Engelsk afl.
Side 1 af 3
2.11.2004
Wood Grouse on a High Promontory
Overlooking Canada
Life is a precious thing, which many people do not appreciate. Today, we are all so busy
planning for tommorow that we fail to remember to live today. We do not take time to appreciate the small
things surrounding us, but the things we tend to forget are the respect for every living creature on Earth. When
something terrible happens everybody gets so freaked out or horrified and starts thinking about things for a
while, but then as soon as we cannot cope with whatever it is, we take refuge in a place close to nature. The
same scenario is seen in this American short story “Wood Grouse on a High Promontory Overlooking
Canada.”
In the story we meet two guys, who are camping on a promontory overlooking Canada. They
are brothers and one of them just returned from the Vietnam War, which means the story takes place during -
or right after - the Vietnam War between 1965 - 1975.
The youngest boy, named Bud, is 15 years old and is very interested in the fact that his brother, Gary, has
been involved in the war. He is very fascinated and looks up to his older brother. Even though he sees how
much pain it causes Gary, Bud still dreams about going to war and pictures himself. Line 48, page four:
“I picked up a stone about the size of a baseball and watched them - imagining myself a
hunter of wild animals.”
Gary is a very emotional person. He cries over things that other people probably would think are ridiculous to
weep over. I think the reason why he does it is because it is the only way for him to get forgiveness and
oblivion from God, or the only way he feels he gets it. Gary cries when Bud injures the bird and when he
questions about the war in Vietnam. He does not feel comfortable about it and it makes him upset that Bud is
eager to do the same. Bud does not know what the consequences are, he is just amazed by the fact of going
to war and fighting for the country.
The war has changed Gary
’
s view on life. He now seems to appreciate the sight of birds, the blue sky, the
mountains, and peacefulness - in fact little things that many people do not really think about in their everyday
lives.