The trait that made Jim Smiley such an anomaly—”the curiosest man”—was his addiction to gambling . Wheeler recounts Smiley placing bets on how long it would take a “straddle-bug” to reach its destination, which bird would fly from a perch first, and whether the minister’s wife would recover from her illness.
What does Jim Smiley teach Danl Webster?
Dan’l Webster is the frog that Smiley educates to jump higher, faster, and farther than any other frog . He beats all the competition until the day that the stranger fills him with quail shot, immobilizing him.
What prompts Simon Wheeler to the story of Jim Smiley?
The mention of the name Smiley prompts Wheeler to relate the story of Jim Smiley, his penchant for betting, his menagerie of unusual animals, and his jumping frog .
How did the stranger get Smiley to leave him alone with the frog?
How did the stranger get Smiley to leave him alone with the frog? He said he had no frog . As soon as he got the money, the stranger ran off without a word. After he discovered that the frog had been weighted, Smiley forced the stranger to give back the money.
What happens after Smiley meets the stranger?
Summarize what happens after Smiley meets the stranger. They decide to have a competition for frog that could jump better . He leaves Daniel Webster with stranger to get him a frog. ... When Smiley comes back, they compete and Daniel Webster doesn’t move.
Why was smiley so proud of his frog?
The first reason Smiley is proud of his frog is because his frog is an amazing jumper . Readers are told that the frog is “so gifted” and that the frog’s strong suit is jumping on level ground. Men from “everywheres” have heard about the frog. They spread the news that his frog “laid over any frog that ever they see.”
What is Jim Smiley’s most notable trait?
What is Jim Smiley’s most notable trait? He is really tall .
How did Smiley train the frog to jump?
For three months, Jim Smiley did nothing but sit in his backyard and teach his pet frog, Dan’l Webster, how to jump higher. Smiley trained the frog to jump on command when he tapped its back , and he taught it to catch any fly with its tongue, no matter the distance.
What do the boys call Jim Smiley’s mare?
Thish-yer Smiley had a mare–the boys called her the fifteen-minute nag , but that was only in fun, you know, because, of course, she was faster than that–and he used to win money on that horse, for all she was so slow and always had the asthma, or the distemper, or the consumption, or something of that kind.
Why did the stranger fill the frog with quail shot?
Though we know very little about the stranger, we do know that he isn’t impressed by Dan’l Webster and keeps insisting that he looks like an ordinary frog to him. We also know that he really wants that forty bucks, so he cheats by filling Dan’l with quail shot so the frog can’t jump.
Why does Smiley get angry?
Why does Smiley get angry? He realizes that the reason his frog could not jump as high was because the man weighed down the frog with quail shot .
What does Jim Smiley bet concerning Parson’s wife?
He bets on dog fights or horse races or even on the minister, Parson Walker. One time, Parson Walker’s wife was really sick, and Smiley bet that she wouldn’t get well .
What mistake does Smiley make that allows the stranger to win?
Quite simply, Smiley entices the stranger to place a forty dollar bet on an ordinary frog . Smiley is convinced that his frog named Dan’l Webster can “outjump any frog in Calaveras county.” The way that Smiley entices the stranger is by using a sort of reverse psychology. Smiley is so...
How did the stranger trick Jim Smiley?
How did the stranger beat Jim Smiley in the bet? Jim tried to double his money by betting that his frog would still win even with a spoonful of quail shot in his belly . He drugged Jim’s frog so that he fell asleep when the competition started.
Why does Jim Smiley lose the frog jumping contest?
When a stranger passes through town, Smiley is eager to challenge the man to a frog-jumping competition. The stranger accepts, but when Smiley isn’t looking, he fills Webster with quail-shot to weigh him down , causing Webster to lose the competition and thereby earning the stranger Smiley’s 40 dollars.
Why is the frog important to Smiley?
The first reason Smiley is proud of his frog is because his frog is an amazing jumper . Readers are told that the frog is “so gifted” and that the frog’s strong suit is jumping on level ground. He could cover a great distance in a very short amount of time, and other animals of his breed are slower in those conditions.
