READING PROJECT

Dumbrava Darius
-The Return Of The Native-
Summary:
■ The book opens in Egdon Heath, where the story will take place. Along its road
walks an old man that encounters a wagon, who was driven by a reddleman
(someone who sells red chalk substance sheep farmers use to make identifying
marks on their flock). The old man finds out that in the back sleeps a young woman.
The men part ways and the wagon driver sees figures on top of the Rainbarrow.
■ The figures are the people of the heath coming to build the Fifth of November
bonefire, an annual tradition. The folk include : Grandfer Cantle, Christian Cantle,
Timothy Fairway, Humphrey, Sam, Olly Dowden, and Susan Nunsuch. They are
discussing The marriage of Thomasin Yeobright ( Mrs. Yeobright’s niece) and
Damon Wildeve . They also converse about Mrs. Yeobright disapproval and the
return of her son, Clym. When the fire stops, Fairway and Susan Nunsuch lead the
way in a dance through the embers.
■ They are interrupted by Diggory Venn, the man who was riding in the wagon who
wishes to know the way to Mrs. Yeobrights home. She herself comes by, and goes
to the Quiet Woman Inn with Olly Dowden, which is now Thomasin’s home.
■ Outside the inn Mrs. Yeobright meets the reddlema, who has been looking for her. He tells her
that he has her niece in his wagon, and Mrs. Yeobright immediately goes to investigate. She
very soon learns that the girl has returned home alone from Anglebury, where she and
Wildeve were to have been married earlier in the day, and that she is not yet married. Her aunt
immediately confronts Wildeve and is not entirely satisfied with his explanation of what
happened. While they are talking, Wildeve answers Thomasin's questions by saying that he
will still marry her.
■ Their discussion is interrupted when the group from Rainbarrow arrives. Led by Fairway and
Grandfer Cantle, they have come to serenade the newlyweds. Wildeve is annoyed by their
appearance but must put up with their congratulations and rambling conversation. By the time
they leave, he discovers Mrs. Yeobright and Thomasin have already gone, and he starts off
toward Mistover Knap, assuming that the fire still burning in front of Captain Vye's is a signal
from Eustacia.