The Notorious Jumping Frog by Mark Twain
What were the outcomes of his bets?
He almost always won.
Today, Jim smiley would probably be considered addicted to gambling. Explain.
He bet on everything he could
What kinds of bets did smiley make? What were the outcomes?
He gambled on dog fights, horse racing.
Charles Darwin
In 1859, ... publishes "The Origin of the Species" (theory of evolution). In 1871, .... publishes "The Descent of a Man" (theory presents the survival of the fittest.
What is the realism of the story?
It is something that really happens today.
Who is the protagonist?
Jim Smiley
As the old man is about to finish the story of Jim Smiley's jumping frog, he is interrupted by another individual. The narrator attempts to leave the locale, but the old man catches up with him. The story ends up with the old man beginning to tell the narrator about what?
Jim Smiley's yellow one-eyed cow, who had a stump tail
Did the narrator's friend set him up? why or why not?
No, not knowing
What devise does Twain use to describe Andrew Jackson?
Personification. (The dog becomes a person.)
What device does Twain use to describe Dan'l Webster?
Personification. (The frog acts like a dog and a person.)
What device is being used in the sentence that begins, "If there was a horse race, you'd find him flush nor you'd find him busted at the end of the it..."
Repetition of cause and effect (if)
What is Mark Twain's real name?
Samuel Clemmons
How did the stranger outwit smiley?
Shove led (buck shot) down the frogs throat so it couldn't jump.
Contrasts opposites -
Simon wheeler is informal and silly while the Narrator is very proper and impatient; intended to be funny
What is the irony?
Smiley always hustles people, but he ends up getting hustled.
What does the lack of an ending to the story suggest about smiley?
That he didn't learn from loosing he thought he would win next time
1861
The Civil Wat starts in the year ....
Who is Dan'l Webster?
The Frog.
What addiction or bad habit do we learn that Jim Smiley has?
addicted to gambling and making bets
Summarize the methods that Smiley's mare and bull pup use to win. What eventually becomes of Smiley's dog?
both act inferior and at last minute are able to pull it off; dies of a broken heart
What effect does the repetition have on the story?
exaggeration for humor and it creates his gambling character
What are some elements of this story that make it a tall tale?
extreme exaggerations of his bets, types of animals had and bet on, unlikely ways of winning
Leonidas -
fake person that friend tells narrator to ask Simon about
What amazing things can Smiley's frog do? What personality traits does Wheeler attribute to the frog?
flips, somersaults, jump higher than any other frog; modest, straightforward
What can you conclude about Smiley's character and attitude based on the story about Parson Walker's wife?
he couldn't help himself but to make bets even if it was someone's health
What can you infer about the narrator's attitude toward Wheeler?
he is boring, sort-of-crazy, old man, ignorant; says he has monotonous tone, tells weird, crazy stories and called him "old gentlemen"
For what reason does Wheeler call Smiley "the curiosest man"? What evidence does Wheeler use to support his statement?
he will bet on anything and on any side; he bets on whether parson's wife will live or die
How does the narrator come to meet Simon Wheeler and to hear his story? How does the narrator describe Wheeler's storytelling style?
his friend sends him to ask about Leonidas W. Smiley; monotonous narrative
What is colloquial language?
informal speech that people use in everyday conversation
The Origin of the Species
is the theory of evolution; this will turn into Social Darwinism.
What difference do you notice in the language between the narrator and Wheeler?
narrator - more educated language wheeler - sounds uneducated, uses colloquial language
Simon -
narrator of Jim Smiley's story
Jim -
person Simon actually tells story about
What conclusions can you draw about Smiley's character, based on the tale Wheeler tells?
smiley is competitive, has an addictive personality, doesn't like to lose, naive
Realism
the faithful representation of reality on a particular kind of subject matter, especially the representation of the middle class.
Personification
the frog learns to jump
1865
the year when the Civil War ends and the 13 ammenment (abolishing of slavery)
Animals names -
they are animals with serious names (absurdity creates humor)
Why do you think Wheeler tells about the mare and bull pup first, before focusing on the frog?
to show how Smiley always wins bets even when circumstances are against him; to show how severe loss of frog competition was; establish he's a compulsive gambler
What wager does Smiley make for contest with stranger on jumping frogs?
$40
American Realism
(1865-1914) It is the period that starts at the end of the civil war to the beginning of World War I.
Simile
- "looks like a frenchman" and "sold as a truck"
How long did Jim Smiley "educate" his frog in order to make him a championship jumper?
3 months
What literary terms are used in The notorious jumping frog of Calaveras County?
Allusion - animal's names are allusions to important people in american history
What is the name of Jim Smiley's small bull pup?
Andrew Jackson
Why is simon wheeler a likely storyteller?
Because he is in the bar where all the story telling takes place and all the gossip is told.
What is the internal conflict?
Between Smiley and his greed. He is greedy for money, but he ends up getting in trouble for it.
What is the external conflict?
Between Smiley and the stranger. The stranger hustles him.
Describe the Setting
Calaveras County
An example of colloquial language...
Dan'l Webster
What famous political name did Smiley bestow on his prized possession, "jumping frog"?
Daniel Webster (Dan'l)
Humor -
Deadpan: used by simon wheeler - simon is serious and doesn't show expression while telling a ridiculous story.
What kind of humor does Twain use in the story about the mare?
Exaggeration, surprise, situational irony
What kind of humor does Twain use?
Exaggeration, surprise, situational irony
Who was Andrew Jackson?
Fighting pup.
How does twain use "local color" and show "regionalism" in this story?
The language and the way the people talked
Why is the language of the narrator different from the language used by Simon Wheeler?
The narrator is highly educated. Simon Wheeler is an old minor.
What does "Mark Twain" mean?
The safe depth of a river to run a boat
Who is the antagonist?
The stranger
Summarize what happens after Smiley meets the stranger.
They decide to have a competition for frog that could jump better. He leaves Daniel Webster with stranger to get him a frog. When gone, stranger fills Daniel Webster with quail shot. When Smiley comes back, they compete and Daniel Webster doesn't move. Smiley lost.
Describe the Setting
This guy goes to a gold camp (angle camp) and is told to go find a friends friend. Goes to look in the local bar for the Reverend Leonidis W. smiley.
Why did Twain put in the story about the Parson's wife?
Twain wanted to add some shock value to his humor.
What are the characters in the notorious jumping frog of Calaveras County?
Unnamed narrator, Jim smiley, daniel webster, andrew jackson, leonidus smiley, and simon wheeler
What is the theme?
What goes around comes around.
