# The Hunter Loses His Temper explained — Green Forest Stories

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

## What happens

The hunter, hidden near Paddy the Beaver's pond, is pleased that Sammy Jay warned Mr. and Mrs. Quack about Reddy Fox, as he wants the ducks for himself after hunting Lightfoot. However, Sammy Jay spots the hunter and his gun, and begins yelling 'Thief!', causing the hunter to lose his temper and realize his hiding place is compromised.

## Themes in this chapter

### Moral Ambiguity

The hunter considers it a shame for Reddy Fox to catch a duck for food, yet plans to kill the ducks for sport, highlighting a double standard.

### Friendship and Cooperation

Sammy Jay warns the ducks about Reddy Fox, and the ducks express gratitude, showing mutual aid among the animals.

## Character check-ins

### The Hunter

Hides near the pond, plans to shoot the ducks after getting Lightfoot, and loses his temper when discovered by Sammy Jay.

### Sammy Jay

Warns Mr. and Mrs. Quack about Reddy Fox, then spots the hunter and his gun, yelling 'Thief!' to expose him.

### Reddy Fox

Attempts to catch one of the ducks but is thwarted by Sammy Jay's warning.

### Mr. Quack

Thanks Sammy Jay for the warning about Reddy Fox.

### Mrs. Quack

Thanks Sammy Jay for the warning about Reddy Fox.

### Paddy the Beaver

His pond is the setting where the hunter hides.

## Key lines

> Now when you come to think of it, it would have been a far greater shame for the hunter to have killed Mr. and Mrs. Quack than for Reddy Fox to have done so. Reddy was hunting them because he was hungry. The hunter would have shot them for sport. He didn't need them. He had plenty of other food. Reddy Fox doesn't kill just for the pleasure of killing.

The narrator points out that the hunter's plan to shoot the ducks for sport is morally worse than Reddy Fox hunting them for food, since the fox kills only out of necessity.

_Highlights the moral ambiguity theme, contrasting survival hunting with sport hunting._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/green_forest_stories_se/chapters/xviii-the-hunter-loses-his-temper
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/green_forest_stories_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/green_forest_stories_se/chapters