Far North

Will Hobbs

Fiction | Novel | YA | Published in 1996

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Download PDF

Summary

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapters 1-5

Chapters 6-10

Chapters 11-14

Chapters 15-18

Chapters 19-22

Character Analysis

Themes

Symbols & Motifs

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

Tools

Beta

Discussion Questions

Symbols & Motifs

Ravens

The raven is a symbol of survival in the novel. In the beginning, Gabe is reprimanded for throwing a stick at a raven that is trying to eat their moose meat. Although Raymond doesn’t fully understand why hurting a raven is bad, he learned from a young age to respect ravens. When Johnny struggles to find a moose while hunting, they hear a raven cawing. They see this as a sign of good luck. Ravens indicate that meat is nearby and are known to help hunters find food. Ravens are clever and want hunters to find meat so that they can eat it. When Johnny hunts for a moose, Raymond tells Gabe that “ravens were known to lead hunters to game, knowing that they would get their share from what the hunter couldn’t use” (108). This proves to be true when Raymond uses “raven magic” to find a moose later in the novel (160). Gabe and Raymond start to lose hope that they will be able to find a moose without Johnny’s help, but Raymond starts to hear and see a raven. Although Gabe doesn’t see the raven, they follow what Raymond sees to a moose. Once Gabe understands the importance of ravens to the Dene culture, he starts to see them as a symbol of hope. A raven might lead them to food, which will help them survive the winter.

Johnny’s name is also important. His last name Raven was given to him because he has a raven’s eye. Raymond explains to Gabe that “Raven knows the land better than anyone; the old stories say he made it in the first place. Ravens see everything—they know everything that’s going on, what’s going to happen” (161). Johnny is such an integral part of Raymond and Gabe’s survival, leading them to beaver, rabbit, and moose meat, much like the ravens do for humans. He is hopeful, smart, and knows the land.

Hand Drum

The hand drum that Johnny Raven makes is a physical representation of Johnny’s spirit. The hand drum symbolizes that Johnny and his lessons are still present even after his death. Johnny makes the hand drum from the hide of a moose and uses it to distract Gabe and Raymond from their hunger while they stay in the cabin in Deadmen Valley. After Johnny dies, Gabe and Raymond leave the hand drum in the cabin while they go in search for food. When they return, they see that the drum has been ripped apart by a wolverine. This upsets both Gabe and Raymond because it was something that Johnny made that brought them moments of joy.

Later in the novel, Raymond decides to fix the hand drum. This is one way that Raymond chooses to honor Johnny’s memory. Fixing the drum also helps Raymond keep his mind off the idea that he might not survive the winter, especially after he injures his ankle. The drum also reminds Raymond of the faith that Johnny had that they would be able to survive together. While working on the drum, Raymond and Gabe talk about their lives and share information about their families. Their bond grows stronger, and they relax while Raymond stays busy fixing the drum.

Get access to this full Study Guide and much more!

8,800+ In-Depth Study Guides
4,700+ Quick-Read Plot Summaries
Downloadable PDFs

After the boys make it out of the wilderness, Raymond takes the hand drum with him to the potlatch that is being held in honor of Johnny Raven. Once again, the drum helps Raymond calm his nerves as “his fingers were tapping nervously” on the drum right before his speech (210). When he goes up to the microphone to give his speech, Raymond tells Gabe that he wants the drum with him. The drum is a manifestation of Johnny’s spirit, and it continues to comfort and calm Raymond even after Johnny’s death.

Death

Death is a motif in the novel. Gabe constantly must think about death and how not to die so that he survives the ordeal that he is in. Even starting with Chapter 1, the idea of death is presented: “two months later, Clint would be dead—on the Nahanni. And I would watch it happen” (6). After Clint’s sudden death, Gabe, Raymond, and Johnny must work hard to make sure they don’t freeze or starve to death. Every time a mistake happens, death is the first thing to enter Gabe’s mind. When Johnny falls into the river in Chapter 11, Gabe thinks Johnny “was going to die right there before we could get him to shore” (89). Luckily, Johnny survives, but the constant idea that death could happen at any moment remains with Gabe. Later in the novel, Raymond and Gabe find Johnny’s body “frozen stiff” in the snow after he doesn’t return from moose hunting (119). Johnny’s death is a turning point in the novel for Raymond and Gabe since they must now survive together without Johnny’s help.

Death is also a natural part of survival for Gabe and Raymond. To live, they must kill for meat; in staying alive, they must cause death around them. Throughout his journey in the wild, Gabe helps kill moose, beavers, and sheep. Towards the end of the novel, Raymond becomes very comfortable with the idea of death. This is unsurprising because death and the fear of death has been a constant for Gabe and Raymond for months. Raymond tells Gabe to travel to the village without him and come back to get him later, even though they both know that Raymond will most likely not survive alone. Raymond coming to peace with dying alone in the wild shows how death is no longer seen as his and Gabe’s worst enemy. Although they want to survive, they now understand how death is a natural part of being in the wild. The idea of death has been with them since the beginning of their journey.