In 'The Outcasts of Poker Flat,' four troublemakers are banished from Poker Flat. They rest at a cabin overnight and wake up to find that one member of the group has absconded with the horses. The others are found dead at the end of the story. At the end of the story, the rest of the group is found dead.
How do I Track themes in the Outcasts of Poker Flat?
· In 'The Outcasts of Poker Flat,' four troublemakers are banished from Poker Flat. They rest at a cabin overnight and wake up to find that one member of the group has absconded with the horses. The others are found dead at the end of the story. At the end of the story, the rest of the group is found dead.
What happens at the end of Poker Flat?
The Outcasts of Poker Flat. On the morning of November 23, 1850, a gambler named John Oakhurst walks through Poker Flat, a small mining town in the American West. The town’s “moral atmosphere” has changed, and Oakhurst knows that the town is “after somebody.”. He reflects calmly that he’s probably the one the town is after—a suspicion that soon proves correct.
Where does the story The Outcasts of Poker Flat take place?
There are four main outcasts in “ The Outcasts of Poker Flat ” who end up dying or disappearing throughout the story. The first outcast to go is Uncle Billy. On the group’s first night outside of...
How does Oakhurst react to the Outcasts of Poker Flat?
“The Outcasts of Poker Flat” is an unflinching look at the way we distinguish between those who are good and those who are not. Harte suggests that the line between good and evil is not nearly as sharp as we often think. In the end, we must understand that nature makes no distinction between the two in whom she takes and whom she doesn’t.
How did the outcast of Poker Flat end?
The group later meets two newlyweds, who help them take shelter in a storm. In the morning, they find that Uncle Billy has stolen the horses and left them trapped due to a snowstorm. At the end, the group is found dead.
What happened at the end of Poker Flat?
The "law of Poker Flat" finally arrives at the cabin, only to find the Duchess and Piney frozen to death and embracing in a peaceful repose. They look so peaceful and innocent that the onlookers cannot tell which of them had been exiled for her immoral behavior.
What is the climax of The Outcasts of Poker Flat?
The climax of “The Outcasts of Poker Flat" occurs when John Oakhurst fails to return to the cabin after seeing off Tom Simson on the latter's snowshoe trek back to Poker Flat. It is at this point that the Duchess and Piney accept the imminence of death.
What happened to Tom in Poker Flat?
The story implies that Tom is successful in reaching Poker Flat—even though the rest of the group dies, they are found days when “voices and footsteps” enter the camp, presumably a search party. After his experience in the mountains and the death of his beloved fiancée, it seems that Tom is no longer innocent.
What happened to the outcast?
In 2007, the duo went on hiatus and both members have since pursued solo careers. In 2014, Outkast reunited to celebrate their 20th anniversary by performing at more than 40 festivals worldwide, beginning at the Coachella Festival in April.
What happened to Mr Oakhurst at the end of the story?
At a nearby pine tree, Mr. Oakhurst is found dead with a bullet through his heart, “he who was at once the strongest and yet the weakest of the outcasts of Poker Flat”.
What is the main conflict in the Outcast of Poker Flat?
1 Answers. The main conflict of the story is one of man versus nature, as the exiles struggle to survive the obstacles that lay before them..... weather, starvation, and fate.
What does Mr Oakhurst discover when he?
What does Mr. Oakhurst discover when he awakens after his first night at the camp? That it had snowed.
Why did they banish Oakhurst instead of hanging him?
Terms in this set (10) Why did they banish Oakhurst instead of hanging him? It is part of Oakhurst's business, as a gambler, to be aware of what other people have on their minds, as in a poker game.
What happens to Piney and the Duchess?
Piney and Duchess frozen to death.
What did Uncle Billy do?
The chief antagonist of the story, Uncle Billy is a drunk and a suspected thief (he is believed to steal gold while other people are panning for it) who is exiled from Poker Flat along with Oakhurst, the Duchess, and Mother Shipton.
Who is banished from Poker Flat?
John OakhurstThe protagonist of the story, John Oakhurst is a serial gambler who is exiled from the Old West settlement of Poker Flat along with three other people whom the town has deemed “improper”: the Duchess, Mother Shipton, and Uncle Billy.
When was the Outcasts of Poker Flat published?
An example of naturalism and local color of California during the first half of the nineteenth century, "The Outcasts of Poker Flat" was first published in January 1869 in the magazine Overland Monthly. It was one of two short stories which brought the author national attention.
Who wrote the Outcasts of Poker Flat?
" The Outcasts of Poker Flat " (1869) is a short story written by author of the American West Bret Harte. An example of naturalism and local color of California during the first half of the nineteenth century, "The Outcasts of Poker Flat" was first published in January 1869 in ...
Where does the story of Poker Flat take place?
The story takes place in a Californian community known as Poker Flat, near the town of La Porte. Poker Flat is, in the opinions of many, on a downward slope. The town has lost thousands of dollars, and has experienced a moral decline. In an effort to save what is left of the town and reestablish it as a "virtuous" place, a secret society is created to decide whom to exile and whom to kill. On November 23 of 1850, four "immoral" individuals are exiled from Poker Flat and warned not to return on pain of death. The first of them is a professional poker player, John Oakhurst. He is among those sent away because of his great success in winning from those on the secret committee. On his way out of town, he is joined by two women, the Duchess and Mother Shipton, and Uncle Billy, the town drunk and a suspected robber. These four set out for the Sandy Bar mining camp, a day's journey away over a mountain range. At noon, the group stops for a rest over Oakhurst's protests.
Who is John Oakhurst?
John Oakhurst. One of the story's heroes, Oakhurst is occasionally frank but kind in motivation. He is chivalrous, insisting upon switching his good riding horse Five Spot for the mule of the Duchess and refusing to use vulgar language.
Who is Uncle Billy?
Uncle Billy, a "suspected sluice-robber and confirmed drunkard". Tom Simson, a naïve young man who has run away from the Sandy Bar mining camp with Piney Woods and who intends to marry her at Poker Flat. Piney Woods, a "a stout, comely damsel of fifteen" who is engaged to Simson.
How many times has the story of Harte been filmed?
Harte's story has been brought to film at least five times, including in 1919 with Harry Carey, in 1937 with Preston Foster, and in 1952 with Dale Robertson. The Spaghetti Western Four of the Apocalypse is based on this story and another of Harte's stories, " The Luck of Roaring Camp ".
Who is Tom Simson?
Tom Simson, a naïve young man who has run away from the Sandy Bar mining camp with Piney Woods and who intends to marry her at Poker Flat. Piney Woods, a "a stout, comely damsel of fifteen" who is engaged to Simson.
Who was the gambler in Poker Flat?
On the morning of November 23, 1850, a gambler named John Oakhurst walks through Poker Flat, a small mining town in the American West. The town’s “moral atmosphere” has changed, and Oakhurst knows that the town is “after somebody.”. He reflects calmly that he’s probably the one the town is after—a suspicion that soon proves correct.
What is the deuce of clubs?
Pinned to a tree with a knife is a playing card, the deuce of clubs, upon which Oakhurst has scribbled his epitaph, claiming to have “struck a streak of bad luck.”. Oakhurst, who shot himself in the heart, appears just as stoic in death as he did in life. He is, the narrator affirms, “at once the strongest and yet the weakest of the outcasts ...
Who wrote the Outcasts of Poker Flat?
Bret Harte, an author known for his stories of the American west, wrote “The Outcasts of Poker Flat,” a short story published in 1869. It’s an example of Naturalism, a literary movement emphasizing observation and scientific method in story telling, as well as the idea that nature is indifferent to humankind and will show no mercy.
Who is the innocent in Sandy Bar?
While he’s sitting thinking about the day’s events, he hears his name called out from the woods. Tom Simson, a man known as the Innocent of Sandy Bar who once lost a great deal of money to Oakhurst through poker, appears from the trees. He is followed by Piney Wood, a young girl whom he intends to marry.
What is luck and fate?
Luck and Fate feature heavily into the story as well. The story is an example of the Naturalist Movement: each person is subject to fate; people have little control over their lives against nature. Their choices doom them to die despite the redeeming qualities most of them have.
The Outcasts of Poker Flat
About The Outcasts of Poker Flat The Outcasts of Poker Flat Summary Character List Glossary Themes Quotes and Analysis the First Half of the Story the Second Half of the Story Symbols, Allegory and Motifs Metaphors and Similes Irony Imagery Poker Flat: A Real Ghost Town Literary Elements Related Links Essay Questions Test Yourself! - Quiz 1 Citations.
by Bret Harte
About The Outcasts of Poker Flat The Outcasts of Poker Flat Summary Character List Glossary Themes Quotes and Analysis the First Half of the Story the Second Half of the Story Symbols, Allegory and Motifs Metaphors and Similes Irony Imagery Poker Flat: A Real Ghost Town Literary Elements Related Links Essay Questions Test Yourself! - Quiz 1 Citations.
Overview
"The Outcasts of Poker Flat" (1869) is a short story written by author of the American West Bret Harte. An example of naturalism and local color of California during the first half of the nineteenth century, "The Outcasts of Poker Flat" was first published in January 1869 in the magazine Overland Monthly. It was one of two short stories which brought the author national attention.
Plot summary
The story takes place in a Californian community known as Poker Flat, near the town of La Porte. Poker Flat is, in the opinions of many, on a downward slope. The town has lost thousands of dollars, and has experienced a moral decline. In an effort to save what is left of the town and reestablish it as a "virtuous" place, a secret society is created to decide whom to exile and whom to kill. On November 23 of 1850, four "immoral" individuals are exiled from Poker Flat and warne…
Characters
• John Oakhurst
One of the story's heroes, Oakhurst is occasionally frank but kind in motivation. He is chivalrous, insisting upon switching his good riding horse Five Spot for the mule of the Duchess and refusing to use vulgar language. He further shows his good nature by returning the $40 he had won from Tom Simson in a card game and saying, "Tommy, you're a good little man, but you can't gamble …
Film, TV or theatrical adaptations
Harte's story has been brought to film at least five times, including in 1919 with Harry Carey, in 1937 with Preston Foster, and in 1952 with Dale Robertson. The Spaghetti Western Four of the Apocalypse is based on this story and another of Harte's stories, "The Luck of Roaring Camp".
Operas based on The Outcasts of Poker Flats include those by Samuel Adler, Jaromir Weinberger, Stanworth Beckler, and Andrew Earle Simpson.
External links
• The Outcasts of Poker Flat public domain audiobook at LibriVox
• The Outcasts of Poker Flat – Annotated text + analyses aligned to Common Core Standards
• The Outcasts of Poker Flat by Bret Harte