The Summer of The Beautiful White Horse

The Summer of the Beautiful White Horse
QUESTION AND ANSWERS

1.What was common between Mourad and Aram? In what respect
did they differ from each other?
Ans. Mourad and Aram were cousins belonging to the Garoghlanian
family. Both had a common craze for horse riding. But Aram was
more honest and straightforward than his cousin. Mourad had a
streak of craziness. He could tell lies. He was boastful. Aram was
simple-hearted.
2.Bring out the significance of the white horse in Saroyan’s story.

Ans. The beautiful white horse is central to Saroyan’s story. Its
entry highlights the differences in the characters of the cousins. It
gives the story some thrill and action. We read on with anticipation
to know as to when and how the boys would return the horse, if
ever. In the end, it is with its rightful owner. So it dominates the
whole story.
3.Why did the sight of Mourad’s horse both delightful and frightening
for Aram?
Ans. Aram was just a young lad, truthful and honest. But he had a
longing for riding a horse. Naturally, he was delighted when Mourad
asked him to sit on the white horse. But he was also frightened
because he knew that it was a stolen horse.
4.Who was Uncle Khosrove? What were some of the notable traits
of his character?
Ans. Uncle Khosrove was widely known to be crazy. He was short-
tempered and impatient as well. He stopped others from talking by
shouting at them. His stock saying was: it is no harm, pay no
attention to it. ‘Mourad had got that craziness from Uncle Khosrove.
5.Mourad had a way and some sort of understanding with three

creatures. Who were they?
Ans. Mourad was boastful and self-confident. He was good at
dealing with a wild white horse. the farm dogs and an injured bird.
The white horse of Byro became better tempered. The dogs at
Byro’s barn did not bark at him. The little-injured robin was nursed
by Mourad and it managed to fly again.
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6.‘I didn’t want both of us to be liars. Who spoke these words and in
what context?
Ans. These words were spoken by Mourad to Aram. Mourad
indirectly admitted that he was telling a lie. In fact, he had stolen
the horse quite a few days back but in case they were found out by
the horse owner, Aram was to tell him that they had started riding
that very morning.
7.Who was John Byro? What did he first lose but finally recover?
Ans. John Byro was an Assyrian farmer and lived in the
neighbourhood. He was a frequent visitor to Aram’s house. His white
horse has stolen a few weeks ago. He recognised his horse being
led by Mourad. But he did not create a scene. Mourad returned it to
him when he realised that his family’s honour was at stake.
8.Compare and Contrast the characters of Mourad and Aram.

Answer:
The story ‘The Summer of the Beautiful White Horse’ has a few
characters. Two of them are Mourad and Aram. Aram is the speaker/
narrator of the story. But the most interesting character here is
Mourad. He has his own way of understanding with birds and
animals. He is thirteen year old i.e. 4 years older to Aram. Mourad
had acquired the crazy streak of the family naturally. Except the
narrator everybody who knew him regarded him crazy.
But one day, he surprised the narrator also. He had brought along a
Wonderful white horse. No doubt it was not ‘his’, as neither he could
purchase and stealing was out of question. Both belonged to poor
family and stealing was not a natural trait with their tribe whose
hallmarks were honesty and trust.
Anyhow, he had come to invite the narrator to enjoy a ride. He was

so simpleton at heart, that he wanted to make Aram feel the same
joy of enjoy¬ing a joyride, as he himself had enjoyed. Though he
didn’t disclose how and when he did steal it. Both regarded that it
was not a ‘theft’ until they wished to sell it. Both decided that they
would keep it at least for six months unless they learnt to ride
properly. The period is also decided by Mourad.
But unluckily, the narrator came to know about the real owner. He
felt nervous as the owner of the horse, John Byrd had come to his
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house, inquiring/ feeling sorry over his lost horse. Jle went to
Mourad to reveal the news. At that time Mouracl was sitting under a
peach tree, healing the hurt wing of a young robin. It showed that he
loved animals and birds a lot.
Mourad is a mysterious person with amusing characteristics. He had

been enjoying rides on a horse of John Byro for a month and kept it
for another two weeks. But he didn’t consider it a theft. As the
narrator requested him to keep it for a year, he roared “what?” “Are
you inviting a member of the Garoghlanian family to steal?” As they
met the real owner, without getting worried, Mourad peacefully put
back the horse at its real owner’s barn, early next morning. Again he
behaved strangely, while bidding ‘goodbye’ to the horse.
He put his arms around the horse, pressed his nose into the horse’s
nose, patted it, and then started back. It was all too mysterious to
Aram to understand Mourad’s strange ways of making the wounded
bird fly, keeping the dogs shut their mouths, and making the horse
run. Really he was a strange boy.
HOMEWORK
1.Did the boys return the horse because they were conscience-
stricken or afraid?
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The Summer of the Beautiful White Horse

QUESTION AND ANSWERS

2.Bring out the significance of the white horse in Saroyan’s story.

5.Mourad had a way and some sort of understanding with three

8.Compare and Contrast the characters of Mourad and Aram.

Anyhow, he had come to invite the narrator to enjoy a ride. He was

Mourad is a mysterious person with amusing characteristics. He had

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