Richard Knight is a quiet, sensitive boy of fifteen. He is out deer hunting with his father and elder brother, Gus. He deliberately misfires to avoid killing the beautiful young buck. Although his father is disappointed and pained, he allows Richard the liberty of not deer hunting in the future. Gus tries to encourage his small fry brother to man-up; be more sociable and conforming, but Richard prefers the world of poetry and nature. After helping his eldest sister, Angie, in the kitchen, Richard goes to his room and recalls his first hunting trip at the age of eight and the private tears he had shed when Grandpa killed a majestic deer with one pull of the trigger. Inspired, Richard composes a poem to depict his remorse he felt at the killing. He locks it away in his private drawer of the past poems he has written. Later on, he burns this newest poem because he is afraid his family would find out and think him to be stranger than he already is. CHARACTERS IN RICHARD KNIGHT PA CHAPTER 1
MR. KILMER GUS
RICHARD KNIGHT Appreciates Nature Example: Richard fired at the deer and missed on purpose as he couldn't bring himself to kill a majestic animal. Creative Example: Richard writes poetry and has a drawer full of poems. He wrote a poem about a majestic deer that was unfortunately killed by his grandfather. Compassionate and Appreciative Example: Richard feels compassion and appreciates Angie who makes sacrifices for the family by not going to school but instead, stays at home to run the household. PA Understanding Example: Pa is an understanding person as he understands Richards reluctance in killing the deer and tells him he doesn't have to go hunting if he doesn't want to. GUS Athletic Example: Gus excels in sports. He is also in the football team and is expected to make captain the following year. Patriotic Example: Gus is eager to join the army after high school to fight in the war that has been raging in Europe since 1914. ANGIE Responsible Example: Angie began taking over her mothers duties after her mother died. She even quit school in eight grade so that she could become a full-time farm woman. Understanding Example: She understands that Pa is a difficult man as he has lost his brother and his wife and deserves a little patience. We must appreciate the nature. Richard fired at the buck and missed on purpose as he could not bring himself to shoot the large young buck. Richard appreciated the beauty of the majestic deer by writing a poem about it.
We must be understanding with our family members.
Pa understands that Richard does not like killing anything and tells Richard that he doesn't have to come hunting anymore if he doesn't want to.