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5. September
Themes
and Colors
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Rascal, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Nature and Animals
Coming of Age
War and Cruelty
The Making of a Writer
Family
Summary
Analysis
Sterling enjoys returning to school; he’s now in junior high, and he likes his new biology teacher, Miss Whalen. He regrets, however, not being able to spend all his time with Rascal, who now spends his days in the cage, watched over and kept company by Wowser—and Donnybrook from the neighbor’s yard. Sterling still shares meals with Rascal and brings him out to accompany him on yardwork, and he’ll also bring him on his bicycle for his new job delivering the Saturday Evening Post.
Sterling’s mother was a biologist, which suggests that Sterling’s connection with his new biology teacher may be motivated by a desire to fill the void left by his mother. Meanwhile, Rascal seems to be adapting to his new life in the cage without too much complaint.
Active
Themes
Sterling has heard rumors that biology class this year will cover the “facts of life,” of which he’s still quite ignorant. That will come much later in the year, though; for now, Miss Whalen focuses on other animals. She announces a day for everyone to bring their pets to class, and Sterling is eager to bring Rascal. After class, he asks her if raccoons might possibly one day evolve to be as intelligent as humans, and she seems interested in the idea.
Sterling’s seemingly total lack of interest in girls is probably going to change in the near future. Meanwhile, Miss Whalen’s apparently genuine interest in Sterling’s query suggests her generosity towards her students and her open-mindedness.
Active
Themes
Sterling’s turn to bring in his pet arrives, and Rascal is a big hit with the class. Miss Whalen shares some interesting facts about raccoons, while Rascal demonstrates his cleanliness and good manners, delighting the students. Everyone takes a turn petting him, but Slammy Stillman pulls a cruel prank, snapping a rubber band in Rascal’s face. For the first time, Sterling sees Rascal enraged as he bites Slammy’s hand. Slammy screams out, demanding that Rascal be shot.
Active
Themes
Miss Whalen saw clearly what happened and chastises Slammy. She then tells Sterling, however, that he will need to lock up Rascal for two weeks to watch for rabies. But she then softens her tone and tells him that Rascal is a good pet. She sends him home for the day to lock up Rascal. Sterling stays by Rascal’s side all day while Rascal is in the cage.
Active
Themes
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Two weeks pass, and Slammy doesn’t get rabies. Sterling can now take Rascal out again, and they go for a pleasant bike ride in the autumn air. They come to a stump of what had been a mighty walnut tree just a few months earlier, where Sterling had gathered nuts and moths. Angered, he takes a chalky stone and writes “DAMN THE MAN WHO CUT THIS TREE” on the stump. He relaxes, however, as they go on into marshes and ponds where muskrats live, observing them building their huts.
