Character Analysis in The Outcasts of Poker Flat John Oakhurst: A character of noble qualities, John is exiled not due to his unsavory nature, but out of revenge and spite. The first of them is a professional poker player, John Oakhurst, who has won large amounts from those on the secret committee. This passage also begins to flesh out the settlement of Poker Flat and the American Old West more broadly. He accepts his sentence in this calm manner, defying our expectations of what an improper person might behave like in this circumstance. On November 23, 1850, four such individuals are exiled from Poker Flat and warned not to return on pain of death. Four people come under suspicion for the killings and are swiftly run straight out of the camp. The way the content is organized. Judgement of Others: The townspeople living in Poker Flats cast judgement on the story's main characters and exile them from the town. weak. Indeed, Poker Flat is after somebody. The settlement has recently suffered greatly, somehow losing several thousand dollars, two prized horses, and an important resident. While the narrator states that Uncle Billy was the one that included the whole party in one sweeping anathema, Mother Shipton also eyes Mr. Oakhurst with malevolence. Note that Mr. Oakhursts kind actions failed to draw the party into any closer sympathy. This group of individuals are very divided, either hateful or fearful of one another despite being victims of the same unfortunate circumstance. "The Outcasts of Poker Flat" (1869) is a short story written by writer of the American West Bret Harte. Tom leads the group to an old cabin that he had found, and they spend the night. The term temperance means abstinence from drinking alcohol. Find these two regionalist elements in the story "The Outcasts of Poker Flat." Find and explain one example of each of these two . in. He believes in luck and fate. John is an outstanding person and has some phenomenal traits. See in text(The Outcasts of Poker Flat). See in text(The Outcasts of Poker Flat). Oakhurst resigns himself to the losing game before him, suggesting that he believes hes fated to die in the mountains. After hours of traveling, Oakhursts companions get tired, and despite his remonstrances they decide to stop and rest. Mother Shipton later makes the ultimate sacrifice when she secretly starves herself in order to ensure enough food for Piney Woods. During the story, Oakhurst is placed through a variety of situations that eventually lead to his subtle death. PDFs of modern translations of every Shakespeare play and poem. The story follows a group of exiled individuals who are forced to leave the town of Poker Flat due to their perceived immorality or deviant behavior. aggressive and combative, the Duchess grows weepy and sentimental, and Mother Shipton falls asleep. PDFs of modern translations of every Shakespeare play and poem. John Oakhurst: A character of noble qualities, John is exiled not due to his unsavory nature, but out of revenge and spite. Based on the short stories "The Outcasts of Poker Flat" and "The Luck of Roaring Camp" by Bret Harte in The Overland Monthly (San Francisco, Aug 1868). These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of The Outcasts of Poker Flat by Bret Harte. Overall, I thin that John Oakhurst is a good person. Duchess and Piney stay in the cabin and when their fire dies they fall asleep hugging each other. In looking out at Poker Flat and cursing it vehemently, then, it seems that Mother Shipton is aware that her own end will be a tragic one. Piney Woods: Piney Woods is also painted as an innocent, fifteen-year-old virgin. In death, the Duchess is no longer defined by her profession as a prostitute or characterized as frail or tired. While Harte was known in his time for being a prominent anti-racist writer, one of his worksthe satirical poem Plain Language from Truthful James, also known as The Heathen Chineeunintentionally, On the third day in the mountains, the sunlight casts a warm, friendly glow over the snowy woods, as if in regretful commiseration of the past. But the snow piles higher and higher around the hut like a hopeless, uncharted trackless sea of white lying below the rocky shores to which the castaways still clung. The sky is clear, though, and. Complete your free account to access notes and highlights. The footsteps and voices in the passage likely belong to rescuers because of the invocation of the law of Poker Flat, which would suggest that Tom was successful in making it to Poker Flat to get help. Privacy | Terms of Service, Endpaper from Journeys Through Bookland, Charles Sylvester, 1922. 'Stand away from the door, all of you,' he commanded. The Outcasts of Poker Flat study guide contains a biography of Bret Harte, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. Lisez The Outcasts of Poker Flat and Other Tales en Ebook sur YouScribe - The story takes place in a Californian community known as Poker Flat, near the town of La Porte. Find related themes, quotes, symbols, characters, and more. The Outcasts of Poker Flat study guide contains a biography of Bret Harte, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. The "law of Poker Flat" finally arrives at the cabin, only to find the Duchess and Piney frozen to death and embracing in a peaceful repose. Oakhurst quickly springs into action, but in the next moment he becomes calm, accepting, and seemingly passive again, raising the question of whether he is fighting hard enough against his circumstances. Even though he tries to make this clear, his companions dont listen and immediately take to drinking. Instant downloads of all 1699 LitChart PDFs Would not have made it through AP Literature without the printable PDFs. Appearances and Reality Another example of when Mr. Oakhurst showed courage was when he kicked Uncle Billy to stop him from laughing. Teachers and parents! The story was first published in January 1869 in the magazine Overland Monthly. Oakhurst commits suicide under a tree by shooting himself through the heart with his derringer. The protagonist of the story, John Oakhurst is a serial gambler who is exiled from the Old West settlement of Poker Flat along with three other people whom the town has deemed "improper": the Duchess, Mother Shipton, and Uncle Billy. Another example of leadership like what occurred in Jersey was a simple man by the name of John Oakhurst. On his way out of town, he is joined by two women, the Duchess and Mother Shipton, and Uncle Billy, the town drunk and a suspected robber. Teachers and parents! Stereotypes In The Outcasts Of Poker Flat By Bret Harte. They look so peaceful and innocent, that when the law of Poker Flat finds them, they are unable to tell which one is the sinner, so they turn away and let them be. While the group has thus far been able to pretend that theyre merely on a camping trip or an adventure in the woods, Mother Shiptons death seems to snap everyone out of their optimistic delusions. Luck, continued the gambler, reflectively, is a mighty queer thing. The tension between natures beauty and power reappears here, as Tom naively positions their time in the mountains as a jaunty camping trip among friends rather than a fight for survival. Consider his reaction in relation to other characters, as it continues to define his character throughout the remainder of the story and establishes him as a heroic figure. He started to his feet with the intention of awakening the sleepers, for there was no time to lose. That Uncle Billy delivers a Parthian volley of expletives suggests two things. Detailed quotes explanations with page numbers for every important quote on the site. The Question and Answer section for The Outcasts of Poker Flat is a great He may have his vicesnamely, gamblingbut hes also prudent and wise. The protagonist of the story, John Oakhurst is a serial gambler who is exiled from the Old West settlement of Poker Flat along with three other people whom the town has deemed improper: The chief antagonist of the story, Uncle Billy is a drunk and a suspected thief (he is believed to steal gold while other people are panning for it) who is exiled from Poker Flat along, The Duchess, whose real name is never revealed, is a prostitute in the Old West settlement of Poker Flat and is exiled for her immorality. Piney Woods used to work in a temperance housean occupation traditionally held in higher moral esteem than some of the occupations of her present company. He further shows his good nature by returning the $40 he had won from Tom Simson in a card game and saying, "Tommy, you're a good little man, but you can't gamble worth a cent. These four set out for the Sandy Bar mining camp, a day's journey away over a mountain range. Struggling with distance learning? A playing card, the two of clubs, is found pinned to the trunk with a note written on it: BENEATH THIS TREE Its agin justice, said Jim Wheeler, to let this yer young man from Roaring Campan entire strangercarry away our money. But a crude sentiment of equity residing in the breasts of those who had been fortunate enough to win from Mr. Oakhurst overruled this narrower local prejudice. A temperance house, also known as a temperance tavern, was a type of bar that did not serve alcohol or asked customers to sign an oath stating that they would drink in moderation or abstain completely while inside. Readers may recall that Tom earlier mistook the Duchess for Oakhursts wifea misunderstanding that no one seemed to clear up, as no one wanted to reveal themselves as outcastsso Oakhursts kiss here may be a way for him to continue playing that role so that Tom doesnt get suspicious. The historical Mother Shipton was a 15th-century prophetess who, in time, turned into a legendary figure known for predicting the Second Coming of Christ and the end of the world. In death, its impossible to tell the women apart, as they both carry a look of equal peace. Even the residents of Poker Flat recognize this, so they leave the women locked in a tender embrace. Resolution of the Outcasts of Poker Flat. Mr. Oakhurst has kept the truth from Tom and Piney due to some occult, or mysterious, reason. It was experiencing a spasm of virtuous reaction, quite as lawless and ungovernable as any of the acts that had provoked it. Rising Action. The Old West is a thoroughly dangerous place, as the outcasts are forced to leave one life-threatening danger (the unforgiving residents of Poker Flat, who have made it clear that the outcasts will be killed if they return) for another, the similarly rugged and hostile natural world. Got it! Wheeler, like many others on the committee, Would not have made it through AP Literature without the printable PDFs. The Outcasts of Poker Flat Characters Next John Oakhurst John Oakhurst The protagonist of the story, John Oakhurst is a serial gambler who is exiled from the Old West settlement of Poker Flat along with three other people whom the town has deemed "improper": the Duchess read analysis of John Oakhurst Uncle Billy The Outcasts of Poker Flat | Study Guide Bret Harte Study Guide Documents Q&As Discussions Download a PDF to print or study offline. On another note, the description of the Duchess and Mother Shipton as celestial guardians, given their proximity to Piney, foreshadows the way that she will have a redemptive, purifying effect on them. The protagonist of the story, John Oakhurst is a serial gambler who is exiled from the Old West settlement of Poker Flat along with three other people whom the town has deemed improper: "My students can't get enough of your charts and their results have gone through the roof." Harte's story has been brought to film at least five times, including in 1919 with Harry Carey, in 1937 with Preston Foster, and in 1952 with Dale Robertson. You'll be able to access your notes and highlights, make requests, and get updates on new titles. Overall the mayor just wanted to protect and lead the people of New Jersey. In the beginning of the story, Mother Shipton is described from the eyes of the townspeople: she is a prostitute that they look down onworthy only of being cast out. A few of the committee had urged hanging him as a possible example, and a sure method of reimbursing themselves from his pockets of the sums he had won from them. Some months before he had chanced upon a stray copy of Mr. Popes ingenious translation of the Iliad. The narrator. That night, even music is not enough to distract the group from their bleak situation. Lesson Plan for The Outcasts of Poker Flat About the Author Study Objectives Common Core Standards Introduction to The Outcasts of Poker Flat The Outcasts of Poker Flat essays are academic essays for citation. Most people would have just told him to stop laughing. In the context of Oakhursts banishment, the secret committee has a similar role to a card dealer who oversees players and makes sure they arent cheatingthe most powerful men in Poker Flat have the authority and clout to pass harsh moral judgments on their peers. ON THE 7TH DECEMBER, 1850. Because of this, the group struggles to find wood to fuel their fires. Comparing these two characters reinforces Mr. Oakhursts ethical nature. The stoic gambler John Oakhurst shows the most class of all the members of the party in Bret Harte 's short story, " The Outcasts of Poker Flat ." He alone remains silent when the group is. Tom is still cheerful as ever, and over the next few days he leads the group in camp songs and storytelling. Struggling with distance learning? This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience. Tom Simson is innocent, but Mr. Oakhurst does not take advantage of this. Oakhursts ability to whip up a pair of homemade snowshoes, coupled with the seriousness and urgency of his plea to Tom, shows that Oakhurst does value action rather than giving up. Even though the story characterized him earlier as someone who is wholly accepting of fate, his objections in this passage suggest that he draws a line between taking action when one can, and accepting ones circumstances when its the only option left. My students love how organized the handouts are and enjoy tracking the themes as a class., Requesting a new guide requires a free LitCharts account. Meanwhile, Oakhurst encounters young runaway couple, Piney Woods and Tom Simons, heading to Poker Flat to get married. Creating notes and highlights requires a free LitCharts account. With him life was at best an uncertain game, and he recognized he usual percentage in favor of the dealer. The original text plus a side-by-side modern translation of. (In actuality, it seems that the real Mother Shiptons predictions were all small-scale, regional ones.) Tom mixes Greek myth with elements of the Western landscape, the result of which is an epic that imbues nature with a godlike strength and power. It has recently lost an important resident, a large fortune, and two horses, catalyzing a spasm of virtuous reaction. In an effort to salvage the towns reputation and reinstate a sense of normalcy, a group of powerful Poker Flat residents form a secret committee that decides who stays and who goes, whether by hanging (a fate to which two men have already been sentenced) or by exile. That to me shows the utmost courage in the world. Bret Harte an American writer known for his touch of local color, settings of the California gold rush and his character stereotypes such as "the grizzled prospector, the dance-hall girl with a heart of gold, and the smooth gambler" (505) in his literary works. Definitions and examples of 136 literary terms and devices. John is an outstanding person and has some phenomenal traits. Although their popularity has decreased somewhat over time, the influences they have contributed during their career number of members decreased to four. Best summary PDF, themes, and quotes. The party consists of Duchess, a saloon girl; Mother Shipton, a madam; Uncle Billy, a local drunk and thief; and John Oakhurst, a poker player, who won a lot of money from the people sitting on the secret committee. Harte leaves this unresolved, forcing readers to form their own interpretation of Oakhursts life and death. If I was alive in the old west, John is a person I would like to run in to. That Hartes Mother Shipton goes by this name associates her with the historical Mother Shiptons foresight. The Outcasts of Poker Flat e-text contains the full text of The Outcasts of Poker Flat by Bret Harte. See in text(The Outcasts of Poker Flat). Harte suggests that the line between good and evil is not nearly as sharp as we often think. John has shown numerous times in "The Outcasts of Poker Flat", that he is an extraordinarily . Certain inhabitants of Poker Flat feel that the community is going down the hill. Where are Tom Simpson and Piney Woods going? While hes usually on the fringes of the group, silently looking on with an unreadable expression, this moment reveals that hes actually a deeply lonely man who seems to long for a sense of community and belonging. Detailed explanations, analysis, and citation info for every important quote on LitCharts. The outcasts are described as still [clinging] to survival, which implies that the outcome of their journey wont be a good one. In the text, it states the following: "He pulled off his coat. He even insists on returning Toms money to him after winning at cards. one plays accordion or recites Homer. The residents hard-edged attitudes toward improper persons also further characterize the Old West as a dangerous, unforgiving place. and decide that they can stretch their supplies for 10 days if theyre exceedingly careful. Not affiliated with Harvard College. The Outcasts of Poker Flat: Directed by Joseph M. Newman. After the group buries. When the people from Poker Flat arrive at the camp, what do they find? Copyright 1999 - 2023 GradeSaver LLC. Piney Woods is another conventionally innocent or good character and is referred to by her real name rather than a nickname. As its unaccustomed to Sabbath influencesmeaning religion more broadly, and a day of rest specificallyit seems that Poker Flat is perhaps a noisy, unstructured, rowdy place. At that time, law and order on the mining. Mother Shipton: Mother Shipton is an older Madame who takes on a maternal role in the group. Instant downloads of all 1699 LitChart PDFs This possibility speaks to the way that Oakhurst oscillates between taking action and giving up too quickly. [] The lovers turned from the dreary prospect and looked into each others eyes, and were happy. benefits team work.pptx. That day, no one plays accordion or recites Homer. That Oakhurst reacts with philosophic calmness begins to align him with Stoicism, a school of philosophy that centers around self-control, acceptance of the present moment, and avoidance and distrust of extreme emotion. Teach your students to analyze literature like LitCharts does. Oakhurst wakes up in the early morning and notices it started to snow. Mr. Oakhurst is full of contradiction, hence why he is very interesting. The Covenanters were a Scottish Presbyterian group who called for separation from the Church of Englandthey believed that Jesus was the head of the Church, not the king. LitCharts Teacher Editions. In "The Outcasts of Poker Flat" by Bret Harte, Mr. Oakhurst's caring personality is . "philosophic calmness" When he successfully wins a large amount of money from the leaders of the town, they have him permanently banished. Dale Robertson John Oakhurst . John Oakhurst: Successful gambler his hobby and success make the townspeople a little poorer. 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