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My Greatest Olympic Prize Story Summary by Jesse Owens

My Greatest Olympic Prize Summary by Jesse Owens About the Author

James Cleveland or Jesse Owens was born on 12th September, 1913 in Oakville Alabama, IJ.S. He was the youngest of the ten children born to Henry Cleveland Owens and Marry Emma. He was called as J.C. When he was nine years old, his family moved to Ohio for better opportunities and when his new teacher asked his name, he replied J.C. which she understood as Jesse due to his Southern accent.

From then only he was known as Jesse. He took different jobs when he was young. At that time he realized his passion for running. He attributed his success to his junior high track coach at Fairmount Junior High School.He is recognized as the greatest and the most famous athlete in track and field history who won four time Ofympic gold medals in 1936 games, 100 meters, 200 meters, long jump and 4 x 100 meter relay in Berlin.

He was a sprinter and a long jump specialist. He set another three world records and tying another in less than an hour at the 1935 Big Ten Track meet in Ann Arbor, Michigan and nobody has ever been able to equal this record. He is counted as the most successful athlete who crushed the Hitler’s myth of ‘Aryan supremacy’. He was not called to shake hands with the President at White House due to his race. He was ranked as the sixth greatest North American athlete of the 20th century by ESPN.

My Greatest Olympic Prize Summary of the Story

Jesse Owens, the son of a sharecropper has written this story to share his Olympic experience and the friendship he won. He has achieved what no other Olympian before him had accomplished. It was the time when the patriotic feeling was at its top in Germany. Hitler was of the view that the Nazis were the highest race among others. He denied accepting that any ‘Black’ could ever win the race or be successful.

This had a great impact on Jesse Owens who was an African-American athlete. Initially, he didn’t bother about all this as he had faith in his abilities but when he saw Luz Long, he was surprised by his performance. He expressed his determination to win the medal and prove to the world who was superior and who was not. He referred to the anger he showed against Germans which resulted in faults in trials.-He failed twice in the qualifying jumps. Luz Long appeared on the scene and asked him the reason which bothered him.

Luz Long spoke to Jesse in encouraging words and advised him to mark a line few inches behind the board and take off from there. Owens felt relaxed and confident. Luz Long knew that if Owens won, it would mar his chances of winning the gold medal but he took the risk and continue to urge him. This made Owens to win the medal and set a stunning record and he has been remembered as the best athlete in Olympic history. But Owens feels that his friendship with Luz Long was greater than that of all the medals he won. The friendship ended only when Luz Long was killed in World War II.

My Greatest Olympic Prize Summary Theme

“My Greatest Olympic Prize” deals with the friendship of Owens and Luz Long.
Another important thing that has been emphasized is that one should not loose temper or display anger even at the time of adversity. To remain cool and calm is the greatest key to success. Anger only leads to failure and this happened with Jesse Owens also when he committed fowls.

Apart from this one must give ears to opponents also which Owens did. He was least bothered about German’s hostile feelings towards him and listened to Luz Long’s advice. Yes frustration did raise its head high when Owens failed twice in the qualifying jumps but soon it was overcome after talking to Luz Long.

The anti-rivalry feelfngs also found space in the essay when Luz Long became the first person from the opponent team to congratulate Jesse on his historic win. Also determination, dedication and devotion are must to achieve something. Jesse’s mind was occupied with only one thought and that was winning the gold medal.It also deals with Hitler’s Aryan Superiority theory which was prevailing high at that time when Hitler was in power.

My Greatest Olympic Prize Summary Characters

Jesse Owens

Jesse Cleveland Owens was a black American athlete and four time Olympic gold medalist in 1936 games. He possessed such qualities which are incomparable. He had that heroic quality which pushed him to go to Berlin and won the Gold Medal beating the so called Nazi (Master) race in their country in the same stadium in which Hitler was present and was in power that time. He showed Hitler that he was not inferior. He utilized his capability to the fullest and became an inspirational force all. He possessed emotions as well as physical strength both at the same time.

He belonged to a humble background but nothing proved to be a barrier in his dreams and he pursued his dreams till they were fulfilled. Nothing could shake his spirit. It encouraged others too. He displayed his best at every place wherever he got opportunity. He was emotionally attached to Luz Long who made him stronger at the time when he needed it the most. He was not worried about the hostile feelings among the Germans. He was too determined to his commitments. Setting three world records and tying a fourth in only forty five minutes was not an easy task but Jesse did it. He was vested with the natural quality of leadership also.

Luz Long

Luz Long was a German and had been trained in Nazi youth school, though he did not believe in Nazism. He was brought with the hope to win the medal for Germany. He had the true spirit of sportsmanship. That’s why when he saw Owens in trouble and worried, he extended his hand to help him. Instead of seeing him as a rival, he was friendly with Owens. He proved to be Owens’ true guide; he respected him and considered him as his equal.

Although he also had pressure on himself, yet he helped Jesse in coming out of distress. He already knew that Owens was a record holder and he did not feel shy even for a moment for not helping him. When Owens went to his room on the night of trials to thank him, he welcomed him warmly and spent two hours with him. Nor he adopted any foul means to win the medal. He was a good human being.

He took himself just as a participant and winning was only a matter of chance and efforts. Even after losing the game, he did not develop any rivalry towards Jesse. Rather he congratulated Jesse with a firm handshake in front of Hitler when Jesse won the gold medal. He showed exuberant courage to befriend Jesse in front of his leader.

My Greatest Olympic Prize Summary Word-Meanings

1. sophomore – high school student
2. startled – shocked
3. disgustedly – unpleasantly
4. chiseled – well cut face
5. ebb – flow away
6. epitome – a perfect example.

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The Blue Bead Story Summary by Norah Burke

The Blue Bead Summary by Norah Burke About the Author

Norah Burke was born on 2nd August, 1907 in Bedford, England. She was a well-known English novelist and non-fiction writer famous for its description of life in India during the early twentieth century. Her father, Redmond St. George Burke was a forest officer in India and her early childhood was spent in the Indian forests. The Indian jungle and her interactions with its wild animals inspired her autobiographical travel books Jungle Child, Eleven Leopards and Midnight Forests. She also wrote a shot story Journey by Night.

Her education was done with difficulty due to constant change of camps and carrying their belongings on elephant backs but she learned to write at the age of eight and started writing stories straight away. She returned to England in 1990. Her first novel Dark Road was published in 1933. By 1950, she had published eleven novels and her short stories and articles had appeared in more than 100 periodicals. Apart from this she’s also an enthusiastic travel writer. She married a lawyer and had two sons. She lived for many years at Thorn Court near Bury St. Edmunds and died in the year 1976.

The Blue Bead Summary of the Story

It is a short story by Norah Burke which is centered on a young girl, Sibia. There is a giant crocodile too which lives in the river for a long time. The girl with her mother and some other women goes to collect the paper grass from the cliffs above the river. On their way, they pass a Gujar encampment of grass huts where the nomadic grazers live till their animals finish all the grazing or are unable to sell their white butter and white milk in the district or there is no one to buy the young male buffaloes for tiger bait. The Gujars are junglis (wild) like Sibia is.

While crossing the river, they make a lot of noise to keep the crocodile away. They climb a hillside to get the grass, and down below them runs the broad river which bears Great turtles, kingfishers and mahseers. In the evening the women have to cross the river again to go back home. On one such evening, when the women are returning, one Gujar woman walks on to stepping stone to fill the gurrahs with clean water. She comes within the yard of the crocodile when it attacks her. The crocodile pulls on her leg and drags her into the deeps of the pool. Blood spread everywhere.

Sibia watches this and jumps into action. She aims at the eyes of the crocodile and drives the hayfork, one pointed part goes in it eyes. It crashes back and disappears. Sibia somehow drags the fainting woman and helps her home. She goes back to get her fork and sees the blue bead. She is happy to get it for a new necklace.

The Blue Bead Summary Theme

It’s a jungle adventure which excites every class of people. The writer has given a lively description of characters as well as the huge crocodile. There is perfect blend of thrill and suspense. Sibia, a twelve year old girl catches the attraction of readers through her actions. She does not belong to a wealthy family but finds happiness in all the little things.

Blue bead in the end represents her happiness as she grew up in poverty and faced many hardships for survival. There is conflict between human and nature. The strange thing is that the protagonist is a human being and the antagonist is an animal which reveal their direct statements. Woman is attacked by a crocodile and saved by Sibia. Courageous deeds can save a community.

There is a rich usage of figures of speech like metaphors in the line. ‘But now she came on wings choosing her footing in midair’, ‘all her little golden body decorated’, ‘cold silk water’. Alliteration in ‘sun- whitened stepping- stones’, ‘it lay in her sweet wet palm, perfect, even pierced’, ‘blue bead’, ferocious and formidable’, lay lapped. Simile in ‘he was showing dawn colored silk that was pouring like silk’, ‘leaping like a rock goat’ and Imagery. Onomatopoeia – ‘bang’, ‘slushing’. Another theme could be that something insignificant for one may be extremely important for other. There is no place for physical harm in the story.

The Blue Bead Summary Characters

Sibia

Sibia is the protagonist of the story. She is a young girl of twelve years who is the center of attraction. It’s not that she belonged to a very high class or had an extraordinary qualification or a wealthy social status. Rather she led a simple life who tried to find happiness in all the small things. She lived in poverty so she had ordinary expectations like she was interested in the natural jewelry made by the seeds that rattle round her neck. She appreciated little things in life like watching Kashmiri merchant selling silks, smell of the wonderful dressing of the cloth stall etc.

She felt ecstatic when she found the blue bead which projected her innocent and childlike quality. She was brave, laborious, courageous and extremely observant. Another quality that sometimes the adult lack was the ability to take decisions quickly and she displayed this quality when the Gujar woman was carried away by the giant crocodile and she immediately ran beside the shrieking woman without thinking anything and without wasting a moment. She showed the act of heroism by saving her life from the ferocious animal. Thus she made a significant place in the story.

The Blue Bead Summary Word-Meanings

1. dislodge – remove from established position
2. jostled – push roughly
3. cliffs – a steep rock face
4. juggernaut – a very large transport vehicle
5. propelled – revolved
6. tinged – colored
7. snap – move
8. fend – support oneself
9. putrid – rotten
10. tepid – lukewarm
11. armoured – protective covering
12. long-snouted – long projecting nose
13. shoals – underwater sandbank
14. perforated – piercing
15. shrill – high pitched sound
16. ford – shallow place where a stream may be crossed
17. rancid – smell or taste like a stale butter
18. ebony – black
19. toddle – walk with short steps
20. husked – dry covering
21. rattling – making rapid hard sounds
22. encampment – settle in a camp
23. nomadic – tribe that roam for pasture for its animals
24. gurrahs – earthen or metal pots for carrying water
25. gaunt – lean and exhausted
26. bicker – quarrel about unimportant thing
27. swooping – sudden downward rush
28. dawdle – walk slowly
29. squeaked – a short high pitched cry
30. slushing – partly melted snow
31. livid – furiously angry, bluish grey
32. clatter – rattling sound
33. flails – swing wildly
34. prong – pointed part
35. wobbling – unsteady, quivering.

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Fire and Ice Summary in English by Robert Frost

Fire and Ice by Robert Frost About the Poet

Robert Frost (1874-1963) was an American poet. His work was initially published in England before it was published in the United States. Known for his realistic depictions of rural life and his command of American. He became one of the United States rare “public literary figures, almost an artistic institution.”

Fire and Ice Summary in English

The poet says that there are two theories held by the general public about how the world will come to an end. The first of these theories states that fire will cause the apocalypse to happen. The second theory say’s the world will freeze till all the species of flora and fauna inhabiting it become extinct once and for all. The poet equates fire with human passion and desire. He also says that he is quite familiar with this concept of desire, and know’s what it actions is capable of producing in human beings. The poet agrees with those people who believe that the world will be burnt in fire.

But he has also experienced the other extreme, and he know’s that colder emotions like hate have great destructive power. Love gets all .the publicity, but hate is the silent killer. It may not have the same grandeur as the fireball ending, but it’ll do the trick.

Fire and Ice Summary Questions and Answers

I. Some say the world will end in fire
Some say in ice.
From what I’ve tasted of desire
I hold with those who favour fire.

a. According to some people how will the world end In fire?
Answer:
‘Fire’ here stand’s for hatred, cruelty, fury and avarice that some people feel the world will end in.

b. How will it end in ice?
Answer:
‘Ice’ stand’s for insensitivity, coldness and intolerance, which too can end the world.

c. Why does the poet side with those who believe that the world will end in fire?
Answer:
The poet’s taste of his own desires had made him side with those people who believe that the world will end in fire.

2. Has given my heart
A change of mood
And saved some part
Of the day I had rued.

a. What type of mood the poet was in?
Answer:
The poet was in a depressed and distraught mood.

b. What does the poet say, has changed his mood?
Answer:
The poet’s mood has changed after a crow shook down on him a dust of snow fro MI a hemlock tree.

c. What was the result?
Answer:
His mood underwent a positive change.

d. What is the rhyme scheme in the stanza?
Answer:
The rhyme scheme in the stanza is “abab”.

3. The way a crow
shook down on me
The dust of snow
From a hemlock tree.

a. What is the dust of snow?
Answer:
Dust of snow refers to the snow flakes.

b. Who shook it down?
Answer:
A crow shook it down.

c. What does ‘the dust of snow’ stand for?
Answer:
The dust of snow’ stands for hope and joy in the midst of sorrow and despair.

d. What is a hemlock tree?
Answer:
A hemlock tree is a poisonous plant with small white flowers.

4. To say that for destruction ice
Is also great.

Question 1.
For the poet, what does ‘ice’ stand for? How is it sufficient to bring destruction?
Answer:
For the poet, ‘ice’ stands for insensitivity and coldness, indifference and intolerance. These qualities are sufficient to bring destruction because they promote hatred amongst people and ultimately lead to destruction.

Question 2.
‘I think I know enough of hate ………..’
What does the poet mean by knowing enough of hate?
Answer:
The poet has also experienced hate, a cold emotion, and he know’s that it can destroy things – namely, the world.

We have decided to create the most comprehensive English Summary that will help students with learning and understanding.

Dust of Snow Summary in English by Robert Frost

Dust of Snow by Robert Frost About the Poet

Robert Frost (1874-1963) was an American poet. His work was initially published in England before it was published in the United States. Known for his realistic depictions of rural life and his command of American. He became one of the United States rare “public literary figures, almost an artistic institution.”

Dust of Snow Summary in English

TJie poet talks about a winter’s day, when all the treetops were covered in masses of snowflakes. The poet was walking under one such snow-covered hemlock tree. A crow alighted on this tree suddenly, and the mass of snowflakes atop it fell down on the poet like rain.

It changed his mood. The shower of dust-like snow on his shoulder changed his mind. It made him feel that the day had not been a complete waste. At least some part of that day had been pleasant, since it had given him a new experience.

We have decided to create the most comprehensive English Summary that will help students with learning and understanding.

The Little Match Girl Story Summary by Hans Christian Andersen

The Little Match Girl Summary by Hans Christian Andersen About the Author

Hans Christian Andersen was a Danish writer who was best known for writing children stories like ‘The Little Mermaid’ and ‘The Ugly Duckling’. He was born in Odens, Denmark on 2nd April, 1805. He was famous for writing innovative and influential fairy tales as his family was not so wealthy, young Hans was educated Boarding School for privileged.

His childhood was not very happy and therefore his stores reflect the sadness, loss and death. In 1819, Andersen travelled to Copenhagen to work as an actor. He returned to school after a short time. He began writing during this period but was discouraged by his teachers. He gained recognition in 1829, when his first short story A Journey on Foot from Holmen’s Canal to the East Point of Amager was published.

After this his play, a book of poetry and a travelogue was published. The promising young author won a grant from the king. He began producing fairy tales in 1835. He continued writing both for children as well as adults. In 1845, translation of Andersen’s folktales and stories attracted the foreign audiences. Andersen sustained a serious injury in 1872 after falling from bed in his Copenhagen home. His final publication, a collection of stories appeared the same year. By this time the signs of liver cancer were visible due to which he died on 4th August in 1875 in Copenhagen.

The Little Match Girl Summary of the story

This is a short story written by Danish writer Hans Christian Andersen which was first published in 1845. He was inspired by the drawing of a Danish artist, Johan Thomas, where a girl was selling matches on the street. The title actually means “The little girl with matchsticks”. It is based on the dreams and aspirations of a child who was dying out of cold and poverty as well as hunger.

The story opens with a cold and dark last evening of the year. A poor girl is selling matchsticks in the dark and cold streets. She has lost her slippers and is shivering from cold. To protect herself from chilling cold, she takes shelter in a corner and sits down. She doesn’t want to go back home as she has not sold a single matchbox and her father would beat her for that reason. Even there is no use going home as it is not a comfortable place for this particular weather.

To keep herself warm, she lights a matchstick. In the glow she sees various pictures. Every time she lights a matchstick, she sees a dream and as soon as it blows out, the dream vanishes. She sees shining dinner service, steaming roast goose, beautiful Christmas tree and sometimes a falling star which reminds her of her grandmother, the only person who loved her and is now dead. As she doesn’t want her grandmother to vanish, she lights one match after another to keep her vision alive. When all the matches are lit up, the child dies and is taken up to the heaven by her grandmother.

Next morning, when the passersby look at her face, it seems frozen with a smile. They make different guesses on seeing the burnt matches beside her. They feel pity for her without knowing the amazing visions she saw before her death. They can’t imagine that she is celebrating the New Year joyously with her grandmother in the heaven.

The Little Match Girl Summary Theme

The unfortunate fate of the little girl is portrayed here. Death has been represented in bright images. The theme projected is of hope which is symbolized by the matches and the cold winter is a symbol of hopelessness. There is parallelism between the girl’s condition and the weather condition outside. She was miserable and going through many difficulties. She fought to survive till end.

It signifies that one must not lose hope howsoever the adverse conditions are. It is a sad story of a little girl who doesn’t lose hope till the last match. In bitter cold weather she tried her best to sell the matches. In the end she got relief from all the troubles when hope and faith came hand in hand to help her and she was out of all miseries. Almost frozen to death, when no one can even dream of a splendid life, she enjoyed the joys of New Year with her grandmother.

There are certain religious beliefs too in the story. Author had a firm belief in religion and God that He would bestow upon us all the things we wish for and therefore an innocent child entered a world where there was no more pain, agony and suffering. The story depicts the value of relations too. The girl had a close connection with her grandmother that even after her death also she used to talk to her as if she was alive.

She did not want to lose her for which she lighted the whole bundle of matches. Superstition in the form of falling star also finds its place in the story. According to the author when a star falls, a soul goes up. Thus one can say that the story is a mixture of many elements.

The Little Match Girl Summary Characters

The Young Girl

The little match girl is the main character of the story as the whole story revolves around her. Other characters are in the background. One may guess the age of the girl by the slippers she was wearing as they were of her mother and too big for her, thus she might not be more than nine or ten years. Her hands and feet were tiny. The story projects the girl’s life which is miserable and has touched the heart of many readers.

She belonged to an extremely poor family which is clear from the description of her house,” it was so cold at home, for they had nothing but the roof above them and the wind whistled through that, even though the largest cracks were stuffed with straw and rags”. Moreover she was not loved by her father otherwise he would not have sent her out in blistering cold to sell the matches on the eve of festival when she did not have enough warm clothes.

She was so docile that she did not oppose her father and preferred to freeze to death rather than going back home to face the harshness of her father. He did not have any concern for her and used to treat her badly. She portrays the picture of a pathetic, sorrowful child whose age allows her to dream, imagine and fancy but her father restricted her doing so, and she was leading the life of maturity. She was deprived of all the love and affection which she should get from her father. She longed for the love which she used to get from her grandmother who was now dead.

All those dreams came alive in the form of visions when she freezes to death. Her hallucinations when she lit the matchstick showed her desire. At first she saw herself sitting in front of a great iron stove as she was in need of warmth that time. Then she saw lavish food laid on the table which showed her need for food.

In her third vision she saw a beautiful Christmas tree depicting her desire for celebration. In the last vision she saw her grandmother whom she pleaded her to take to heaven as she was left alone after her. It seemed as if her last wish was fulfilled. Then also there was radiance on her face when she met and talked to her grandmother in her subconscious mind.

The Little Match Girl Summary Word-Meanings

1. terribly – unpleasant, shockingly bad
2. gloom – semi darkness, depression
3. bareheaded – not wearing anything to cover head
4. barefoot – not wearing anything on foot
5. carriages – a horse drawn vehicle
6. rattled – short harsh sound
7. cradle – a baby’s bed
8. apron – a protective garment covering the front of clothes
9. shivering – trembling with cold or fever
10. crept along – move slowly
11. snowflakes – ice crystals that fall as snow
12. stuffed – filled with
13. sputtered – series of soft explosive sounds
14. vanished – disappear completely
15. veil – something that conceals
16. steamed – cook food by heating it in steam from boiling water
17. gloriously – splendidly
18. prunes – dried plum
19. waddled – swaying movement, walk with short steps
20. mounted – get up on to
21. leaned – in a sloping position
22. pathetic – miserable
23. stiff – not easily bent, rigid.