Essay Questions

What is the weapon that is used to kill the hillbilly during the film?

Lewis shoots the hillbilly who's raped Bobby in the woods with his bow and arrow. The reason he carries a bow and arrow is that he desires to return to a time when men were men and the use of a bow and arrow--which is archaic to some--proves his masculinity and also parallels his need to be more powerful than the other men because he is able to do something that they cannot.

What is the name of the song that Drew plays with the young boy on the porch?

Drew plays "Dueling Banjos" with the young boy in the town within the deep woods of Georgia. The song becomes a symbol of the two ways of life attempting to overtake one another. And while Drew has a great time playing with the boy, ultimately the song is about competing for a particular way of life. A fight that Drew loses as he is killed during the trip.

What is the symbolism in Ed's inability to shoot the deer in the woods?

Ed goes hunting early in the morning on their second day of the trip. He comes across a deer and has a clear line for a shot, but he cannot kill the deer. The sybolism is that Ed is not cut out for this type of life. He desires to go on these trips with Lewis, but the truth is that he is just running away from the life that he has at home which he does not love. He is seeking an escape, and isn't really capable of doing whatever it takes to survive.