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17. Fields of Flashing Light
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Out of the Dust, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Nature, Survival, and the Dust Bowl
Poverty, Charity, and Community
Coming of Age
Family and Forgiveness
Summary
Analysis
While Billie Jo is taking a test at school, the wind picks up and blows dust right through the cracks of her schoolhouse. Everyone coughs and gets covered in grime while taking the test. Billie Jo hopes she gets extra credit for completing the test under such strenuous conditions.
Interstitial chapters such as this one demonstrate how quickly these dust storms can disrupt everyday affairs. It also highlights the resilience someone like Billie Jo must demonstrate to perform as well as she does.
Themes
