Old Yeller

by

Fred Gipson

Chongo and Roany Character Analysis

Chongo and Roany are the nicknames that Mama and Travis give to a pair of fighting bulls that wander onto the Coateses’ property one day. The bulls have a violent fight, tearing up the family’s split-rail fence and creating chaos on the ranch. Later in the novel, Roany reappears, having been infected with hydrophobia. Travis shoots and kills Roany when Roany threatens Mama, Lisbeth, and Little Arliss.

Chongo and Roany Quotes in Old Yeller

The Old Yeller quotes below are all either spoken by Chongo and Roany or refer to Chongo and Roany. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
People and Animals Theme Icon
).
Chapter 4 Quotes

We sat and ate and listened to [the bulls]. We could tell by their rumblings and bawlings that they were gradually working their way down through the brush toward each other and getting madder by the minute.

I always liked to see a fight between bulls or bears or wild boars or almost any wild animals. Now, I got so excited that I jumped up from the table and went to the door and stood listening. I'd made up my mind that if the bulls met and started a fight, I was going to see it.

Related Characters: Travis Coates (speaker), Little Arliss, Mama, Chongo and Roany
Page Number: 26
Explanation and Analysis:

But I was too excited about the fight. I didn't see the danger in time. I was still aside the top rail when the struggling bulls crashed through the fence, splintering the posts and rails, and toppling me to the ground almost under them. […] The roaring of the bulls was right in my ears. The hot, reeking scent of their blood was in my nose. The bone-crashing weight of their hoofs was stomping all around and over me, churning up such a fog of dust that I couldn't see a thing.

Related Characters: Travis Coates (speaker), Chongo and Roany
Page Number: 29
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 13 Quotes

Now, I knew that Spot wouldn't get well, and this bull wouldn't, either. I knew they were both deathly sick with hydrophobia. Old Yeller had scented that sickness in this bull and somehow sensed how fearfully dangerous it was.

I thought of Lisbeth and Little Arliss down past the spring. I came up out of my chair, calling for Mama. "Mama!" I said. "Bring me my gun, Mama!"

Related Characters: Travis Coates (speaker), Old Yeller, Little Arliss, Lisbeth Searcy, Spot, Chongo and Roany
Related Symbols: Hydrophobia (Rabies)
Page Number: 110
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 14 Quotes

We couldn't leave the dead bull to lie there that close to the cabin. In a few days, the scent of rotting flesh would drive us out. Also, the carcass lay too close to the spring. Mama was afraid it would foul up our drinking water.

"We'll have to try to drag it further from the cabin and burn it," she said.

"Burn it?" I said in surprise. "Why can't we just leave it for the buzzards and varmints to clean up?"

"Because that might spread the sickness," Mama said. "If the varmints eat it, they might get the sickness, too."

Related Characters: Travis Coates (speaker), Mama (speaker), Papa, Chongo and Roany
Related Symbols: Hydrophobia (Rabies)
Page Number: 114
Explanation and Analysis:
Get the entire Old Yeller LitChart as a printable PDF.
Old Yeller PDF

Chongo and Roany Quotes in Old Yeller

The Old Yeller quotes below are all either spoken by Chongo and Roany or refer to Chongo and Roany. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
People and Animals Theme Icon
).
Chapter 4 Quotes

We sat and ate and listened to [the bulls]. We could tell by their rumblings and bawlings that they were gradually working their way down through the brush toward each other and getting madder by the minute.

I always liked to see a fight between bulls or bears or wild boars or almost any wild animals. Now, I got so excited that I jumped up from the table and went to the door and stood listening. I'd made up my mind that if the bulls met and started a fight, I was going to see it.

Related Characters: Travis Coates (speaker), Little Arliss, Mama, Chongo and Roany
Page Number: 26
Explanation and Analysis:

But I was too excited about the fight. I didn't see the danger in time. I was still aside the top rail when the struggling bulls crashed through the fence, splintering the posts and rails, and toppling me to the ground almost under them. […] The roaring of the bulls was right in my ears. The hot, reeking scent of their blood was in my nose. The bone-crashing weight of their hoofs was stomping all around and over me, churning up such a fog of dust that I couldn't see a thing.

Related Characters: Travis Coates (speaker), Chongo and Roany
Page Number: 29
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 13 Quotes

Now, I knew that Spot wouldn't get well, and this bull wouldn't, either. I knew they were both deathly sick with hydrophobia. Old Yeller had scented that sickness in this bull and somehow sensed how fearfully dangerous it was.

I thought of Lisbeth and Little Arliss down past the spring. I came up out of my chair, calling for Mama. "Mama!" I said. "Bring me my gun, Mama!"

Related Characters: Travis Coates (speaker), Old Yeller, Little Arliss, Lisbeth Searcy, Spot, Chongo and Roany
Related Symbols: Hydrophobia (Rabies)
Page Number: 110
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 14 Quotes

We couldn't leave the dead bull to lie there that close to the cabin. In a few days, the scent of rotting flesh would drive us out. Also, the carcass lay too close to the spring. Mama was afraid it would foul up our drinking water.

"We'll have to try to drag it further from the cabin and burn it," she said.

"Burn it?" I said in surprise. "Why can't we just leave it for the buzzards and varmints to clean up?"

"Because that might spread the sickness," Mama said. "If the varmints eat it, they might get the sickness, too."

Related Characters: Travis Coates (speaker), Mama (speaker), Papa, Chongo and Roany
Related Symbols: Hydrophobia (Rabies)
Page Number: 114
Explanation and Analysis: