Kneeknock Rise

Kneeknock Rise and the Mammoth Mountains evidence the Instep community’s Need for Mystery in Everyday Life. The mountains are described as a source of “mystery, for good or evil” (4), a place of intrigue that captivates the imagination of the townspeople. They are hesitant to investigate or climb the mountains, respecting the unknown force that resides there. This deep sense of mystery is what makes Kneeknock Rise such a powerful symbol of community identity: “[T]o all of them the cliff was the grandest, most terrible thing in the world. They trembled over it, whispered about it, and fed their hearts to bursting with gleeful terrors. It was frightful and fine and it belonged to them. They called it Kneeknock Rise” (6). The idea that the cliff “belongs” to the people underscores its significance to their culture and identity. Their pride in the mountains stems from the fact that the mountains are the only major natural feature in an otherwise flat land. They are also home to the elusive Megrimum. Babbitt’s decision to introduce these mountains at the beginning establishes them as an important force in the story.