SUMMER OF THE

BEAUTIFUL WHITE HORSE

WILLIAM SAROYAN
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
1908-1981
Armenian-American novelist
"one of the most underrated
writers of the 20th century."
 Word bank
• Vineyard – plantation of grapevines used in winemaking
• Orchards – a piece of land of the plantation of fruits
• Irrigation ditches – manmade channel used to deliver water to homes,
industries and other uses
• Trot – proceed with something
• Descendant – a system that develops from an earlier simple version
• Streak – race
• San Joaquin Valley – one of the long interior valleys of California
• Capricious – inconsistent change of mood
• Vagrant – a person without a settled home or work
Things to look at
• Aram and Mourad
• A magnificent Horse
• Horse owner
• Boys’ encounter with the
horse owner
• Repenting and bidding
farewell to the horse
 Characters
• The story revolves around the two cousins Aram and
Mourad, both belong to the poor Armenian tribe.
• Aram- 9 year old narrator of the story
• Mourad- an Armenian boy of 13 belonging to
Garoghlanian tribe, cousin of Aram
• Uncle Khosrove
• John Byro- a farmer, rightful owner of the horse, an
American who out of loneliness learnt Armenian.
Hallmarks of Garoghlanian Tribe

• Poor Armenian tribe

• unwavering adherence to the virtue of honesty
• Famous for their truth, integrity even in the face of
poverty
• The people of this tribe were proud first and honest
next.
• For eleven centuries these features had been
religiously safeguarded from one generation to
another.
Honesty Pride

Theme

Honour Respect
ARRIVAL OF MOURAD ON A
BEAUTIFUL WHITE HORSE:

• The story begins by introducing the two main

characters, nine-year-old Aram and his thirteen-
year-old cousin Mourad
• Mourad wakes up Aram one morning before
dawn, tapping on his window.
• Aram looks out, sees Mourad riding a beautiful
white horse, unbelievable, thought to be a dream,
rubbed his eyes.
ARAM’S SKEPTICAL
NATURE:
• Hallmarks of their tribe-trust and honesty.
• No member of the Garoghlanian family,
wealthy enough to afford a horse.
• Realizes that Mourad must have stolen but
cannot believe it.
• Aram justifies the theft to himself,
reasoning that perhaps it isn’t actually
stealing unless they try to sell the horse.
BOTH THE BROTHERS ENJOY
THE RIDE:
• Unable to resist any longer, Aram hops on the
horse behind Mourad.
• Aram reflects on his cousin’s unconventional
nature: everyone says he inherited “the crazy
streak” of the tribe from their uncle Khosrove.
• Both enjoy a long and satisfying ride until Mourad
orders Aram off the horse, wanting to ride alone.
Aram demands the same privilege, so after
Mourad finishes his solo ride, Aram climbs back
on.
NARRATOR’S EXPERIENCE OF RIDING
ALONE:
• Unfortunately for Aram, horse runs into a
neighbor’s vineyard, begins to leap over vines. Aram
tossed from the horse.
• Mourad comes running, both boys look for the
horse. They find it and hide it in the barn at an
abandoned vineyard.
• Aram realizes Mourad has been hiding and riding
the horse for some time and only told him about it
that morning.
• Aram further questions, Mourad refuses to give
details, doesn’t want Aram to have to lie if they are
caught, return home.
A NEW ASPECT OF MOURAD’S
PERSONALITY:

• When narrator ran to Mourad’s house-

was sitting under a peach tree – trying
to repair hurt wing of young robin –
• Repaired the wing – threw the bird into
the air – after a few unsuccessful
attempts – bird flew away.
• Shows his love and care towards
animals.
 A farmer John Byro visits Aram’s house - tells his
horse was stolen a month ago, still missing, surrey(a
horse drawn carriage) useless, legs paining.
ARRIVAL
OF A Uncle Khosrove- crazy streak, “pay no attention to
VISITOR: it”.

Aram confronts Mourad -wants him to promise that

the horse won’t be returned until he learns how to
ride - Mourad says it will take a year to master
riding a horse
Boys settle returning the horse in six months, rode it
every morning.
 • One morning while riding “the beautiful
white horse,” Mourad and Aram
accidentally run into John Byro
CLIMAX: THE BOY’S • Byro instantly recognizes the horse to
CHANCE MEETING be his.
WITH JOHN BYRO
• The speciality of this scene is that each
of the three persons - Byro, Mourad
and Aram - present there knows that
the horse belongs to Byro, yet no one
admits so.
BOTH THE BROTHERS WERE CONSCIENCE
STRICKEN:

• Chastened by Byro’s faith in their family - two

boys say goodbye to the horse.
• Return it to Byro’s barn early the next morning,
Mourad emotional while parting away .
• In afternoon, Byro brings the horse to Aram’s
house - claiming that it is “stronger than ever”
and “better-tempered” than before.
 • Natural descendent of the crazy
streak of their tribe
• Booming voice that always roared
• Big man with largest moustache
Uncle • Furious and impatient
Khosrove • Easily irritated
• Gentle at heart and never thought
of harming anyone.
• Attitude- “pay no attention to it”
Mourad’s Crazy Streak

• Crazy
• uncanny way with animals
• guided by passion, fearless
• inherited from his Uncle
• Did not believe in curbing his
desires
• Free spirited
 Questions

• Why and how did Aram justify Mourad’s act?

• What is the significance of the white horse in the
story?
• Why did the sight of Mourad’s horse both delightful
and frightening for Aram?
• Who was John Byro? What was his response upon
encountering the boys with his horse?