Billy’s Mother / Mama Character Analysis in Where the Red Fern Grows

Billy’s mother is a kind, religious, and anxious woman who dreams of one day moving her family from their Ozark home into the city where they can have access to better educations and more economic resources. Mama is deeply anxious when Billy starts hunting in the Ozarks—she worries about him being out every night and getting into trouble or danger. At the same time, Mama knows that her “little boy” is growing up and wants to allow him the freedom to explore the world around him and learn important lessons about life, love, and perseverance. Mama is one of the most religious characters in the book—she is a woman who believes in the power of prayer and who wants to impress upon her children the important role that faith can play in a person’s life. Mama is also one of the most emotional characters in the novel—though she is a woman, her arc often ties in with the novel’s theme of masculinity and emotion as she shows Billy through example that it is more than okay to feel one’s feelings deeply and authentically, even when those feelings are vulnerable or difficult. Through Mama, Billy learns important lessons about faith, feeling, and love.

Billy’s Mother / Mama Quotes in Where the Red Fern Grows

The Where the Red Fern Grows quotes below are all either spoken by Billy’s Mother / Mama or refer to Billy’s Mother / Mama. 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:

).

I remembered a passage from the Bible my mother had read to us: "God helps those who help themselves." I thought of the words. I mulled them over in my mind. I decided I'd ask God to help me. There on the bank of the Illinois River, in the cool shade of the tall white sycamores, I asked God to help me get two hound pups. It wasn't much of a prayer, but it did come right from the heart.

Related Characters: Billy Colman (speaker), Billy’s Mother / Mama

Page Number and Citation: 20-21

Explanation and Analysis:

"l never saw anything like it. Little Ann wouldn't have fought the lion if it hadn't been for Old Dan. All she was doing was helping him. He wouldn't quit. He just stayed right in there till the end. I even had to pry his jaws loose from the lion's throat after the lion was dead."

Glancing at Old Dan, Papa said, “It's in his blood, Billy. He's a hunting hound, and the best one I ever saw. He only has two loves—you and hunting. That's all he knows."

Related Characters: Billy Colman (speaker), Billy’s Father / Papa (speaker), Old Dan, Little Ann, Billy’s Mother / Mama

Page Number and Citation: 263

Explanation and Analysis:

'Don't touch it, Mama," my oldest sister whispered. "It was planted by an angel."

Mama smiled and asked, "Have you heard the legend?"

'Yes, Mama," my sister said. “Grandma told me the story and I believe it, too."

With a serious look on his face, Papa said, "These hills are full of legends. Up until now I've never paid much attention to them, but now I don't know. Perhaps there is something to the legend of the red fern. Maybe this is God's way of helping Billy understand why his dogs died."

“I’m sure it is, Papa," I said, "and I do understand. I feel different now, and I don't hurt any more."

Related Characters: Billy Colman (speaker), Billy’s Father / Papa (speaker), Billy’s Mother / Mama (speaker), Billy’s Sisters (speaker), Old Dan, Little Ann, Grandma

Related Symbols: The Red Fern

Page Number and Citation: 279

Explanation and Analysis:

Billy’s Mother / Mama Quotes in Where the Red Fern Grows

The Where the Red Fern Grows quotes below are all either spoken by Billy’s Mother / Mama or refer to Billy’s Mother / Mama. 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:

).

I remembered a passage from the Bible my mother had read to us: "God helps those who help themselves." I thought of the words. I mulled them over in my mind. I decided I'd ask God to help me. There on the bank of the Illinois River, in the cool shade of the tall white sycamores, I asked God to help me get two hound pups. It wasn't much of a prayer, but it did come right from the heart.

Related Characters: Billy Colman (speaker), Billy’s Mother / Mama

Page Number and Citation: 20-21

Explanation and Analysis:

"l never saw anything like it. Little Ann wouldn't have fought the lion if it hadn't been for Old Dan. All she was doing was helping him. He wouldn't quit. He just stayed right in there till the end. I even had to pry his jaws loose from the lion's throat after the lion was dead."

Glancing at Old Dan, Papa said, “It's in his blood, Billy. He's a hunting hound, and the best one I ever saw. He only has two loves—you and hunting. That's all he knows."

Related Characters: Billy Colman (speaker), Billy’s Father / Papa (speaker), Old Dan, Little Ann, Billy’s Mother / Mama

Page Number and Citation: 263

Explanation and Analysis:

'Don't touch it, Mama," my oldest sister whispered. "It was planted by an angel."

Mama smiled and asked, "Have you heard the legend?"

'Yes, Mama," my sister said. “Grandma told me the story and I believe it, too."

With a serious look on his face, Papa said, "These hills are full of legends. Up until now I've never paid much attention to them, but now I don't know. Perhaps there is something to the legend of the red fern. Maybe this is God's way of helping Billy understand why his dogs died."

“I’m sure it is, Papa," I said, "and I do understand. I feel different now, and I don't hurt any more."

Related Characters: Billy Colman (speaker), Billy’s Father / Papa (speaker), Billy’s Mother / Mama (speaker), Billy’s Sisters (speaker), Old Dan, Little Ann, Grandma

Related Symbols: The Red Fern

Page Number and Citation: 279

Explanation and Analysis: