The Summer of the Beautiful White Horse

1.      Introduction: It is a short story by William Saroyan, published within the collection My Name Is Aram (1940). This story is about such a summer where it seems to be unforgettable because of the interesting occurrences that transpired in that season. It tells the story of two boys, Aram and Mourad, who belong to a poor Armenian tribe. “The Summer of the Beautiful White Horse” is narrated by nine-year-old Aram Garoghlanian, a member of an Armenian community living among the lush fruit orchards and vineyards of California.

2.      Summary : “The Summer of the Beautiful White Horse” is narrated by nine-year-old Aram Garoghlanian, a member of an Armenian community living among the lush fruit orchards and vineyards of California. One morning Aram is awakened before dawn by his thirteen-year-old cousin Mourad, who is thought to be demented by everyone except Aram, and has a way with animals. Aram is astonished to see that Mourad is sitting on a beautiful white horse. Aram has always wanted to ride a horse, but his family is too poor to afford one. However, the Garoghlanian tribe is noted not only for its poverty but also for its honesty, so it is unthinkable that Mourad would have stolen the horse. So, Aram felt that his cousin couldn't have stolen the horse.

Aram was invited to ride on the horse with Mourad. The idea of Mourad stealing the horse drained away from Aram's mind as he felt that it wouldn't become stealing until they offer to sell the horse. They enjoyed their riding on the horse for a long time. Mourad's crazy behavior was considered to be a natural descent from their uncle Khosrove, even though his father, Zorab, was a practical man. Uncle Khosrove was an enormous man who was always furious, impatient, and irritable. He would roar for everyone to stop talking and say It is no harm, pay no attention to it. In fact,one day, when his son came and told them that their house was on fire, Khosrove silenced him by roaring "Enough. It is no harm". After a long day of riding, Mourad wanted to ride alone on the horse. Aram had the same longing, but when he sat on the horse and kicked its muscles it reared and snorted and raced forward, dropping Aram off its back.

That afternoon, an Assyrian farmer named John Byro -an Assyrian friend of the Garoghlanians- came to Aram's house. He reported to Aram's mother that his white horse which had been stolen a month ago was still missing. Hearing this, Aram concludes that Mourad must have had the horse for a long time. Khosrove, who was at Aram's house when Byro came, shouted his dialogue "its no harm" to such an extent that Byro was forced to sprint out to avoid responding.

Aram ran to Mourad to inform him of Byro's arrival. Aram also pleads to Mourad to not return the horse until he could learn to ride. Mourad disagrees saying that Aram would take at least a year to learn, but promises he would keep it for six months at most. This becomes a routine. Mourad comes daily to pick Aram to ride, and Aram continuously falls off the horse's back after every attempt. Two weeks later, they were going to take the horse back to its hiding place when they met Byro on the road. The farmer is extremely surprised. He recognizes his horse but refuses to believe that the boys had stolen it. He says "the horse is the twin of my horse" and "a suspicious man would believe his eyes instead of his heart"And that night they return it to the farmer John Bryo. Thus the Garoghlanian's fame of honesty saves them.(summary from wikipedia)

3.      Questions with answer:

a)      What makes that summer an unforgettable one?

Ans. That summer becomes unforgettable and beautiful because the characters, especially Aram, have rare experience. He has that kind of experience through the help of his cousin, Mourad.

b)      Why does the use of the first person point of view make the story enjoyable?

Ans. Through this, the story becomes enjoyable because the narrator (Aram) vividly explains what really happened that summer. Thus, the readers’ create vivid pictures in their minds of the scenarios that transpired in the story. He stated characteristics of his family and tribe and cited some of his experiences. With these, the readers empathize with him by putting themselves in Aram’s status. For example in the lines- “We were poor. We had no money. Our whole tribe was poverty-stricken. Every branch of the Garoghlanian family was living in the most amazing and comical poverty in the world. Nobody could understand where we ever got money enough to keep us with food in our bellies, not even the old men of the family. Most important of all, though, we were famous for our honesty…”

c)      What is the theme of the story? Or

What is the moral of the story? Or

How do you know both the boys were conscious of their family status?

Ans. Honesty is the best policy in the world. Even though Mourad and Aram were attracted towards the horse and hide it for a month. They were very much conscious of their family status as some honest people known for their honesty alone. In case of Maurad we come to know it when Aram asked him since when he is keeping the horse. He lies “not until this morning” and then he gives the reason for his lie. He says, “I don’t want both of us to be liars”. At another instance when Aram urged him to keep the horse for a year he says, “Are you inviting a member of the Garoghlanian family to steal?” This shows his conscience.

In case of Aram he is conscience stricken since the beginning as when for the first time he was invited to ride the horse. He stared first at his cousin and then the horse. There was a pious stillness and humour in each of them which in one hand delighted him and on the other frightened. He was a bit confused. And there was a continuous conflict going on in his mind between his temptation and conscience. So, at times he tries to justify the act of stealing. He says stealing a horse for riding is different from stealing money.

By the end of the story the boys returned the horse to its true owner. This shows their honesty.

Some other minor themes are- temptation of childhood as whole story revolves around their temptation to ride the horse. It’s out of this desire to ride the horse they go against their family laws and ethics. They break age old tradition of being honest. Although they didn’t think to keep that horse forever.

Another minor theme of the story is poverty. Garoghlanian family was poverty stricken. They don’t have any earning source. Aram himself calls their poverty comical as none of their family members know from where they get the money to fill their belly. Not even head of the family. But their family is honest. More than their honesty they are proud to be honest.

d)      How are the members of Garoghlanian family? Who are they?

Ans They are some honest people who value honesty above all else “most important of all, though, we were famous four our honesty”. The Garoghlanian family is a tribe of Armenian descent that has immigrated to California.

e)      Why do you think this story is interesting?

Ans: It is true that though the story "The Summer of the Beautiful White Horse" has neither any breathless adventure nor any exciting action, yet it holds the interest of the readers. 

It begins in a mood of nostalgia and takes us back to the memories of our own childhood when the world was full of every imaginable kind of magnificence, and life was still a delightful and mysterious dream. This is an interesting adventurous story of two poor Armenian boys Aram and Mourad who belong to a tribe known for its integrity and honesty. It describes their passion for horse-riding which makes Mourad steal a beautiful white horse.

The writer-narrator William Saroyan weaves a simple story into an interesting tale. He relates an incident which took place when he was nine. Everything is narrated from a child's point of view. He reveals the natural urge of children for fun and adventure. In his childish innocence, the narrator believes that stealing a horse for a fun and riding is not stealing at all.  But ultimately, the pride and honesty of their tribe overpower their childish pranks and they decide to return the horse to its owner John Byro.

Both the description and language are lucid and simple. The story moves in a very relaxed manner but seemingly natural. The narrator never seems to be in a hurry to bring the story to its conclusion.  Thus in spite of lacking any ups and downs, the readers keep engaged till the end of the story and enjoys a delightful reading.

f)       “Well, it seemed that stealing the horse for a ride was not the same thing as something else, such as money.” Whose statement is it? Do you agree or disagree? Why and why not?

Ans. This is the statement of Aram, one of the principal characters in the story.

Based on what Aram said, for him what they did was not that bad because although they did not ask the owner’s permission, they did not intend to steal the horse but instead, they would want to borrow it. All they wanted was a ride on the horse because due to their social status, they could not experience to have one. I think it is not that bad as long as their intention is good.

It is not money or the stolen thing that matters; it is the norms of their tribe. The cousins should not get the horse without John Byro’s permission. They should have thought of their tribe’s reputation. What Mourad and Aram did was stealing because they took the horse without being known by John Byro. Thus, what they did was wrong.

Short questions for practice-

1.      From whom did Mourad steal the horse?

2.      Where did the boys hide the horse?

3.      How much John Byro paid for the horse?

4.      Why did john Byro looked at the horse’s mouth?

5.      Give instance of honesty in Aram and Mourad.

6.      Give character sketch for the following characters?

7.      Mourad, Aram, Uncle Khosrove, John Byro

8.      Justify the title.

9.      What were the statements that John Byro said about the horse’s loss? Class, what did John Byro said about the loss of his horse?

Long questions for practice:

1.      How old was the narrator when they stole the horse?

2.      How were the old days of narrator?

3.      Who came to narrator one morning? Why?

4.      Who is the narrator?

5.      Why Aram was surprised to see Maurad?

6.      Write a note on Garoghlanian family.

7.      What was Morad’s first longing?

8.      Why do you think the speaker presented so much information about the Armenian “tribe”? List some of the characteristics of his “tribe.”

9.      How the narrator tries to justify his cousin’s act of stealing?

10.  How was the locality of San Joaquin valley?

11.  What was the flow found in narrator’s family?

12.  What excuse Mourad gives for not keeping the horse for a year?

13.  Give an example of repetition from the text.(both phrase and sentence pattern)

14.  What type of a person was Uncle Khosrove? What did he mean when he said, “It’s no harm. Pay no attention to it.”? Do you believe that there are people like uncle Khosrove?

15.  Write a few lines on the author.