“THE CELEBRATED JUMPING FROGS OF CALAVERAS COUNTY”
What emotions are evoked through the story? What words or actions reflect that?
Through the story "The Celebrated Jumping Frogs of Calaveras County," several emotions are evoked. Some of these emotions include amusement, frustration, surprise, and satisfaction.
Amusement is evoked through the humorous tone and the absurdity of the situation. The narrator's descriptions of Jim Smiley's unconventional and eccentric behaviors, such as his obsession with betting on animals, evoke amusement. Words like "funny," "queer," and "ludicrous" reflect this emotion.
Frustration is also evoked when the narrator meets Simon Wheeler and realizes he has been tricked into listening to a long, irrelevant story. The narrator's repetitive requests to hear about the jumping frog, which are constantly sidetracked by Wheeler's tangents, evoke this emotion. The narrator's use of words like "tedious," "abuse," and "exasperating" reflect his frustration.
Surprise is felt at the twist in the story when the narrator discovers that Jim Smiley's famous jumping frog, Daniel Webster, has been sabotaged. The revelation that Jim Smiley was tricked by the sly stranger evokes surprise. The narrator's exclamatory language and use of words like "astonishing," "startling," and "astounded" reflect this emotion.
Finally, satisfaction is evoked at the end of the story when the narrator successfully tricks Wheeler into telling the whole jumping frog story. The narrator's smugness and satisfaction with his victory over Wheeler are reflected through his triumphant language and use of words like "gotcha" and "triumph."
To determine the emotions evoked through the story "The Celebrated Jumping Frogs of Calaveras County," we can look at the words and actions that reflect those emotions. Here's how you can go about analyzing the story to answer this question:
1. Read the story: Begin by reading the story carefully, paying attention to the events, descriptions, and dialogues.
2. Identify key moments: Note down the key moments or scenes where characters' emotions are explicitly described or implied. This might include moments of joy, excitement, surprise, or disappointment.
3. Character analysis: Analyze the emotions of the characters throughout the story. Consider the actions, conversations, and reactions of the characters to uncover their emotional states. Pay particular attention to the main characters, such as Jim Smiley and the narrator.
4. Descriptive language: Look for descriptive language used by the author to evoke specific emotions. This might include words that describe the characters' facial expressions, tone of voice, or body language.
5. Humor and irony: Mark instances of humor and irony in the story, as these elements often elicit specific emotional responses such as amusement or disbelief.
6. Overall tone: Consider the story's overall tone and atmosphere. This can provide clues about the emotions the author intends to evoke.
By following these steps and analyzing the story closely, you should be able to identify and support your answer regarding the emotions evoked in "The Celebrated Jumping Frogs of Calaveras County" with specific words, actions, and moments from the story.
In "The Celebrated Jumping Frogs of Calaveras County," several emotions are evoked throughout the story. Here are some of the emotions and the corresponding words or actions that reflect them:
1. Amusement: Mark Twain's use of humor and wit throughout the story creates a lively and entertaining tone. For example, the narrator's description of Jim Smiley's odd gambling habits and the exaggerated language used to describe the frog-jumping contest evoke a sense of amusement.
2. Surprise: The initial surprise occurs when the narrator encounters Simon Wheeler, who tells him the story of Jim Smiley. The unexpected and eccentric nature of the characters, such as Smiley betting on frog jumping, adds an element of surprise.
3. Curiosity: The reader becomes curious about the outcome of the frog-jumping contest and the fate of Jim Smiley. The narrator's growing interest in the story, as reflected in his questions and continued engagement with Simon Wheeler, builds anticipation.
4. Irony: The irony presents itself when the reader discovers that the narrator's real motive for visiting Wheeler was never revealed, and he's essentially tricked into listening to Wheeler's lengthy anecdotes about Jim Smiley. This irony adds a layer of amusement to the story.
5. Disbelief/Skepticism: The narrator's skepticism towards Wheeler's storytelling, as evidenced by his attempts to interrupt or speed up the conversation, reflects the feeling of disbelief. It amplifies the humorous contrast between the narrator's attempts to extract useful information and Wheeler's stubborn insistence on telling irrelevant stories.
Overall, the story evokes a mix of amusement, surprise, curiosity, irony, and disbelief through the vivid language, humor, and character interactions.