11th Standard Supplementary Reader Textbook - Snapshots. Lesson No. 1: The Summer of the Beautiful White Horse - William Saroyan. Glossa...
11th Standard Supplementary Reader Textbook - Snapshots.
Lesson No. 1: The Summer of the Beautiful White Horse - William Saroyan.
Glossary, Summary, Questions and Answers -
Glossary -
The story is about two Armenian boys, Aram ( Narrator of the story) and Mourad, who belong to the Garoghlanian family and are known for their honesty and poverty. Mourad, who is adventurous and carefree, secretly "borrows" a beautiful white horse from a farmer named John Byro without telling anyone. He shares the joy of riding the horse with Aram, who is thrilled but conflicted because he knows it is wrong.
The boys hide the horse for a month, enjoying their rides early in the morning. When John Byro encounters the boys with the horse, he recognizes it but doesn’t accuse them directly, trusting their family's reputation for honesty. Feeling guilty, Mourad decides to return the horse to the farmer. Also, the story has a peculiar character, Uncle Khosrove (the Narrator's uncle), a short-tempered personality, who always roars after every happening, " It is no harm, pay no attention to it"creates fun and laughter, and the character is trying to give a moral that whatever happenings or mishappenings of life to be taken casually, not seriously.
The story highlights innocence, adventure, humuor, and the importance of maintaining family values like honesty.
1. Longing - a wish, desire, eagerness.
2. Poverty-stricken - very poor.
3. Pious - religious.
4. Leap - to jump.
5. Trot - to move forward at a speed faster than a walk, ( specially used for an animal like a horse)
6. Enormous - very big.
7. Caprious - careless, changing or impulsive behaviour.
8. Vagrant - vagabond, a homeless person.
9. Snorted - to make sound by blowing air through nose and mouth. ( specially used for an animal like a horse)
10. Barn - storeroom or a shed on a farm used to keep agricultural products.
11. Nevertheless - despite that.
Summary -
Questions and Answers Exercise -
1. You may agree that this story does not have breathless adventure and exciting action. What makes it interesting?
Ans -This story does not have any spectacular adventure or exciting action, but still we feel that the story is unique and a reader can not skip it till it ends for several reasons. First, a language used in the story, though simple, innocent, humorous, and effective, like the phrases used, when the author's cousin says, he has his own way with all the creatures, when their uncle says, it is no harm for every event, how they ride the horse in the morning, their tribal honesty background, John Byro's faith in them. However, he understood that it was his horse, and the mystery till the end whether they had stolen the horse or not, all these factors make a good plot of the story and make it very interesting.
2. Did the boys return the horse because they were conscience-stricken or because they were afraid?
Ans—Actually, the boys were innocent, and they returned the horse to the real owner, John Byro because they were conscience-stricken or guilt-stricken.They had stolen the horse only because of an innocent childhood desire to ride it. They did not want to harm anyone, and they were very loyal to the tradition of their tribe of Garoghlanian and its inherited honesty. Once, when they met John Byro and his faith in their honesty, they were simply touched and moved and returned the horse.
3. " One day back there in the good old days when I was nine and the world was full of every imaginable kind of magnificence, and life was a still delightful and mysterious dream..." The story begins in a mood of nostalgia. Can you narrate some incident from your childhood that might make an interesting story?
Ans - When I was about eight, the summer days felt endless, and the world was my playground. We lived in a small town, nestled between rolling hills and a sparkling river that wound its way through the countryside. My best friend, Sunil, and I spent every waking moment together, chasing adventures wherever we could find them.
One particularly hot afternoon, Sunil and I decided to explore the old, abandoned house at the edge of town. It was a place that had long been the subject of wild stories among the kids in our neighborhood. Some said it was haunted, others claimed a treasure was buried inside. To us, it was simply irresistible.
Armed with nothing but our imaginations and a flashlight we borrowed from Sunil's dad, we set off on our daring adventure. As we approached the house, it loomed over us like a giant from a fairy tale. The paint was peeling, the windows were broken, and the front door hung on its hinges. The air was thick with the scent of damp wood and overgrown weeds.
We hesitated for a moment at the threshold, our nerves getting the better of us. But then, with a shared look of determination, we pushed the door open and stepped inside. The floorboards creaked under our feet as we moved through the dusty rooms, the sunlight filtering through the cracks in the walls, casting eerie shadows.
In the living room, we found an old, tattered book lying on a broken table. Its cover was faded, but we could just make out the title: "The Secrets of the Forest." We opened it, and to our amazement, the pages were filled with detailed maps and handwritten notes about hidden trails and forgotten landmarks in the woods surrounding our town.
Excitedly, we realized that this book was a guide to a secret world, one that had been lost to time. The idea of following these trails and uncovering their mysteries thrilled us. We spent the rest of the summer with that book, using it as our guide to explore places we had never known existed.
We discovered hidden clearings, climbed ancient trees, and even found a small, crystal-clear pond deep in the woods, where we spent countless hours swimming and imagining ourselves as explorers in a forgotten land. Each day was a new adventure, and the abandoned house became our headquarters, the place where we planned our next journey.
That summer, we learned more than just the secrets of the forest. We learned about the magic of friendship, the thrill of discovery, and the joy of losing ourselves in the wonders of the world around us. Even now, when I think back to those days, I can still feel the warmth of the sun on my face, hear the laughter echoing through the trees, and see the smiles we shared, knowing that those memories would stay with us forever.
It was a wonderful memory of my childhood which I shared with my best friend, Sunil, but sometimes I feel that whatever we did was right or wrong, maybe we could have been trapped in any unknown danger, but it is all about the innocence of the childhood, moreover, my friend became so fascinated to the woods and the forests, he decided to become wildlife photographer and today he is a successful photographer, and for me, whenever I feel stressed, I just go in the nature, simply recall those days, and I feel relaxed.
4. The story revolves around the characters who belong to a tribe in Armenia. Mourad and Aram are members of the Garoghlanian family. Now locate Armenia and Assyria on the atlas and prepare a write-up on the Garoghlanian tribes. You may write about people, their names, traits, and geographical and economic features as suggested in the story.
Ans - *Introduction to the Garoghlanian Tribe:*
The Garoghlanian tribe, featured in William Saroyan's short story "The Summer of the Beautiful White Horse," is an Armenian family known for its strict adherence to honesty and integrity. The family, despite facing financial hardships, holds onto their moral values with great pride. Saroyan, through this fictional tribe, explores themes of tradition, identity, and the clash between ethical principles and survival.
*People and Key Characters:*
1. *Aram Garoghlanian*: Aram is the nine-year-old narrator of the story. He is innocent, imaginative, and deeply connected to his family's heritage. His innocence leads him to believe that there is nothing wrong with riding a "borrowed" horse, as long as it will eventually be returned. Aram's character embodies the youthful curiosity and the moral dilemmas that come with growing up.
2. *Mourad Garoghlanian*: Mourad is Aram's cousin, known for his wild streak and free-spirited nature. He is described as having the "crazy streak" that runs in the family, a trait that is more pronounced in him than in others. Mourad is daring, adventurous, and often acts on impulse. Despite his actions, he has a deep sense of loyalty to his family and their values.
3. *Uncle Khosrove*: Uncle Khosrove is another notable member of the Garoghlanian family. He is an eccentric man, known for his explosive temper and his famous phrase, "It's no harm; pay no attention to it." Khosrove's character adds a touch of humor to the story, and he represents the family's resilience and their ability to dismiss trivial concerns.
*Traits and Characteristics:*
- *Honesty*: The most defining trait of the Garoghlanian family is their honesty. Despite their poverty, they pride themselves on their integrity, which has been passed down through generations. This is illustrated in the story when Aram reflects on how stealing a horse is unthinkable for a Garoghlanian, yet Mourad's actions challenge this belief.
- *Pride*: The family is deeply proud of their heritage and values. They have a strong sense of identity that is tied to their history as Armenians, which is emphasized through their adherence to moral principles, even in the face of adversity.
- *Eccentricity*: The Garoghlanians are also characterized by their eccentricities, particularly in their personalities and behavior. Mourad's "crazy streak" and Uncle Khosrove's dramatic outbursts highlight the family's unique and colorful nature.
*Geographical and Economic Features:*
- *Geographical Background*: The story is set in California, where the Garoghlanian family has settled after fleeing the Armenian genocide and the socio-political turmoil in their homeland. Although they have left Armenia, the family retains strong ties to their cultural roots, and their identity as Armenians is a crucial aspect of their lives.
- *Economic Status*: The Garoghlanian family is depicted as financially poor. They live modestly and struggle with economic hardships, which is why Mourad's acquisition of the white horse is so surprising. Despite their poverty, they refuse to compromise their moral values, which is a testament to their pride and integrity.
*Conclusion:*
The Garoghlanian tribe, as portrayed in "The Summer of the Beautiful White Horse," is a fascinating blend of tradition, moral integrity, and eccentricity. Through the characters of Aram, Mourad, and Uncle Khosrove, William Saroyan explores the complexities of holding onto one's values in a world that often challenges them. The story is a beautiful tribute to the resilience of a family that, despite being far from their homeland, remains rooted in their cultural identity and ethical principles.
Try This Out
" The horse stood on its hind legs, snorted, and burst into a fury of speed that was the loveliest thing I had ever seen." These lines could be an artist's delight. Try to draw a picture as depicted in the above lines.
For a quick glance at the content, please visit my YouTube channel, " English Prose and Verse ".
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