The animal imagery in Timothy Findley's The Wars, is used creatively to develop a better understanding of the main character Robert Ross while reflecting on the situations that he faces.
The first animal that Robert encounters is a coyote. In this particular book, the coyote symbolizes Robert learning how to become a good solider in the war and his first connection with animals. In the beginning of this book, Robert is admitted into the army and states that he does not know how to kill and that what he would want would be a model. "Someone who could teach him by example, how to kill. Who…
