Fantastic Mr Fox - Chapter 8

Summary

In a tense standoff, Mr. Fox and his family are trapped in their home by three farmers, Bogis, Bunce, and Bean, who are armed and ready to catch the cunning fox. As the foxes starve, the farmers taunt them with food, hoping to lure them out. The farmers devise a plan to surround the hill with 108 men, making escape impossible. The situation escalates as Mr. Fox must find a way to outsmart his adversaries and secure food for his famished family.

Takeaways

• 🎪 Three tents are set up by the farmers at the top of the hill, one for each farmer, Bogis, Bunce, and Bean.
• 🍗 Bogis entices Mr. Fox with the aroma of boiled chicken, hoping to lure him out of his home.
• 🍩 Bunce has six doughnuts filled with goose liver paste, and Bean has two gallons of cider, all while keeping their guns close by.
• 🔦 The farmers use powerful headlamps on their tractors to shine light into the fox's hole, indicating their determination to catch Mr. Fox.
• 👀 The farmers take turns keeping watch, showing their persistence and lack of sleep in their pursuit of Mr. Fox.
• 🏞️ Mr. Fox's family is starving, and the children express their hunger and desperation for food.
• 🚜 The farmers plan to surround the hill with their workers, each armed with a weapon, to prevent Mr. Fox from escaping.
• 🔒 This creates a tight ring of armed men around the hill, making it nearly impossible for any animal to escape.
• 🕵️‍♂️ The farmers continue their watch, sitting silently with their guns, waiting for Mr. Fox to make a move.
• 🌪️ Mr. Fox occasionally creeps closer to the tunnel's mouth to sniff and confirm the presence of the farmers, showing his cautious nature.
• 👃 Mr. Fox's keen sense of smell is highlighted, as he can detect the distinct stench of Bean from a mile away.

Q & A

What is the situation that the foxes are facing in the beginning of the script?

The foxes are beginning to starve, indicating a lack of food and a dire situation for the family.

What are the three tents set up for and who are they for?

The three tents are set up by the three farmers, Bogis, Bunce, and Bean, for their own use, with one for Bogis, one for Bunce, and one for Bean.

What are the farmers eating for their supper, and what does this imply?

Bogis is eating boiled chicken with dumplings, Bunce has doughnuts filled with goose liver paste, and Bean has two gallons of cider. This implies they are enjoying a feast while the foxes are starving, highlighting the contrast between the two groups.

Why do the farmers keep their guns beside them?

The farmers keep their guns beside them as a precaution and a threat to Mr. Fox, indicating their intent to capture or kill him.

What is the farmers' plan to capture Mr. Fox?

The farmers plan to surround the hill with their workers, each armed with a weapon, to prevent Mr. Fox from escaping.

What is the significance of the powerful headlamps used by Bunce and Bean?

The powerful headlamps are used to illuminate the fox's hole, making it difficult for Mr. Fox to hide and increasing the chances of capturing him.

How do the farmers plan to keep watch over Mr. Fox's hole?

Bunce and Bean plan to take turns keeping watch over the fox's hole, with one watching while the other sleeps, ensuring constant surveillance.

What is the concern raised by Bunce about Mr. Fox potentially digging a hole through the hill?

Bunce raises the concern that Mr. Fox might dig a tunnel through the hill and escape on the other side, which would make their efforts to capture him futile.

How does Bean respond to the concern about Mr. Fox escaping through the hill?

Bean dismisses the concern by asking how many men are working on the farm, implying that they have enough manpower to surround the hill and prevent escape.

What does Mr. Fox do to check if the coast is clear?

Mr. Fox occasionally creeps closer to the mouth of the tunnel to take a sniff and then retreats back, indicating he is checking for the presence of the farmers.

How does Mrs. Fox react to the children's plea for food?

Mrs. Fox does not answer the children's plea for food, as there is no solution or immediate answer to their hunger, reflecting the desperate situation.