I enjoyed reading this story. It definitely teaches people a lesson and it is very influential. Poor Smiley though at least he found out the stranger cheated.
In my opinion, Twain was making a statement about gamblers taking risks on anything for the rush of it and just when they think they have got the market cornered, life has a way of leting you know you are subject to loss especially if you trust a stranger. Jim Smiley apparently thought he had it al figured out, but why would he be so niave to leave his frog with a stranger?
When I first began to read this story it was not really catching my interest. The way it was written and the language used threw me off a little. But, as I kept reading (and rereading) I got into it and actually ended up enjoying it. I found the character Simon Wheeler humorous because of the way he went off on a completely different topic and into such a detailed story. What actually made me laugh was that it reminded me of my grandfather because whenever I ask him a question, somehow I end up getting a completely different answer that is way off topic. But, I was also wondering why the main character that approached him didn’t stop him from rambling on. Why didn’t he get him back on track right when he began to mention Jim smiley instead of Leonidas W. Smiley? I believe that is what confused me a little bit too, was the fact that in the beginning I thought I was going to be reading about the person this man was looking for, and instead it was a story about a man who loved to bet!
I enjoyed reading this story. It definitely teaches people a lesson and it is very influential. Poor Smiley though at least he found out the stranger cheated.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, Twain was making a statement about gamblers taking risks on anything for the rush of it and just when they think they have got the market cornered, life has a way of leting you know you are subject to loss especially if you trust a stranger. Jim Smiley apparently thought he had it al figured out, but why would he be so niave to leave his frog with a stranger?
ReplyDeleteWhen I first began to read this story it was not really catching my interest. The way it was written and the language used threw me off a little. But, as I kept reading (and rereading) I got into it and actually ended up enjoying it. I found the character Simon Wheeler humorous because of the way he went off on a completely different topic and into such a detailed story. What actually made me laugh was that it reminded me of my grandfather because whenever I ask him a question, somehow I end up getting a completely different answer that is way off topic. But, I was also wondering why the main character that approached him didn’t stop him from rambling on. Why didn’t he get him back on track right when he began to mention Jim smiley instead of Leonidas W. Smiley? I believe that is what confused me a little bit too, was the fact that in the beginning I thought I was going to be reading about the person this man was looking for, and instead it was a story about a man who loved to bet!
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