answered in about 40 words each)

(to be
Mourad considered crazy
by everybody? Cite.
Q1. Why was

cousin. He had inherited tho

Teasons.
Aram's
Mourad was
eak of
the characteristic hoof
behaviour -

adventurousand crazy
of the tribe's ancestors.
He did things which others o wo
behaviour
famous for its never
doing. The tribe
was ho.
consider
a horse. He did so in orden.
honesty an
integrity but Mourad stole to satisfy
his urge for horse-riding.
Q2. Why did the narrator rub his eyes when he looked
ked outside
through the window? Or

What made Aram think that he was perhaps dreaming?

A spectacular and spell binding scene awaited Aram whon 1

looked outside Mourad was sitting on a beautiful

-

white hoOrsa
brse.
Aram rubbed his eyes because he could not believe
what hr
he
saw.He and Mourad belonged to a poor family and
could never
ver
afford buy horse but here was Mourad
to a
on a sitting horset
was too good to be true.

Q3. Explain: "Mourad enjoyed being alive more than anybody else
who had ever fallen into the world by mistake".
This line rightly sums up Mourad's character. He did not
.

believe
in suppressing and curbing his desires. He believed
in fulfilling
them. He wanted to live each moment of his life to the fullest as
is exemplified by his stealing a horse to enjoy ridingit.
04. Why were the Garoghlanian family members first proud and
then honest? Or
What was the chief hallmark of the Garoghlanian tribe?
For the Garoghlaniarn family their name i.e. family honour caue
first of all. They were known for their
honesty and integny
upholding the family name was of utmost importance them. o
 stureCompanion 11
217

Despite eir abject poverty, they would do nothing contrary to

reputation for which they had been famous for eleven
their

c e n t u r i e s .

ibe Aram's excitement when he saw the horse.

Describe
m could not believe whathe saw. He could see and smell the
Aramc o u l d r

nificent horse. He could hear it breathing. The experience

magnif
GO very exciting for him that he wondered if he was
was

dreaming.

Aram find it hard to believe that Mourad had stolen the

Why did
Why
horse?

Roth Aram and

Mourad were very poor and did not have
horse. Their desire to ride horses was
enough money to buy
a

verv strong but both belonged to the Garoghlanian family who

honest and truthful in their dealings. So it
took pride in being
Aram to believe that Mourad had stolen the
was very hard for
horse.
Mourad's act of stealing a horse?
.How did Aram justify
horse for a ride was different from
Aram felt that stealing a

stealing it for selling. Mourad had picked up

the horse only for
it. Mourad had
the pleasure that he would derive by riding
never ever thought of selling it.

B.T don't want both of us to be liars". How could both Aram and
Mourad be liars? What is ironical about this statement?

month but
riding the stolen horse for over
a
Mourad had been
did not wish to admit the fact in the event of his theft being
Mourad
und out. Although Aram had come to know this fact,
should say that he
Oa him to pretend that he did not. Instead he
ha been that morning. This way Aram
riding the horse since
Aram's reply will be
as
o d be
speaking the truth. Ironically
much a lie as Mourad's would be.
218 Literature Companior

Describe uncle Khosrove in your own words. What were his

Q9.
special traits? Or
How does the narrator portray his uncle Khosrove?

Uncle Khosrove was considered to be the natural descendantoe

the crazy streak in the tribe. He was an enormous man with
powerful head of black hair and a big moustache. He had a
booming voice and he never spoke but always roared. He got
irritated easily and was impatient by nature. However, he was

gentle at heart and never meant any harm to anybody. To all the
problems his attitude was: 'pay no attention to it.
Q10. Where would the boys hide the horse after enjoying their ride?

Why?
After enjoying the horse ride the boys would take it to a deserted

vineyard. There in a barn they would tie it. They wanted to keep
it away from the prying eyes of the world because they were
afraid that if anybody saw it their family name and honour
would be soiled. Moreover, they wanted to enjoy riding the
horse forquite sometime.

been riding the horse

Q11. How did Aram conclude that Mourad had
for quite a while?
When Aram tried to ride the horse independently he could not
whereas Mourad
manage it and fell off and the horse ran away,
could ride it very well. Moreover, he also knew a place where he
could hide the horse. All this made Aram conclude that Mourad

had been riding the horse for quite a while.

was
Q12. Who visited uncle Khosrove one afternoon? What
worried about?
An Assyrian farmer, named John Byro visited uncle Khosrove
one afternoon. He was sad because somebody had stolen u
less
white horse. He felt that his surrey was rendered
Literature Companion 11
219

without a horse and life had become

difficult for him without a
horse because he had to
go everywhere walking.
013. Why did Mourad say, "I have a
way with farmers"?
Mourad was very clever at
breaking in horses, in tending
wounded birds and in
dealing with people. He was smart
enough wriggle out difficult situations. When
to

owner of thehorse found Mourad and

the
Byro,John
Aram, Mourad wanted
to deal with the situation
because he knew he could save the
skin by being polite and
pleasing to the farmer.
014. What did Mourad want Aram to
say in the event of their being
caught riding the horse?
When Aram asked Mourad since when he had been
riding the
horse every morning, Mourad
replied 'Not until this morning'.
Aram knew that Mourad was telling
a lie. So when he
confronted Mourad, the latter told him to say that they had been
riding the horse since that morning only, if anyone found out
their mischief.

Q15. Why did Aram remark: "A man could be the father of his son's
flesh butthat did not mean he was also the father of his
spirit"?
Aram, the narrator of the story made this remark in the context
of his cousin Mourad inheriting his uncle Khosrove's
personality traits, although his father was Zorab. The narrator
believed that a son may resemble his father in body but may
exhibit quite a different character. Mourad's father was practical
but his uncle Khosrove was irritable, impatient and a little crazy
- personality traits t h a t M o u r a d also had. Such deviation in

character was typical of his tribe, he believed.

Q16. Briefly bring about the significance of the title.

The title "The Summer of the Beautiful White Horse" refers to

the summer when Mourad and his cousin Aram, the narrator,
 220 Literature Companion111

beautiful white
horse which Mourad has
d
enjoyed riding a
farmer John Byro. It was a va
stolen from the barn of the
experience both for
the boys as well as the horse, whoose
thrilling
health and temperament considerably improved during thi
time. This beautiful time, however, came to an abrupt end who
tful owner. Thtse
the boys were seen with the horse by its rightfu Thus
the title is very apt and suggestive.

LONG ANSWER QUESTIONS

(to be answered in about 120 150 words each)

Q1. Did the boys return the horse because they were conscience.
stricken or because they were afraid?
(Textual)
Or
What prompted the boys to return the horse family values or
fear of being caught and punished? Give reasons in support of
your answer.

Both Aram and Mourad belonged to Garoghlanian family

which was known for its honesty and integrity. No one in their
tribe had ever been accused of any sort of dishonesty, leave
alone theft. In a childish prank, Mourad had stolen John Byro's
horse in order to fulfil their strong desire to have a horse. He and
Aram had naively convinced themselves that if the horse was

taken for the joy of riding, it was not stealing. One day the boys
were in for trouble. While returning after a ride that day they
be
came face to face with John Byro who recognised the horse to
about the
his, but could not say anything because he knew
to
family's honesty. Now they were left with no choice but
wereat
returnthe horse because their family's name and honour
rough
stake and they did not want to bring a bad repute to ittn
h e yr e t u r n e d

their actions. Their conscience pricked them and they

 a t u r e Lomipanion 1 7

221

horset
its rightful owner. Thus, it is
the
the
no ars of ionominy and mix of family values
a

and

return the horse.

punishment that prompt the boys to
Q 2
sitive and negative values do you find in
W h a t p o s

uncle Khosrove
a n dM o u r a d ?

Mourad and his le Khosrove were typical members

of the
chlanian family.
Garogh Both of them were
considered the natural
of the crazy streak
des in the tribe. Uncle Khosrove was
ell-built and had black hair and large moustache. He was
cily irritated and did not have the
patience to hear other
people out. Generally, he silenced them by shouting "It is no
Pec

harm pay no atterntion to it". He was an eccentric person and

nobody could altar his way of thinking. Yet he was good at heart.

Similarly, Mourad was also one of his own kind. He was daring,
full of exuberance and mischief. He did what he wanted. He
broke or altered family rules according to his convenience.
Though he knew that his family was known for honesty, he
risked it and stole a horse to enjoy riding it. However, this act of
stealing does not in any way make him a villain as the theft was
not performed with any evil intentions. It was merely a childish
prank.
Mourad was reckless, carefree and happy-go-lucky. He handled
John Byro - the owner of the horse so very deftly that the man

was convinced that the horse was the twin of his horse. Mourad

nad his way with horses, birds and men alike. On the whole, he

Was a kind hearted lad with a

carefree spirit
03. Despit identifying his horse, what made John Byro believe that
OTSe that the boys were riding was 'My Heart'- a twin of his

Tolen horse? What light does the incident throw on his character?

y morning when both Mourad and Aram

were ontheir
222 iterature Compar
11

way to Fetvajian's deserted vineyard, they came face to

with John Byro, the rightful owner of the horse, wha wra face
his
way to the town. Immediately Mourad asked Aram to
remain
quiet and let him do the talking as he believed he had a wav w
ith
farmers.
Mourad very confidently wished the farmer good morning. The

farmer noticed the horse and enquired about its name. Mourad
replied that the horse's name was 'My Heart'. Byro recognised
i t to be his own horse that was stolen many weeks ago, He

established the identity of the horse by looking into its mouth

and was ready to swear that the horse was his, but knowingtho
boys' family and their honesty, he desisted from making the
claim. He chose to believe his heart rather than his, eyes and
declared that the horse must have been the twin of his stolen
horse.
The incident shows that John Byro was a simple, honest and
credulous man who trusted people on the basis their family

values.
Q4. What moral lessons do you learn from the story, "The Summer of
the Beautiful White Horse"?
The story "The Summer of the Beautiful White Horse" has many
moral lessons to teach. The first and foremost lesson we can

learn is that we should always live up to our long establishea

and time tested values, because they are good and people kno
and value us for them. The Garoghlanian family and their clat
her
for example, were known and valued for their honesty.
to
lesson we can learn is that we must not allow our adversiu

get the better of us. We must take them in our stride

anu
i bve
Yetanother
ahead, just like the narrator's uncle Khosrove does.
and
lesson that we can learn is that the society runs smoou
hips
peacefully if people have faith and trust in their relatiot
Literature Companion 11
223
5

Bvro, for example, did recognize the horse to be his but since he
had tremendous faith in the Garoghlanian family's honesty, he r

tald himself that the horse must be a twin of his horse and went
head. This way the boys escaped an unsavoury situation. This 1
incident also prompted them to acknowledge that it was wrong
to take Byro's horse for rides without his permission and
knowledge. Finally, one more lesson that we can learn is that we
must never give in to temptations just like Mourad does,

for they lead to sin, and sin in turn leads to ignominy and
punishment.
05. Mourad seems to have a way with animals, birds and farmers.
What other qualities does he have and what different values
weave the fabric of his character?
Mourad truly has a way with animals, birds and farmers. He is
able to ride the horse as he likes, goes bathing in the pond with it,
can control it at will and for months on enjoys riding it. While he
does so, he takes a good care of the animal, too. Similarly, hurt
birds get healed in his hands and even people who have reasons
to be furious with him behave in a gentle way. For example, John
Bryo, the owner of the horse Mourad has stolen, one day finds
him and his cousin riding it, but dare not claim it to be his own
because he believes Mourad when he claims the horse to be his.

Thus, Mourad is an easy going, carefree

and happy-go-lucky
boy who loves to have his way. He lives a life of his own - seeks
adventure, enjoys himself, fulfils his desires and ambitions,
even if that means compromising a bit with his family values
and
principles of trust and honesty. It must be said in his
aefence here that he steals the horse not for
any malicious
Purpose but for the joy of riding it. So naive is he that it does not
Occur to him that he could have borrowed the horse from John
Bryo!
 Liter ure Companion
24

Mourad is an adorable young bov h ho commits

On the whole,
that most people of his age tynicsn.
some silly mistakes ally make.
that he should be all..
That, however,
does not mean

the horse. I
allowed to go
the i s
scot-free for his act ofstealing
must have taken
am sure

him
elders
t.
to tast
of
the Garoghlanian
family for his
misadventure and musthave suitably punished himand Aram,

the narrator.

You will probably agree that this story does not have reathless
D6. adventure and exciting action. What in your opinion makec tit

interesting? (Textual)
definitely does not contain any breathlace
Yes, the story
action but William Saroyan has given an
adventure and exciting
of young children's minds. He peeps
insight into the working
and longings of children who, like
into the thoughts, desires
Mourad grimly aware of their poverty background, try
and to

have to give it up
achieve what they want to but eventually
honour and values.
because of their family circumstances,
narrative.
The story is told in a simple and straight but engaging
narrative technique suits
It keeps moving very smoothly. Such a
the easy going characters of the narrator,
his cousin Mourad and

Uncle Khosrove.
He is crazy about
The story starts with the prank by Mourad.
horses and steals a horse to enjoy riding it. He also invites
cousin Aram, the narrator, to join him. Both of them naiv
have
justify the stealing by convincing themselves that they
continues
for
takenit for riding and not for selling. Theirjoy ride
f the
days together but eventually it is found out by the owner
heirtribe
of
horse, John Byro. Seeing that the pride and honesty
order to
keep
is at stake they secretly return the horse to Byro in
the name of their clan and tribe unblemished.
Literature Companion 17

225

The story is made interesting by the humorous

portrays the
characters and way the narrator
po delineates the
way he captures idiosyncratic
behaviour of his clan as well as the
the thrill and
joyMourad and Aram fee in ridinga'stolen'
horse.
O00