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.
Summary
Background
Chapter Summaries & Analyses
Character Analysis
Themes
Symbols & Motifs
Important Quotes
Essay Topics
Tools
BetaSymbols & Motifs
Hemlock Mountain
In The Bears on Hemlock Mountain, Hemlock Mountain represents the unknown. As a wild, forested hill, the mountain is a place of mystery and danger to Jonathan. Though he has lived at the foot of the mountain his whole life, it is different from his familiar farm, and he wonders what might live there. Even the older generation, who have much more experience of crossing the mountain, privately acknowledge that they do not know all its secrets. For instance, Aunt Emma is afraid that the rumors of bears could be true and worries for Jonathan’s safety as he crosses the mountain by himself. His mother also worries about this possibility, which she tries to dismiss as “nonsense.” She anxiously says that the notion is “[s]tuff and nonsense […] There are no bears on Hemlock Mountain. But perhaps…” (Chapter 4). This acknowledges that while the farmers are familiar with the local wildlife, there are still many things they don’t know for certain.
By venturing over Hemlock Mountain, Jonathan must face this unknown and grapple with his own fears of the possible threats he will face on his trip over the “still” and “lonely” mountain. Jonathan’s solitude only emphasizes the unknown nature of the mountain, as he worries about what could be lurking in the silent woods. On his trip, he thinks, “It was quiet, so quiet!” (Chapter 5), showing how isolating nature can be. By underscoring the mysterious nature of Hemlock Mountain and its inhabitants, the author makes it a symbol for the unknown. Jonathan’s passage over it is an act of bravery and maturity, adding to the story’s theme of Confronting One’s Fears.
The Pot
In the story, Aunt Emma’s large iron pot is a motif for the story’s themes on obligation and sacrifice, as well as The Bonds of Family. Jonathan’s mother needs the pot so she can cook a huge meal for 20 family members, a task that she is burdened by but still willing to do for her family. Jonathan is similarly burdened by his task since it is difficult for him as an eight-year-old to carry the large pot over the mountain by himself. He tells his mother, “But it’s a long way and the pot is heavy” (Chapter 3). Nonetheless, he sacrifices his feelings of comfort and fulfills his obligation to the family by agreeing to get the pot.
Jonathan must travel to his aunt’s house to retrieve the pot, further highlighting its position as a connector between family members. Aunt Emma happily lends Jonathan the pot, noting that she will also benefit from lending it to her sister, who will make a stew for all the relatives. She tells Jonathan, “And as I am one of them, I’ll be glad to lend you my big iron pot” (Chapter 7). Her instant support of Jonathan’s task demonstrates how the family members make consistent efforts to support one another.
The Animals
The animals on Hemlock Mountain are a motif for the story’s theme of People and Wild Animals, showing how people like Jonathan are both fascinated and afraid of wildlife. As part of a farming family and an animal lover, Jonathan has a complex relationship with nature. He has great empathy for small animals, and he loves to watch the familiar creatures around his farm, such as racoons and rabbits. Even when Jonathan must go on his errand, he still thinks about how to provide for the creatures he meets along the way. He asks his mother for food so that he can give some to the animals. Jonathan’s time spent with the smaller animals makes him feel less lonely and afraid.
However, Jonathan reacts very differently to bears, as they are a much more predatory animal, one that is a mystery to Jonathan. While he tells Young Uncle James that he “would rather see a bear than anything in the world” (Chapter 2), the thought of being alone on Hemlock Mountain fills him with dread rather than excitement. To work up his courage and cross the mountain, Jonathan has to assure himself that there are no bears on the mountain. This indicates that nature is a complex landscape with inviting and dangerous elements, both of which intrigue Jonathan.
At the end of the story, Jonathan’s belief in bears is confirmed, but the author hints that his uncles soon kill the bears who frightened him on the mountain. His father jokes that they may have a “bear steak” for dinner. This ending suggests that, unlike his little animal friends, Jonathan and his farming family perceive bears as a threat to themselves and their livelihood and cannot coexist with them.
