# A Scare That Didn't Work explained — Green Forest Stories

> Chapter companion for Green Forest Stories by Thornton W. Burgess.

## What happens

Chatterer the Red Squirrel, indignant that twin bear cubs are learning to climb trees, tries to scare them by yelling at them from above. However, instead of fleeing, Boxer the Bear cub becomes angry and advances toward Chatterer, foiling the scare.

## Themes in this chapter

### Innocence and Vulnerability

The twin bear cubs are portrayed as playful and innocent, learning from their mother, yet Chatterer's attempt to scare them highlights their vulnerability.

### Friendship and Cooperation

The cubs' cooperation in following their mother's example contrasts with Chatterer's antagonistic attitude.

## Character check-ins

### Chatterer the Red Squirrel

Angry and indignant that the bear cubs are climbing trees; attempts to scare them but fails.

### Mother Bear

Leads the twins out from the windfall and sets them to climbing a tree, then disappears from sight.

### Boxer

One of the twin bear cubs; instead of being scared, becomes angry and advances toward Chatterer.

## Key lines

> Take my advice and pray beware Of how you try to scare a Bear.

Be careful when trying to frighten a bear, as it may backfire.

_Opening couplet foreshadowing the failure of Chatterer's scare._

> They haven't any business in trees. They belong on the ground, not in trees. I won't have them in the trees! I won't! I won't!

Chatterer insists that bears have no right to climb trees and should stay on the ground.

_Shows Chatterer's territorial jealousy and irrational anger._

> But instead of being afraid and starting to scramble down from that tree, as Chatterer had expected him to do, Boxer suddenly started straight for him, and it was plain to see that Boxer was an angry small Bear.

Contrary to Chatterer's expectation, Boxer did not flee but instead advanced angrily toward him.

_Climax of the chapter where the scare fails completely._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/green_forest_stories_se/chapters/vii-a-scare-that-didn-t-work
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/green_forest_stories_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/green_forest_stories_se/chapters