full title Shane
author Jack Schaefer
type of work Novel
genre Young adult, Fiction, Old West Fiction
language English
time and place written First a short story written in 1945, then expanded to the full text in 1949 in Norfolk, Virginia
date of first publication 1949
publisher Houghton Mifflin
narrator Bob Starrett
point of view First person, reflecting the point of view of Bob Starrett
tone Grave; serious; stoic.
tense Past
setting (time) The book begins in the summer of 1889 and continues the next year.
setting (place) The Starrett's farm in the wilderness of Wyoming
protagonist Shane; Joe Starrett
major conflict The Starretts' refusal to sell their land to Fletcher and the resulting confrontation with Fletcher and his men
rising action Shane's decision to ride into town to take care of Chris after realizing that his decision not to fight was plaguing all of the homesteaders, especially Joe
climax The fight in which Fletcher's men gang up against Shane; some also consider the fight between Shane and Stark Wilson as the climax.
falling action After the fight with Wilson, Shane's brief conversation with Bob about having to leave because killing "marks" a man, no matter the circumstances
themes Coming of age; what it means to be a man; different kinds of danger, different kinds of fear
motifs Loyalty; vigilance; love of a different name
symbols The tree stump; the fence post; Shane's gun
foreshadowing Bob uncovering Shane's particularly dangerous looking gun; Shane's many predictions about Fletcher's tactics—such as predicting that Fletcher would goad Ernie and then Joe; Joe and Shane's unending wariness
