SUMMER OF THE

BEAUTIFUL WHITE HORSE

Aram and Mourad are cousins in the Garoghlanian family (an Armenian tribe), which has a reputation for honesty that has been maintained by its family members for hundreds of years. But the tribe is extremely poverty stricken though they never resort to unfair means to get money. Both boys long to ride a horse, but their poverty keeps them from their deepest dream. Early one morning, Mourad shows up at Aram 's home on a charming white horse..

Aram is awestruck! He cannot understand where Mourad got this beautiful horse when they do not have enough money to afford one. But he also cannot think that his cousin--a member of the honest tribe--can ever steal. But he is too surprised to try and find out the truth.He so longs for a ride. Also Mourad is determined to keep it, and they try their best to keep the horse a secret from others and learn to ride it.

In the days to follow, both the boys take out the horse from its hiding place every morning to ride in the countryside. Though, only Mourad can ride the horse properly as he has mastered the art by having riding practice for a month before revealing his secret to Aram. Aram tries hard to master the skill. He is determined to learn to ride and tells Mourad not to return the horse until he himself learns to ride. Mourad says it would take Aram a year to learn to ride. He cannot keep the horse that long but Aram tells him to keep it.

Mourad has a special quality---a deep understanding with all animals. He says "I have a way with a horse". Really he has a way with all animals and birds. Once he was repairing the hurt wing of a young robin and whispering to it. Mourad is considered a craazy fellow--the descendant of his craazy uncle Khusrove. Uncle Khusrove has a very bad temper and always stops people from talking by shouting--"It 's no harm,pay no attention to it!" Even when his son informs him that their house in on fire when uncle is having a hair-cut, uncle simply sends the boy away repeating his famed dialogue! Also when John Byro--the real owner of the stolen horse-- comes to Aram 's house to recount his sad tale of losing his beautiful horse, uncle simply says the matter is of no use and he should pay no attention to it. Then follows a humorous conversation between Khusrove and Byro at the end of which the sad farmer stomps out

One day when Mourad and Aram are taking the horse to the farm at which they have been hiding it, they come face to face with the horse 's owner John Byro. He looks at the horse very eagerly and studies it tooth by tooth. He exclaims that this white horse is identical to the one horse he owns. Finally he says that it cannot be the same one, for the Garoghlanian tribe is noted for its honesty. Aram notes that Mouצing thing happens. The guard dogs of John Byro instead of barking at the strangers follow them around silently. Yes Mourad communicates with them, perhaps telling them to not make noise!

The next day John Byro visits the Garoghlanian family home to tell of a great miracle. The horse which had mysteriously disappeared from his barn has returned! It was a very amazing happening; and the horse returned better trained and well-tempered. All this happened due to Mourad. This is the story of the beautiful white horse.The Garoghlanian family thus maintained their good name too

SHORT ANSWER

Q. Why did the narrator believe that “stealing a horse for a ride” was not the same thing as “stealing money”?   Or, What were the narrator’s views about “stealing”?

The narrator tried to justify the action the action of his cousin Mourad. According to narrator, stealing a horse just for a ride as Mourad did was not the same thing as stealing for money. It would amount to stealing in real sense only if one intended to sell the horse or the stolen material for money.

Q. What was the author’s (narrator’s) immediate reaction when he saw his cousin Mourad sitting on a beautiful white horse?  

When the author saw his cousin Mourad sitting on a beautiful white horse, he could not believe it. The author rubbed his eyes to make sure that he was not dreaming. He could not understand how a poor boy like Mourad could afford to own such a horse. 

Q. Describe the Garoghlanian family. Mention two qualities of the members of its family.

The Garoghlanian family lived in abject poverty. They were too poor to buy even food for themselves. Yet they never thought of doing a wrong thing or take advantage of others in the world. Stealing was unimaginable to them.The members of Garoghlanian family were especially known for their two qualities - integrity and honesty.

Q. What was the autor’s immediate reaction when he saw his cousin Mourad sitting on a beautiful white horse?

When the author saw his cousin Mourad sitting on a beautiful white horse , he could not belive it The autour rubbed his eyes to make sure that he was not dreaming . He could not understand how a poor like Mourad could not afford to own such a horse.

Q. What was aram's experience when he first rode the horse alone? Aram loved horses. One of his most cherished dreams was to have a horse ride. When his cousin Mourad brought the white horse he could not believe his eyes. He was mesmerised by seeing the grandeur of the horse. When Mourad asks him to have a ride he couldn’t hold himself. Initially they had a ride together but afterward Aram insisted on having a ride all by himself. When Aram first rode the horse alone, it did not move. Mourad gave him direction on how to ride. But when Aram kicked the horse, it snorted and then started running furiously. It did not run across the field, instead went towards the vineyard of Dikran Halabian. There it leaps vehemently and the author falls down. He found it really hard to tackle the horse

Q. What were the characterstics of uncle Khoshrove?Uncle Khosrove has a very bad temper and always stops people from talking by shouting--"It 's no harm,pay no attention to it!" Even when his son informs him that their house in on fire when uncle is having a hair-cut, uncle simply sends the boy away repeating his famed dialogue! Also when John Byro--the real owner of the stolen horse-- comes to Aram 's house to recount his sad tale of losing his beautiful horse, uncle simply says the matter is of no use and he should pay no attention to it

Q. Where did the boys hide the horse for the night Aram and Mourad hid the horse in a barn of a abandoned vineyard. It was once the possession of a farmer named Fetvajian mourad is an animal lover. support with examples?

Mourad could be termed as an animal lover. He was fanatical about horse. He is so fanatical about horse, that he could do anything for it. Sometimes people compared his craziness with his uncle. To fulfill his dream he once stole a white horse. He took many happy rides on it. He shared his happiness with his cousin Aram, who too was a horse lover though not like Mourad. Mourad not only rode the horse but he was also compassionate about the animal. He took good care of the horse and knew all its ways. He was a fast learner so learnt all the tactics about how to ride a horse well.

Q. What did john byro think that the horse was the twin of his horse? 

John Byro thought the white horse to be a twin of his lost one as though the horse the children had with them was similar to his in every aspect, he couln't believe that they, belonging to the honest Garoghlanian tribe, could have been the ones to steal it.

LONG

ANSWERS

Q. What is your view about role of aram,the narrator,in the story "The summer of the beautiful white horse"?Aram was a member of Garoghalanian tribe. His earliest dreams were the dreams of horse riding but his economic condition never allowed this. Even though he realised that the horse brought by Mourad was a stolen one, he agreed for a ride as he felt stealing a horse for the sake of riding is not stealing at all. It could be called stealing only if they tried to sell the horse. So, he enjoyed a great ride with his cousin. However, he had a bad experience when he rode alone. The horse leaped over seven vines before he fell. He wished he also knew to have a way with horses just like Mourad. the author or the narrator in this story was a tourist who visited Verona. When he met the boys, he was impressed with their sincerity and hence

Q. Describe the features of the Garoghlanian family?

The Garoghlanian family though now poor was famous for their honesty even when they were wealthy. They were proud first, honest next and after that they believed in right and wrong. None of them would take advantage of anybody in the world. They would not steal. No member of this family could be a thief

Q. Do you think John Byro recognised his horse ? why did he not accuse the boys of stealing the horse?

A suspicious man would tend to believe the evidence that is present in front of him and in John Byro's case,he could have accused Aram and Maroud of stealing his horse because the one which they had was exactly like his stolen horse. But Byro was not a suspicious man,he was aware of the fact that the boys' family was famed for their honesty, it had been the watermark of their family for several generations. So he took the boys at face value and chose to believe in what he knew by heart and not what he saw in front of him. In all probability he must have recognised his horse but he gave the boys the benefit of doubt keeping his faith in the impeccable reputation of their family for honesty and integrity. A suspicious man would have taken the visual evidence and charged them with larceny.

Q. Why were the garoghalian family members first proud and then honest?

The Garoghlanianfamily had been famous for their honesty for eleven centuries, even when they had been the wealthiest families in the world. Being honest ran in their blood. They were proud first, honest next, and after that they believed in values like right and wrong. They were so honest that none of them would take advantage of anybody in the world, let alone steal.

Q. The distribution of the various kinds of spirits of our tribe had been from the beginning capricious vagrant. " Elucidate?

The narrator says that the distribution of the spirit in their tribe was from the beginning capricious and vagrant because a man could be the biological father of his son but in temperament and disposition,the son and father would be two totally different people. He talks about Mourad who was the son of Zorab but in spirit he was more akin to Khosrove who was a man of placid disposition and nothing could unnerve him,not even his own house on fire. Mourad was believed to be the natural descendant of this man though his father was a different man,practical in nature. This was how it worked in the tribe, men had biological as well as spiritual fathers.

Value Based

Questions

Q. We are nothing but our values".discuss with refarence to the story ' the summer of the beautiful white horse‘?

In the story of “The Summer of the White Horse”, we see how the ideals of the boys help them to decide which is wrong or which is right for them. Initially, the two innocent boys hide the truth of the stolen horse from everyoneWe are nothing but values. Values are the very base of any human. Without principles we don’t have any worth. Ethics of a person differentiate him from others. A person with value is a much superior person. It is not always necessary to be wealthy or highly educated, but it is necessary to have good values. Values show us the correct way of our life. We inherit these values from our elders. It is values which brings people together.

Although they had no intention of selling the horse for money but they were crazy about horses and so, they wanted to fulfill their cherished dream of riding a horse. However, when they realize that they were going against the principles of their tribe, a tribe which was known for their honesty even in the face of adversity, they felt ashamed. Their conscience aroused. They realized their mistake and then returned the horse to the owner.

Q. Mourad said "i have a way with the horse". Do you agree justify? Mourad had a way with the horse which means he had a special innate knack that helped deal with the animal. He could keep it calm so that it performed according to his wishes. The horse itself allowed Mourad to ride it, he would kick his heels into the horse and shout for the horse to run and the horse would burst into a fury of speed which was a sight to behold. He raced the horse across a field of dry grass into an irrigation ditch, crossed the ditch on the horse and returned dripping wet after five minutes without the hint of trouble

Q Why did the narrator beleve that stealing a horse for a ride was not the same things as stealing the money?or what were the narrator's views about stealing?

When Aram saw that his cousin Mourad had stolen a horse, he was astonished. It was against the practice of their tribe. However, he reconciled and was not angry with Mourad. Rather, he tried to provide a good reason for Mourad’s act. Aram did not believe that the act of stealing a horse was as serious as the stealing of money. Aram considered the stealing of money as more offensive act. Moreover, he tried to justify themselves by saying that they were only enjoying the ride and not selling the horse for money. Actually the two innocent boys tried fulfilling their long treasured dream by any means.

Q Describe the innocence of two boys in the summer of the beautiful horse?

Aram and Murad were two innocent boys who may have had a hard life but the important human values had been inculcated in them in spite of their poor financial conditions. Aramwas both delighted and frightened upon seeingMouradriding a beautiful horse because he could not stop himself from admiring the beauty of the horse. He had harboured hopes of actually riding one but at the same time he feared that it had been stolen.Mourad'sact of stealing the horse would bring dishonour to the family. He could see the magnificence of the horse,a tangible creature but he knew that the horse could not have belonged to his family or bought by any of them. They were too poor for that. He couldn't allow himself to think thatMouradmight have stolen because nobody in theGaroghlanianfamily could be a thief. The horse was definitely stolen andAramwas frightened of the repercussions of this act. These boys were not at all greedy but conscientious, they had always planned to returned the horse to its rightful owner.

Q Explain "a man could be the father of his son's flesh, but that did not mean that he was also the father of his spirit.”?

Mouradwas considered to be the craziest among his family members because he was considered to be the natural descendant of the crazy streak in the tribe. He was unlike his fatherZorab, a practical man but quite like his ancestor Khosrovewho was temperamental to say the least. In their family, a man could be the father of his son's flesh but that did not mean he was the father of his spirit too. The distribution of the various kinds of spirit in their tribe had always been capricious and vagrant. So a person like Mouraddid not take after his biological father but followed his uncle in their spiritual framework of the mind

Mouradenjoyed being alive more than anybody else who had ever fallen into the world by mistake. He would steal a horse not out of malice or greed but just to take care of the animal or enjoy its company. What the world would term as scatterbrained but in actuality, he was a kind, generous and independent spirit who only answered to the callings of his hear

Q Explain:"Mourad enjoyed being alive....by mistake"

Mourad was considered to be mentally disabled, because of his unusual behavior. However, he had "a way with animals", which meant he could relate to animals in a manner better than most people. This ability of Mourad made Aram consider him to be much more "human" than others. When Mourad rode the white horse, he looked much more at ease and resplendent than any other rider, would. Hence, Aram considered Mourad to be better than other members of the tribe in spite of his "disability"

PRESENTED TO

UBY

Utpal Khatri