Monday, July 28, 2008

Addtional notes on MFTS - revision 1

Let’s focus on the “birth” of the bet

Refer to p15 of your books

“Here, let me give you a light.” The American boy held up
his lighter.
“Dat will not work in dis wind.”
“Sure it’ll work. It always works.”
The little man removed his unlighted cigar
from his mouth, cocked his head on one
side and looked at the boy.

* QUESTION BREAK
Look at the italicized sentence. What can you infer about the Man’s reaction?


“All-ways?” he said slowly.
“Sure, it never fails. It always works.”
The little man’s head was still cocked over on
one side and he was still watching the boy.
“Well, well. So you say dis famous lighter it
never fails. Iss dat you say?”
“Sure,” the boy said. “That’s right.”
…“It never fails,” he said, smiling now
because he was purposely exaggerating his
little boast. “I promise you it never fails.”


* QUESTION BREAK
What can you infer about the sailor’s character from this
italicized sentence?

Bonus Question :
So, who’s responsible for starting the bet?

********************************************************

The sailor’s reaction to the terms of the wager

•He is attracted to the bet.
•“Sure, I’ll bet…Why not?”
•And when he learns about the Cadillac, he is even more interested
•However, he is shocked at the Man’s request to have him bet his little finger, and he declines.
•“Jumping jeepers. That’s a crazy bet. I think I’ll just make it a dollar.”

Fidgety sailor boy

•Refer to p17-18 to see how the bet had affected the sailor.
•“He was sitting there very still, and it was obvious that a small tension was beginning to build up inside him.”
•“…shifting about in his seat…rubbing his chest…stroking the back of his neck…tap-tapping with his fingers against the kneecaps…tapping with one of his feet as well.”
•He was fidgeting because he was affected and preoccupied with thinking about the bet.

Risk-taker or just plain crazy?

•Finally he agrees to the bet.
•Why?
•The sailor is so eager to win the Cadillac that he is ignoring the gravity of the bet.
•“But I see you are not a betting man. Americans never are.”
•“The boy paused for a just a moment and he glanced first at the English girl, then at me.”
•He could’ve also agreed to the bet so that he didn’t embarrass himself in front of the girl and the narrator
•Look at p18 – 5th para.
•Despite gruesome description of chopping off the little finger, the sailor responds by asking about the year the car was manufactured.
•He is very reckless because
•he is willing to risk losing his finger just to win the car.


Questions to ponder (for your revision)

1.In your opinion, was it wise for the American sailor to agree to the terms of the bet? Explain your answer.
2.What impression have you formed about the Man? Provide examples from the story to support your answer.
3.Why do you think the narrator and the English girl decided to go along although they clearly were against the idea of the bet?




by The Class:1E3 at 11:34 PM |

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