The Woods

The Woods is the forest Silas enters at the beginning of his quest to find Pa. Throughout the novel the author uses the Woods as a symbol for fear. As a young child, Silas was terrified of the dense forest and, even in the company of Pa, could not tolerate being in the Woods. When he enters the forest alone it symbolizes his desire to challenge his fears. As he spends time in the Woods, Silas discovers that fear is often rooted in misconception, and he learns to overcome misgivings about himself and the world around him through curiosity.

The Cave

The cave where Roscoe Ollerenshaw and his band of cronies’ hideout serves as the proverbial Innermost Cave of the hero’s journey. The cavernous lair is situated deep in the canyon and requires days of travel to discover. When Silas enters the cave, after the shootout...