--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: By the time he was done with the deer it…" description: "\"“By the time he was done with the deer it had been dark three hours and his bad leg was singing 'Ave Maria'.”\" — Stephen King" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c6/stephen-king-13_dark-hours_by-the-time-he-was-done-with-the-deer-it_2746502.jpg" --- # By the time he was done with the deer it had been dark… ![“By the time he was done with the deer it had been dark three hours and his bad leg was singing 'Ave Maria'.” quote by Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c6/stephen-king-13_dark-hours_by-the-time-he-was-done-with-the-deer-it_2746502.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c6/stephen-king-13_dark-hours_by-the-time-he-was-done-with-the-deer-it_2746502.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c6/stephen-king-13_dark-hours_by-the-time-he-was-done-with-the-deer-it_2746502.jpg) > ““By the time he was done with the deer it had been dark three hours and his bad leg was singing 'Ave Maria'.”” [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The deer’s leg makes a mournful sound, likened to a prayer, highlighting suffering. **In simple terms:** The deer’s pain is poetically described as a prayer. Key Takeaway Listen to subtle signs of suffering. Themes suffering nature metaphor empathy Mood somber reflective empathetic Type literary philosophical When to use this quote - hunting trips - wildlife observation - ethical debates Key Concepts literature animal welfare symbolism Questions to Reflect On - How do we interpret animal suffering? - What responsibility do we have toward wildlife? A Different Perspective The metaphor may romanticize animal pain, obscuring cruelty. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dark hours](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dark-hours/) [Humorous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humorous/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [“It's enough of a strain killing people. 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I'm going to send you up where the air is rare and the view is much more than fair.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/climb-aboard-jonesy-i-m-going-to-send-you-up-where-the-air-is-rare/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) [Explore all 3,589 Stephen King quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) ## More Dark hours quotes > [“I love the dark hours of my being. My mind deepens into them. 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