The relationship between good and evil in Wangerin's novel, The Book of the Dun Cow,

is conveyed by farm animals that portray characteristics of religious characters and events from

the Holy Bible. Wangerin, being a preacher and long-term religious writer clearly shows

examples of these biblical events. The plot and events that happen throughout this novel are

very closely related to the events that happen in the Holy Bible, and can easily be interpreted by

the reader. Biblical events such as David and Goliath, the Birth of Christ, War in Heaven, and

King Alexander's decapitation (Old Testament) can be linked into this novel.

In the early chapters of the novel we are introduced to an evil being known as Wyrm.

Wyrm represents the Devil in the novel. Wyrm is described as something that "lived in the

darkness, in dampness, in the cold. He stank fearfully, because his outer skin was always rotting,

a runny putrefaction which made him itch, and which he tore away from himself by scraping his

back against the granite teeth of the deep." (Wangerin, 23) Wyrm, much like the Devil lived

underneath the earth. Wyrm and the Devil both spent all their spare t

described as the cockiest cock, and thought of as something way beyond the word arrogant. Jesus

Galilee, named Nazareth, 27 To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house

Chauntecleer was viewed as a higher body to all the other animals on his farm. He could be

Senex were visited in a dream and told that they would bear a child. The only major difference is

Chauntecleer? A reader can assume what they want, however, they can not declare an answer

to the butt through the white flesh. How Wyrm raged then!" (Wangerin, 228). The outcome of

Some common words found in the essay are:
Dun Cow, Holy Bible, Mundo Cani, Wyrm Devil, Chauntecleer Jesus, Wyrm Wyrm, Jesus Chauntecleer, God Mary, Bible Wangerin, dun cow, Mary Senex, holy bible, mundo cani, book dun cow, book dun, closely related events, closely related, related events, novel reader, events happen, bible cockatrice, novel book dun, farm animals,
Approximate Word count = 1175
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)