Blacky Calls His Friends explained

What happens

Themes in this chapter

• Friendship and Cooperation

  Blacky's relatives cooperate to torment Hooty, showing group dynamics among the crows.

• Moral Ambiguity

  Blacky's plan to steal eggs while pretending to join the fun highlights his crafty and morally questionable intentions.

Characters to notice

• Blacky the Crow

  Calls his relatives to torment Hooty, secretly planning to steal Mrs. Hooty's eggs.

• Hooty the Horned Owl

  Target of the crows' torment, sleeping in a tree and angered by the harassment.

• Mrs. Hooty

  Mentioned as being nearby; Blacky hopes she will leave her nest unguarded.

• Redtail the Hawk

  His old tumbledown nest is near the scene, unnoticed by the crows.

Key passages

• “When Blacky cries “Caw, caw, caw, caw!” As if he’d dislocate his jaw, His relatives all hasten where He waits them with a crafty air.”

  Blacky's loud cawing summons his relatives, who come quickly, knowing mischief is planned.

  Introduces the crows' gathering and Blacky's cunning nature.

• “Blacky had taken pains to slip over early that morning and make sure just where he was. He had discovered Hooty fast asleep, and he knew that he would remain right where he was until dark.”

  Blacky had scouted ahead to confirm Hooty's sleeping location, knowing he would stay there all day.

  Shows Blacky's careful planning for the torment.

• “What he hoped down deep in his crafty heart was that when they got to teasing and tormenting Hooty and making the great racket which he knew they would, Mrs. Hooty would lose her temper and fly over to join Hooty in trying to drive away the black tormentors. Then Blacky would slip over to the nest which she had left unguarded and steal one and perhaps both of the eggs he knew were there.”

  Blacky secretly hopes the commotion will lure Mrs. Hooty away from her nest, allowing him to steal her eggs.

  Reveals Blacky's hidden, selfish motive behind the public harassment.