Extra Questions, Notes, Assignment and study material for Class 11th as Per CBSE Syllabus

Chapter- 1 English Language and Literature

The Summer of the Beautiful White Horse

By- William Saroyan

Introduction of the lesson- The Summer of the Beautiful White Horse

Introduction

This story is about two poor Armenian boys. They belong to a tribe known for its honesty. The two cousins
Mound and Aram, have an intense longing for horse riding. But they can’t afford to buy a horse. So going against
the family reputation, Mourad steals the white horse of John Byro. Aram is shocked because it is a stolen horse.
But he discounts the charge of stealing and goes for a ride. One day, he hears John Byro telling Uncle Khosrove
about his missing horse. He gives the news to Mourad. Next morning, the horse was returned to the place from
where it had been stolen.

The story is plainly about the harmless pranks of two little boys. They do take out Byro’s horse but for a joyride
only. They don’t mean to sell it for money. So Aram doesn’t think it amounts to stealing. The story has a funny
character, uncle Khosrove, who silences every speaker with his roar. He is crazy. The story gives us a glimpse
of tribal life. It also ends on a happy note. John Byro feels happy when he finds his horse stronger and better
tempered than before.

Important Word-Meanings of difficult words from the lesson- (The Summer of the Beautiful White
Horse)

Word-meanings and References

Pages 1-2

imaginable–that one can imagine. जजजजज जजज जजजजजज जज जजज ं; magnificence–grandeur,

splendour, जजजज,जजज; considered–thought to be,जजजज जजजज जज; mysterious–that cannot be
explained. जजजजजजज; crazy–very enthusiastic, with strange habits, जजजज जजजजजज; tapping–hitting
gently, जजजजजजज जजज; stuck out–projected, जजजज जजजजजज; Armenian–the language spoken by the
people of Armenia,जजजजजजजजज जजजज; make it quiet–hurry up, जजजजजजज जजज; alive–lively, full
of life. जजजजज; longings–desires, wishes ,जजजजजजज ; tribe–community,जजजजज,जजजजजज ; poverty-
stricken–extremely poor, जजजजजजजज जजजजजज; amazing–surprising,जजजजज जज जजजज जजजज;
comical–funny,जजजजजजज; bellies–stomach,जजज,जजज ; take advantage of–deceive anybody, जजजजज
जजजजज जजज जजजजज; consequently–as a result, hence,जजजज,जजजजजजजजजजजज; stared–
looked,जजजज; pious stillness–holy silence, जजजज जजजजजज; humour–the element of laughter, जजजजज
; frightened–scared, terrified, जजज जजजज I

Page 3

hurry–make haste, be quick, जजजजजजज जजज; leapt up–jumped,जजजजज जजज जजज; edge–outer fringe,
जजजजज जजजजजज; country–rural area,जजजजजजज जजजजजजजजज; vineyards–grapes
gardens,जजजजज जज जजज; orchards–fruit garden,जजजज जज जजज; ditches–deep pits,जजज; trot–walk in
a steady manner,जजजजज जजज जजजज जजज ; craziest–most eccentric,जजजज जजजज जजजज; roar–sing
in a loud voice,जजजज जजजज जजज जजजज जजज; streak–trace or touch,जजज; descendant–
offspring,जजजज; enormous–big-bodied, fat,जजजज-जजजज; furious–full of anger, fierce,जजजजजज
जजजज; temper–nature,जजजजजज; irritable–easily angered,जजजजजजज ; impatient–rash,
restless,जजजजजज; roaring–shouting,जजजज जजजजज; trimmed–being set and cut,जजजजज जज जजज
जज; practical–sensible,जजजजजजज; capricious–whimsical,जजजज; vagrant–wandering
soul,जजजज,जजजजजजजजजजजज I

Pages 4-5

have a way with–know how to control, understanding with,जजजजजज जज जजज; Vazire–the nickname given
to the horse,जजजजज,जजजज जज जजजजज; snorted–let out breath with force from the nostrils, जजजजजज
जजजज; burst into a fury of speed–started racing very fast,जजज जज जजज जजज; awful–terrible, जजजजजज;
reared–raised its hind part,जजजजज जजजज जजजजज ; be kindly–treat the horse gently,जजजज जज जजज
जजज ; come upon–meet by chance,जजजजज जज जजज जजज; hide–keep secretly,जजजजजज; dawned on
me–became clear to me,जजज जजज ज जजज I

Pages 6-7

barn–place for storing grain, जजजजजज; deserted–lonely,जजजजज,जजजज; alfalfa–a kind of grass,जज

जजजजजज जज जजज; behave–conduct,जजजज जजजज; understanding–fact, agreement,जजजजजज;
parlour–sitting room. जजजज); irritated–angry,जजज जज; surrey–light four-wheeled horse-drawn
carriage,जजजज-जजज ं; spit on–hate,give no importance to,जजजजज; stalked out of–walked out with proud
steps,जजजजज जजजज जज; slamming–closing or shutting noisily,जजजज जज जजज जजजज जजज; repair–
give first aid to, जजजजजजजजज जजजज; robin–a bird, small red-breasted,जज जजजजजज जज जजजजज ;
nevertheless–still,जजज जज ;ran into–met unexpectedly,जजजजज जजज जज जजज; studied–
examined,जजजजज-जजजज

Page 8

twin-born together,जजजजज; suspicious–full of mistrust,जजजजजज; patted–thumped gently,जजजजजजज I

Short and Simple Summary of the lesson in English– (The Summer of the Beautiful White Horse)/ Summary
in simple Words/ Critical appreciation of the lesson – (The Summer of the Beautiful White Horse)

Complete Summary

Aram and Mourad were cousins. Aram was nine years old while Mourad was thirteen. The mound was a lively
and adventure-loving boy. But he was considered crazy. Both were fond of horse riding. They belonged to the
Garoghlanian tribe. They were too poor to buy a horse. But their family was famous for honesty, and they were
proud of it. They believed in doing the right things and not cheating anybody. Stealing was unthinkable. They
were the natives of Armenia.

One summer morning, Mourad came to Aram’s house and woke him up by tapping on the room-window. Aram
jumped out of bed and looked out of the window. He saw Mourad sitting on a beautiful white horse. He rubbed
his eyes to make sure that he was not dreaming. He couldn’t believe that Mourad had bought or borrowed the
horse. The only other way was that he had stolen it. But it was difficult to believe. No member of the family
could be a thief.

Mourad told Aram to come out quickly if he wanted to enjoy a horse-ride. Aram was both delighted and
frightened. He asked his cousin wherefrom he had stolen that horse but he got no reply. Evidently, Mourad had
stolen the horse. Aram was tempted to go for a ride. He told himself that stealing a horse for a ride was not the
same thing as stealing money. They were just crazy about horses. They would be guilty of stealing only if they
offered to sell the horse.
Aram put on his clothes and sat on horseback behind his cousin. Behind their house was the countryside—fruit
gardens, irrigation pits and grapevines. The horse began to trot and Mourad began to sing aloud. There was a
crazy streak in the family which Mourad had inherited. Their

Uncle Khosrove was also crazy. He was furious in nature, irritable and impatient. He did not allow anybody to
speak. His pet words were: It is no harm: pay no attention to it. Once his own house was on fire, and he was at
the barber’s shop. His son Arak ran to that shop to tell about the fire. But he, as usual, roared that it was no harm,

Mourad’s own father Zorab was a very practical man. But Mourad was the natural descendant I of his uncle.
Anyway, the two cousins let the horse run as long as it felt like running. At last Mourad asked Aram to get down.
He wanted to ride alone. He said proudly that he had way with a horse. He named this white horse Vazire. Aram
too wanted to ride alone. But he was told to wait. He was given a chance, and he had a bad experience. The horse
ran off at breakneck speed. Aram fell but the horse continued running. It took them half an hour to find and bring
back the horse.

It was morning. The whole world was awake. Their problem was to hide the horse. But Mourad knew a place.
Aram asked him again how long ago he had stolen the horse. Mourad told him to tell a little lie and say that they
had started riding that very morning. Mourad led the horse to a deserted vineyard of a farmer Fetvajian. He added
that he had an understanding with horses.

That afternoon, uncle Khosrove came to Aram’s house. Then came another visitor John Byro who complained
that his white horse had been stolen the previous month. Uncle Khosrove, as usual, shouted him down. He told
Byro to stop crying over a horse when he had legs to walk ten miles to get there. Aram’s mother consoled Byro.
She said that Khosrove had a gentle heart. but he was homesick.

Aram ran over to Mourad’s house to tell him about John Byro who wanted his horseback. At the same time, he
extracted a promise from his cousin that he would keep the horse for at least six months. Mourad was at that
time giving first aid to a robin bird which had hurt its wing. He then let the bird free.

For two weeks the cousins took the horse out from the barn and rode it. But every morning the horse threw Aram
and ran away.

One morning when they were taking the horse to the barn, they met John Byro. Mourad went forward to do the
talking. He made another claim that he had a way with farmers. John Byro examined the horse and swore that it
was just like his horse. He also counted the teeth of the horse to make sure. But Mourad told him with confidence
that his horse was named My Heart and it was his animal. Byro said that he believed Mourad because he knew
that his family was known for honesty. He told them that perhaps the horse was the twin of his own stolen horse
because boys of such an honourable family could never steal.

Early the next morning, the cousins took the horse to Byro’s vineyard and put it there. The dogs there didn’t
bark. Mourad took the credit. He said that he had a way with dogs as well. He patted the horse lovingly before
taking leave of it.

That afternoon, John Byro came to Aram’s house in a carriage drawn by his white horse. He, however, wondered
at the change that occurred in the horse. It looked stronger than ever and better tempered too. He thanked God
for the recovery of his lost horse. But Uncle Khosrove was irritated and shouted at him to shut up.

Following is the complete question bank for (The Summer of the Beautiful White Horse)

(The Summer of the Beautiful White Horse) Extra Questions and Answers

Short Answer Type Questions (30 to 40 words)

1.Which tribe did Aram and his cousin Mourad belong to? What was their tribe known for?
Ans. Aram and Mourad were cousins. They belonged to the Garoghlanian family. This large family was
extremely poor. Yet, they were famous for their honesty. They were proud, honest and just. No member of the
family could ever think of stealing.

2. What did people say about Mourad? Who had he inherited that weakness from?

Ans. Mourad enjoyed being alive. He was fond of adventures. He too had a streak of craziness. He had got it
naturally from Uncle Khosrove. He used to say that he had a way with horses, dogs and farmers.

3. Why did Mourad wake up Aram? How did Aram react to what he saw?

Ans. Mourad woke up Aram in order to give him a chalice to enjoy horse riding. Aram could not believe his
eyes when he saw the beautiful white horse. He knew that Mourad did not have the means to buy a horse. So, it
must have been a stolen one.

4. What did Aram think about Mourad’s action of riding a stolen horse? How did he justify Mourad’s
action?

Ans. Aram too was very crazy about horse riding. But riding a stolen horse both delighted and frightened him.
He justified Mourad’s action saying that taking out a horse just for a joy-ride could not be called stealing until
they offered to sell it.

5. Who was the real owner of the beautiful white horse? How did Aram come to know about him?

Ans. The real owner of the white horse was John Byro, a farmer. He had bought it for 60 dollars. On a visit to
Aram’s house, he complained of his loss. This assured Aram that the horse had been stolen by Mourad.

6. What was common between Mourad and Aram? In what respect did they differ from each other?

Ans. Mourad and Aram were cousins belonging to the Garoghlanian family. Both had a common craze for
horse riding. But Aram was more honest and straightforward than his cousin. Mourad had a streak of craziness.
He could tell lies. He was boastful. Aram was simple-hearted.

7. Bring out the significance of the white horse in Saroyan’s story.

Ans. The beautiful white horse is central to Saroyan’s story. Its entry highlights the differences in the characters
of the cousins. It gives the story some thrill and action. We read on with anticipation to know as to when and
how the boys would return the horse, if ever. In the end, it is with its rightful owner. So it dominates the whole
story.

8. Why could Aram not believe what he saw that morning?

Ans. Aram followed the family norm of honesty. He was surprised and shocked to see his cousin sitting on a
beautiful white horse. He knew that Mourad was as poor as him and could not have bought it. He even asked
straightaway where Mourad had stolen it from. He could not believe this daring act of Mourad.

9. Why did the sight of Mourad’s horse both delightful and frightening for Aram?

Ans. Aram was just a young lad, truthful and honest. But he had a longing for riding a horse. Naturally, he was
delighted when Mourad asked him to sit on the white horse. But he was also frightened because he knew that it
was a stolen horse.

10. Who was Uncle Khosrove? What were some of the notable traits of his character?
Ans. Uncle Khosrove was widely known to be crazy. He was short-tempered and impatient as well. He stopped
others from talking by shouting at them. His stock saying was: it is no harm, pay no attention to it. ‘Mourad had
got that craziness from Uncle Khosrove.

11. Mourad had a way and some sort of understanding with three creatures. Who were they?

Ans. Mourad was boastful and self-confident. He was good at dealing with a wild white horse. the farm dogs
and an injured bird. The white horse of Byro became better tempered. The dogs at Byro’s barn did not bark at
him. The little-injured robin was nursed by Mourad and it managed to fly again.

12. What was Aram’s experience when he rode the white horse alone?

Ans. Aram was keen to ride the white horse alone. He leapt on to the horse’s back and even kicked into its
muscles. It snorted and began to run. It went out of control. It leapt over seven vines and threw Aram down in
the mud. Aram fell but the horse continued running.

13. “How long ago did you steal this horse?” Aram asked Mourad. What was Mourad’s response?

Ans. Mourad did not admit that he had stolen the horse. He said that he had been riding it only that morning.
He did not want both of them to be liars. So, in case they were found out, Aram should tell them that they had
started riding only that morning.

14. ‘I didn’t want both of us to be liars. Who spoke these words and in what context?

Ans. These words were spoken by Mourad to Aram. Mourad indirectly admitted that he was telling a lie. In
fact, he had stolen the horse quite a few days back but in case they were found out by the horse owner, Aram
was to tell him that they had started riding that very morning.

15. Who was John Byro? What did he first lose but finally recover?

Ans. John Byro was an Assyrian farmer and lived in the neighbourhood. He was a frequent visitor to Aram’s
house. His white horse has stolen a few weeks ago. He recognised his horse being led by Mourad. But he did
not create a scene. Mourad returned it to him when he realised that his family’s honour was at stake.

16. Why did Aram run over to his cousin’s house soon after Byro was gone? What promise did he extract
from Mourad?

Ans. John Byro visited Aram’s house. He reported that his white horse was still untraceable. Uncle Khosrove
shouted him down. But Aram understood that it must be the same horse which they had hidden in the barn. He
ran to Mourad’s house to tell him about it. He extracted a promise from Mourad that he would keep the horse
for some time more.

17. How did Mourad put John Byro off when the two met one morning?

Ans. One morning the two cousins ran into the farmer John Byro who recognised his horse and examined it
thoroughly. But Mourad confidently told Byro that his horse’s name was My Heart. Byro made no fuss because
he knew about the honesty of Mourad’s family.

18. Mourad claimed he had a way with dogs as well. How did he support this claim?

Ans. Mourad had enough of riding. Before he was declared a thief, he took the horse to its Owner’s barn. Aram
noted with surprise that dogs there made no sound. Mound said boastfully that he had a way with dogs also, a
sort of understanding with them.
19. What change did John Byrn notice in his horse after it was returned to him?

Ans. John Byro was not only happy but also surprised when he got his missing horseback. He failed to understand
how his horse had become stronger and hotel tempered than before. He thanked God for the change.

Important Long/ Detailed Answer Type Questions- to be answered in about 100 -150 words each Value
based questions-

Long Answer Questions (up to 100 words)

1. Give a brief account of Mourad’s adventure with the white home.

Ans. Mourad was a daredevil crazy boy. He was fond of horse riding. So, he stole the beautiful white horse of
John Byro from his vineyard. He hid it in a deserted barn and enjoyed the ride every morning. One morning, he
invited his cousin Aram also to share the joy. He had a way with the wild horse. Aram hesitated because it was
a stolen horse. Yet he joined his cousin and enjoyed the ride. Mourad rode alone as well. He sang and roared
with joy. He let the horse run across a field of dry grass to an irrigation ditch. He returned five minutes later. He
warned Aram not to ride alone because the horse was quite wild.

2. Compare and contrast the characters of Mourad and Aram.

Ans. Mourad and Aram were cousins and belonged to Garoghlanian tribe which was known for its honesty.
Mourad was thirteen and Aram was nine years old. Both longed to ride a horse. But their family was too poor to
buy a horse. Both were adventure-loving. Both knew that their family was well known for honesty and right
conduct. But Mourad could not help stealing John Byro’s horse. While he had a streak of craziness, Aram was
honest and simple-hearted. Mourad was more talented and bolder than Aram. He domesticated the wild horse of
John Byro. He repaired the injured wing of a robin bird; he knew how to deal with a horse, and how to soothe a
dog. Comparatively, Aram was timid and obedient. Mourad could easily lie to John Byro about the horse. Aram
could never do it.

3. Bring out some of the notable traits of Mourad’s character.

Ans. Mourad, the son of Zorab, was the 13-year old cousin of Aram. Zorab was a practical man but Mourad
was most unlike him. He was considered as crazy as his uncle Khosrove. He was not so honest as his family or
tribe. He did not hesitate to steal John Byro’s horse. He was as fond of horse riding as his cousin, but they did
not have the mean’s to buy a horse. Very cleverly he hid the horse in a deserted barn and took it out at daybreak
for a joy-ride. He loved adventure and singing. He had remarkable self-confidence. He said boastfully that he
had a way with a horse, a dog and a farmer. He denied that he was a thief. When he realised that he was found
out, he returned the horse to its owner John Byro after about six weeks.

4. The narrator’s uncle Khosrove was known to be a crazy fellow. Give a few instances of his craziness.

Ans. The narrator’s uncle Khosrove was an enormous man with a large moustache. But he was considered
crazy or capricious by the people who knew him. He was furious by nature. He was easily annoyed. He was
impatient. He would not let anybody have his say. He silenced people with his roar. Once his house was on fire
and his son ran to the barber’s shop to give the bad news. But he paid no serious attention to it and roared “It is
no harm; pay no attention to it”. He got irritated when John spoke about his stolen horse. and walked out of the
room. He was a strange character.

5. Narrate the story of the stolen white horse is not more than 100 words.

Ans. It was not morning yet when Mourad woke up his cousin Aram. Aram jumped out of the bed and could
not believe his eyes. He saw Mourad seated on the back of a white horse. He had no doubt at all that Mourad
had stolen that horse. Anyway, he joined his cousin to have a joyride. Mourad hid it in deserted vineyard barn
of Fetvajian. He warned Aram to say, in case they were found out, that they had started riding that very morning.
The horse, in fact, belonged to John Byro who spoke about it in Aram’s house. Aram informed Mourad about
Byro. They continued their rides for another fortnight.

One morning, they met John Byro who recognised his horse. But Mourad told a white lie that his horse was
called My Heart. John Byro pretended that he believed them because he said he knew their family so well. Their
family was famous for its honesty. He, however, returned the horse the next morning to Byro. Byro was happy
and surprised to find his horse better tempered and even stronger.

Value Based Questions and Answers of (The Summer of the Beautiful White Horse)

Value-Based Question

1. Jokes and pranks add spice to life. But they should be in a limit. What do you think?

Ans. Life is dull because of stark realities. It thus remains unthrilling. Jokes and pranks play the role of spice
and make life enjoyable. But if pranks and jokes pinch and hurt others, the very spice becomes poisonous. If
they are at somebody else’s cost, they leave a bitter taste. So one should not play pranks or jokes to annoy
somebody. Above all pranks should not also harm other people. If somebody appears, before a weak-hearted
person, in the disguise of a ghost, that can kill the person.

Pranks should set right moods and banish enmity. A man should remain sensitive while trying to
create lighter moments. The horse could have created trouble for Mound and Aram. The horse taken away just
for a joy-ride might have thrown them on the ground. John Byro, whose horse Mourad had stolen, was a tactful
man. He pricked the conscience of the boys by saying that he knew that they were honest boys who belonged to
an honourable family and they could not be thieves. Eventually, Mourad’s conscience pricked him and he
returned the horse. Pranks and jokes should be mild and innocent.

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