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Chapter 27
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Skellig, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Weakness, Strength, and Hardship
Curiosity, Nature, and Transformation
Love, Empathy, and Caregiving
Imagination, Magic, and Faith
Summary
Analysis
Dad nails boards over the garage door and paints the word “Danger” on them. While Dad serves the boys lunch, Coot says that his carpenter uncle would demolish the garage and build a new one. Coot makes a gun with his hands and pretends to shoot the blackbird that has landed on the roof. Dad says that he is glad that Leaky and Coot came over; a good game of ball is what Michael needs.
Coot acts destructively toward things that have become precious to Michael, like the delicate safe haven of the garage and the blackbird. Although his behavior offends Michael, there is also something about it that is healthy for Michael, even if only that it draws out a bolder side of Michael through confrontation.
Themes
The boys play another game. Michael keeps looking at Mina’s now empty tree, and Leaky and Coot tease him for missing her. When Leaky and Coot question him, Michael explains that Mina and her mother think schools limit curiosity. Leaky and Coot scoff. Michael tries to explain the things that Mina has taught him. His face burning, he insists that he has seen amazing things. Briefly, Michael considers taking Leaky and Coot to see Skellig. Mina climbs back into her tree. Leaky and Coot laugh at her monkey-like behavior.
Michael demonstrates his new bravery in this scene. Whereas Michael had hidden what had changed in his life from Leaky and Coot, he now bluntly tells them what he knows they will deride. However, he is still not brave enough to take them to Skellig. Unlike Mina, Leaky and Coot are not predisposed to find beauty in nature or in the similarities between humanity and nature: instead of being impressed, Leaky and Coot laugh at Mina’s likeness to a monkey.
Themes
