The Wild Robot Protects

“It’s not everyday you see a robot burst up from the ground.”

It is unexpected to find a robot in nature. However, Roz the robot has made nature her home, and she fits in better there than in a big city. The image of her emerging from the ground suggests that she was born of nature instead of human creation.

“I don’t even like the ocean!”

The animals each react differently to the news of the poison tide. This animal’s reaction highlights some humans’ attitude toward a problem—if it doesn’t affect them or it’s not a cause to which they feel connected, they think it isn’t their problem to solve. The issue of the poison tide divides the animals on the island as they all form differing opinions and take different actions, breaking the unity once present in Roz’s family group.

“I will build you a new nest […] I know exactly how to weave together grasses and twigs. It will be my gift to you, to celebrate your union.”

The novel explores The Importance of Home, Friendship, and Community, particularly in the character of Roz, who seeks to protect and learn from these aspects in her daily life. Roz’s immediate reaction to Brightbill’s news of taking a mate is to offer her home to them. The passage also highlights Roz’s survival skills on the island because she learned to make the nest from her animal friends, contrary to the typical nature of artificial intelligence.

“[I]t looked like the ocean was gently shimmering in the sunlight. But the sky was full of clouds.”

Typically, a shimmering ocean is a beautiful sight. However, the shimmering here indicates a metallic substance is floating in the water. The presence of the ominous clouds foreshadows that the glittering water is menacing, not magical.

“Undersea forests of tall, leafy stems swayed with the movement of the waves and made a rich habitat for sea creatures.”

Using a metaphor to compare the kelp stalks to an underwater forest highlights the beauty and wonder of nature. Roz’s undersea journey introduces her to new and fascinating ecosystems, which increase her knowledge and survival skills.

“Plumes of smoke billowed up to the clouds.

Glowing embers whirled away on the breeze.

The sharp scent of burning brush filled the air.”

The author uses poetry to tell parts of the story. These lines written in verse employ sensory language to convey the destruction wrought by the wildfire. Much of the series revolves around placing the reader in the point of view of wildlife, creating a sense of empathy and care for the environment and for issues beyond one’s circle.

“[T]heir flock had always been united. The members had changed, the times had changed, but the flock had always held together. Until now.”

This passage highlights the novel’s exploration of The Importance of Home, Friendship, and Community. It relates how the poison tide is threatening the unity of the island animals. Brightbill fears that the division in his flock foreshadows more fractures in their coexistence, an emotional representation of the disrupted ecosystem at large as many beings fall victim to the tide.

“Kersploosh! The robot sank like a stone and vanished into the murky depths.”

Using onomatopoeia, this passage conveys the sound Roz’s big body makes when it lands in the water and uses a simile to explain how her bulk causes her to sink rapidly. Usually, this would be a disaster for Roz, but falling in the pond alerts her that her new body is waterproof.

“The slopes along the coast had once been carpeted with grasses and flowers, but now they were a wasteland.”

Using a metaphor to compare the flora to the carpet emphasizes how healthy and lush the island was before the coming of the poison tide. The tide causes a snowball effect as it dries up the vegetation, creating a tinderbox of dead plants, illustrating the ripple effect of pollution and environmental disaster.

“And then there were the sounds.

Whup! Whup! Whup!

Bloooooop!

Tap tap tap tap tap!

The sea was abuzz with the soft sounds of animals.”

The onomatopoeic words in this passage depict a healthy, thriving oceanic ecosystem. Once Roz emerges from the poison tide absent of any life, she is happy to reencounter sea creatures and recover a sense of familiarity and home.

“The fish were twisting and turning together as if they shared the same mind.”

In the same way that the geese fly in formation, the fish instinctually move as one unit. This passage exemplifies the novel’s exploration of The Intersection Between Technology and the Natural World; Roz learns to blend the two and to see the similarities and symbiosis that is possible.

“Some creatures were transparent, some had spiky teeth jutting from their jaws, and some wriggled down into the muck. Eyes glinted in the shadows. Soft noises echoed from afar. This was an eerie, alien place.”

Ironically, Roz, an alien in her environment, finds herself in the deep ocean where alien-like creatures live. The passage uses figurative language to describe each creature’s unique design, which allows it to survive in total darkness, much like how Roz adapts to survive in her environment.

“The robot continued on, swimming through those points of light like she was in the night sky, and the stars were all around.”

Roz encounters a cloud of bioluminescent plankton, and she floats in its ethereal beauty. The passage compares the glowing plankton like stars and compares it to Roz floating in space, a place a robot would be more likely to be found.

“Roz decided to hide. She quickly wrapped a kelp frond around her torso, smeared sand over her limbs, placed seashells on her head, and nestled into the ground.”

When she first arrived on her island, Roz learned to use camouflage as a defense mechanism. Here, she uses the skill to hide from a shadow that turns out to be Limber, the octopus, who shows Roz the finest camouflage technique she’s ever seen. This becomes another of the adaptations Roz acquires as she expands her knowledge of the world around her.

“They were metal monsters, pushed along by spinning blades. They leaked oil and spewed smoke into the sky.”

Gurry compares ships to monsters that pollute both the sky and water. The personification of the ships emphasizes their damage to the environment and strengthens Gurry’s argument that they must use immediate force to stop the mining operation.

“Roz felt hope flickering inside her.”

Though Roz isn’t human, she experiences human-like feelings. This passage compares the emotional sensation to light illuminating Roz from within. Roz’s human-like emotions help the reader connect to an inhuman character while still experiencing the unique way that Roz approaches and interacts with the world.

“In a way, you humans are more robotic than I am.”

Akiko makes the excuse that they are just following orders. Roz accuses humans of being too robotic and mindlessly obeying without investigating it for themselves. Roz’s statement underscores a critical element of Roz’s character as she often acts more lifelike than animals and humans.

“Can you believe we have to convince a robot why robots are important?”

George makes this ironic statement when Roz explains that they must stop the mining operation. She counters his statement by asserting that she, a robot, is trying to convince humans to preserve their environment.

“Like a fleet of living, breathing warships, hundreds of whales had united to form a super pod.”

In a reversal of Gurry’s assertion that ships are like monsters, the passage compares the sea creature army to a warship. In harnessing the power of the creature’s natural abilities, Gurry uses nature to fight against destructive technology.

“More zooplanktons joined, and the glowing haze became a glowing cloud, which became a glowing storm.”

This passage uses figurative language and repetition to emphasize the zooplankton’s powerful display. Though they are the smallest creatures in the ocean, they are mighty when working together, as are the animals when they join together to defeat Crusher and overcome the pollution caused by humankind.

“I can feel myself being pulled back to them, like gravity.”

Glimmer empathizes with Roz’s description of her connection to Brightbill. She compares her instinct to return to her goslings with the powerful pull of the Earth’s gravity.

“The otters linked arms to form a raft of furry bodies that undulated with the gently rolling waves. It was such a relief to be back where they belonged.”

The otters are the first island creatures to return to the water after the poison tide clears. Using a simile, the passage compares them to a furry raft, emphasizing their playful nature. The water is the otter’s home, and they rejoice in returning to their habitat.

“Grandmother trees. I like the sound of that.”

Roz explains to her grandgosslings that trees are like the aged caretakers of their environments, and they respond that trees are like grandparents. Roz is like a tree in that she has become the caretaker of her family, the island animals, and all the ocean creatures.