ORAL REPRODUCTION OF STORIES (2) Analyzing of short story LUCK
By Mark Twain Presented By: Dessere Megerdichian Master: Mrs.
Farzaneh
Slide 2
Author: Mark Twain (1835-1910) Samuel Langhorne Clemens
(November 30, 1835- April 21, 1910) better knownby his pen name
Mark Twain, was an American author and humorist. He was born in
Florida. He spent some years of his youth as a journey man printer,
wondering from town to town. He later became a riverboat pilot on
the Mississippi River. In Nevada he began to write for the
newspapers. In 1869 he achieved his first great success with
innocent abroad, based on his experiences in Europe. He is best-
known for two novels of boyhood life on the Mississippi River in
the mid-19s century: Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer. He was lauded
as the "greatest American humorist of his age, and William Faulkner
called him "The father of American literature".
Slide 3
Plot: Exposition: The exposition of our story is at a banquet
hall in London, during the Crimean War, in honor of Scoresby, one
of the two or three conspicuously illustrious military names of the
generation. Rising Action: The rising action is when everyone
mistakes Scoresby's blunders as genius. Climax: The climax is when
Scoresby mistakes his right for his left and in a stoke luck,
secures victory. Falling Action: The falling action is when
Scoresby becomes very reputable amongst society after the event
which he secured victory. Resolution: The resolution is when the
reverend realizes that some people are just born lucky and don't
have to really work hard like himself.
Slide 4
Setting: The setting of this story takes place at a banquet in
London in honor of one of the two or three conspicuously
illustrious English military names of the generation. Military
academy at Woolwich Battlefield during Crimean War
Slide 5
Characters: Reverend: Dynamic character, Trustworthy, Helpful
The Reverend was a man of strict veracity and that his judgment of
men was good. Scoresby: Static character, Lucky, Ignorant,
Incompetent, Good, Foolish He was evidently good, and sweet, and
loveable, and guileless; and so it was exceedingly painful to see
him stand there The Narrator: Flat character; dont know much about
the narrator, the story was being told by the Reverend. Point of
View: In Luck, we are given a first person limited point of view by
the author. The short story is told by an unnamed narrator who
recounts the story of Scoresbys success that had been told to him
by Scoresbys mentor himself, the Reverend. It gives you an unbiased
view from the narrator and a very jealous and exasperated view from
the Reverend, who had originally told the story, allowing you to
draw, from the two contrasting outlooks, your own conclusions and
feelings about the concept of luck.
Slide 6
Significance of the Title: The title is quite significant to
the story considering that it is the main focus. The title may be
short but its simple and gets the point across that this is a short
story that will focus on the concept of luck. The topic of the
story is about one mans luck, so the title is perfectly suitable.
Irony: Mark Twains short story definitely had situational irony. It
was ironic that Scoresby, who was incompetent and not hardworking,
became very successful because of luck when it was expected of him
to fail. It was ironic that Scoresby had made his way to a higher
rank than the reverend in such a short time and the reverend had
worked hard for most of his life to be in the position he was
currently in. It was also ironic that the reverend helped Scoresby
pass his examination test perfectly and then Scoresby got all the
credit and moves up the ladder a lot faster than what he would have
without the reverend.
Slide 7
Symbolism: In the story, Scoresbys luck symbolized that nothing
is completely and truly impossible. Also it symbolized that
sometimes you dont have to work hard or be talented because one
might have a little luck. Theme: The overall theme of the story is
that sometimes you dont need to work hard or have talent to be
successful; you just need a bit of luck. Also that the best thing a
man can be is lucky, as quoted by the Reverend why, he is just
clothed in domestic and foreign decorations. Well, sir, every one
of them is a record of some shouting stupidity or other; and taken
together, they are proof that the very best thing in this entire
world that can befall a man is to be born lucky.
Slide 8
Conflict: Internal: How his teacher feels about his role in the
man's success. External: Types of conflict in Mark Twain's "Luck"
include Lieutenant-General Lord Arthur Scoresby's inability to
succeed at a military academy on his own, and the military
decisions he made during the Crimean War. Notes on the footnote:
The story is said by some to be based on a real person; Twain
himself writes in a footnote to the story that it was "not a fancy
sketch"; i.e., not a work of fancy or imagination. Twain had heard
the story from his old friend and confidante Joseph Twitchily (who
appears in A Tramp Abroad as "Harris"), who was visited by a
British chaplain who told him the tale of a famous general whose
victories were entirely due to luck. However, Twain's footnote
states that the story was related to him by an instructor at
Woolwich Academy. One candidate for the famous soldier is Sir
Garnet Wellesley.
Slide 9
Proverbs: Better an ounce of luck than a pound of gold. -
Yiddish Proverb. Throw a lucky man in the sea, and he will come up
with a fish in his mouth. - Arab Proverb Luck sometimes visits a
fool, but it never sits down with him. - German Proverb. No gulls,
no luck. - French Proverb. Luck never made a man wise. - Seneca An
ounce of luck is better than a pound of knowledge. -Belgium When
luck offers a finger one must take the whole hand.
Slide 10
Summary of the Story: The story concerns a decorated English
military hero, Lord Arthur Scoresby, a total idiot who triumphs in
life through good luck. At the time of the Crimean War Scoresby is
a captain. Despite his complete incompetence, everyone
misinterprets his performance, taking his blunders for military
genius, and his reputation is enhanced with every false step he
makes. At the climax of the story, Scoresby mistakes his right hand
for his left and leads a charge in the wrong direction, surprising
a Russian force which panics and causes a retreat of the Russian
army, thus securing an Allied victory. Another interpretation of
the story is that the Reverend is simply jealous of the successes
Scoresby has achieved. The Reverend, in the past, was an instructor
at a military academy, where he taught a young Scoresby. According
to the Reverend, Scoresby was a poor student, and "blundered" his
way through promotions. When the war began, the Reverend joined the
conflict, but with a lower rank of his ex-student. Throughout the
story one can see that the Reverend is bitter, and his apparent
distaste for the lord seems at odds with his role as a clergyman.
The "absolute fool" in the story is not Scoresby, who ascended the
ranks of the military through action, but rather the Reverend, who
cannot accomplish anything in his lifetime.
Slide 11
For Discussion: Part 1 1- Why doesnt the author want to mention
the generals name? Because he thinks that a foolish man couldnt
have a real name, and it doesnt important to emerge out him. 2- How
does the narrator fell about him? At the first time during
examination he feels sorrow and pity about the hero, but then he
recognizes that the boy was an absolute fool. 3- Why does the
clergymans expression about the hero sound so surprising? Because
he knows that such an absolute fool one couldnt get victory and
receive people admiration. 4- From the narrators point of view,
does the man deserve the rank of capacity? If not, why? No, because
Scorsby without any effort gets highest position especially by
chance.
Slide 12
5- Why does the narrator feel so responsible? Because his
conscience tortured him for helping the boy and get such
preposterous result. 6- Why is the commander called the immortal
fool? Because every time Scorsby by stupidity go ahead and his good
luck indulge him from disastrous situations. 7- What is the
consequence of his blunder? His mistake was a big win for their
army, and Marshal Canrobert gives him a medal. By each blunder he
received a medal at his breast. Part 2 1- What is the narrators
attitude toward Scorsby when he is a student in the military
academy? He was evidently good, and sweet, and loveable, and
guileless; and so it was exceedingly painful to see him stand
there
Slide 13
2- What is the setting of the story? List some details. The
setting of this story takes place at a banquet in London in honor
of one of the two or three conspicuously illustrious English
military names of the generation. Military academy at Woolwich
Battlefield during Crimean War
Slide 14
Questions: Choose the correct answers 1- The story of Luck was
written by a- Mark Twain b- Martin Luther c- Leo Tolstoy d- Charles
Dickens 2- The main character in the story is a- The clergyman b-
Scoresby c- A clever man d- Wool witch
Slide 15
3- The clergy man a- Hates Scoresby b- Disrespects Scoresby c-
Feels pity for Scoresby d- Is annoyed by Scoresbys success 4- The
clergyman helped Scoresby because he a- Wanted to make him a
general b- Wanted him to be expelled c- Wanted to make a fool out
of him. d- Wanted him to be expelled with less pain 5- In the
military academy Scoresby a- Was found not qualified b- Was
extremely praised c- Failed in the exam d- Was directly nominated
as a colonel
Slide 16
6- In his battle with the Russians, Scoresby a- Was shamefully
defeated b- Was captured by the enemy c- Won the battle due to his
intelligent strategies d- Won by luck 7- Scoresby a- Got many
medals b- Lost all battles c- Was released d- Left the army
dishonorably 8- The story reveals the strength of in our destiny.
a- Love b- Luck c- Stupidity d- Cleverness
Slide 17
9- The clergyman was by Scoresbys success. a- Annoyed b-
Surprised c- Humiliated d- Ruined 10- The dominant theme in the
story is that human success a- Is always a reflection of what we
do. b- Is solely determined by luck c- Always matches our mental
abilities d- Is sometimes effected by luck