Gathering Blue

by

Lois Lowry

Teachers and parents! Our Teacher Edition on Gathering Blue makes teaching easy.

Matt Character Analysis

A young, rambunctious boy, probably around seven, who lives in the Fen near the village. Matt is a close friend of Kira’s. Though he affects swagger and strength, two qualities that make him try to emulate the village’s hunters, Matt is a sensitive, compassionate boy, as shown by the way he cares for Branch, his dog, after Branch is crushed under a cart—indeed, aside from Kira, Matt is the most compassionate and sensitive character in the novel. At many points, Matt struggles between the influence of Kira, who encourages him to be polite and kind, and the influence of the villagers, who encourage him to be wild and violent. Ultimately, he seems to side with Kira: he comes to understand the idea of a gift, which Kira has been struggling to teach him, and agrees to escort Christopher back to his community, suggesting that Matt himself will be surrounded by kind, caring people.

Matt Quotes in Gathering Blue

The Gathering Blue quotes below are all either spoken by Matt or refer to Matt. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Art and Creative Instinct Theme Icon
).
Chapter 6 Quotes

Matt heard him and looked up toward Kira in dismay. "No. Me and Branch, we be going now," he said. Then with an expression of concern, he asked, "You don't be captive here, do you?" "No, she's not a captive," Jamison reassured Matt. "Why would you think that?

Related Characters: Matt (speaker), Jamison (speaker)
Page Number: 70
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 20 Quotes

"Them be all broken, them people. But there be plenty of food. And it's quiet-like, and nice."
"What do you mean, broken?"
He gestured toward her twisted leg. "Like you. Some don't walk good. Some be broken in other ways. Not all. But lots. Do you think it makes them quiet and nice, to be broken?"
Puzzled by his description, Kira didn't answer. Pain makes you strong, her mother had told her. She had not said quiet, or nice.
"Anyways," Matt went on, "them got blue, for certain sure."

Related Characters: Matt (speaker), Kira
Related Symbols: Blue
Page Number: 210-211
Explanation and Analysis:
Get the entire Gathering Blue LitChart as a printable PDF.
Gathering Blue PDF

Matt Quotes in Gathering Blue

The Gathering Blue quotes below are all either spoken by Matt or refer to Matt. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Art and Creative Instinct Theme Icon
).
Chapter 6 Quotes

Matt heard him and looked up toward Kira in dismay. "No. Me and Branch, we be going now," he said. Then with an expression of concern, he asked, "You don't be captive here, do you?" "No, she's not a captive," Jamison reassured Matt. "Why would you think that?

Related Characters: Matt (speaker), Jamison (speaker)
Page Number: 70
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 20 Quotes

"Them be all broken, them people. But there be plenty of food. And it's quiet-like, and nice."
"What do you mean, broken?"
He gestured toward her twisted leg. "Like you. Some don't walk good. Some be broken in other ways. Not all. But lots. Do you think it makes them quiet and nice, to be broken?"
Puzzled by his description, Kira didn't answer. Pain makes you strong, her mother had told her. She had not said quiet, or nice.
"Anyways," Matt went on, "them got blue, for certain sure."

Related Characters: Matt (speaker), Kira
Related Symbols: Blue
Page Number: 210-211
Explanation and Analysis: