On the Banks of Plum Creek

“The flat creek bank was warm, soft mud. Little pale-yellow and pale-blue butterflies hovered there, and alighted and sipped. Bright dragonflies flew on blurry wings. The mud squeezed up between Laura’s toes.”

The presence of dragonflies and butterflies adds a touch of delicacy and beauty to Plum Creek. All of these creatures coexisting at Plum Creek show the harmony and interconnectedness of nature. The final sentence emphasizes Laura’s direct contact with nature, as the mud oozes up and makes contact with her toes. This tactile detail further reinforces Laura’s connection to the natural world, highlighting her direct engagement with the environment.

“Then Laura thought of the tableland. She wanted to climb it again. She wondered if she could climb it all by herself.”

Laura’s natural sense of curiosity and independence constantly prompts her to follow her desires, even if they go against her parents’ wishes. Because she is so young, she does not yet understand the full extent of the dangers that surround her. However, these moments of disobedience allow her to test the limits of her strength and learn valuable lessons about trust and responsibility.

“Once you begin being naughty, it is easier to go on and on, and sooner or later something dreadful happens.”

Laura learns that the more she pushes the boundaries of her parents’ guidelines, the easier it is to continue down the path of disobedience. In these moments of disobedience, she also glimpses the dangers that surround her, such as the pull of a strong current or the sharp teeth of a wild animal.

“All day Laura had not seen the water running in the creek, the little fishes in it, and the waterbugs skating over it. She was sure that being good could never be as hard as being watched.”

Laura’s strong desire for independence and freedom is made apparent through her resistance to staying indoors. She learns to begin following her parents’ guidelines through the difficult punishment of being kept inside. Her connection with nature and desire to see the unique beauty of each passing day makes the punishment of “being watched” particularly unpleasant for her.

“In the mornings they ran through the dewy chill grass that wet their feet and dabbled the hems of their dresses. They liked to splash their bare feet through the grass all strung with dewdrops. They liked to watch the sun rise over the edge of the world.”

This quote highlights the simple pleasures that Laura and her siblings find in nature. They take delight in splashing their bare feet through the grass, enjoying the tactile sensation and the sparkling dewdrops. This suggests a sense of freedom and playfulness, as they engage with the natural world in a carefree and uninhibited manner. The mention of watching the sun rise over the edge of the world adds a touch of wonder and awe. It suggests that Laura and her siblings are attuned to the beauty of the natural cycles and the larger universe around them. The rising sun symbolizes new beginnings, warmth, and the promise of a new day.

“Laura liked the sound of the words and when she ran through the crackling prairie grasses and saw the grasshoppers jumping she sang to herself: ‘Grasshopper weather! Grasshopper weather!’”

When Laura first hears the phrase “grasshopper weather,” she has no idea of the harm and adversity that it foreshadows. She simply likes the sounds of the words together and repeats them to herself for fun. The Ingalls’ lack of understanding of what this phrase means shows that they are strangers to this landscape. Just as Pa struggles to understand his neighbors because of their accents, the rest of the family fails to understand that this phrase is imbued with meaning that will have a grave impact on their lives.

“The fast, strong water was fearful and fascinating. It snarled foaming through the willow tops and swirled far out on the prairie. It came dashing high and white around the bend upstream. It was always changing and always the same, strong and terrible.”

The description of the fast and strong water as both fearful and fascinating reflects the complex emotions it evokes in Laura. While she may feel a sense of awe and intrigue, there is also an underlying element of fear and respect for the force of the water. This duality highlights the raw power and unpredictability of nature. The imagery of the water snarling and foaming through the willow tops conveys a sense of turbulence and chaos. It paints a vivid picture of the water’s ferocity as it rushes through the obstacles in its path. The use of the word “snarling” adds an animalistic quality, intensifying the perception of the water as a formidable and untamed force of nature.

“This was not like wolves or cattle. The creek was not alive. It was only strong and terrible and never stopping.”

The statement, “This was not like wolves or cattle,” suggests that Laura recognizes a fundamental difference between the creek and living creatures. While wolves and cattle possess inherent life and vitality, the creek, in her perception, lacks this life force. This differentiation highlights the distinct nature of the creek as a natural element separate from living beings. In many ways, the natural elements in On the Banks of Plum Creek are even more frightening to Laura than other creatures because of their perceived lack of awareness of the harm they cause.

“Each tiny sprout was so thin you could hardly see it, but so many of them all together made that misty green. Everyone was happy that night because the wheat was a good stand.”

The wheat in On the Banks of Plum Creek represents the characters’ hopes for their future prosperity. Pa repeatedly says that after the harvest they will have many material goods and luxuries thanks to The Value of Hard Work in planting and harvesting. However, the grasshopper plague will completely destroy the wheat crop and the Ingalls’ livelihood.

“Laura looked back at the wonderful house. In the sunshine on the knoll, its sawed-lumber walls and roof were as golden as a straw-stack.”

In contrast to the dugout, the house that Pa builds symbolizes the connection to civilization and tradition that the Ingalls crave. Laura continually marvels at the beauty of their home, despite its simplicity when contrasted with the Olesons’ more luxurious one. Part of its beauty lies in the hard work that Laura witnesses Pa put into building it, and Ma into decorating it with handmade curtains and paper stars. Just as she found beauty in the straw-stack standing up as human effort amidst natural resources, so she sees the beauty of her parents’ effort in creating and regularly cleaning their home.

“Every morning after that, before he went to work, Pa brought fish from the trap. He never took more than they needed to eat.”

The first line of this quote indicates Pa’s consistent and dedicated effort to provide food for the family while Working With Nature, Not Against It. It shows his commitment to their well-being by taking on the responsibility of catching fish each day. This reflects Pa’s role as a provider and his commitment to meeting the family’s needs. The second line of the quote reveals Pa’s sense of moderation and consideration for the resources he is utilizing: Pa’s intention is not to exploit or deplete the fish population but rather to take only what is necessary to sustain the family.

“Nellie Oleson was very pretty. Her yellow hair hung in long curls, with two big blue ribbon bows on top. Her dress was thin white lawn, with little blue flowers scattered over it, and she wore shoes.”

This quote introduces the character of Nellie Oleson, who serves as a foil and antagonist to Laura. She is first described by her physical appearance and beautiful clothing, which is in contrast to Mary and Laura’s old dresses with short hems and bare feet. This also reflects the contrast between the life in town and life in the country throughout the book.

“They looked at the wheat-field, standing up taller than Laura above the mown land. Its level top was rough with wheat-heads, bent with the weight of ripening wheat.”

By highlighting the wheat-field and its ripening wheat, the quote underscores the importance of agriculture and the connection between human effort and the natural world. It reflects the Ingalls family’s reliance on farming for sustenance and their deep engagement with the land. The scene conveys a sense of awe and appreciation for the abundance and beauty of nature, as well as the significance of hard work and patience in reaping the rewards of one’s labor. The Ingalls place great hope in the way the wheat-field will provide for their future.

“When that crop was harvested, Pa said, they’d be out of debt and have more money than they knew what to do with.”

Although the theme of the dangers of debt has a subtle presence in the book, it is highlighted by the choices Pa makes to go into debt in order to provide a house for his family before the harvest. This choice later has a negative impact on the Ingalls, as he is forced to leave their home and find work out east so he can repay his debts.

“The cloud was hailing grasshoppers. The cloud was grasshoppers. Their bodies hid the sun and made darkness. Their thin, large wings gleamed and glittered. The rasping whirring of their wings filled the whole air and they hit the ground and the house with the noise of a hailstorm.”

The description of the grasshoppers’ bodies hiding the sun and creating darkness illustrates the extent of their coverage and the disruption they bring to the natural order. It conveys a sense of suffocating and overpowering force, as the normal light is obscured, and the atmosphere becomes oppressive. The vivid imagery, including the darkening sky, the gleaming wings, and the overwhelming sound, captures the magnitude and impact of the event. It underscores the fragile balance between humans and nature, highlighting the unpredictability and power of the natural world.

“The whole prairie was changed. The grasses did not wave; they had fallen in ridges. The rising sun made all the prairie rough with shadows where the tall grasses had sunk against each other.”

The grasshoppers completely change the landscape, devastating all of the vegetation in the area, and changing the way Laura perceives the once-beautiful landscape. This great change in the landscape forces the Ingalls to also adapt and change their plans and lifestyle, showing the symbiotic nature that the settlers have with the natural world.

“Everything was flat and dull when Pa was gone. Laura and Mary could not even count the days till he would come back. They could only think of him walking farther and farther away in his patched boots.”

The inability to count the days until Pa’s return signifies the deep longing and yearning felt by Laura and Mary, reflecting the central importance of Family Bonds and Teamwork in the novel. It emphasizes their anticipation and longing for their father’s presence, which had been a great source of joy and comfort in their home. The absence of a concrete measurement of time highlights their sense of disconnection and the void left in their lives during Pa’s absence. The image of Pa walking “in his patched boots” adds a touch of vulnerability, recalling both his poverty and the hardships he faces while he is away.

“Rain drummed on the roof, rain poured from the eaves. Rain washed the air and made it good to breathe. Sweet air rushed through the house. It lifted the heaviness out of Laura’s head and made her skin feel good.”

The description of the “sweet air” rushing through the house and lifting the heaviness out of Laura’s head conveys a sense of relief and renewal. It implies that the rain has a calming and soothing effect on Laura’s mind and emotions, relieving any burdens or worries she may have been carrying. The mention of her skin feeling good suggests a physical sensation of refreshment and invigoration after the long season of hardship and drought.

“She remembered what Nellie had said about Pa, and she burned hot inside. She knew that hot feeling was wicked. She knew she must forgive Nellie, or she would never be an angel.”

Laura experiences major growth through her encounters with Nellie Oleson. Nellie bullies her and mocks her family, and although Laura initially desires to get retribution for these injustices, she believes that she needs to forgive Nellie so that she will go to heaven. This reflects the Ingalls’ core religious beliefs that create a sense of values by which they conduct their lives.

“There had never been such a Christmas as this. It was such a large, rich Christmas, the whole church full of Christmas. There were so many lamps, so many people, so much noise and laughter, and so many happinesses in it.”

The repetition of the word “so” in this quote creates a sense of abundance. It amplifies the sensory and emotional experiences associated with the Christmas celebration. The repetition emphasizes the overwhelming nature of the event, as if there is an abundance of everything that contributes to the festive atmosphere. The mention of the whole church being full of Christmas highlights the communal aspect of the celebration and the way that the Ingalls find joy in community.

“And all the days ran together, with blizzard after blizzard. No sooner did one blizzard end with a day of cold sunshine, than another began.”

By emphasizing the recurring nature of the blizzards, the quote underscores the challenging and harsh environment in which the characters live. It conveys a sense of the harshness and unpredictability of nature and the impact it has on their daily lives. The repetition and the juxtaposition of blizzards with “cold sunshine” serve to heighten the contrast between moments of temporary respite and the relentless challenges the characters face.

“The voices in the storm howled and giggled and shrieked, and the house trembled.”

Laura thinks she hears voices in the wind, creating a personification of the blizzard as a frightening and otherworldly force that the Ingalls cannot entirely understand. This is further explored when mysterious balls of fire roll down their stove and then vanish into thin air. Wilder highlights the inexplicable and mysterious parts of nature through her record of these events, for which she had no scientific explanation at the time.

“I tell you, Caroline, it was mighty hard to do that, thinking of you and the girls and knowing you would go out in the blizzard to do the chores.”

This quote, spoken by Pa when he returns home after being trapped out in a blizzard for several days, highlights how he always places his family first, reflecting Family Bonds and Teamwork. Even though he is at risk of freezing to death, his main concern is for his family and the dangers they will be facing without him there. Pa exemplifies a father figure who is selfless and caring.