The Outcasts Of Poker Flat

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The Outcasts of Poker Flat
What motivates the Committee to take action against Mr. Oakhurst?
He was one among the troublemakers in the Poker Flat especially by taking part in gambling.
What effect do Tom and Piney have on all the outcast except Uncle Billy? Why?
The two touched the outcasts since they didn’t make any mistake in the Poker Flat, but they went there just to be married. Uncle Billy ran away from the camp, and he was the worst among the outcasts.
What does Harte mean in writing that Oakhurst “was at once the strongest and yet the weakest of the outcast of the Poker Flat?”
He was a known gambler who was at the forefront in protecting the outcasts, yet he ended up killing himself through suicide which seemed a weak action.
What is the contradictory about the identity of how “good guys” and the “bad guys in this tale?
The morally upright people in the story didn’t value the life of people as the ‘bad’ people did. The outcasts did anything to keep each other alive contrary to the right people.
Though the characters in this story have little in common, they band together. Why might people tend to draw together in life?
People are dependent and when alone they would feel lonely. Love and care bind people together.
Based on the story, what conclusion can you draw about the law in the settlements that sprang up during Gold Rush?
The laws were developed mainly by the colonists to be able to undermine the natives and make them submissive. They were very harsh and inconsistent with humanity.

Find a passage in which Harte describes the physical environment. What specific details help you picture the California landscape?
The frosting and the camp roofed by the pine boughs. The writer has shown some activities that happened under trees, which indicates that the place was forested.
Find three examples of distinctly western speech
Harte described the outcasts in western terms. The names of the characters are common in the west, and thus they show the originality. For instance, some words used like Duchess to mean prostitute, sluice robber to say a thief, and the mother Shipton Is suspected to be a witch.
Which character do you admire most? Why?
I admired the Mother Shipton, due to her sacrifice her life in an attempt to save the Piney Woods, by fasting her food for the little girl.
What turned out to be cause of the ominous lull in the air?
This feeling was due to the suspense and danger since the church session that day must have been different
Cite a passage that helps you determine the cause.
Harte, Bret. The Outcasts of Poker Flat.
She felt he was wasn’t joking. She continued to laugh. (yet)
She felt he wasn’t joking yet she continued to laugh.
He raced to the gate. The plane was about to depart. (for)
He raced to the gate for the plane was about to depart.
Vitamins can be good supplements. They are no substitute for a healthy diet. (but) Vitamins can be good supplements, but they are no substitute for a healthy diet.
The rebellion known as the Boston Tea Party was the result of opposition to British taxation. An instance of resistance
He must control his rage and not be so bellicose. Quick to pick a fight
Expatriated; (honored, ignored, expelled) – expelled
18. Anathema; (Curse, riddle, chant) – Curse
Bellicose; (strong, quarrelsome, beautiful) – quarrelsome
Recumbent; (full, recruit, unnecessary) – unnecessary
Equanimity; (fairness, precision, serenity) – serenity
Vociferation; (uncertainty, loudness, cleverness) – loudness
Vituperative; (scolding, healthful, complex) – scolding
Querulous; (trustworthy, mysterious, disagreeable) – disagreeable
Would you like to be transported back in time to the western frontier that Harte depicts? Why or why not?
I would not like it since the laws of that time were very harsh and thus unsafe for the people.
As a group, brainstorm for two lists; one showing the traits you associate with heroes from movie and television westerns, and one showing traits you found in Mr. Oakhurst. Compare and discuss the similarities outweigh the differences?
Western movies heroes characters; – all-knowing, kind, vengeful, arrogant,
Mr. Oakhurst traits; compassionate, courageous, intelligent, easily surrender
The Oakhurst is very different despite being intelligent like other heroes in movies he gave up, at last, a character that is not common. On top of that, he did not attempt to revenge for being expelled from the Poker flat.
At the opening of the story, what has the secret committee of Poker Flat decided?
The secret committee planned to kill all the uncooperative and people they did not like.
Who joins the outcasts at their camp?
Tom Simpson ‘the Innocent’ and his fiancée Piney Woods
What does Mr. Oakhurst discover when he awakens his first night at the camp?
He discovered that the Uncle Billy had run away with the horse as well it had started to frost.
What does Mother Shipton do with her rations?
She saved them for Piney Woods to eat on her behalf so that she could survive
What does the rescue party discover?
The rescue party came late when all the people were dead. They found that Oakhurst committed suicide with his gun, with the lowest card of the poker in his hand. Piney Woods and The Innocent were found dead embracing each other. The others were also dead, in the frost.

References
Harte, Bret. The Outcasts of Poker Flat. Krill Press via PublishDrive, 2015.