The Song of the Lark · Chapter
XVI explained
During a train journey to Denver, Thea and her mother Mrs.
What happens
During a train journey to Denver, Thea and her mother Mrs. Kronborg travel with Ray Kennedy. The chapter explores Ray's admiration for ancient Native American craftsmanship, his gift of a turquoise to Thea, and a stop at Wassiwappa where Mrs. Kronborg interacts with tramps and the station agent. The evening concludes with Ray and Thea watching the stars from the caboose platform, reflecting on his past as a sheepherder.
Themes in this chapter
The Past and Cultural Heritage
Ray's descriptions of Cliff-Dwellers and burial mounds highlight a reverence for ancient Native American craftsmanship and the connection to history.
Community and Alienation
Mrs. Kronborg's interactions with the lonely station agent and the tramps underscore themes of human connection and isolation on the frontier.
Characters to notice
- Thea Kronborg
Travels with her mother and Ray Kennedy; shows curiosity about Native American artifacts and receives a turquoise from Ray.
- Ray Kennedy
Shares his knowledge of Cliff-Dwellers and burial mounds; gives Thea a turquoise from an ancient necklace; reflects on his sheepherding past.
- Mrs. Kronborg
Travels with Thea; interacts with the lonely station agent and two tramps at Wassiwappa; demonstrates compassion and practicality.
- Joe Giddy
Part of the freight crew; enjoys the lunch and comments on the dangers of railroading.
Key passages
“I've learned more down there about what makes history, than in all the books I've ever read. When you sit in the sun and let your heels hang out of a doorway that drops a thousand feet, ideas come to you. You begin to feel what the human race has been up against from the beginning.”
Ray says that experiencing the ancient cliff dwellings firsthand taught him more about history than any book, as sitting in such a place inspires profound thoughts about human struggles.
Ray expresses the value of direct experience with historical sites.
“I never get tired of them old stars, Thee. I miss 'em up in Washington and Oregon where it's misty. Like 'em best down in Mother Mexico, where they have everything their own way. I'm not for any country where the stars are dim.”
Ray tells Thea he loves the stars, especially in clear skies like those in Mexico, and dislikes places where the stars are obscured by mist.
Ray's appreciation for the open, starry skies of the plains reflects his connection to the landscape.