Burls

Throughout the novel, burls serve as a symbol for the disparity between ethical and exploitative logging practices. When the burls are harvested as a byproduct of timber, they are used to create clocks, bowls and other utilitarian objects. Conversely, when the burls are poached and lopped off haphazardly, it causes rot and kills the trees. In the same manner that the burls can create useful objects or lead to environmental destruction, the logging company can ethically log timber through sustained yield instead of clearcutting the redwood forests.

The Pocket Knife

The pocketknife that Rich gives to Chub symbolizes generational knowledge. When the father gifts his son the knife, that his own father gave to him, he is metaphorically giving him the knowledge and skills to be a custodian of the redwood forest. Through generational knowledge, Chub understands the landscape of Damnation Grove and 24-7 Ridge and...