The Light In The Forest Summary

Analysis of The Light In The Forest

The author of The Light In The Forest, Conrad Richter, uses setting description and imagery to fabricate the mood of the story, allowing the Conrad to convey multiple moods, from suspenseful and impending danger, to calm and serene.

One example of the author using setting and imagery to create the suspenseful mood in The Light In The Forest was, “twisting the sheets, grappling with a problem years too big for him, awake in the night like a single sentinel on picket. And sometime after midnight, he slept, too,”This quote from the story shows the anxiety of True Son, and his feeling of impending danger. The quote “twisting the sheets, grappling with a problem years too big for him, awake in the night like

a single sentinel on a picket.” shows that True Son is gripped with fear and uncertainty, making him restless. When it stated, “twisting the sheets, grappling with a problem years to big for him,”, it’s showing how True Son is experiencing fear and doesn’t know what to do with the gigantic problem ahead of him. This help contribute to the mood of something oncoming, and not knowing what it is. Also, the part, “like a single sentinel on a picket.”, shows how True Son is alert and is anticipating impending danger. These setting descriptions allow us to experience the story as if we were there, which conveys the mood to the reader first hand.
An example of the Conrad Richter utilizing imagery to establish a calm and serene mood, is when it stated, “True Son slept that night in the bosom of his family.

He lay at his accustomed place. He felt close around him the presence and affections of those dear to him. The good awareness of their rich brown skin, of their gray deer hide and bright calico garments, the rise and fall of their breath pervaded him. Familiar Indian odors of family and cabin that had been part of him since childhood lulled him to sleep. Even in unconsciousness he knew them. They spoke to his heart. They said now it could beat softly and at ease, for he was home again.” This quote describes the setting around True Son, then proceeds to describe how it affects True Son. This creates a homely mood, that the reader can relate to and conveys the mood clearly to the reader. For example, “He felt close around him the presence and affections of those dear to him. The good awareness of their rich brown skin, of their gray deer hide and bright calico garments, the rise and fall of their breath prevaded him.”. This quote creates the setting by describing his home and his family members. This setting allows us to envision his home, and allows us to experience the love, affection, and comfort that True Son experiences, which conveys the loving and serene mood to the

reader.
The Conrad Richter, the author of The Light In The Forest, creates the mood of his story by first creating a setting which conveys the mood. He uses this to conveys multiple moods throughout the story. Conrad does this through using words that carry certain emotions, for example, “twisting the sheets, grappling with a problem years too big,”, the word grappling gives the feeling of urgency and unrest, which help convey the mood of the story. This allows Conrad to emanate a mood that is clear and easy to grasp for the reader.