Shiloh Season

Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 1998

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Summary

Background

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapters 1-3

Chapters 4-6

Chapters 7-9

Chapters 10-12

Chapters 13-16

Character Analysis

Themes

Symbols & Motifs

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

Tools

Beta

Discussion Questions

Symbols & Motifs

Chains

The imagery of chains appears frequently in the novel, representing oppression, fear, mistreatment, and confinement. Because the chains that hold Judd’s three dogs symbolize Judd’s unethical abuse and the dogs’ lack of freedom, this symbol is also deeply intertwined with the theme of The Ethical Treatment of Animals. As John Collins explains to Marty, dogs who are chained “[feel] scared, so they act mean. […] When you chain a dog, he feels trapped. […] [H]e tries to pretend he’s big and fierce in order to scare [people] off” (68). John adds that it takes patience to make such abused animals trust people again, and his expert advice emphasizes how detrimental it can be to chain dogs and restrict their movement. Because Judd’s dogs are always chained, this imprisonment causes them to become vicious, scared, and distrustful.

When Judd’s dogs are mysteriously let loose from their chains, they attack Dara Lynn and others, and the incident proves that their restraints have made them violent and fearful of humans. Because the dogs have only known mistreatment, their defensive behavior reflects this fact. Thus, the chains are also a symbol of learned behavior, a cyclical element that reflects how Judd himself was metaphorically “chained” when he was abused as a child. As a major theme of the novel, both Judd and his dogs must learn kindness to overcome their traumas. Only by learning empathy and putting it into practice can Judd unchain himself and his dogs from their terror, distrust, and anger.

The Bridge

The old bridge that leads to Judd’s house symbolizes past trauma, dread, and change. When Shiloh first escaped from Judd, he ran across the bridge, leaving Judd’s property and venturing onto Marty’s land. Now that he has run away and found solace with Marty, Shiloh associates the bridge itself with his former life of panic and terror and never wants to go back over the bridge again. Thus, the bridge acts as a barrier between the dog’s past and present circumstances. As Marty remarks, “Shiloh won’t go, though. […] He won’t set foot on that bridge for all the rabbits in Tyler County” (32). Shiloh’s aversion to the bridge shows that he knows the structure leads to Judd and is therefore a symbol of his prior pain.

Only in the conclusion does Shiloh cross the bridge, even though his terror does not abate. Although Shiloh arrives at Judd’s property against his will, he overcomes his fear when he experiences Judd’s unexpected gentle petting. Thus, the bridge transforms into a more positive symbol of Compassion and the Road to Redemption, as both dog and man overcome their trauma to some extent and find a calmer, safer form of connection.

Language and Grammar

Marty’s unique language and nonstandard grammar symbolize his rural upbringing, which stands in contrast with the conventions and expectations of the educational process. The language that Marty uses at home is born of his cultural background in the rural countryside of West Virginia. He frequently explains things with colorful phrasing and idiomatic expressions that illustrate the nuances of his culture and show the differences between academic language and casual language. Countless times, Marty uses incorrect syntax and diction, such as “ain’t,” along with phrases like “He don’t” rather than “He doesn’t.” When Miss Talbot stresses the difference between proper versus casual language, Marty understands that social context influences how a person speaks and writes at any given moment. Miss Talbot explains:

It’s okay to talk like that at home. […] That’s personal talk; family talk. When I go back to my grandma’s down in Mississippi, and we’re all sitting around relaxed and happy, my tongue just slips into that easy way of talking. […] If you want to go to college and become a veterinarian, then you have to learn to speak and write and spell correctly (82).

Rather than being upset by his teacher’s observations and coaching, Marty takes her message to heart and appreciates the time she takes to give him an important life lesson. After this talk with Miss Talbot, Marty changes his language usage, which represents his increasing maturity, intelligence, and dedication to achieving his dreams. In fact, he corrects himself many times to ensure that he is following the correct grammar rules and applying language properly. His efforts become apparent in his frequent false starts, and he consciously chooses to alter his language to reflect Miss Talbot’s teaching, as when he states, “Doesn’t seem to realize they ain’t—aren’t—the only two choices he’s got” (107). As Marty corrects himself, he continually makes progress in his presentation, and he actively applies Miss Talbot’s lessons to ensure that his language and grammar will help him find success as a vet, rather than acting as a detriment.