57 pages • 1 hour read
Fred GipsonOld Yeller
Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 1942A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.
Chapters 5-8Chapter Summaries & Analyses
Chapter 5 Summary
Little Arliss habitually tries to catch “every living thing that ran, flew, jumped or crawled” —from snakes to horny toads—and bring them home in his pocket (42). Old Yeller helps him catch bigger game, and Little Arliss tells elaborate stories about how he caught the animals himself. Travis thinks Little Arliss is becoming the biggest liar in Texas, but Mama finds his “big windies” amusing (44). While splitting logs, Travis hears Little Arliss scream and knows he is in trouble. Travis and Mama run to find Little Arliss in the spring, holding onto a baby black bear cub, with the angry mama bear crashing towards him. Old Yeller charges the mama bear. Travis grabs Little Arliss and gives him to Mama, then turns to kill the bear with his axe, but Old Yeller has kept the bear away. Travis runs to the cabin, and Old Yeller, seeing they are all safe, follows.
Chapter 6 Summary
Little Arliss’s brush with death makes Travis realize how much he loves his brother. He recognizes that Old Yeller saved Little Arliss’s life and his feelings for the dog change. Travis and Mama do not understand why Old Yeller has not been eating, until their neighbor,
