82 pages • 2-hour read
The Bronze Bow
A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.
Symbols & Motifs
The Bronze Bow
Cited by Malthace from the Song of David when she is searching for a sign to represent their vow, the bronze bow represents the way in which God trains his people to do the impossible—to bend a bow of bronze. At first, Daniel and Joel believe that the Song refers to the strengthening of their hands to fight a war against the Romans. However, Malthace suggests from the very beginning that the construct of a humanly unbendable bow refers to an impossible yet important task. Daniel and Joel use this symbol to signal that Daniel is visiting with a message and, later, as the oath made by their recruits. Daniel’s band of boys excitedly use the symbol in their conversations to stir up excitement for the cause. The bronze bow as a symbol is close to Daniel’s heart and reminds him of his purpose. The imagery used when Daniel shapes a small, delicate bow of bronze hints at the true nature of this impossible task. God is actually strengthening Daniel to do the impossible using love. It is not strong hands that can achieve the impossible. Only a soft, loving heart can bend a bow of bronze. When Daniel gives Malthace the small bow, it is as though he is offering his heart and the vulnerability that God has been instilling in him.
The Might of Rome
Rome is made out to be a mighty, formidable enemy that has conquered Israel. Many Jews feel they are the slaves of Rome, disapproving of Roman rule and law on them. However, the main antagonist of the story is never fully painted or explored. More a construct than a concrete threat, the might of Rome is explored only through glimpses of Roman soldiers, their collection of taxes, imposing of law, and the Jewish fear of them. It is the shared hatred of their conquerors that creates the image of far-off Rome. Rome symbolizes the shackles that the Jews believe imprison them, and the Jews search earnestly for a leader who can free them from those shackles, looking both to Rosh and to Jesus to be their savior. The image of the young and emotionally vulnerable Marcus clashes with the concept of the formidable and heartless Romans, proving there is more humanity in the world than there are all-powerful forces.
The Mountain
The mountain that Rosh and his outlaws have made their base represents freedom for the Jews who wish to drive out the Romans. Young boys who are tired of being treated like the slaves of Rome see the mountain, and the outlaws who lie there in wait, as a glimmer of hope. For Daniel, the mountain represents his desire for freedom from the things that chain him. The mountain is the only place where he can escape from his responsibility to his grandmother and sister, and the only place where he doesn’t have to answer to anyone. What Daniel believes to be the burdens of domestic life are what make the freedom of the mountain attractive. Though Daniel feels he is chained by the injustices Rome has enacted on his family, it becomes clear that his true shackles are his own hatred and desire for vengeance. He learns that he does not need the mountain to be free—he needs only to let go of his hatred and learn to live with love. The freedom of the mountain is in fact what chains him to hatred. It is only when Daniel decides to never return to the mountain that he sets firmly on the path towards the true freedom only a life of love can offer.
Unlock the meaning behind every key symbol & motif
See how recurring imagery, objects, and ideas shape the narrative.
- Explore how the author builds meaning through symbolism
- Understand what symbols & motifs represent in the text
- Connect recurring ideas to themes, characters, and events