Writing Task
You have read the short story “The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County” by Mark Twain. A story about a man named Jim Smiley who was swindled into losing a bet involving his trained frog. In an essay, explain how the difference in points of view between the audience and Jim Smiley creates humor for the reader. Be sure to use specific evidence to support your response.
Student Response
“May be you understand frogs, and may be you don’t understand ’em; may be you’ve had experience, and may be you an’t only a amature, as it were. Anyways, I’ve got my opinion, and I’ll risk forty dollars that he can out jump any frog in Calaveras County.” This line from Mark Twain’s short story “The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County” is about a man named Jim Smiley who was swindled into losing a bet involving his trained frog. In the story, the differences in points of view between the audience and Jim Smiley create humor.
In the beginning, the author portrays Jim Smiley as a gambler through his past stories. When a stranger comes to town, Smiley tries to convince him that his frog can out jump any other frog. As Smiley goes to find a frog to compete against his frog, the text states, “So he set there a good while thinking and thinking to hisself, and then he got the frog out and prized his mouth open and took a teaspoon and filled him full of quail shot filled him pretty near up to his chin and set him on the floor.” Smiley is sure that there is no way anyone can defeat his frog, but his overconfidence leads him to leave his best asset in the hands of his opponent. Through the author’s use of dramatic irony, the audience is aware that the stranger fed the frog full of birdshot; however, Smiley has no idea he is unlikely to win now that he has been tricked. The different points of view provide humor as the characters bet on a contest that the audience already knows the outcome.
Near the end of the story, Smiley is confused as to how his frog could lose an easy contest while the audience knows exactly what happened. As the stranger begins to leave, Smiley starts to realize something is wrong with his frog as he picks him up and says, “’Why, blame my cats, if he don’t weigh five pound!’ and turned him upside down, and he belched out a double handful of shot.” The irony even continued after the frog belched the birdshot and Smiley cannot catch the frog as it leaps away. Through the author’s choice of words and Jim Smiley finally realizing how he is beaten, the audience is able to enjoy another moment of humor.
Since the audience knows what is happening but the main character does not, it makes “The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County” a humorous story. Practical jokes, inside jokes, or the occasional tricks provide comedy for people each day. While Jim Smiley may not have much to laugh about, the audience is able to enjoy a laugh or two at his expense.
Writing Details
This is an 8th Grade response from a PorterHasClass 2018 student. Follow me on Twitter for updates on future student examples, articles of the week, and blog posts.
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