Nature

Question 1

“… he was as indigenous as a squirrel or bird.”

Answer 1

• The word choice of “indigenous” emphasises Calum’s belonging in nature. The chaffinches are an allusion to St Francis of Assissi, emphasising Calum’s pure and innocent nature. In contrast, the chaffinches ignore Neil, highlighting that he is not ‘at one’ with nature.

Question 2

“…overspreading tree of revulsion in him.”

Answer 2

• This tree represents a battle which is going on within Duror’s mind as his hatred for the CG takes over his mind like roots taking nutrients from the soil.
• This acts as a countdown to his death as it gets more and more corrupted throughout the novel and it dies once he dies.

Question 3

“Here were his friends the finches, safe from the hawk scouting above.”

Answer 3

• Calum’s friends are the finches, representing his belonging in nature, showing that Calum is truly happy when he is in the trees.
• However, the ‘hawk’ represents Duror, as he is a sign of danger a clear contrast between good and evil.

Question 4

“The trees are more precious than we are.”

Answer 4

• Neil claims that Lady R-C, who is at the highest on the social hierarchy, care more about the trees than her workers, which highlights the class system and how corrupted it is.

Question 5

“He became like an animal in danger with no way to escape.”

Answer 5

• Calum is referred to as a distressed animal as danger approaches through Duror, and this dehumanises Calum and likens him to nature, just as he loves.

Question 6

“Behind the mansion is its giant private fence of silver firs”

Answer 6

• The silver firs represent the barrier between social classes.
• The trees are too close to the house for Cone Gatherers to climb as LRC does not want them near her, showing that trees are divided into classes even on the estate.

Question 7

“…the snakes of damnation”

Answer 7

• Duror is linked to the snake who brought evil into the Garden of Eden. He corrupts the woods and poisons its virtue and innocence.
• This is in comparison to Calum, as he is the monkey and animals with friendly connotations.
• Duror’s comparison to a snake makes him seem deceitful and untrustworthy.

Question 8

“in the spring its grandeur and loveliness would be cut down by the axe of war”

Answer 8

• As the old wood represents the old generation which was in the woods, they used to have fixed rules around society and the class structure, but as the trees are being cut down, it suggests that the old generation is dying, and as they’re replaced, a new generation will come through Roderick and he will bring equality and positivity to the barren wood.