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THE CREEK - Literature Notes
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Subraj Singh, is a Guyanese fiction writer who has a B.A in English from the University of Guyana, an MFA in creative writing from the University of Maryland and is currently pursuing a PhD in Creative Writing from the University of Missouri. (more) |
PLOT
Boy and his grandfather are on their creek. Boy thoroughly enjoys this time with his grandfather and soon peacefully sleeps. His grandfathers awakens him to show him a tapier, but in his excitement, Boy frightens it away by making too much noise. He is embarrassed by this faux pas, but grandfather tells him that they will see more interesting sights. Boy is not consoled, however, because he knows that it is unlikely that they will see anything as interesting. Boy's spirit plummets, even while his grandfather continues to show him the interesting sights on the creek. They soon encounter some hunters on the creek however, who (www.bulbsoup.com) have captured animals and bird in cages, the most alarming of which is a baby jaguar that was so young that it had not developed it's spots as yet. The presence of this jaguar was even more alarming because it was a rare creature that was believed to be extinct in these parts. Grandfather confronted them but they trained their guns on him and instructed him to take them to the arapaima because these big fish bring in more money than gold. The hunters first threatened him, then even offered him money for the location of the arapaima, but he said no and attacked them. Boy tried to help his grandfather, but ended up falling into the creek. He swam to safety, leaving the animals to drown in their cages as they helplessly sank to the bottom of the creek. Then two gunshots rang out.
Boy and his grandfather are on their creek. Boy thoroughly enjoys this time with his grandfather and soon peacefully sleeps. His grandfathers awakens him to show him a tapier, but in his excitement, Boy frightens it away by making too much noise. He is embarrassed by this faux pas, but grandfather tells him that they will see more interesting sights. Boy is not consoled, however, because he knows that it is unlikely that they will see anything as interesting. Boy's spirit plummets, even while his grandfather continues to show him the interesting sights on the creek. They soon encounter some hunters on the creek however, who (www.bulbsoup.com) have captured animals and bird in cages, the most alarming of which is a baby jaguar that was so young that it had not developed it's spots as yet. The presence of this jaguar was even more alarming because it was a rare creature that was believed to be extinct in these parts. Grandfather confronted them but they trained their guns on him and instructed him to take them to the arapaima because these big fish bring in more money than gold. The hunters first threatened him, then even offered him money for the location of the arapaima, but he said no and attacked them. Boy tried to help his grandfather, but ended up falling into the creek. He swam to safety, leaving the animals to drown in their cages as they helplessly sank to the bottom of the creek. Then two gunshots rang out.
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SETTING
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CONFLICT
Grandfather physically attacks the hunters/ gunmen who accost himself and Boy on the creek. He does this in defense of both himself and Boy, as well as the animals and birds on the creek.
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CHARACTERS
Boy
Grandfather
Hunters/ Gunmen
Boy
- He is a nature lover who appreciates just gliding along the creek and observing nature.
- He appreciates the time that he spends with his grandfather because he listens intently to him and finds it peaceful to be around him.
- He is a keen observer of nature.
Grandfather
- He is a nature love who appreciates everything about nature.
- He is a loyal defender of nature because, even with a gun pointed at him, he does not give up the location of the arapaima.
- Grandfather is brave because he literally physically attacks the hunters/ gunmen, in order to protect his grandson.
Hunters/ Gunmen
- Disreputable men who care nothing for nature, they only want wealth.
- They do not care for any life, as seen in the two gunshots at the end of the story.
THEMATIC TABLE
THEMES
Nature
Nature is the focal point of this story. We, the reader, see two protagonists that have a singular appreciation for nature. For example, Boy appreciates simply paddling in the creek, "Boy liked the tussle, the fight, the connection - almost intimate - between paddle and creek" (Singh, 117), and he got so excited at the sight of the tapir that he ended up frightening it away. Grandfather had this very same appreciation for nature because he "pointed out an hourglass butterfly, golden-brown and glittering" (Singh, 118) and was silent on the location of the arapaima, even with a gun pointed at him. Grandfather knew exactly where they swam, but chose to protect them because it was (www.bulbsoup.com) mating season for the arapaima, "they would all gather, hundreds of them, in one part of the creek." (Singh, 119). Nature was more important than self preservation, which highlights grandfather's appreciation and love for nature.
Childhood Innocence/ Loss of Innocence
Boy lost his innocence on the creek, on that fateful day. He witnessed so many animals drowning as they sank to the bottom of the creek, "He opened his eyes in the golden blackness and saw the thrashing bodies of furry animals flailing madly against the cages as they sank ... The baby jaguar he did not see at all ...He only saw death." (Singh, 120-121). There were also two shots that rang out at the (www.bulbsoup.com) end of the story, which implies that Grandfather might have been shot. These two incidences are possibly severely traumatic for anyone, much less a boy.
Love and family relationship
Boy and Grandfather clearly have a bond, which is grounded in their love of nature. We see Grandfather effortlessly showing Boy the treasures of nature, even when Boy is not receptive due to his embarrassment. This speaks to a level of intimacy between the two individuals. He understood his grandson, he knew the way to soothe him. The fact that Boy (www.bulbsoup.com) is on a boat, in the middle of a creek, with his grandfather highlights the fact that he had a good relationship with this man. The easy way that he listened to Grandfather while he pointed out the things of nature, even falling asleep at one point, speaks to the fact that the Boy feels safe with his grandfather. Both individuals were comfortable with each other and clearly enjoyed spending time together, with no distractions needed.
Nature
Nature is the focal point of this story. We, the reader, see two protagonists that have a singular appreciation for nature. For example, Boy appreciates simply paddling in the creek, "Boy liked the tussle, the fight, the connection - almost intimate - between paddle and creek" (Singh, 117), and he got so excited at the sight of the tapir that he ended up frightening it away. Grandfather had this very same appreciation for nature because he "pointed out an hourglass butterfly, golden-brown and glittering" (Singh, 118) and was silent on the location of the arapaima, even with a gun pointed at him. Grandfather knew exactly where they swam, but chose to protect them because it was (www.bulbsoup.com) mating season for the arapaima, "they would all gather, hundreds of them, in one part of the creek." (Singh, 119). Nature was more important than self preservation, which highlights grandfather's appreciation and love for nature.
Childhood Innocence/ Loss of Innocence
Boy lost his innocence on the creek, on that fateful day. He witnessed so many animals drowning as they sank to the bottom of the creek, "He opened his eyes in the golden blackness and saw the thrashing bodies of furry animals flailing madly against the cages as they sank ... The baby jaguar he did not see at all ...He only saw death." (Singh, 120-121). There were also two shots that rang out at the (www.bulbsoup.com) end of the story, which implies that Grandfather might have been shot. These two incidences are possibly severely traumatic for anyone, much less a boy.
Love and family relationship
Boy and Grandfather clearly have a bond, which is grounded in their love of nature. We see Grandfather effortlessly showing Boy the treasures of nature, even when Boy is not receptive due to his embarrassment. This speaks to a level of intimacy between the two individuals. He understood his grandson, he knew the way to soothe him. The fact that Boy (www.bulbsoup.com) is on a boat, in the middle of a creek, with his grandfather highlights the fact that he had a good relationship with this man. The easy way that he listened to Grandfather while he pointed out the things of nature, even falling asleep at one point, speaks to the fact that the Boy feels safe with his grandfather. Both individuals were comfortable with each other and clearly enjoyed spending time together, with no distractions needed.
TECHNIQUES
Juxtaposition - There is a contrast between Grandfather and Boy, and the hunters. Both parties appreciated nature in different ways. The hunters appreciated the animals, birds and fish (www.bulbsoup.com) for the monetary gain that they would bring them, while Grandfather and Boy were appreciative observers of nature. They did not want to interrupt the animals in their habitat, as highlighted by Boy's embarrassment when he scared the tapir.
Symbolism- The arapaima is a symbol of wealth. This is the case because the hunters/ gunmen described it as being able to "bring in more money than gold." (119) and were willing to kill for it. The creek, on the other hand (www.bulbsoup.com) is a symbol of peace. It is where grandfather and grandson bond and observe and appreciate nature.
Irony (situational)- It is ironic that the peaceful creek, a place of solitude and bonding, can hold such danger in the form of hunters/gunmen. A foreshadowing of the creeks dual nature is seen in the following line: "despite its mild nature, the creek was still a dangerous force, guarding its treasures in its black belly. " (Singh, 117). So the lake is both peaceful (www.bulbsoup.com) and calm, while also possessing the ability to be dangerous. The implication is that it is peaceful for the grandfather and grandson, most of the times, but shows another side on the day that we, as readers, are experiencing.
Juxtaposition - There is a contrast between Grandfather and Boy, and the hunters. Both parties appreciated nature in different ways. The hunters appreciated the animals, birds and fish (www.bulbsoup.com) for the monetary gain that they would bring them, while Grandfather and Boy were appreciative observers of nature. They did not want to interrupt the animals in their habitat, as highlighted by Boy's embarrassment when he scared the tapir.
Symbolism- The arapaima is a symbol of wealth. This is the case because the hunters/ gunmen described it as being able to "bring in more money than gold." (119) and were willing to kill for it. The creek, on the other hand (www.bulbsoup.com) is a symbol of peace. It is where grandfather and grandson bond and observe and appreciate nature.
Irony (situational)- It is ironic that the peaceful creek, a place of solitude and bonding, can hold such danger in the form of hunters/gunmen. A foreshadowing of the creeks dual nature is seen in the following line: "despite its mild nature, the creek was still a dangerous force, guarding its treasures in its black belly. " (Singh, 117). So the lake is both peaceful (www.bulbsoup.com) and calm, while also possessing the ability to be dangerous. The implication is that it is peaceful for the grandfather and grandson, most of the times, but shows another side on the day that we, as readers, are experiencing.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. What struck Boy as peculiar?
2. Why did Boy like days with grandpa on the creek?
3. What impressed Boy about paddling?
4. Why was Boy embarrassed about his reaction to the tapir? How did Grandfather react?
5. How did Boy and Grandfather's attitudes differ after the tapir incident?
6. List some of the animals that were on the hunter's boat.
7. What did the hunters demand that Grandfather do? Why?
8. List the threats that were made if Grandfather did not comply.
9. What was offered to Grandfather for his compliance?
10. How did grandfather respond?
11. Identify the plot structure of the story. Provide evidence.
12. Identify the point of view, or narrative technique of the story.
1. What struck Boy as peculiar?
2. Why did Boy like days with grandpa on the creek?
3. What impressed Boy about paddling?
4. Why was Boy embarrassed about his reaction to the tapir? How did Grandfather react?
5. How did Boy and Grandfather's attitudes differ after the tapir incident?
6. List some of the animals that were on the hunter's boat.
7. What did the hunters demand that Grandfather do? Why?
8. List the threats that were made if Grandfather did not comply.
9. What was offered to Grandfather for his compliance?
10. How did grandfather respond?
11. Identify the plot structure of the story. Provide evidence.
12. Identify the point of view, or narrative technique of the story.
Contributors: Leisa Samuels-Thomas
Singh, Subraj. 'The Creek' in A World of Prose, edited by Hazel Simmons-McDonald and Mark McWatt. (UK) Hodder Education, 2017.
Singh, Subraj. 'The Creek' in A World of Prose, edited by Hazel Simmons-McDonald and Mark McWatt. (UK) Hodder Education, 2017.
