“The Notorious Jumping Frog of Calaveras County”
Questions (pg. 581 in textbook)
1) (a) What prompts Simon Wheeler to tell the story of Jim Smiley?
(b) INFER: Why had the narrator’s friend suggested that he ask Wheeler about Leonidas Smiley?
2) (a) What was Jim Smiley’s response to any event?
(b) INFER: Based on his behavior, what can you infer about his character?
3) What image of America does Twain’s comic story paint? Consider the sense of place, character, and
event. Words that might be useful in your response include: adventure, individualism, sincerity,
amibition.