Fox's Book
The fox’s book is used in the poem to symbolize the ability of foxes to record human behavior in their minds. When the Speaker asks the fox why he is not running away, the fox tells her that he already has her name in his book. Therefore, the fox tells the Speaker that he already knows she is a good person who is friendly to foxes. In the previous days, the foxes had the Speaker talking against haunting foxes, and they marked her as pro-fox in their minds. Consequently, the book referred to by the fox is the mind that records human behavior.
The Speaker
The Speaker is a symbol of nature conservation because she is against hunting foxes. When the Speaker conversed with another woman who wanted them to hunt foxes, she was firm when she refused to hunt foxes and argued that they deserve to live because animals also have families. The poem signifies the importance of taking care of animals and nature.
The Tree
The tree where the fox is resting symbolizes nature. The Speaker approaches the fox, and it stays put a sign that it also has the right to live. The poem provides a critical lesson about the relationship between man and animals. Consequently, it is the responsibility of human beings to conserve animal habitats. The Speaker sees nature from the perspective of the fox and maintains her stand that foxes have a right to live in their habitat.
