The Sign of the Beaver Man and the Natural World Quotes

How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)

Quote #4

In a moment the bits came together in a rubbery gum, and the first bitterness gave way to a fresh piney taste. To his surprise, it was very good. The two boys tramped on, chewing companionably. Once more, Matt acknowledged to himself, Attean had taught him another secret of the forest. (11.52)

While we can't just go around eating everything we find in the forest, there sure are a lot of delicious secrets that nature has a way of collecting. One of those secrets, Matt learns, is that bitter can turn to sweet. Kind of like his relationship with Attean.

Quote #5

Attean had picked up the dead bird carefully and carried it away with him. No doubt the Indians would find some use for every scrap of bone and feather. Matt knew by now that Attean never shot anything just for the fun of it. (12.1)

Attean and his clan respect nature enough to use every piece of it, not just the money-making parts. Living in the wild, to them, is a symbiotic, rather than a parasitic, relationship. And with that, your science lesson is done.

Quote #6

He felt resentful. Attean had killed the bear, of course. It was his by right. But Matt would have liked just a small share of that meat, or even one of those big claws to show his father. Then he remembered the Indian boy's tribute. He had moved fast, like an Indian. That would have to be share enough. (15.27)

Matt's feeling a little selfish here, but we can't blame him too much. After all, we think Attean would have felt the same way if the roles were reversed. Matt helps kill a bear, but has nothing to show for it.