Montana 1948
by Larry Watson
Section one: pages 15-19

What the name of the
town is and what it
might symbolise.

The name of the town
is Bentrock. This could
symbolise that some
people might be
crooked or might have
some problems with
their brains.

Impressions of
Montana, the land,
surroundings, etc.

Montana –harsh
landscape “dry and
sparse”, “the wind
never stops blowing”.
Farm and ranch country
with extreme
temperatures eg 106
degrees in July and -40
in January.



David’s portrayal of his
father, the town sheriff
He wanted his father to
look like a western
sheriff and “as far as I
was concerned it was
the wrong kind of gun
for a sheriff.” pg 17
He didn’t match his
sons ideal of how a
sheriff should be.

He wanted his father to
be stronger and braver:
“And that disappointed
me at the time. As long
as my father was going
to be a sheriff, a
position with so much
potential for excitement,
danger, and bravery,
why couldn’t some of
that promise be
fulfilled?” pg 17
Section two: pages 19-31


David Hayden’s
character and
personality traits.

He wanted to grow up
wild. “Wildness meant
to me, getting out of
town and into the
country”
He never knew how to
behave in town he
loved to ride, swim,
hunt, fish. He liked that
being out of twn
allowed him to ‘Be”.

Gail Hayden & Julian
Hayden’s expectations
of Wesley. Why?


Expected him to do
what he was told. In
order to retain his
power in the county: “
he turned the post (of
sheriff) over to my
father.”
It would never have
occurred to my father to
refuse.
Section three: pages 24-31

David’s relationship with
Marie little Soldier. Effect on
him compared to that of
other adults.


On pgs 24-25 David goes
into detail about Marie’s
looks and background,
He then states: “and I loved
her. Because she talked to
me, cared for me…because
she was older but not too
old…because she was not
as quiet and conventional
as every other adult I
knew…because she was
sexy, though my love for her
was, as a 12 year olds love
often is, chaste. Pgs 25/26

Elements of racism being
introduced.


Ronnie Tall Bear’s storygreat sportsman “finest
athlete the region ever
produced”
“I realise now how much I
was part of that era’s
thinking: I never wondered
then as I do now, why a
college didn’t snap up
Ronnie…I knew…that
college was not for Indians.”

David’s recurring
role/function in the
novel

His is the narrator; he
describes what is
occurring although
because of his age, he
does not fully
understand what is
going on.

Foreshadowing: what
the ‘prologue’
foreshadowed about
this event and what this
event might be
foreshadowing about
the rest of the story.

The prologue told of the
events that would
happen in the novel;
“a young Sioux woman
lies on a bed in our
house. She is feverish,
delirious, and coughing
so hard I am afraid she
will die.”
Section four: pages 31-35

Why David might
wonder about whether
“the sweat (was) hers
or mine?”

David has a crush on
her and he is beginning
to be aware of his
feelings for her.

How Marie’s anxiety
about seeing the
doctor, Frank, is
explained.


“My guess she has
never been to anyone
but the tribal medicine
man.”
Wesley thinks she is
scared of modern
medicine.

Awareness of racism
and prejudice (via
Frank & Wes)


“my father did not like
Indians…He simply
held them in low
regard. He believed
Indians, with only a few
exceptions were
ignorant, lazy,
superstitious and
irresponsible.”
Not racist more
prejudiced-moccasin
incident.
Section Five: pages 35-38


Impressions of each of the
Hayden men: Wesley, Frank &
Julian. Consider appearance,
presence, actions, relations
between the three of them.
How might you sum each of
them up?
Wesley:
 David’s father, married to Gail,
brother of Frank
 Mercer County sheriff
 Mentally/emotionally crippledhow?
 Honest
 Scared of his father, Julian
 Has a bad leg
 Was a lawyer
Summary:
Controlled life
Honest being
dependable
Frank:
 David’s uncle, married to
Gloria, brother to Wesley
 War hero
 Julian’s favourite
 Town/count doctor
 Leading member of community
 Has no children
 First impression: a likeable
character
 Murderer and rapist
 Dark, wavy hair, well built,
athletic, charming
Summary:
Outside- brilliant, likeable
Inside- disgusting vermin
Julian:
 David’s grandfather, Wesley
and Frank’s father
 Powerful, cruel and aggressive
 A large landowner
 Sheriff before Wesley
 Prone to corruption
 Drinks and smokes
 Racist
Summary:
Overpowering control freak
Lives for power and dominance
Section Six: pages 38-49




Why might David say, “After what
had just….Uncle Frank.” (p.41)
How we know that Frank is lying.
“They’re used to being treated…evil
spirits or something.” (p.42)
Irony: Explain what is ironic in
Frank’s statement, “They’re not
going to make it…old ways.” (p.42)
David’s transition from childhood
innocence to adult awareness.

He no longer trusts his uncle

?

Marie doesn’t make it as a result of
Frank, the doctor

“If I had gone back into the house-to
the kitchen, to my room, out the
back door, if I had left the porch and
followed Frank’s steps down the
front walk-I would never have heard
the conversation between my
mother and father, and perhaps I
would have lived my life with an
illusion about my family and perhaps
even the human community.
Section Seven: pages 50-54


How much substance is given to
Marie’s allegations against Frank?
David’s regard for his father &
awareness of adult relationships.

They begin investigating her claims
discreetly. Initially they talk to Daisy
and Len and begin to see that
people know about Frank’s
behaviour: “The word is he doesn’t
do everything on the up and up.”

David begins to understand that
adult relationships are complex: “
She saw him now as she hadn’t
before. He was not only her
husband, he was a brother, and
brother to a man who used his
profession to take advantage of
women, brother to a pervert! And
how did I know these were my
mother’s thoughts? I knew because
they were mine.”

Wesley Hayden’s moral
dilemma

Caught between being
the sheriff and his
family especially his
father.