61 pages • 2 hours read
Linda Sue ParkA modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.
Foxes and thieves symbolize fear and illustrate the theme of Fear Versus Courage. While the connection between the two might not seem obvious, Crane-man draws an interesting parallel at the beginning of the story when he says that a thief is “no better than a dog” (20). Foxes are members of the canine family and close biological relatives of dogs. In addition, foxes have a special meaning in Korean folklore: “They were known to be fiendishly clever. Some people even believed that foxes possessed evil magic. It was said that a fox could lure a man to his doom” (82-83). Significantly, Crane-man is also frightened of foxes. The old man ran away when a fox crossed his path on the way to the monastery. Because he allowed fear to stop him, he ended up living under a bridge.
Foxes and thieves intimidate Tree-ear as well. However, unlike Crane-man, Tree-ear does not run away from these sources of terror. Tree-ear encounters a fox on the journey to Songdo, but remains with Min’s pottery despite his intense fear. Later, Tree-ear has an even more threatening encounter with two robbers who steal his money and shatter his precious sample vases.
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