitten by a rattlesnake while in the forest. To save his life, Penny kills a doe (female deer) and uses its heart and liver to draw out the snake's venom — a folk remedy. The doe dies, leaving behind a young fawn (baby deer) that is now orphaned.
Jody's Dilemma
After his father is saved, Jody cannot stop thinking about the orphaned fawn alone in the forest. He feels a strong moral obligation — since they killed the fawn's mother to save his father, they owe the fawn its life. Jody desperately wants to bring the fawn home and raise it, but he is unsure whether his father will allow it.
Getting Permission
Jody gathers the courage to ask his father. Penny agrees, saying it would be ungrateful to let the fawn starve after the doe saved his life. Jody's friend Mill-wheel offers to accompany him into the forest. Jody's mother, Ora Baxter (Ma Baxter), is initially reluctant but does not object outright.
Finding the Fawn
Jody goes into the forest and finds the fawn near the place where the doe was killed. The fawn is frightened at first, but Jody gently picks it up and carries it home. He feeds the fawn milk using a cloth dipped in a gourd. The fawn follows Jody around the house and becomes his companion. Jody feels happy and fulfilled.
Character Analysis
- Jody: A compassionate, sensitive boy who feels deeply responsible for the orphaned fawn
- Penny Baxter: Jody's father; wise and understanding; supports Jody's decision
- Ma Baxter: Practical and hardworking; initially hesitant but allows the fawn
- Mill-wheel: A kind neighbour who helps Jody find the fawn
Important Terms
- Fawn: A young deer, especially one less than a year old
- Doe: A female deer
- Rattlesnake: A venomous snake with a rattle at the end of its tail
- Venom: Poisonous substance injected by a snake bite
- Yearling: An animal that is one year old
- Obligation: A duty or responsibility
Quick Revision
- Author: Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings (from "The Yearling")
- Penny is bitten by a rattlesnake; a doe is killed to save him
- Jody feels responsible for the orphaned fawn and wants to bring it home
- Penny agrees — it would be ungrateful to let the fawn starve
- Jody finds the fawn, carries it home, and feeds it milk
- Themes: compassion, moral responsibility, human-animal bond