“What Stumped the Bluejays”

by Mark Twain

Gathered by M.karamiPNU of Khorasgan

Autumn 1394

Mark Twain: A Brief Background

• Real name: Samuel Langhorne Clemens• American author and humorist• Wrote The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finnoften called "The Great American Novel"

• Lived 1835-1910• Childhood—Hannibal, Missouri• Worked on a riverboat—hence, the name

Mark Twain• Quotes :• If you tell the truth, you don't have to

remember anything.

SummeryIt is the story of how animals can speak.

bluejays, as the author points out, are the

smartest and best speakers of all. On one

occasion there was a bluejay who found a

hole on the roof of a house. The Bluejay

decided to store his acorns here, however,

when the bluejay put the acorn in the hole it

didn't appear to be there when he looked

down. The Bluejay tried several more times,

but every time the acorn was not in the hole

where he had placed it.

• The bluejay grew more and more determined

and stuffed in the hole enough acorns that

could have fed his family for a very long time.

Finally the bird cried out in anger. Another

Bluejay flew by to see what was going on. This

Bluejay tried what the first had done and

agreed that it was indeed a perplexing

situation. More and more Bluejays came from

everywhere but no one could understand what

the reason was. Then an old jay cam over, but

instead of looking down the hole, he flew all

the way around the house. He then discovered

the reason for the disappearing acorns.

• The hole had been in a chimney, in which the acorns would fall

out from as they went downward. All of the Bluejays came to

see and realized how foolish they had been. All of the Bluejays

chuckled with one and other at their foolishness. Then one by

one they flew away. But the author does point out that even

now Bluejays come by that hole and tell others of the humorous

story. Though the story was about Bluejays, it symbolizes the

authors of that time period.

Reckon: (Infml) to think or assumeBeast: animal with four feetDelivery: manner of speaking (in lectures, etc)Bristle: be thickly covered with sthLockjaw: tetanus in which the jaws become rigidly closedAggravating: annoying, irritatingMetaphor: IronyRattling: fast or briskRustle: making noise as rubbing against each otherStrike: findAcorn: fruit of the oak tree with a cup like baseKnothole: a hole in a board where a knot has fallen outTilt: slope, slantChimbly: chimney

Vocabulary

Fetch: to go and bring sth backConfound: confuseMuttering: whispering, murmuringTackle: deal with or overcomeTo get the upper hand of sb: control sbTo break loose: escape confinement or restrictionHove: threwTucker out: tire or exhaust sbDispute: argue about sthWhoop: loud cryCock: to tilt or slantAbsurdity: stupid, laughable, ridiculousGuffaw: to laugh very loudly

Vocabulary

Point of view : told in the First-person by a speaker who matter-of-factly and conversationally tells the reader about a friend of his, Jim Baker, who is able to understand animal talk. Theme:It explores themes of determination and languageSetting: 1- An empty house in an abandoned area near the blue hills, California US 2- a sunny Sunday morning in a summer

Technical Terms

Plot Internal conflict: the bluejaysRising action: begun when the bluejay didn’t hear the acorn fallClimax: the point at which five thousand bluejays gathered to resolve the mystery of that holeFalling action: occurred when an old bluejay discovered the perplexing enigmaConclusion: Baker concludes the story by telling the reader that all of the birds enjoyed their visits, except an owl from Nova Scotia who failed to see the humor in it. But the same owl was also disappointed in his visit to Yosemite.

Technical Terms

Dynamic character: the first bluejayStatic Character: Jim Bakerprotagonist: the first bluejayMoral point: to solve a problematic situation you must have a good and serious determination and use other’s point of view and advice.

Proverb: “Fall. Stand. Learn. Adapt.”

Technical Terms