64 pages • 2 hours read
Kekla MagoonShadows of Sherwood
Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 2015A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Symbols & Motifs
Old Technology
The novel is set in a dystopian near-future, in which wired technology is obsolete. Much like the reader’s world, wireless technology is ubiquitous in Nott City, but in the novel, radio and cell towers are considered useless. Yet, Robyn, Robyn’s father, and Scarlet collect obsolete devices, including voltage adapters and push-button cell phones. Such devices form a prominent motif in the novel. They function as a motif as they move the plot along and are tied in with important thematic elements, such as fighting surveillance technology. As symbols, modems, TexTers, wires, and Robyn’s moped represent resourcefulness and resistance to the status quo. As the narrative proceeds, it becomes clear that Robyn’s dad was fascinated with old technology because it can escape the surveilled wireless system of Nott City. Since wireless tech tracks citizens through their tags, the best way to beat the system is to go offline or opt for ancient technology.
The juxtaposition between high-tech wireless technology and obsolete modems also generates humor. While Mallet and Crown are tracking down rebels through sophisticated maneuvers, Scarlet hacks into their systems using a modem, a device so obsolete Robyn does not even recognize it. Similarly, Nessa broadcasts over the radio, a piece of equipment that is rare in the novel’s world while TexTers, described as “thick, black rectangles” (131), manage to communicate that which even fancy PalmTabs cannot. The use of wired technology in the novel is also a tongue-in-cheek comment on the surveillance culture of the real world, where people are constantly monitored through their digital footprint. The novel suggests that less intrusive tech options or offline communication may be a good way to resist such monitoring. Robyn’s snail mail green post-it notes are more difficult to surveil than a broadcast on a tablet.
The Crescent Rebellion
The Crescent Rebellion is an important motif in the novel, illustrating the key themes of The Ethics of Resistance Against Oppression and The Importance of Teamwork and Solidarity. A key plot point, the rebellion drives the narrative forward as it is the goal toward which several characters, including Robyn, ultimately strive. The rebellion ostensibly refers to a movement which arose in Nott City over 50 years ago when dissidents tried to overthrow cruel King Simeon. The king purged or vanished the Crescent Rebels, but they regrouped. A civil war broke out, with the rebels emerging victorious. Nott City became a democracy, with a parliament and a governor administering the polity. Robyn believes the Crescent Rebellion ended with the coming of parliamentary democracy. However, the events at the beginning of the novel quickly make it clear that the rebellion has always been brewing as Nott City’s version of democracy is lopsided, leaving poorer counties out of the idyll of wealth and safety. The government is targeting rebel leaders after the Purge because Governor Ignomus Crown knows the Crescent Rebels will always resist the concentration of power.
After Robyn’s parents are vanished, Robyn herself is drawn into the Rebellion, and by the novel’s end, becomes a rallying point for dissidents. Characters such as Scarlet, Nessa Croft, Nyna Campbell, and Floyd Bridger are known members of the Crescent Rebellion, working to fight the oppressive regime of Crown. As the moon lore is revealed, it is suggested that the Crescent Rebellion—named for the crescent moon—may be an ancient struggle to restore balance on earth. Since the children of Light—alluding to the wealthy and powerful—have hoarded resources, the Crescent Rebellion redistributes resources equitably. Thus, the political movement also has mythical and spiritual dimensions. The Rebellion also stands for harmony and solidarity between people. The Rebels repeatedly pledge allegiance to Robyn and the Crescent cause, with Key explaining to Robyn that the leader, the people, and the movement are all one and the same.
The Moon Shrine
A key symbol in the text, the moon shrine represents the persistence of unique traditions and belief systems. As Tucker explains to Robyn, the moon shrine is left extant in Nottingham Cathedral because the workers building the church wanted to preserve their ancient faith. Thus, the shrine symbolizes an alternative legacy and tradition that remains relevant despite attempts to obliterate it. The power of the moon shrine is its people, just as ancient languages and stories persist in the real world through oral tradition despite the dominant culture’s homogenizing narratives. Built with black and white stones, the moon shrine symbolizes unity between Light and Shadows, Sun and Moon. While the Black stone is etched with white markings symbolizing the phases of the moon, the white stone is etched with diagrams in black representing the movement of the sun during the day. The black-and-white interplay of the shrine represents harmony between diverse people. This shows the shrine is not meant as an ostentatious display, but as an altar for contemplation. The six-segmented curtain at the shrine represents the various elements; braided together, the elements bring harmony, order, and true power. Robyn also associates the shrine with her parents. In a poetic sequence, she sleeps at the shrine, its stones reminding her of her mother and father. Lastly, the shrine’s white stone is the same material as her mother’s sun pendant, while the obsidian black stone is similar to her father’s moon pendant. This suggests Robyn’s parents are intrinsically linked with the shrine, and the significance of that connection will be revealed in the later books of the Robyn Hoodlum trilogy.
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By Kekla Magoon
