logo

60 pages 2 hours read

How Green Was My Valley

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1939

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Important Quotes

Quotation Mark Icon

“He used some big English words I had never heard before because our meetings were taken by the grown-ups in our language.”


(Chapter 2, Page 16)

Huw’s memories of the Valley during his youth are already indicative of the economic and cultural decline which will mark his adulthood. The community cannot afford a priest of their own, so one is drafted in from outside the community. The priest uses English words, rather than Welsh, which is notable even to the young Huw. The Welsh language and culture are slowly being eroded during this period of English-driven modernization.

Quotation Mark Icon

“If table manners prevent the speaking of the truth, I will be a pig.”


(Chapter 5, Page 38)

Owen is a quiet boy, but he refuses to hold his tongue. He can tell that the mining community is on a doomed trajectory, and he refuses to politely stand by, saying nothing while he sees his friends and family suffer. A generational gap emerges between the young men who want to fight against their bosses and the older generation who are invested in the status quo and the manners which they believe makes them respectable people. Owen would rather be a pig than be silently exploited.

Quotation Mark Icon

“Then I heard Bronwen singing, quietly, just near to me.”


(Chapter 7, Page 66)

When Huw first wakes up after falling in the freezing water, the sound of Bronwen’s voice alleviates his panic and helps him to reaffirm his sense of self. He is confined to his bed, but even in this desperate situation, her voice is a comfort to him.

blurred text
blurred text
blurred text
blurred text
Unlock IconUnlock all 60 pages of this Study Guide

Plus, gain access to 8,550+ more expert-written Study Guides.

Including features:

+ Mobile App
+ Printable PDF
+ Literary AI Tools