Green Forest Stories · Chapter
XVII: Blacky Watches a Queer Performance explained
Blacky the Crow observes a man scattering corn into the Big River, a behavior he finds puzzling.
What happens
Blacky the Crow observes a man scattering corn into the Big River, a behavior he finds puzzling. Using his keen eyes and wits, Blacky watches from a distance, noting the absence of a gun and the strange waste of food. He later flies over the area to investigate further.
Themes in this chapter
Wisdom and Experience
Blacky uses past experiences with hunters to assess danger and patiently watches to understand the man's actions.
Moral Ambiguity
The man's act of scattering corn is ambiguous—possibly helpful or harmful—and Blacky's judgment is suspended as he observes.
Characters to notice
- Blacky the Crow
Observes and tries to understand the man's strange behavior of scattering corn in the river.
- The Hunter
The man scattering corn, initially mistaken for a hunter but later seen without a gun.
Key passages
“This much to me is very clear: A thing not understood is queer.”
What we don't understand often seems strange.
Opening reflection on perception and understanding.
“He does his best to understand. He waits and watches and uses those sharp eyes of his and those quick wits of his until at last usually he does understand.”
Blacky actively seeks understanding by observing carefully and using his intelligence.
Describes Blacky's method of learning.
“The man was taking yellow corn from a bag, a handful at a time, and throwing it out in the water.”
The man was tossing handfuls of yellow corn into the water.
Key action observed by Blacky.