SUPPLEMENTARY

THESUMMER OF THE
BEAUTIFUL WHITE HORSE
by William Saroyan

Chapter Sketch SUMMARY OF THE CHAPTER

The story is about two poor Armenian boys who
are fond of riding horses. Aram- (9 years old) and Aram's Recall of an Experience
Mourad (13 years old) belong to the Aram remembers an experience from when he was 9 years old. The world
Garoghlanian tribe, where people were for Aram, at that time, seemed to be delightful and joyous. Mpurad, whom
well-known for honesty and trust., Mourad is able
to steal a horse and after enjoying riding for one everybody considered crazy, came at four in the morning and woke up
month, he invites his cousin to join him in Aram by apping on che window of Aram's room. It was summer, with
horse-riding. Fmally, they decide to return the daybreak just around the corner. Aram jumped out of bed andcould not
horse to its owner as they do not wantto bring believe his eyes. Mourad was siting on a beautiful white horse. Mourad
any shame for their family.
asked him to be quick ifhe wanted to ride. Aram had always longed to ride
About the Characters a horse, but they were poor. They couldn't afford a horse.
Mourad He is the J3-year-old cousin of the
narrator (Aram). He isa lively and crazy person
but with love for his cousin Aram, whom he
The Garoghlanian Family
offers the horse to ride for some time. He knows The Garoghlanian family was poor as they had no money. Their whole
how to handle a horse. tribe was poverty-stricken. But most important of all was that they were
Aram (the narrator) He is a 9-year-old boy. He famous for their honesty. From along time, they had built up a repuration
and Mourad belong to the Garoghlanian tribe. for being proud and honest. They would never even take advantage of anyone.
He justifies Mourad's stealing of the horse for Hence, Aram knew that Mourad couldn't possibly have bought the horse.
the purpose of horse-riding, as they did not
intend to sell it off.
John Byro He is a farmer and owner of the Aram's Explanation About the White Horse
beautiful whfte horse which was stolen by Aram asked Mourad if he had stolen the horse. Mourad called him out
Mourad. He is sad over the sudden instead of answering. Aram was sure chat the horse was stolen as they were
disappearance of his horse a few weeks ago.
Unde Khosrove He is the narrator's uncle who both very crazy about riding horses. To console himself in a childish
was considered to be a crazy man. He has been manner, Aram thought that stealing a horse for a ride was not the samne as
described as a man with a short temper and stealing something like money. Itwouldn't have been stealing until they
iritable nature. offered to sell the horse.
Aram could not Resist the Offer John Byro's Sadness
Aram got ready and jumped out of the window. As they Over his Missing Horse
lived on the boundary of the town on Walnut Avenue, there, The same afternoon uncle Khosrove came to Aram's house
was a vast_ countryside full of orchants, vineyards and for coffee ahd cigarettes. Then, another visitor arrived, a
white horse
irrigation ditches nearby. In a few moments, both Aram and farmer named John Byro. He said that his missing and
Mourad were having a wonderful time riding the horse. which was stolen the previous month was still
Mourad started singing out of excitemcnt and enjoyment. untraceable. John Byro also explained that his carriage w
ten miles to
nogood without a horse and he had to walk
TheFamily's Crazy Streak reach there.
Mourad was considered the natural inheritor of the crazy
streak of their tribe. Before Mourad, uncle Khosrove wa Aram Informed Mourad
considered crazy in the family. Khosrove was an enormous
man who had a powerful head of black hair and the largest About John Byro
John
moustache in the San Joaquin valley. Mourad was Aram went to Mourad and informed him about
considered a crazy boy, though his father, Mr. Zorab, was a Byro's visit. He further informed Mourad that he should
practical man without having any crazy streak. not returnthe horse until Aram had learnt riding. Mourad
replied that it would take him a year to learn and they could
Aram Rides the Horse Alone not keep a horse for one year, as it would amount to
stealing.
After enjoying the horse ride together, Mourad wanted to
ride the horse alone. Mourad kicked the horse and it started So, they finally decided to return it after six months to its
running. Afrer fivé minutes, Mourad stopped. Now, Aram true owner. Every morning, for two weeks, they rode the
also wanted to ride the horse alone. Mourád was not sure horse. Every time the horse threw Aram and ran away. But
that Aram could ride the horse alone, as he did not know Aram kept his hope alive and hoped to ride the horse the
that how to control a horse. way Mourad rode.
Aram leaped on to the back of the horse and for a moment One morning they were on their way to the vineyard
felt a fear like he had never felt before. He kicked into the when they encountered John Byro. He inquired about
muscles of the horse; then it started running. Instead of the name of the horse with them. Mourad said that its
running across the field, the horse ran to thevineyard and name was 'My Heart'. John Byro kept observing the
leaped over seven vithes before 'Aram fell. Mourad'came horse very keenly.
running because he was worried about the horse. He wanted
to get hold of the horse and take him back before anyone The Boys Decide
could see him. The horse got lost. Both of themsearched for
the horse in different directions. It took them half an hour to Return the Horse
to find it. The farmer looked into the horse's mouth and found that
the teeth matched those of his stolen horse. He said that he
The Boys Decided to Hide the Horse could swear that the horse was his, if he didn't know their
parents and the fame of their family for honesty. But the
It was morning and Mourad was thinking either to take the horse appeared to be the twin of his stolen horse.
horse back or hide it until the next morning. Aram
concluded that Mourad was going to hide it. Aram again Early the following morning, the boys took the horse to
asked Mourad if he had stolen the horse. Moúrad avoided John Byro'svineyard and left it there. That very afternoon,
answering the question. He told Aram'to tell everyone that John Byro came to the narrator's house. He was very happy
they started riding the horse that very morning, if someone and thanked God. His horse had become stronger and
found out. They took the horse to the deserted vineyard of a better tempered. Uncle Khosrove again shouted at him to
farmer named Fervajian and hid it in the barn. be quiet, as his horse had been returned.