32 pages • 1 hour read
Alice DalglieshThe Bears on Hemlock Mountain
Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 1952A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
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Chapter Summaries & Analyses
Character Analysis
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BetaEssay Topics
Why does Dalgleish describe Jonathan’s family and their roles with such detail? How does this relate to Jonathan’s storyline, and what comfort does this bring in comparison to the depiction of the natural world outside the farm?
How does the setting impact the family’s dynamic and the development of the story’s themes?
This is a historical novel set in an earlier time period than the one in which it was written. What elements of the novel speak to the values and ideas of the 1950s rather than the earlier historical era?
Dalgleish repeatedly describes or has Jonathan focus on the “loneliness” of the mountain. How does this attribute contribute to the theme on People and Wild Animals?
Jonathan wants to see a bear but is scared to encounter them by himself on the mountain. Why do you think he has these conflicting views?
Why is Jonathan so close with Young Uncle James? What do they have in common? What does this say about Jonathan as a person?
Why might so many people doubt the presence of bears on Hemlock Mountain? How will they live differently now that they know there really are bears there?
How does Jonathan keep up his courage as he goes over the mountain? Why does this make him feel better? Use examples from the text to support your answer.
Jonathan must be courageous and confront his fear on his journey over the mountain. How does this develop his character? What are some key personality traits that change over the course of the story?
