Symbols Forget Me Not Alyson Derrick

The Fallen Oak Tree and Ravine: A Symbol of Memory and Separation

Introduction

In Alyson Derrick’s Forget Me Not, the fallen oak tree that spans a ravine serves as a powerful concrete symbol. More than just the site of Stevie’s accident, the tree marks the boundary between her known past and her forgotten life. It recurs at crucial moments—before the fall, after the accident, and when Stevie tries to recover her memories—each time carrying a different emotional weight. This analysis unpacks what the symbol means, how its meaning shifts, and how it ties into the novel’s core themes of memory, identity, love, and secrecy.

What the Fallen Oak Tree and Ravine Literally Are

The fallen oak tree lies across a deep ravine (roughly fifteen to twenty feet deep) on the Martin family farm, near the creek that runs through the woods. In chapter 3, Nora and Stevie encounter the tree while walking along the path. Nora confidently walks across the trunk, then dares Stevie to follow. The tree itself is sturdy enough to hold a person, with a woven maze of exposed roots where it originally stood. The ravine below is filled with rushing water, making the crossing dangerous. When Stevie finishes crossing, she steps onto a loosened rock that gives way, causing her to fall backward into the ravine. This literal fall triggers her amnesia.

The tree and ravine are not just a random natural formation—they are part of the landscape Stevie and Nora secretly visited during their two-year relationship. The tree represents the physical and metaphorical threshold between the life Stevie knew before the accident and the life she forgot.

Where the Symbol Recurs

The fallen oak tree and ravine appear directly in three key chapters, and are referenced in others:

  • Chapter 3 (the accident): The first appearance. Nora crosses the tree easily; Stevie hesitates but succeeds, only to fall.
  • Chapter 5 (the hospital): Stevie learns she fell into a ravine and that Nora saved her life, carrying her over a mile. The ravine is described but not seen.
  • Chapter 15 (the return): Stevie asks Nora to take her back to the site. She sees the massive tree and the ravine, feels her heart jump, and wonders how she survived. Standing at the edge, she still cannot remember why she was there or what the tree means to her.
  • Chapter 24 (the confrontation): Although the tree is not physically present, Stevie’s discovery of the hidden box of mementos forces her to confront the truth of her relationship with Nora, which began in the woods near the ravine. The ravine becomes a symbol of the secret life that Nora has been keeping from her.

How the Symbol’s Meaning Changes

Before the Accident: Trust and Risk

In chapter 3, the tree represents a playful challenge. Nora’s line “You want to live your life playing it safe or take a little risk once in a while?” captures the dynamic between the two girls. For Stevie, crossing the tree is an act of trust in Nora and in herself. Her hesitation shows fear, but Nora’s encouragement makes her feel invincible. At this point, the tree is a symbol of their love and shared risk—a bridge to their future together.

During the Fall: Trauma and Severance

The moment Stevie slips, the symbol transforms. The rock gives way, and she falls backward, her fingertips barely grazing Nora’s. The tree now represents the sudden loss of connection—the severing of memory and identity. The very object that tied them together becomes the instrument of separation. Nora’s scream as Stevie falls is the last sound she hears before losing consciousness, cementing the tree as a site of trauma.

After the Accident: Fragmented Memory and Mystery

In chapter 15, when Stevie returns to the tree, it no longer feels like a symbol of love or risk. Instead, it is a cold, physical reminder of something she cannot grasp. She looks down into the ravine and thinks, “How did I end up down there?” The tree now symbolizes the barrier between her past and present—a barrier she cannot cross again, despite being physically at the same spot. The tree is still there, but its meaning has fragmented; it holds memories she cannot access and secrets she has yet to uncover.

In Retrospect: Hidden Truth and Second Chances

By the end of the novel, after Stevie recovers her memories and reconciles with Nora, the tree gains yet another layer. It becomes a symbol of survival and second chances. She survived the fall, and later she survives the emotional trauma of learning the truth about her erased past. The tree is no longer just a place of danger; it is also where her new life with Nora began—first in the accident, and then in their decision to leave Wyatt together.

Connections to Themes

The fallen oak tree and ravine connect directly to several of the novel’s central themes. For a deeper dive into these themes, see the detailed pages:

  • Memory and Identity: The ravine is the physical site where Stevie’s memory shatters. Her inability to remember crossing the tree or why she was there underscores the theme of identity loss. Her quest to return to the tree in chapter 15 is an attempt to reclaim her past self.

  • Love and Second Chances: Nora and Stevie’s love is tested by the accident and the memory gap. The tree, which first brought them together (through the dare and the fall), later becomes a place where they must rebuild trust. In chapter 15, Nora brings Stevie to the tree hoping it will trigger her memory—a gesture of love and a second chance at understanding.

  • Secrecy and Coming Out: The tree is hidden deep in the woods on the Martin farm, a secret spot where the girls met away from prying eyes. The fall occurs because Stevie is stepping into a future they had planned in secret. The ravine symbolizes the danger of living a hidden life—the ground can give way at any moment.

  • Family Expectations vs. Self-Authenticity: Stevie’s parents expect her to be the daughter they think they know. The ravine holds the truth of who she really is—a girl in love with another girl. Crossing the tree is an act of defying those expectations, and falling represents the consequences of that defiance.

Connections to Characters

  • Stevie Green: For Stevie, the tree is both a moment of triumph and a point of rupture. Her journey in the novel involves piecing together the meaning of that day. The tree remains a fixed point in her fragmented memory—she knows she fell, but not why she was crossing. It represents the gap in her identity that she must fill.

  • Nora Martin: Nora sees the tree differently. In chapter 3, she crosses it easily, confident and daring. After the accident, she carries the guilt of having dared Stevie. In chapter 15, she brings Stevie back, hoping to heal that wound. For Nora, the tree is where she lost Stevie and where she hopes to find her again.

  • Savannah and Ryan: These characters never encounter the tree directly, but their presence in Stevie’s present life highlights how much she has lost. The tree is a symbol of the secret world Nora and Stevie shared—a world completely unknown to Savannah and Ryan.

Study Questions and Answers

1. Why does Stevie agree to cross the fallen oak tree in chapter 3, even though she is afraid?

Answer: Stevie agrees because of her trust in Nora and her desire to prove herself. Nora cheers her on, making her feel capable and loved. Stevie’s internal monologue shows that focusing on Nora’s face gives her the courage to keep moving. Crossing the tree becomes a metaphor for taking risks for the person you love. However, her fear is real, and she repeatedly tells Nora she’s playing it safe, revealing her anxiety about change and the unknown.

2. How does the tree’s meaning shift from chapter 3 to chapter 15?

Answer: In chapter 3, the tree represents shared adventure and romantic trust. After the accident, in chapter 15, it becomes a site of confusion and trauma. Stevie cannot remember the adventure or the love; she only sees a massive tree over a terrifying drop. The tree no longer feels like a bridge but a barrier. The shift underscores how memory loss can strip objects of their emotional significance, leaving only raw physical danger.

3. In what way does the ravine symbolize Stevie’s concealed identity as a lesbian?

Answer: The ravine is hidden deep in the woods, far from the roads and houses of Wyatt, Pennsylvania. It is a secret place where Stevie and Nora could be themselves without fear of exposure. The act of crossing the tree parallels Stevie’s covert relationship—every step is a risk of being discovered. When the ground gives way, it symbolizes the dangers of living a double life. The fall forces her into a new reality where her secret is buried so deep she cannot even remember it herself.

4. Does the tree ever regain its positive meaning by the novel’s end?

Answer: Yes, in a nuanced way. Although Stevie never explicitly returns to the tree after chapter 15, the events of the final chapters show her embracing the truth that the tree represented: her love for Nora and their shared future. Their escape to UCLA together signals that the risk she took crossing the tree was worth it. The tree’s initial meaning—trust and love—is restored in a new context, even if the physical location remains a painful memory. The symbol becomes one of growth rather than loss.

Conclusion

The fallen oak tree and ravine in Forget Me Not are far more than a setting for the accident. They are a multifaceted symbol that evolves across the narrative: from a symbol of love and risk, to a site of trauma and memory loss, to a marker of hidden truth, and finally to a touchstone for second chances. Derrick uses the tree to ground the novel’s emotional arc in a concrete, physical object, allowing readers to trace Stevie’s journey from secrecy to self-acceptance. For anyone studying the book, the tree offers a rich entry point into the major themes of memory, identity, and love.

For more analysis, explore the main book page or dive into specific themes like memory and identity and love and second chances.