Lorna Doone · Chapter
The Great Winter explained
During a severe and prolonged winter, John Ridd and his men struggle to rescue their sheep buried under massive snowdrifts.
What happens
During a severe and prolonged winter, John Ridd and his men struggle to rescue their sheep buried under massive snowdrifts. Despite the harsh conditions, John demonstrates his strength and determination by carrying the sheep home two at a time. Later, his sister Lizzie shares knowledge about Arctic survival, which John will later apply to his own circumstances.
Themes in this chapter
Nature and the Rural World
The overwhelming power of nature is depicted through the relentless snow and cold, challenging the characters' survival and livelihood.
Family and Loyalty
John's dedication to saving the family's sheep and his patient listening to Lizzie's advice highlight familial bonds and responsibility.
Characters to notice
- John Ridd
Leads the rescue of the sheep, carrying them home two at a time through deepening snow.
- John Fry
Assists in the rescue but complains about the difficulty and fears for his life.
- Winnie
The faithful dog who helps locate and guard the buried sheep.
- Annie Ridd
Mentioned as being cold in bed, along with Lizzie.
- Annie Ridd (younger)
Referred to as 'Lizzie,' she shares knowledge about Arctic winters and survival techniques with John.
Key passages
“I took the two finest and heaviest, and with one beneath my right arm, and the other beneath my left, I went straight home to the upper sheppey, and set them inside and fastened them. Sixty and six I took home in that way, two at a time on each journey; and the work grew harder and harder each time, as the drifts of the snow were deepening.”
John carries two sheep at a time, one under each arm, walking home to the sheepfold. He repeats this journey sixty-six times, the task becoming more difficult as the snow accumulates.
Demonstrates John's immense physical strength and determination in the face of the harsh winter.
“She told me that in the Arctic Regions, as they call some places, a long way north, where the Great Bear lies all across the heavens, and no sun is up, for whole months at a time, and yet where people will go exploring, out of pure contradiction, and for the sake of novelty, and love of being frozen—that here they always had such winters as we were having now.”
Lizzie explains that in the Arctic, winters are similarly severe, with continuous darkness and extreme cold, yet people still explore there out of curiosity and stubbornness.
Foreshadows John's later use of Arctic survival techniques, such as using a boat-like sled to travel over snow.