"The Notorious Jumping Frog of Calaveras County" is a short story written by Mark Twain that was first published in 1865. The story tells the tale of a man named Jim Smiley who is known for his love of betting on unusual contests and his prized possession, a jumping frog named Dan'l Webster. When a stranger named Simon Wheeler arrives in town and begins asking about a man named Leonidas W. Smiley, Jim's deceased brother, the story takes a humorous turn as the two men recount the tales of Jim's various betting ventures and the misadventures of Dan'l Webster.
One question that arises in the story is why Jim Smiley is so obsessed with betting on unusual contests. Twain hints at the answer by portraying Jim as a man who is always looking for a new challenge and a quick way to make money. Throughout the story, Jim is described as a "natural born gambler" who is always looking for a new adventure. It seems that Jim's love of betting is driven by his desire for excitement and his belief that he can always come out on top.
Another question that arises in the story is why Simon Wheeler is so interested in Leonidas W. Smiley. Twain reveals the answer to this question slowly throughout the story, using the narrative technique of the "frame story." As Simon tells Jim about his search for Leonidas, he also tells a series of stories about Jim's various betting ventures and the misadventures of Dan'l Webster. Through these stories, Twain reveals that Simon is actually looking for Jim, not Leonidas, and that he has come to Calaveras County specifically to ask Jim about a bet that he made with a man named Muff Potter.
In conclusion, "The Notorious Jumping Frog of Calaveras County" is a humorous and entertaining tale that raises questions about the motivations of its two main characters, Jim Smiley and Simon Wheeler. Twain uses the narrative technique of the "frame story" to reveal the answers to these questions slowly, adding to the suspense and enjoyment of the story.
The Notorious Jumping Frog of Calaveras County Essay Questions
Written by TimothySexton Narrator v. The most obvious use of techniques of exaggeration utilized by Twain are what might be considered the prose equivalent of cinematic sight gags: the frog somersaulting through the air, for instance, or the frog that is able to catch flies on demand. An editor will review the submission and either publish your submission or providefeedback. He feels focused and attentive. Had Twain chose to set this story in New York or even had he chosen characters who came west from Boston or Philadelphia, the effect would be significantly different and the humor compromised.
The Notorious Jumping Frog of Calaveras County" (with an excerpt from Life on the Mississippi) Flashcards
If so, then Twain—despite his position as a Westerner himself—is at least educated and sophisticated enough that his Eastern readers can easily identify with him. In addition, although humor is essential for satire, it should not be contracted for the purpose of preaching a message. Wheeler is utterly foolish. Nevertheless, Standard English translation is used to have a better, and universal understanding of a dialect. Some techniques include: hyperbole, a figure of speech which overstates a claim; understatement, or downplaying the significance of something outlandish; and local color, which pays close attention to regional dialects, customs, and characters. They will call an end to the match. Considering "kinder" is similar to "kind" it can be misinterpreted as "kindly voice" or "kindly manner".
Discussion Questions for “The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County” by Mark Twain
He essentially takes over the role of the narration from the actual narrator for most of the story as the bulk of the narrative is constructed from his long digressive stories about Jim Smiley that serve mainly to waste time. Wheeler could tell me anything about this Rev. And yet, do not forget, it is the narrator who has written the story to be published. The following question has two parts. In the following sentences, the underlined words share the same denotation: "feeling embarrassment or shame. The dialect also serves to intensify the prejudicial bias against westerners as rubes easily bamboozled by the most sophisticated people from the east. The following question has two parts.
The Notorious Jumping Frog of Calaveras County Imagery
Easterners were perceived by Westerners as dandies unable to fend for themselves. Eventually, the narrator concludes that there never was a Leonidas Smiley and instead he has become the victim of a practical joke by his friend. Tragically, one day Andrew Jackson went up against a dog that had no hind legs and lost badly. Consider that the bulk of those reading this story upon initial publication were settled into a social construct far away from its setting on the farthest end of the American continent. This is the image of Simon Wheeler from the perspective of the narrator and yet that very same narrator relates the story within the story of Simon Wheeler telling his story-within-the-story-within-the-story in a manner that seems to defy this image at every point. If he even see a straddle bug start to go anywheres, he would bet you how long it would take him to get to—to wherever he was going to, and if you took him up, he would foller that straddle bug to Mexico but what he would find out where he was bound for and how long he was on the road.
The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County Essay Questions
Well, Smiley kep' the beast in a little lattice box, and he used to fetch him downtown sometimes and lay for a bet. Wheeler is the rube here; Twain the stand-in for his readers. Written by TimothySexton Narrator The story is narrated by a man who is looking for a Rev. David was chagrined when he realized his grades were worse than expected. A scheme seems more warlike than its synonym. In "The Notorious Jumping Frog of Calaveras County," what does Twain mean when he writes that Jim Smiley occasionally would bring Dan'l Webster down-town and "lay for a bet"? This is an excellent example of how the utilization of imagery is not always a constant presence or effective device in literature. These notes were contributed by members of the GradeSaver community.
Wheeler, in particular, would essentially lose just about every bit of his power to amuse were he to speak in the more syntax of those readers back East who found his curious patois a source of terrific fun. . Answer Part A first, and then Part B. Simon Wheeler Wheeler is an affable and friendly sort of fellow who seems to spend half his time telling tall tales and half his time dozing off. Jim Smiley would wait for someone to make a bet with him. Both characters appear to be eager to talk and tell longwinded stories. A tall tale is a form of oral tradition and folk literature which developed in bragging contests on the American frontier.
