That very night in Max's room a forest grew... and grew—and grew until his ceiling hung with vines and the walls became the world all around...
This scene depicts Max's vivid imagination in full force. Forced into a time-out in his bedroom, he conjures an alternate world with new adventures. This forest allows him to take a step back from the emotional conflicts that dominate his house, and enter into a landscape on his own terms.
Sendak also writes this scene to emphasize the power of Max's imagination. Rather than writing that Max imagined a forest growing, or saw the transformation happen in his mind's eye, Sendak writes merely that it happened.
And Max the king of all wild things was lonely and wanted to be where someone loved him most of all.
This quote depicts the moment when Max decides to return home. After being declared king of the wild things and engaging in a long, satisfying playtime with them, Max sends them to bed without supper. As they comfortably doze off, Max suddenly realizes that he longs for that same comfort. He is no longer angry or adventurous. Instead, he wants to return to his mother, his bedroom, and his hot supper.
