Skylark

“[W]hen I read what I had written, I could see myself there, clearer than when I looked in the mirror. I could see all of us.”

Anna identifies her journal writing as a tool for self-reflection and identity. Anna’s journal allows her to capture her own experiences and the essence of her family, preserving their lives in a way that even a mirror cannot, as memory and storytelling provide a deeper, more meaningful understanding of who she is. Anna’s writing connects her to her family, reinforcing that stories help define relationships and personal history.

“I am surrounded by motherhood.”

Sarah sees mothers everywhere, which heightens her unspoken longing for a child of her own. Her comment conveys a sense of isolation—while mothers physically surround her, she does not fully share in that experience. It reflects an emotional tension within her as she has become a mother to Anna and Caleb but longs for a child of her own

“There was more that Sarah hadn’t read.”

This moment parallels another moment in the novel when Sarah explains the power of the written word to Anna. Sarah chooses not to read all her aunts’ letters aloud because she understands that it is too painful for her family—and especially for Jacob—to hear about all the rain. Also, reading only parts of the letters reflects her hesitance to fully embrace the emotional connection they offer. She believes that doing so would make her feel even more distant from the life she left behind in Maine.

“On the fence post between them was a small glass, sitting empty in the moonlight, waiting for rain.”

The rain gauge represents Caleb’s optimism: Even as the drought persists, he is still hopeful that rain will come. The jar’s presence on the fence is a tangible reminder to the family that hope remains. The rain gauge serves as both a symbol of resilience and a practical way for Caleb to feel that he contributes to the family’s survival and well-being.

“Everything seemed slow in town, as if the heat had taken over.”

This passage illustrates the suffocating, oppressive atmosphere brought on by the heat, conveying the Wittings’ emotional exhaustion from the relentless heat and dryness. The imagery conveys a sense of inertia, as if the heat has stifled life, halting any movement or energy. The personification of the weather implies that it dominates the lives of the people and the landscape, overwhelming them with intensity. This image reinforces the theme of The Power of Nature and its impact on human existence.

“That was the field where the wildflowers grew, remember, when Sarah came?”

Memory plays a crucial role in the narrative, as the children rely on it when they feel helpless and sad. In this passage, Caleb recalls a memory from when they first met Sarah and spent the summer gathering wildflowers with her. The activity bonded them, and the memory reminds them of happier, more fruitful times on the prairie.

“The two of them walked away from the blackened grass, past the dogs, and past us just as if we weren’t there.”

The remnants of the wildfire symbolize the drought’s destructive impact, setting a somber and desolate tone as they move past it. Sarah and Jacob’s disassociation with the destruction suggests their deepening concern for the family’s safety as the drought persists. The moment conveys Anna’s perceptiveness as a child evolving into an adolescent who can pick up on adult emotions like worry and anxiety.

“‘Leaving?’ she said, her voice rough and dry like the fields.”

Sarah’s “rough and dry” voice emphasizes her emotional and physical exhaustion. The dryness of her voice mirrors the harsh effects of the drought on the land and the people, as Sarah has been weathered by the circumstances around her and feels parched, drained, and worn down. The drought affects the crops and her sense of hope and stability. Sarah’s protestation symbolizes the emotional toll the drought has taken on her, as the idea of Maggie leaving feels unbearable.

“I’d almost forgotten music.”

Papa’s birthday gift helps Sarah reconnect to a part of herself. Music is a link to her past, as it was a part of her life with her family in Maine. Music reminds her of when she first came to the prairie and sang often, bringing music back into the Wittings’ lives after the children’s mother’s death. She sees it as a means of preserving identity, holding on to memories, and finding solace amidst the emotional and physical challenges of the drought.

“Her face was tight, to keep all her feelings from coming out.”

Sarah shows emotional restraint and internal struggle when bidding Maggie and her family farewell. The tightness in her face holds in her sorrow and frustration as she says goodbye. The use of physicality here illustrates how Sarah’s emotions are too overwhelming to be expressed freely, forcing her to suppress them. The desire to hold her feelings in reveals her fears of the pain of saying goodbye. This moment underscores the emotional cost of the drought as it has not only affected the land but has deeply impacted Sarah’s emotional well-being.

“The sun came up in the morning the way it always did. But everything had changed.”

In the aftermath of the barn burning, nature continues, but the Wittings are going through emotional upheaval. The passage conveys that while the external world remains unchanged, the family’s life has been irrevocably altered. The fire symbolizes loss and destruction, and this moment highlights the gap between the constancy of nature and the impermanence of human experiences. While nature can be predictable and cyclical, human lives are often marked by moments of sudden, irreversible change that leave them to cope with the aftermath.

“We slept to the clackety sound of the train and woke with the red sun.”

This passage uses onomatopoeia to convey the novel experience of riding a train for the children. The rhythmic sounds of the train moving across the tracks lull the children to sleep despite the uncertainty of their futures. The imagery of waking up with a red sun adds a visual contrast, symbolizing a new day and the hope that comes with each sunrise, even though the environment remains harsh. The sound and sight imagery creates a sensory experience that marks the passing of time in a subtle, almost mechanical way.

“I’ve come back to what I knew first.”

Sarah’s statement reflects her deep nostalgia and sense of personal identity tied to place. Maine represents her origins and the life she was familiar with before moving to the prairie. Returning brings a feeling of comfort and familiarity amidst the uncertainty of the drought. While Sarah has made a home with Jacob and the children on the prairie, a part of her still belongs to Maine, showing how a sense of belonging can be divided between past and present. Sarah’s declaration reflects how her earliest experiences shaped her profoundly and returning to them feels like reclaiming a part of herself that was lost.

“Plain and tall, I told you so.”

When Caleb remarks that Sarah looks like her brother, she reminds him of how she described herself to them in her letters before she came to the prairie. This explains the title of the first book in the series, Sarah, Plain and Tall. However, though Sarah is tall, she is far from plain in the Wittings’ minds.

“Like a skylark Sarah sings! Papa said you’d never come to earth.”

In comparing her to a skylark, Sarah’s father highlights her free-spirited nature and deep connection to music and the sky. Skylark are known for their high, soaring flight and beautiful song. The simile suggests that Sarah has an ethereal quality, as if she belongs more to the open sky than the grounded, demanding life on the prairie, and that a part of her will constantly yearn for movement and freedom. The skylark symbolism gives the novel its title and reinforces the tension between rootedness and freedom, illustrating Sarah’s struggle to balance her past and present.

“The light lay like a blanket over the water below.”

The simile comparing light to a blanket highlights how the light exudes warmth and protection. It also suggests comfort and familiarity, reinforcing Maine as a place of security and rest in contrast to the harsh, drought-stricken prairie. The softness of the light covering the water is a new vision for Anna, representing how visiting Maine has given her a new way to see the world. The image evokes a sense of enclosure and belonging, as if the landscape embraces her. However, this warmth and beauty contrast with Papa’s struggles on the prairie, highlighting the divide between the two worlds of abundance and hardship.

“Her voice was soft with memory.”

Sarah’s memories of her childhood in Maine evoke tenderness and longing within her. The softness of her voice implies nostalgia, as if she is momentarily transported back to another time, recalling moments of happiness from her past. The passage also reflects the emotional weight of memory, since her past experiences shape her feelings and decisions in the present. Sarah’s experience reveals that while memories can bring comfort, they can also carry an underlying sadness, reminding her of what she has left behind.

“All our days were long days filled with green all around us, and the sea. The rain should have made us happy, but it didn’t.”

This passage highlights the contrast between the external abundance of Maine and the emotional emptiness the children feel when separated from Papa. The lush green landscape and presence of the sea symbolize life, renewal, and the very things that the dry prairie lacks, yet they do not bring the expected relief or joy. Anna’s sentiment underscores a sense of displacement in that while Maine offers physical comfort, it does not fulfill their longing for home and family unity. This moment reinforces the novel’s theme of The Importance of Family and Home, revealing how they feel loss even among abundance, emphasizing the emotional weight of separation.

“I could see his eyes shining in the moonlight. I thought of Papa’s eyes shining when the barn burned.”

Caleb’s shining eyes in the moonlight reveal a mix of determination and unspoken fear, much like Jacob’s eyes reflecting the fire during the barn’s destruction. The comparison to Jacob’s reaction to the fire implies that both father and son experience intense emotions in pivotal moments—Jacob with the barn’s devastation, and Caleb’s fear that they will never return home. This connection reinforces the importance of family, showing how young Caleb internalizes and processes hardship, much like his father. This moment also indicates Caleb’s increasing awareness as he begins to understand and reflect on the struggles that shape their lives.

“The August sun rose red, then turned gold. It touched the flowers of the aunt’s gardens, the beds of late roses and nasturtiums and asters.”

The imagery conveys the beauty and richness of Maine in contrast to the drought-stricken prairie. It also emphasizes that the family has stayed there long enough to see the changing seasons. Yet, the August sun rising red and turning gold symbolizes change and the passage of time, suggesting a new beginning or transition. Flowers have been symbolic for Sarah and the children in the past as they bonded in their early days together over gathering wildflowers. The flowers emphasize abundance and life, reflecting the nurturing environment of Sarah’s aunts, who provide stability and comfort. However, while Maine is lush, it still does not feel like home to the children.

“It rained.”

Jacob’s simple yet profound declaration marks a turning point in the novel, both emotionally and thematically. His words declare the end of the prolonged drought threatening their prairie home and the hope that they can begin again. The brevity of his statement reflects Jacob’s reserved nature, but beneath it lies deep relief, joy, and an unspoken plea for Sarah and the children to return home. Rain represents life and possibility, and its long absence mirrors the emotional strain on the Witting family. Jacob’s physical presence in Maine underscores his commitment to his family, proving he is willing to cross great distances, literally and emotionally, to keep them together.

“It will be fine.”

The repeated phrase used by Sarah and Jacob serves to reassure their children and reflects their strength and steadfastness. Jacob first employs this phrase to instill confidence in his children despite the uncertainty brought on by the drought and Sarah’s sadness. However, his stoic demeanor suggests he tries to convince himself, masking his fears about the future. When Sarah uses the phrase, it carries different significance, reflecting her role as a nurturing figure and her desire to reassure the children that they won’t lose another mother. The repetition of the phrase emphasizes the uncertainty that lingers during moments of transition and illustrates how parents use words to shield their children from worry.

“Papa dressed in his wedding suit, Sarah in her yellow bonnet.”

When the family returns home, Sarah wears the bonnet she wore when she first came to the prairie, and Jacob wears his wedding clothes, symbolizing renewal, commitment, and transformation. Jacob’s clothing signifies a reaffirmation of his bond with Sarah, welcoming her home to the prairie and back into their life together. It is a silent yet powerful gesture reflecting his love, devotion, and desire to show Sarah she belongs. Similarly, Sarah’s yellow bonnet symbolizes warmth and a fresh beginning, with yellow being the color of sunlight and optimism. Her bonnet suggests a sense of continuity and growth as she returns with a deeper understanding of where she belongs.