Wildoak

The acorn is first introduced during Maggie’s ride from the train station to Cherry Tree Cottage in Chapter 7, when Fred announces that he collects acorns, as well as other natural objects. It is not seen again until Chapter 45, when Fred gives it to Maggie to wish her luck with the mission to rescue Rumpus. The acorn is something important to Fred, and it is his way of being with Maggie when she goes down to the farm by herself to scout for Rumpus. The acorn is connected to nature, which is an important source of strength for both Fred and Maggie. It is more special than the other natural objects that Fred collects, such as shells, since an acorn has the potential to grow into a massive and enduring oak tree.

The acorn thus functions as a symbol of hope and potential. It is a reminder of the possibility that even seemingly insignificant things may someday be important. This supports the novel’s arguments for The Importance of Environmental Conservation and for characters Growing into Self-Acceptance. The connection between the acorn and these thematic ideas is reinforced in the acorn’s final appearance in the story’s epilogue, when Maggie shows the acorn to her