The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County By: Mark Twain 1. How does the narrator come to meet Simon Wheeler and to hear his story? How does the narrator describe Wheeler's storytelling style? 2. For what reason does Wheeler call Smiley "the curiousest man"? What evidence does Wheeler use to support his statement? 3. Summarize the methods that Smiley's mare and bull pup use to win. What eventually becomes of Smiley's dog? 4. What amazing things can Smiley's frog do? What personality traits does Wheeler attribute to the frog? 5. Summarize what happens after Smiley meets the stranger. 6. What can you infer about the narrator's attitude toward Wheeler? 7. What conclusions can you draw about Smiley's character, based on the tale Wheeler tells? 8. Why do you think Wheeler tells about the mare and bull pup first, before focusing on the frog? 9. Who are Simon Wheeler, Leonidas W. Smiley, and Jim Smiley? 10. What difference do you notice in the language between the narrator and Wheeler? 11. What is colloquial language? Give an example of colloquial language… 12. What addiction or bad habit do we learn that Jim Smiley has? 13. What can you conclude about Smiley's character and attitude based on the story about Parson Walker's wife? 14. What is the name of Jim Smiley's small bull pup? 15. What famous political name did Smiley bestow on his prized possession, "jumping frog"? 16. How long did Jim Smiley "educate" his frog in order to make him a championship jumper? And what wager does Smiley make for contest with stranger on jumping frogs? 17. As the old man is about to finish the story of Jim Smiley's jumping frog, he is interrupted by another individual. The narrator attempts to leave the locale, but the old man catches up with him. The story ends up with the old man beginning to tell the narrator about what? 18. What are some elements of this story that make it a tall tale? 19. Why is the story set in a mining town? What was the historical significance of mining towns to the development of the West, and what kind of people did they attract? 20. Why do you think Wheeler is so interested in getting people to listen to his tall tales? Does he just like to hear himself talk, or does he think they can learn something from him? 21. Why is it significant that Smiley’s animals all seem to have no use or value until Smiley finds one? What conclusions can you draw from the fact that despite clear limitations, they almost always win? 22. What’s the deal with Smiley’s constant gambling? Is he an addict? If not, what satisfaction does it give him? Why do we tend to associate gambling with westerners? 5