Literature - The Jumping Frog

How long did Smiley train his frog, and to do what?

For 3 months, he taught the frog to jump.

In what city and state was Twain born?

Hannibal, Missouri

What does Wheeler think about that dog's losing fight?

He felt sorry for what happened to Andrew Jackson because the dog had a special talent for winning.

How did the narrator feel about the story he eventually heard?

He felt that he may have been the target of a practical joke that got Wheeler to speak at the length of Jim Smiley.

How did Smiley train the frog?

He trained the frog to catch flies by tapping him from behind.

How did the narrator react to this story?

He walked away because it didn't serve the purpose of getting any info about Leonidas W. Smiley.

What cause the dog to lose once, and became of the dog because of the loss?

He was put against a dog that had no hind legs, therefore, Andrew Jackson could not use his winning move. Andrew Jackson then walked off and died, suffering from both wounds from the fight and sadness.

Was there anything Smiley wouldn't bet on? If so, what?

He'd bet on anything.

How did Smiley's frog fare in the contest? Give details.

It lost because it couldn't jump. It had been weighted down by the metal pellets of quail shot.

How did Smiley answer when asked "what might it be....in the box?"

It might be a parrot or a canary, but it ain't. It's a frog.

Describe Wheeler's countenance while telling his story.

It never changed about his smile or laughter. Wheeler seemed to take the characters of his yarn as serious and the matter to have great importance.

About whom did Simon Wheeler talk to the narrator?

Jim Smiley

What was the frog's strength?

Jumping from a dead start, which means no movement before.

About whom was the narrator seeking information?

Leonidas W. Smiley

At first sight, did that pup appear to be worth anything? Why or why not?

Not worth anything because he would just sit around looking ornery and looking for something to steal

What did the frog do after Smiley turned the frog over?

Puked out a double handful of quail shot, that the stranger had put in it.

What was his real name?

Samuel Langhorne Clemens

What bet did Smiley try to make with Parson Walker?

That the parson's wife wouldn't recover from a serious illness. He offered to bet $2.50.

List six novels that Mark Twain wrote.

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn; The adventures of Tom Sawyer; Pudd'n Head Wilson; The Prince and the Pauper; A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court; Roughin' It, The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County

For what reason does Wheeler believe Smiley was there in one of those years?

The big flume hadn't been finished.

nape

back of the neck

tranquil

calm, serene

parson

clergyman, reverend

buttonholed

detained, cornered

providence

diving protection and guidance

vagabond

drifter, tramp, person who roams

solitary

existing alone

inquiry

investigation, formal questioning

anvil

iron block used to hammer upon

flume

man-made channel or stream

ante

money up for a wager

deliberate

plan or consider carefully

cavort

prance about, swagger, strut

earnestness

seriousness

dilapidated

state of disrepair or decay

ornery

stubborn, ill-tempered

garrulous

talkative, loquacious

What was the usual result of Smiley's activity?

usually won but always lost big in the end

compliance

willingness, agreement

How much did Smiley bet the stranger on his frog's jumping ability?

$40

What did the men of the mining camp call Smiley's horse?

15-minute nag

What years did Mark Twain live?

1835-1910

In what possible years did Jim Smiley once appear at the mining camp?

1849 or 1850

How much of a head start would Smiley's horse be given?

200 to 300 yards

How much did Smiley think his frog weighted after the contest?

5 pounds.

How did the narrator feel about the men of this particular story?

Although Wheeler thinks of them as important and having genius, the narrator thinks their exploits and Wheeler's view of the occurrences are absurd.

What was the dog's name?

Andrew Jackson

For what activity was Smiley known?

Betting

What type of pup did Smiley have?

Bull pup

Where did the narrator find Wheeler?

By the stove of the dilapidated bar in Angel's Camp

What was the frog's name?

Daniel Webster.

Was Smiley's horse male or female?

Female because the horse was a mare

What did the stranger do to Smiley's frog while Smiley tried to catch another frog?

Filled it with a teaspoon of quail shot to make it too heavy to jump.

For what reason did the narrator seek out Simon Wheeler?

To gain info of his friend's friend, whose name was Leonidas W. Smiley

In what city and state was Twain living when he wrote "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County?"

Virginia City, Nevada

After the interruption, what Smiley story did Wheeler attempt to tell the narrator, and what was unusual about this Smiley animal?

Wheeler began to tell the narrator about Smiley's yellow cow, which had a stump for a tail that looked like a banana. It also had one eye.

What did the dog do to win its fights?

Would start to appear to lose on purpose, but once all bets had been placed against him, he would grab a hold of his opponent's hind leg and not let go until the opposing owner threw in the sponge, which means to quit.