the forest fire
The forest fire that Xavier and Elijah see on their way to the army base is described with vivid imagery. The sparks that burn Xavier are "like wasps stinging [his] scalp" and the fire is a "continuous thunder" in his ears, while Elijah's eyes "sparkle in the firelight" as he grows excited by the danger. This imagery reflects a recurring theme in the novel: nature's destructive capabilities. It also foreshadows Elijah's obsession with war and highlights a difference between the two friends, as Xavier is wary of the fire but Elijah is enthralled by its power.
the dead horses
Boyden uses visceral imagery to describe the horses that Xavier has killed in order to emphasize the brutal lengths to which Xavier will go when necessary, and to reinforce the theme of violence and death that runs throughout the novel. Xavier "looks like he's been painted red" with the horses' blood; the smell of this blood is described as "heavy," a potent word that draws attention to the volume of the damage done. The neck of one of the horses "gapes open along its big artery." This gruesome, detailed imagery draws attention to Xavier' hunting skill (as one officer notes, "it was no mean feat to dispatch two powerful animals with only a knife"), but also foreshadows the continued blood, violence, and necessary murder that Xavier will encounter for the rest of the book.
Elijah's murder
When Xavier kills Elijah by crushing his windpipe with the Mauser rifle, Elijah's reactions are described in vivid, repellent detail. Boyden doesn't allow readers to turn away from the tragic act, pointing out Xavier's tears falling on Elijah's cheeks, the "dark red" of Elijah's face as his oxygen supply is cut off, and the "veins [that] bulge from his forehead." Even the appalling detail of Xavier feeling Elijah's collapsing windpipe is described. This level of imagery makes the readers understand how difficult the act is for Xavier, and how necessary he feels it is to complete if he's willing to follow through with the act. It also presents to the reader an unadulterated description of the horrors of war.
the morning after Niska and Xavier leave the sweat lodge
After a long night of fervent praying and spiritual renewal in the sweat lodge, Xavier and Niska finally crawl out onto the riverbank. Although much of the novel has depicted suffering, hardship, and violence, the book's closing image is one of peace and hope. Niska listens to the sound of animals and gazes at the sky and the river. She feels a peace that she hasn't felt since she was young, and looks forward to being home tomorrow. The positive, natural imagery used at the novel's closing emphasizes the connection with nature that is important to many Cree people, and provides a hopeful ending to an often tragic novel.
