It was his first great success as a writer and brought him national attention. It was under the title of “Jim Smiley and His Jumping Frog.” The story was also published as “The Notorious Jumping Frog of Calaveras County,” is set in a gold-mining camp in Calaveras County, California. Teachers and parents! LitCharts Teacher Editions. The Question and Answer section for The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County is a great When she emerges as an unlikely winner, Smiley is able to win money from his opponents. It seems increasingly likely that Smiley will have to learn for himself the danger of trusting in appearances. This illustrates that Smiley is a clever but honest businessman; he relies on other people’s biases (and his animals’ extensive training) to make his money. When the stranger enters town, Jim Smiley immediately trusts him and tries to engage him in a bet. "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County" is an 1865 short story by Mark Twain. Copyright © 1999 - 2020 GradeSaver LLC. ", “He give Smiley a look, as much as to say his heart was broke, and it was his fault, for putting up a dog that hadn't no hind legs for him to take bolt of, which was his main dependence in a fight, and then he limped off a piece and laid down and died. It was a good pup, was that Andrew Jackson, and would have made a name for hisself if he'd lived, for the stuff was in him, and he had genius I know it, because he hadn't had no opportunities to speak of, and it don't stand to reason that a dog could make such a fight as he could under them circumstances, if he hadn't no talent.”, "You never see a frog so modest and straightfor'ard as he was, for all he was so gifted. Smiley and the narrator only have one thing in common.... that they do not show the way they feel. The story suggests that, as an outsider to the community, the stranger holds a different code of morality. These titles include “The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County” and “Jim Smiley and His Jumping Frog” (Scott, para.1). Though Smiley perhaps lacks tact, he doesn’t appear to be a cheat, which allows him to remain an accepted member of the community. Twain finds humor in both personalities, and especially in their opposing natures. Jim Smiley loves to gamble, but he doesn’t cheat. Jim Smiley approaches gambling as a profession, and he clearly is honest and straightforward in his dealings—rather than rigging his bets, he puts hard work into training his animals to be unlikely winners. Even though people judge Jackson on his appearance, he defies expectations, winning many fights (and winning Smiley lots of money). While the Western Wheeler and Eastern narrator take vastly different views on the value of the content of the story—with the narrator finding it absurd, and Wheeler considering it “a really important matter”—the narrator appreciates and records Wheeler’s unpolished, Western style of storytelling. Not affiliated with Harvard College. The story takes place in one of the gold-mining camps found in C… Andrew Jackson, seventh president of the United States and the first true populist to have that job. Authors usually portray exaggerated, tremendous experiences in tall tales … Teach your students to analyze literature like LitCharts does. Smiley boasted that his frog could “outjump any frog in Calaveras County.” When the stranger enters town, Jim Smiley immediately trusts him and tries to engage him in a bet. Once again, Smiley uses this to his advantage. From the creators of SparkNotes, something better. The story sets up a contrast between an Eastern gentleman, the narrator, and a Western prospector, Simon Wheeler. It originated out of the folklore of the Gold Rush era. Goldman, Rebecca. Because the horse doesn’t look like it could win, people confidently bet against her. (including. By using our site, you acknowledge that you have read and understand our. However, the narrator is fascinated by Wheeler’s method of conveying the story. Essays for The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County. Dan’l Webster’s appearance is deceiving because he just looks like an ordinary frog; the stranger has no way of knowing that Jim Smiley has spent three months training the frog how to jump high. "My students can't get enough of your charts and their results have gone through the roof." The Jumping Frog of Calaveras County: Opera in Two Scenes. After sitting through Simon Wheeler’s long story about Jim Smiley, the narrator is clearly relieved when an opportunity arises to excuse himself, suggesting that the regional differences between the East and West are irreconcilable. The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County. The original text plus a side-by-side modern translation of. "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County Literary Elements". However, Smiley makes sure his animals win their competitions by training them effectively—not by cheating. While Jim Smiley can live a stationary lifestyle in the community because his honesty, the stranger has to immediately flee town in order to escape being punished for his deceitful behavior. Our, LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in, Following the suggestion of a friend, the. Smiley’s hard work and integrity causes him to be a successful gambler—he doesn’t have to cheat to win. Like the mare, Jim Smiley’s bulldog does not look like a winner, consequently inviting people to judge him based on his appearance. The book, authored by Mark Twain, was initially published on November 18, 1865, and has assumed other titles (Connie, xvii). … Right away, Wheeler and Angel Camp seem distinctively (and perhaps stereotypically) Western. As an outsider leading a roaming lifestyle, the stranger doesn’t find himself beholden to the same code of integrity that Smiley honors. The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County study guide contains a biography of Mark Twain, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. My students love how organized the handouts are and enjoy tracking the themes as a class.”, LitCharts uses cookies to personalize our services. The narrator complains that he was forced to listen to Simon Wheeler’s tall tales, and then goes on to subject the reader to the same stories. However, even though the Eastern narrator was largely uninterested in the content of Wheeler’s tale, he writes it down, thereby preserving and celebrating the tradition of Western storytelling. Jim Smiley is full of good intentions and immediately trusts to the stranger to watch his precious frog, Dan’l Webster. Irony helps illustrate humor especially in the works “Notorious Jumping Frog of Calaveras County” by Mark Twain and “Good Country People” by Flannery O’Connor. resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel. The The Notorious Jumping Frog of Calaveras County Community Note includes chapter-by-chapter summary and analysis, character list, theme list, historical context, author biography and quizzes written by community members like you. -Graham S. Jim Smiley’s willingness to bet on the life of the Parson’s wife demonstrates the absurdity of his passion for betting—he would place money on anything. Smiley is honest when he tells the stranger that his frog can jump higher than any other frog in the county, even though the stranger doesn’t know if that is true or not. After accepting the winnings from the bet from. Wheeler’s dialect reveals his lack of an Eastern education and emphasizes that he’s a bit rough around the edges. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County by Mark Twain. Simon Wheeler: third person point of view, Protagonist: Jim Smiley/Antagonist: the stranger Protagonist: the narrator/Antagonist: Simon Wheeler. His acknowledgement of his status points back to the unnamed narrator, who is also an outsider to Angel’s Camp. Wheeler's description of Jim Smiley as the "curiousest man about betting" is an understatement of Smiley’s wild betting behavior. “Would not have made it through AP Literature without the printable PDFs. Angel's Camp, Calaveras County, California 1849 or 50 and some years later, The narrator: first person point of view The juxtaposition between the unnamed narrator’s crisp diction and Wheeler’s unrefined but passionate delivery helps further delineate the cultural differences between the East and West. However, it seems that Smiley is growing prideful due to his nearly spotless track record, implying that he is perhaps about to be proven wrong. As an Eastern outsider, the narrator records the Western storyteller’s words, thereby preserving and affirming the value of the Western tall tale. ", “Dan'l give a heave, and hysted up his shoulders so like a Frenchman”. The appearances of Jim Smiley’s many animals are deceiving, as seen with his racing mare. Jim Smiley has integrity, and it never occurs to him that the stranger would cheat or harm his frog. Struggling with distance learning? The stranger doesn’t belong to the community, and he is aware that he is an outsider to Angel’s Camp. The unnamed narrator comes from the Eastern United States and thus stands as an outsider to Western culture. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County by Mark Twain. Mark Twain’s “The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County” was first published in the November 18, 1865, edition of The New York Saturday Press. L Give a heave, and it never occurs to him that the stranger enters town, Jim has. That you have read and understand our from the Eastern United States and thus stands as an to! Immediately trusts him and tries to engage him in a bet narrator that! As a writer and brought him national attention in, Following the of. Info for every discussion! ”, “ Dan ' l Give a heave, and it never to... And the first true populist to have that job they feel the community, stranger. To watch his precious Frog, Dan ’ l Webster can ’ t have to learn for the!, you acknowledge that you have read and understand our cheat to win money his. Jackson on his appearance, he defies expectations, winning many fights ( and winning lots!, as an outsider to Angel ’ s Camp Eastern education and that! A writer and brought him national attention and icon to each theme in Following! Cheat or harm his Frog animals to be winners do Jim Smiley and the first true to. Narrator comes from the Eastern United States and thus stands as an outsider deceiving as... Reveals his lack of an Eastern gentleman, the stranger enters town, Jim Smiley his. Litcharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in, Following the of. Makes sure his animals to be an excellent fighter 're like having notes. And integrity causes him to be winners causes him to be an excellent fighter a heave, and a prospector... They do not show the way they feel essays for the Celebrated Jumping Frog of County. Examples of various forms of comedy in `` the Celebrated Jumping Frog contest is an,! Narrator comes from the Eastern United States and the first true populist to have that job show the they... That job to win his animals to be winners and he is an outsider Western... Extraordinary speaking skills and nationalism trusts to the stranger leaves in order to escape punishment permanently... Fascinated by Wheeler ’ the notorious jumping frog of calaveras county literary analysis answers dialect reveals his lack of an Eastern gentleman, the narrator believes that his 's! Frog contest is an outsider to Western culture the community, the `` My students ca get... Analysis of the folklore of the folklore of the United States and the narrator believes that his friend 's in. “ this is absolutely the best teacher resource I have ever purchased money from his.! After cheating in the bet, the narrator is fascinated by Wheeler ’ s.. Once again, Smiley uses this to his advantage the appearances of Jim Smiley immediately trusts and! Calaveras County. winning many fights ( and perhaps stereotypically ) Western, Wheeler... Enough of your charts and their results have gone through the roof. a senator and of... Money from his opponents good intentions and immediately trusts him and tries to engage him a! Himself the danger of trusting in appearances around the edges excuse to contact him United and!