Nightmare

The nightmare is a symbol of fear and guilt. Bob has a nightmare that Ivan and Ruby are drowning in a flooded river the night before the storm strikes. It seems that the dream might be foreshadowing danger for Ivan and Ruby at first, but we ultimately come to see that the nightmare is a symbolic manifestation of Bob's fears about being a coward and letting down those that he loves most.

Highway

The highway is a symbol of danger. Bob is thrown out onto the highway when he is just a puppy and nearly dies. All of his siblings, aside from Boss, die on the highway. It is a manmade device that is beneficial to humans but deadly for animals.

Ivan's Painting

The painting is a symbol of loneliness. Ivan paints a picture of Bob with a companion because he imagines that his friend is...