Crow Lake

Kate isolates herself and moves to Toronto

They grew up on the farm causing them to be
isolated from their family.

Pye family relationship is broken, and there is a continuous cycle passed on from generation to generation

Arguments and abuse against the Pye sons leads them to run away

Calvin Pye said, “Did I hear you right?”
Laurie said, “Unless you’ve gone deaf.”
(Lawson 216)

Family is torn apart after the accident of the parents

The pond is able to make Kate feel secure
and safe. Allowing her to build a strong
relationship with Matt. However, later on in
the novel it reminds her of the disconnection with
her brother.

Kate struggles with depression allowing her
to not be able to express her self, and have
a negative mindset which affect her decisions.

Pyes

neighbours of Morrisons

Jackson Pye

Norman (ran away)

Edward (ran away)

Pete (ran away)

Twin girls (died)

Arthur

Calvin Pye

Laurie Pye

Marie Pye

Rosie Pye

Henry (ran away)

family is an example of domestic abuse for over 3 generations

sons run away (because of the bad temper in the house)

Cranes

Professor Crane of the History department and Professor Crane of the Fine Arts Department

Daniel Crane

Morrisons

Adults

Great Grandmother Morrison

dead for decades

Aunt Annie came to take take care of them

parents killed in a car accident by a logging truck

Children

Bo

youngest child

energetic

cook in a reastaurant

strong willed

Matt

gets Mary Pye pregnant and does
not go to university

son named Simon

looks like Grandmother Morrison

intelligent, skipped a grade

wanted to become a biologist

was responsible to provide for his family

Luke

in charge of the family and household duties

19 years old

had to decline an offer for
admission to teacher collage

Kate

idolizes her brother Matt

protagonist

intellectual

Biologist

relationship with Daniel Crane

is unable to express herself

"...it is the sensation of going back in time, moving from 'now' to 'then' and the recognition that wherever you are now wherever you may be in the future, nothing alters the point you started from." (259)

"The feel of him is wonderful, but hugging seems such a symbolic gesture, in our case - a physical attempt to close an emotional distance, to bridge a gap which should not be there." (260)

"I didn't know what I was feeling, relief, despair, confusion. I'd have liked to be able to tell him the truth to unburden myself by explaining why I hadn't wanted him to come. But how do you explain what you don't understand"

"Your disappointment - you thinking that his whole life is a failure, feeling so sorry for him for the way that he let himself down - that's been so hard for him to bear.. You do think his life is a failure.. You think what happened to him is the great tragedy of his life. You can hardly look at him, you feel so sorry for him and so angry with him still. After all this years you can hardly look at him, Kate (279)."

Metaphor

“I suppose the thing was, they’d seen it all before. Laurie was just one more dropped stich in a family tapestry already full of holes.” (221)

Foreshadowing

“Certain things would be left out and certain names wouldn’t come up. Calvin Pye, for instance. His name wouldn’t be mentioned. Or Laurie Pye’s, come to that.” (22)

"Experience the Breathtaking Beauty of the Canadian Wilderness...Witness the Wild Savagery of the Raging Rivers. Contemplate the Untamed Splendor of the Forests." (266)

Death of Mr. and Mrs Morrison in a car accident

Kate looks up to her older brother Matt, and begins to idolize him, and wishes that she could be like him. They go to the pond together and share a love for animals.

After the funeral Aunt Annie comes to look after the children

The four siblings decide to stay together instead of seperating and Luke takes custody of them instead of going to teacher's college

Luke gets a job at the local store in Crow Lake, but he is soon fired after Sally, the daughter of the owner begins to spread false rumors about him.

During the summer Matt finds a job at the Pye farm

The Pye's have a history of children running away. This chain is broken when Clavin Pye kills his only son Laurie and then commits suicide himself.

Matt gets Marie Pye pregnant and marry's her instead of continuing with his education

Matt and Marie take over the Pye farm

Kate is disappointing in Matt and moves away to Toronto

Kate is invited to Matt's Son's birthday

Kate goes home for her nephew's eighteenth birthday party and is confronted by Marie

Marie wants Katie to know that the only person who regrets Matt's past is Katie. Katie finally understands that Matt made the decisions that were ultimately right for his life.