World Literature

Lic. Libia Peña

The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County

Sonia Thumann 11451117

Ankara Reichle 11941223
Alejandra Funez 11941363
Angiee Martinez 11841051

26/07/2022
1. This paragraph opens the “frame” to this story. What tone or attitude does the
speaker display? What words/phrases best display that tone?

"The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County" is a satirical tall tale. The anecdotes
that Wheeler tells are far-fetched and hard to believe. The unnamed narrator was sent by
a friend who was most likely playing a prank on him.

2. In paragraphs 2 and 3 we meet Simon Wheeler. What does the description of his
appearance suggest about him?

A man asks Simon Wheeler about a friend of a friend named Leonidas W. Smiley.
Wheeler starts telling a story about a man named Jim Smiley who liked to bet on
anything and everything. Smiley trained a frog, and was challenged by a stranger passing
through town in a frog-jumping contest. While Smiley found the man a frog, the man
filled Smiley's frog with a quail shot, so his frog would lose. Wheeler tries to go on with
his story, but is stopped by the unnamed narrator, who knew he wouldn't get any useful
information.

3. What does the description of Simon Wheeler’s actions suggest about him?

The description of Simon Wheeler’s actions suggests that he is an honest person that has
sincerity and enthusiasm towards the topic he is speaking about. Also, it suggests that
although he has these feelings, he is not a person that reveals his emotions easily. He told
the stories without passing or hesitation, so he knew the stories well and was excited
about telling them. Simon wheeler is a serious person that may come off as being
uneducated because of his forwardness. Since he is able to tell the story easily, we can
see he is extroverted and has no problem speaking with people.

4. The narrator says that Simon Wheeler thought his story was “a really important
matter.” What words/phrases/sentences hint that the narrator thinks the opposite?

The phrases that hint that the narrator feels the opposite are “far from his imagining that
there was anything ridiculous or funny about his story” and “I let him go in his own
way….”. The first sentence implies that Simon Wheeler might think that the story is
ridiculous since he only gives those options and not different options like sad or happy.
The second sentence shows that he thinks the opposite because by saying his own way it
implies that he thinks differently and not in that way.

5. From the description, it is clear that Jim Smiley is addicted to gambling. Twain uses
exaggeration to make Smiley’s gambling humorous. Give two examples.
 If there was two birds setting on a fence, he would bet you which one would fly first If
there was two birds setting on a fence, he would bet you which one would fly first

6. Explain the irony of Smiley’s bet on Parson Walker’s wife.

Anyone would think he asks how she feels because he is genuinely concerned about her
health but it's just to place a bet on whether she will live or not. In this case it's ironic
because no one would expect for someone to bet against anyone else's life.

7. Give two more examples of exaggeration as a comic device in paragraphs 5 and 6.

Examples of exaggeration as a comic device in paragraphs 5 and 6 are “Thish-yer Smiley

had a mare--the boys called her the fifteen-minute nag, but that was only in fun, you
know, because, of course, she was faster than that--and he used to win money on that
horse, for all she was so slow and always had the asthma, or the distemper, or the
consumption, or something of that kind” and “But as soon as money was up on him, he
was a different dog; his under-jaw'd begin to stick out like the fo'-castle of a steamboat,
and his teeth would uncover and shine like the furnaces.” In the first example it shows
exaggeration since the mare was described as always having a disease and that would
not be possible usually. In the second example, the exaggeration can be seen in the fact
that they describe the under jaw of the dog as it sticking out like the castle of a
steamboat. That the under-jaw sticks out that much would not physically be possible.
Also, the teeth of the dog can shine, but not to the point of them being as bright as a
furnace.

8. Explain the irony of teaching a frog to jump and catch flies.

The irony behind teaching a frog how to jump and catch flies relies on these actions that
frogs are born to do. Frogs can’t move any other way if it is not by jumping, and their
diet depends on their ability to catch insects, most famously flies, with their tongues. So,
it is ironic how Jim Smiley took three whole months to teach Daniel Webster actions he
already knew by nature.

9. The narrator describes Smiley's voice as possessing "a gentle-flowing key" when, in
fact, he finds his voice “tedious.” He is being excessively polite in his description,
showing off his manners in an exaggerated fashion. Twain is painting a picture of a
fatuous, if good-natured, snob.
10. Review your answer to question #1. Now that you have read the entire story, do you
still sense the same tone or attitude? If the tone seems different now, explain your
thinking.
Different from the answer to question #1, it is sensed that the tone of the story changed.
At first, it had a more mysterious and gloomier atmosphere, with the narrator telling the
reader about his plans and the intriguing search for Leonidas Smiley. Even the
authoritative presentation of Simon Wheeler made it seem the story was going for a dim
route. However, once Simon Wheeler started describing the character and behavior of
Jim Smiley, the story started to loosen its humor. The narrating of the different scenarios
that Jim created made the mood a little bit more playful and whimsical. It is specifically
the use of Simon’s extreme exaggerations and vulgar vocabulary that changed the tone
gradually as he told the story.

11. What was important to Jim Smiley? To Simon Wheeler (review paragraph 3)? To
the narrator (review paragraph 1)? What does the story suggest about priorities in
our own lives?

Jim Smiley: What seems to be more important to Jim Smiley throughout the entire story
is betting and winning on anything no matter the circumstances.

Simon Wheeler: Telling Jim Smiley’s stories.

The story suggests that as we grow older things change and so do our priorities.

12. Write a paragraph analyzing how Twain used situational irony to add humor to this
story. Mention the title and author in the first line and include specific details in
your discussion.
The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County is a short story written by Mark
Twain. This story is a great example of the excellent use of situational irony. The first
time it is sensed, is when Mark Twain carefully situated the two narrators of the story to
have different expression styles, one being severely polished and refined, and the other
being colloquial and inferior. The irony is shown because the reader is convinced the
story will follow a highly eloquent vocabulary when the opposite is revealed later.
Another example of the use of these resources, and also the most noticeable, is the frog
tale, which was discussed earlier. This section described the enthusiasm and dedication of
Jim Smiley in the training of a frog to jump and catch flies. This is filled with irony
because frogs naturally know how to perform those actions. What made this part even
more ironic, is the seriousness with which Simon Wheeler recounted the event. Lastly, an
additional instance of situational irony was when Simon recalled one of Jim’s bets in
which a sick lady was said to be recovering from her illness. One imagines that Jim
would heroically use his inexplicable talent of winning any bet, by betting in favor of the
sick lady. However, he bets against her and leaves the reader in a startling state. These
are some of the ways in which Mark Twain used situational irony; he built up a scenario
that made the reader predict the most obvious outcome, and turned it around, subverting
the reader’s expectations.