The Sign of the Beaver

In Chapter 19, Matt visits Attean’s village and learns a game in which players use curved sticks to toss a ball back and forth to score goals. Filled with roughhousing, the game serves as the village boys’ test of Matt’s toughness—which he passes. The game was popular among northeastern Indigenous groups and later became lacrosse.

Early on, Matt loses his rifle to fellow colonist Ben, and envies Attean’s hunting bow. Attean shows Matt how to construct a bow and arrows, which he uses to hunt for the rest of the novel. This greatly increases his food stock and helps him survive the winter. The loss of the rifle represents Matt’s separation from his own culture, and his bow and arrows symbolize his growing connection to the neighboring Beaver clan.

The cabin is central to Matt’s life. He and his father built it during the spring, and Matt is tasked with guarding it until the latter returns with the rest of the family. Though unfinished, the cabin has a fireplace and minimal furniture. Matt watches over the place, but loses his father’s rifle to a thief, and his food gets ransacked by a bear.

The cabin symbolizes both Matt’s family and his ongoing struggle to survive in the wilderness.