In Part 2 in honoring Veterans and Military Families, Wendy and Amy discuss Mark Twain's short story “Luck.”. They delve into the exploits of a very lucky general and the intoxicating power of titles in a name. Find out what happens when their game goes Socratic and see how many facts you already knew about Twain in 10 Unbelievable Facts. Pop a cork to old school literature!
This Episode: Link for Mark Twain's short story "Luck."
Next Episode: Lucy Foley's thriller The Guest List
In Part 2 in honoring Veterans and Military Families, Wendy and Amy discuss Mark Twain's short story “Luck.”. They delve into the exploits of a very lucky general and the intoxicating power of titles in a name. Find out what happens when their game goes Socratic and see how many facts you already knew about Twain in 10 Unbelievable Facts. Pop a cork to old school literature!
This Episode: Link for Mark Twain's short story "Luck."
Next Episode: Lucy Foley's thriller The Guest List
Prosecco N Prose | Season 2 | Episode 12 | “Luck” by Mark Twain
Co-Hosts: Wendy (W) | Amy (A)
November 25, 2020
Introduction of Bubbly, Prose, and Podcast – 00:00:00
Welcome | Part 2 of 2 of Honoring Veteran Soldiers – 00:00:44
Pen Names for the Co-Hosts – 02:11
Champagne Discussion and Tasting – 00:03:49
How We Came Across the Short Story – 00:08:23
Author Information – 00:09:55
Main Character Introduction – 00:13:19
Author’s Note on Piece – 00:14:08
Summary with Spoilers – 00:14:42
Handful of Hyperbole
1) Theme – Luck – 00:19:01
2) Symbols and Motifs – Rank and Titles – 00:23:08
3) Voodoo Name Book – Arthur – 00:25:28
4) Game – PNP Goes Socratic! – 00:26:43
5) Random – Interesting Facts on Mark Twain – 00:37:04
Closing and Outro – 43:50
Next episode’s prose: Lucy Foley’s thriller The Guest List
00:00
WENDY (W): Welcome to Prosecco N Prose Episode 12
AMY (A): This week’s prosecco is “It’s a Head Snapper”
W: This week’s prose is Mark Twain’s short story “Luck.”
*** Intro****(same every time)
00:44
A: This week is our part two of two, honoring our Veteran Soldiers.
W: Our first episode was so fun, wasn’t it?
A: Oh, I loved it!
W: I loved having Sadie join us.
A: I did too!
W: She was a complete natural in the studio.
A: She really was. Now you know I was thinking that during the last episode, we forgot to wish our other face-to-face D.C. book club members a Happy Veteran’s Day—Oh I felt so bad. You remember Brie and Gabrielle. They also gave some very insightful info on Beyond the Point…didn’t they…as female service members. I mean I like panicked after we published that episode.
W: That was one of the scrolls you sent.
A: So, Ladies and again all Vets, we honor you and salute you. From me, a special shout out to my husband, my son in Germany, my dad in Montana, and my brother in Washington State--all Veterans of war.
W: So many heroes out there, we are so thankful for you. My husband as well, his brother in Wisconsin, my uncles in Ohio and Minnesota, and a couple of cousins, one at Cherry Point in North Carolina and one at Naval Station Air Oceana right here in Virginia.
A: Oh wow…that’s close.
W: It is!
A: Now I guess you could say this week we are kicking it up a little bit of old school…
W: A little bit!
A: …with a fabled author from long ago—Mark Twain!
W: Yes, none other than the notorious Samuel L. Clemmons!
02:11
A: Right! But, don’t you think we should have our own pen names... I mean new season? New adventures?
W: Hmmmm, I never thought of that … But I could get on board with that.
A: Well if I had a choice of a pen name…
W: You’ve been thinking about this, I can tell.
A: I know…I would obviously choose Chloe Lamarca.
W: So, we’re naming ourselves after the bubbles we drink. I like it.
A: I think it makes perfect sense. I thought I’d make it easy for our friends to know what brand to bring us at five o’clock happy hour. Maybe?
W: Five o’clock…when have we ever waited until five o’clock? And when have we ever been particular about a brand?
A: Well it’s five o’clock somewhere. And I’ll drink anything that is free, cheap, and cold.
W: Free, cheap, and cold.
A: You know what warm does to me…ends up on our bloopy…
W: To both of us…ends up on our bloopy, bloopers.
A: I just don’t do warm…I do free and cheap but not warm. What would your pen name be? You know it’s all about me. What would you like to do?
W: Well, actually, when I was a kid, I dreamed of being a writer and I did give myself a pen name … Hillary Wells …
A: That sounds like a soap opera actress.
W: Or an author…but yeah, if we’re sticking with the bubbles, I’d prefer something posh and cheap. I think that describes me, so Giuliana Asolo.
A: [laughs] Now that’s a little bit of Classy...but Asolo…. hmmmm… cheap …
03:49
W: Speaking of classy, how about this week’s prosecco. This “It’s a Head Snapper Prosecco Extra Dry” is an interesting looking bottle.
A: Oh, the label is so fun and sassy. It kind of reminds me a bit of you, Wendy. You know the barefoot blonde wearing a sassy little blue number doing one of her yoga poses all the while sitting on a bed of floral garland drinking a tall pour.
W: And there you have it, listeners...a breathless short summary of the label and some of my favorite things to do during the day. Let’s move on to the tasting portion of this episode before my partner heads down a rabbit hole she can’t get out of.
A: For real though...this bottle caught my eye right away when I perused the wine aisle at Safeway last week. It was their featured prosecco on sale for the lucky low price of $9.99 a bottle with my club card. I grabbed it as I felt that it might pair well with Twain's short story “Luck.” The regular price was $12 and some change. Not too bad.
W: Right! Who doesn’t like a sale? I see that you bought two.
A: I did! We’ve got to drink it before the hubs gets back.
W: We can manage that, but so, what did you find about this particular prosecco?
A: Well like the bottle says, it’s an extra dry DOC with an alcohol content of 11%, which is normal again for a prosecco. It’s imported from The Universal Wine Network up in Livermore CA.
W: I see on the bottle that it is produced in Casarsa Della Delizia, Italy.
A: Now the Vivino app rates it at 3.6 out of 5. And, the website wine-searcher.com rates it as an 88/100 giving it a silver medal rating and showed that the wine is highly recommended. I mean looking at the color … it’s a light straw color … wouldn’t you say?
W: Yeah!
A: But the website says it has a silvery emerald straw color.
W: Okay, so I am glad you said that as I can see how they would say silvery emerald. I just wasn’t picking it out. I think this is the first prosecco we’ve featured that we can truly say has a silvery effect to it. It’s really pretty.
A: Okay Wendy, let’s go to our tasting sheet...I just love this thing. We’ve gotten so much use out of it with our book club…with these episodes.
W: It’s so fun!
A: We just run it off and kind of fill it out as we go!
W: It gives us some guidance…were not sommeliers yet.
A: No, but we will be someday.
W: We will be! So, what do you smell Amy?
A: I Now I can smell some…let me see…I am getting some honeydew. It’s got a really refreshing…maybe it’s honeysuckle. I have that honeysuckle tree upstairs, and it smells like it!
W: So, it’s kind of cool that you mentioned that because I didn’t smell that, but as soon as you said honey, I could smell it. I smell, this is really odd to me, but pepper. I smell apple, but I smell pepper. Are you getting a peppery smell?
A: I don’t smell pepper but maybe taste it. I taste the pepper…that is different.
W: I’m tasting a citrus kind of thing, the pepper, and I don’t know if it’s on the back of the tongue something vanilla-y, maybe?
A: Okay I am kind of getting an almond, but maybe it’s the finish is where we’re getting the pepper.
W: Maybe so! I like it thought! This is really good.
A: I taste creamy citrus. Super citrus creamy flavor…Oranges, grapefruit, lemon-lime……it’s really good
W: Now that you mentioned it, I can taste the honey.
A: Yeah! This is not a 3.6.
W: No! I like it!
A: For me, this a 4 point something.
W: Well have to rate it ourselves on Vinvo.
A: Yeah. I will definitely go in and fill it out. Yeah! This is a 4 or 4.1. This is almost as good as our cheap stuff—Asolo! Giuliana
W: I know! Yes, Chloe!
A: So, let’s look at the bubbles; they are quite fine on this one.
W: You mean the Perlage?
A: Of course...now the Perlage is quite fine, vostra altezza, which means your highness. You didn’t even note that I said something in Italian!
W: I was so shocked with how perfect your enunciation was!
A: Do you know how long I worked on that? I mean, it comes easy to you! You were over there [Italy].
W: It doesn’t come that easy. But I was so impressed that I was speechless. Let’s just put it that way. I was just speechless.
A: You were just ignoring a good thing, but I’m loving this finish … you’re right … it's peppery. A little bit of sass!
08:23
W: This is a sassy one. Excellent pick! Let’s move onto our pick for this week’s prose discussion. You also found this piece. How did you come about this story “Luck” … Chloe Lamarca?
A: I’m going to love this pen name approach. So, do you remember when we were finishing up Season One? You know that day when I was like totally tore down my office shelves, literally made a pig pen of our studio?
W: Yes, I do remember of that.
A: Well, I found my copy of Barron’s Study Key for American Literature?
W: I just remember thinking…because I did get some pictures in my scrolls…I hope she doesn’t get rid of any of the good stuff.
A: I did get rid of a few of the crappy books where the bindings were just shredded. I just didn’t use them anymore. But I was flipping through the book and came across a section on Mark Twain. I was noting the major themes in all of his works and thinking, man, we need to do an episode on Twain someday. And you know I have two of his books in my vault that are short stories and essays.
W: Just two?
A: Well I do have more than one Mark Twain book, but those are the ones with short stories and essays.
W: So, you just have two of essays. We haven’t covered any essays...essays are prose too … thoughts for future musings?
A: Maybe another idea for a podcast or at least our Feature Fridays on Instagram. But as I sat surrounded by these books, I realized we hadn’t done any of the old school authors and thumbing through my book, I found this short entitled “Luck.” And in keeping with our military theme this month, I thought it would be a great story for discussion, especially since it had to do with an Army general.
09:55
W: Obviously, Mark Twain needs no introduction. But to refresh our listeners with some quick facts. He was born Samuel Langhorne Clemens. Mark Twain wasn’t his only pen name, He also created under the names Josh, Humorous Sketches, and Thomas Jefferson Snodgrass, a series of humorous letters.
A: Ahhh hahhhh…All these pen names, I swear he must have been hiding from the law. I think I’ll give the hubs a pen name … like Twain’s Josh…I like Josh … like the prosecco. Now I think Ruffino fits your hubs … He’s really refined. He’s very distinguished! Done deal, Wendy! Then we all have our own bottles.
W: As long as I don’t have to share … glad I picked two names, more for me and yeah … Ruffino fits him… now, getting back to Twain … Twain/Clemens whatever name we are going with … was born November 30, 1835 in Florida, Missouri, and that is a town in Missouri and not two states listed together, and died on April 21, 1910 in Redding, Connecticut.
A: Hey guys, those dates are going to be important in our Random section of this episode, so don’t forget them.
W: I’ll be what dates by then after this sassy sauce! Twain is well known for his novels The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, The Prince and the Pauper, and Adventures of Huckleberry Finn to name a few.
A: Oh! My favorite was Puddin Head Wilson—a tale of switched identities, solved by a not-so-dumb lawyer named David Wilson. I read it in college. We actually got to pick the Twain novel that really spoke to us most.
W: That’s very intriguing. I might have to read that. I’m curious as to why it spoke to you.
A: David Wilson was the lawyer in the novel, and he was looked at as an unintelligent bluddering fool because he made a nonsensical comment about a dog...something like cutting the dog in half so it would stop barking...it was kind of crazy!
W: Okay!
A: But for me, it could have been a metaphor or maybe a joke whatever...But Wilson was actually shunned by everyone in the community as an idiot. He had to prove himself over the course of time to gain favor of the community again but he ended up being the ultimate hero of the novel. But it spoke to me at that moment in time, that people judge others too quickly for blunders...
W: They do!
A: And in that community, they judged Wilson for a blunder... and I wanted to remember the message of this book as I pursued my teaching degree with my students...You don’t judge and you don’t act too quickly. Just let people speak. A + B doesn’t always lead to C in that order.
W: Exactly…that is a really good point. I am kind of interested in reading that myself.
A: I have a copy of the book if you want it!
W: Of course, you do! So along with being an author, Twain also worked as a steamboat pilot on the mighty Mississippi, was an inventor, a journalist—sort of a jack of all trades. Was against slavery and a Christian, although not overly for organized religion. And we all know him for his dashing white suit.
A: Kind of like the…ummmm.
W: Ohhhhh…KFC…
A: KFC Colonel. He always reminded me of Twain.
W: Yeah that’s true. Can you hide from the law? I mean it’s a bright white suit.
A: Good point!
W: A little thought got into my little brain. But I’m ready to get into the summary as I know you said you had some more fun facts about Twain in our Random Section of this episode. So, let’s talk about these characters!
CHARACTERS - 13:19
A: Emphasis on characters for this short! “Luck” has just three characters and we only truly learn about one. We have 1) our narrator…presumably Twain; 2) a clergyman, or the Reverend, a former military instructor and eventual battle buddy of our protagonist, and then 3) thee Lieutenant General Lord Arthur Scoresby, V.C., K.C.B., etc., etc., etc.
W: Obviously quite the gentleman with all those letters and titles.
A: Indeed. He is a highly decorated career military man, and as such, discretion is of utmost importance, so our considerate narrator does not reveal his real name.
W: Yes, yes, must be discrete in such matters. Let’s summarize this quite amusing piece.
A: But before we do that, I just want to share the author’s note at the beginning of this piece …
W: Yes, it’s quite important little bit…
A: It says, “This is not a fancy sketch. I got it from a clergyman who was an instructor at Woolwich forty years ago, and who vouched for its truth. —M.T.” Obviously Mark Twain, right?
W: I mean…the letters fit!
A: It’s almost likened to a disclaimer for him just in case the story raises questions on its, shall we say truthfulness!
SUMMARY - 14:42
W: Oooooh yes … I would say that is a polite way for gentleman Twain to put it. Now today’s piece is very short. It’s only 1797 words long, a quick 5-10-minute read, but packs a great story about a very lucky general.
A: Now guys as always … spoilers ahead … So, if you haven’t read this very short story yet, you can search the google webs for Mark Twain’s short “Luck” or listen to a multitude of audible reads on YouTube. We will also have links to this piece on www.prosecconprose.com or http://prosecconprose.buzzsprout.com/
W: So, our story starts at a banquet in London our narrator is attending. A banquet to honor the highly esteemed military man, Lieutenant General Lord Arthur Scoresby, etc., etc., etc. as he comes to the end of his very successful career.
A: I thought you would add in the V.C., K.C.B. before you added the etc., etc., etc.
W: I couldn’t remember all of his titles.
A: I just know I have this thing memorized because I am going to totally annoy the hell out of Josh with it.
W: I just love saying Lt. General Lord. It’s like you’ve combined so many things. We have to add the word thee… It’s like a party for this guy.
A: A retirement party of sorts, you could say.
W: That was the feeling I got. Our narrator starts off recounting the complete awe he feels to simply be looking at the man, when an old acquaintance…
A: The ever-resourceful Reverend …
W: Indeed, none other than the Reverend, who leans over to our narrator, and gesturing towards the guest of honor says, “Privately - he’s an absolute fool.” Which comes as quite a shock to our narrator.
A: Well … it’s a clergyman! These men are supposed to be the upholders of truth. It goes back to our initial story note … you know, the disclaimer.
W: It does. Now, as the banquet is not the time to get into gossip…I probably would have…
A: I so would have been all over that table.
W: Tell us the story clergyman…our narrator finds an opportunity a few days later to get to the bottom of the story.
A: Bless his soul.
W: You know he is a determined man. The clergyman explains he was an instructor at the military academy when young Scoresby attended. After a preliminary examination, he concludes poor Scoresby is not the brightest tool in the shed and takes it upon himself to help him not completely crash and burn.
A: I was going to say not the brightest chapter in the Bible. Just a little Christian humor.
W: Yeah…just a little Christian humor for Mark Twain.
A: Yeah! But like any good teacher, the clergyman, at the time a military instructor works with Scoresby and he passes his first exam with flying colors, securing his spot at the academy.
W: Well now the clergyman feels responsible for Scoresby and throughout his schooling is there to coach and support, which leads to Scoresby gaining honor and recognition all along the way.
A: Scoresby graduates just as the Crimean War breaks out, and with his esteemed reputation, is accelerated in the ranks and sent off to lead a regiment of soldiers. The clergyman, in utter shock at this turn of events and still feeling responsible, buys his way into Scoresby’s regiment and heads off to battle, to protect Scoresby and his troops.
W: The clergyman tells our narrator that it was simply blunder after blunder for poor Scoresby.
A: Hah! Poor Scoresby? The man continues, to the astonishment of the clergyman, to rise through the ranks and increases his reputation until one crucial moment in battle.
W: The colonel had gone down and Scoresby was next in command. The clergyman is sure this will be the end. For Scoresby and their regiment.
A: But no! Scoresby’s blunder, well, we won’t give the details away. He not only saves the day, but nearly wins the war. And with that, the clergyman reiterates the goodness and sweetness of Scoresby, but says the decorations on his chest are merely a record of his blunders.
W: It’ll be hard not to think of that at the next ball when I see a bunch of ribbons on someone’s chest, right?
A/W: Hmmmmmm
W: You have a lot of blunders, and you have a few.
A: Here, I brought a short story for you to read.
W: Exactly! Let’s move to our handful of hyperbole. Themes?
THEME - 19:01
A: Oh, I’m ready and I’m loving, Wendy, this new format. Now the biggest theme, I think we wanted to share was the obvious: luck, right?
W: So J.R. Thorpe, the author of “6 Traits of Lucky People, According to Science,” an article published in January 2016, wrote that there are six traits of lucky people. So, 1) they are extroverts, 2) they have open and positive body language, 3) they are risk-takers, 4) they have positive expectations, 5) they look outside the box, and 6) they actually believe they have good luck. Need link
A: That’s interesting!
W: I do feel that is sort of positive expectations, but yeah!
A: Glass half full? I am living my life glass half full.
W: Same!
A: Great article, Wendy. I will post it in our show notes. But I also found this article, it’s called “21 Reasons Why Some People Get So Lucky in Life” by Bob Miglani, the author of Embrace the Chaos. Now a few really good reasons stood out of the 21 for me … I am not going to read all of them but there were three that really stood out to me. So, lucky people surround themselves with positive people, but I am not sure the clergyman was positive but he was willing to take the time and coach Scoresby to you know reach success … and then, 2) lucky people accept imperfection …
W: You know…this just makes me tangent a little bit. You are probably thinking the exact same thing…you know our husbands and how one of their senior leaders told them to get projects to 80%.
A: Right …Exactly where I was going! 80% and done is more productive than 100% and not … you’ve got to move on at some point because nothing is perfect in life and learning to accept that allows for more opportunities to do other things. There is always somebody who is going to fix your 80%.
W: Right. Or improve on it for themselves.
A: And the third one that I wanted to just tangent here on here was lucky people are willing to admit they are not smart.
W: That is Scoresby … he is ready to accept coaching and guidance from his instructors.
A: Exactly!
W: The clergyman also repeatedly describes Scoresby as kind and good. And even the narrator describes him as unaware of the admiration people had for him.
A: Didn’t [Twain] he like mention “unconscious” all the time? At least three or four times?
W: Exactly!
A: He was truly humble … he had a humility about him.
W: I’m just thinking three or four times when you have just 1797 words. That’s a lot.
A: Right, something there.
W: Right! Now the clergyman puts all of Scoresby’s successes to luck, however, Scoresby was willing to work hard, in my opinion and he put the time in to study and learn and be ready for his exams.
A: Well remember you talked about taking risks … his moment in the Crimean War … perhaps he did hear the order correctly, but thing about this…maybe he was thinking … this is a risk, to go this way, to take this round. If I take it, it could lead to great success.
W: Which, as we know from the story, did. We also know the rank of the clergyman was cornet, a rank he paid for, but at one time it was the lowest commissioned rank in the U.S. Cavalry. So, it’s very likely he was not privy to the whole decision-making process.
A: So … hear me out here … I kind of got the feeling that the clergyman rather enjoyed being the teacher … you know the bestower of knowledge … however … when Scoresby surpassed him, it brought out his jealousy.
W: And then, at the end when the clergyman is faced with Scoresby’s record of medals as evidenced on his chest, he makes his final attempt to pierce Scoresby’s armor and declares they are simply a record of Scoresby’s “blunderous” stupidity.
A: Jealousy does have a way of getting in the way of one’s own success. I think, you know my thoughts here, it got in the way of the clergyman from recognizing his own role in Scoresby’s “luck.” Okay…you want to move onto symbols? It just feels weird with this handful of hyperbole. Doing just one!
W: I know! It’s good. Symbols, right?
A: Yep!
SYMBOL/MOTIF - 23:08
W: So, it was really hard to pick out a symbol for this work, but there was this motif throughout this piece of rank and title.
A: Quick refresher … a motif is a recurring element in a work that helps to illuminate the theme.
W: Exactly. Now right at the beginning, the narrator will not even give the rank of Scoresby because just that bit of information could’ve revealed the person.
A: We also know that Scoresby rose rapidly through the ranks and the clergyman made sure to point out the rank he took … cornet, which, as mentioned earlier, was the lowest of the commissioned ranks … sort of like second lieutenant.
W: And then we have the titles … the clergyman and the Reverend is a title that comes with an expected level of truthfulness.
A: There’s even a sense of tone with those two titles … you know a clergyman encompasses, to me; deacons, pastors, elders of a church, but Reverend … the title Reverend. There is much more reverence associated with that word. So a Reverend commands a deeper level of respect and admiration, and it did for me in the story initially.
W: Yes … I agree and in fact, Reverend is capitalized and clergyman is not, which further serves to acknowledge the specificity of his title. I also found it interesting … and you’ll remember this because your good with details…when the narrator was settling in to hear the story of Scoresby as a fool, he switched from clergyman to the Reverend, even though in the note preceding the short, he stated the story came from a clergyman. It just seemed like a weird differentiation…like what he’s about to tell me is coming from a reverend. But, when he did it later, it came from a clergyman. Isn’t that interesting?
A: Wow! It was interesting. Nice detail. It was kind of funny at the beginning, you know…how many titles our narrator gave to Scoresby, letting the reader know, this guy is a BIG deal, even if I cannot give you the specifics.
W: I mean, lieutenant … general … lord … he’s got power and esteem in his name. And symbols … guys…we were really stumped on this one. So, if you guys found anything, we’d love to hear your thoughts. Let’s voodoo Sir Arthur! What'cha got, Amy?
VOODOO NAME - 25:28
A: Well, looking at the good general’s name and very glad that Arthur’s name was in our book. The name was made popular by King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table.
W: Oh yeah!
A: An Arthur is a brave and honorable man.
W: Our Arthur is certainly honorable … I mean, this banquet is being held in his very honor.
A: Agreed … Arthurs are also often found in the military or law enforcement …I mean, I thought that was kind of a fun fact.
W: I think that is a fun fact too, but I also think it’s interesting that I have never met an Arthur. I’ve been around the military for over 20 years. Have you?
A: I’m trying to think. But Arthurs are brave warriors and willing to risk their lives for principles they strive to uphold.
W: I come back to the risk he took in the Crimean War when he was thrust into the leadership position … it turned the tide in the war for his side.
A: I agree. Now there was one more note on the numerology, and this was telling, Arthurs work hard and persevere in order to succeed. I think it’s pretty clear from day one, even the clergyman said it, that he studied and worked hard.
W: He did! I’m ready for some games, Amy, and I know you planned this one and I’m ready to see what you’ve done.
GAME - 26:43
A: So, I put together the game for this episode and thought since the story mentioned Socrates…you know it also mentioned Solomon and Napoleon. But Socrates…we could do a couple off-the-cuff questions either with Mr. Perlage or our new dice and I’m thinking the dice will work best.
W: I think they will work best. I’m sorry…I was just thinking, what kind of game could we play related to Napoleon? Would we just stand there with our hands in our pant?
A: Not Napoleon…Socrates. I just wanted to mention.
W: I know, but you mentioned the other names. But are you talking about Socratic Questioning?
A: I am!
W: I did that with my students when discussing literature in the classroom. I’m loving this already.
A: Oh good. I figured you would. Critical thinking is so fun when you want to understand literature at a deeper level, especially for those who join book clubs, bringing it up to adult level...it makes for great questioning for book clubs…sometimes people don’t know where to start. But I do realize, for others just a cover to cover read is all they need and that’s okay too. I wanted to press you a little today.
W: I agree. This type of questioning was such a time saver in the classroom…it really teaches our students how to learn…rather than in what to think.
A: Am I hearing a little show vs. tell from you, my friend?
W: Undoubtedly. You know readers bring so much of their own experiences to literature and this type of questioning allows for a great discussion.
A: Now I always used it to avoid the “Yes/No” answers in the classroom. The Junior High and High School answers. And remember there are no incorrect answers. So, are you ready to get started?
W: Let’s do it!
A: We’re going to use these erasable dice … I guess. I have numbered 1-6. Now you know I had to put my own Prosecco and Prose spin on things, so 6 is a drink with a free choice option.
W: Sounds fun … couldn’t really have that option in the classroom.
A: No, you can’t … probably a bad idea there. Now I’ve made piles of questions labeled 1-5.
W: This is so cute. I love it. Little wine glass filled with questions.
A: We’ll post it on Instagram.
W: Perfect!
W: So, each pile is a different type of Socratic question. Pile 1 – clarification type of questions, 2-assumption questions, 3- reasons and evidence, 4- perspective questions, and 5 implications and consequences. You good?
W: I think so … but maybe you can roll first? You know, the old show then do? And I’ll snap a picture for our Instagram so our listeners can see this fun little set-up cuz it’s really cute.
A: Yes, I’ll go first. I don’t have a problem with that. Let’s set a limit and do three rounds. I know you and I could go on forever…
W: I know we could…perfect.
A: Okay…I rolled a 4…let me grab a little…question out of 4!
W: #4 are questions on viewpoints and perspectives. So what did you get?
A: Okay. #4 Why do you think Twain didn’t have the narrator go into the Scoresby story at the banquet? Why did he make the reader wait until the narrator met on a different day? …hmmmm… well thinking about it, probably Twain, the narrator, had a lesson to teach us...
W: Maybe Twain had more class than you and I though…not to gossip.
A: Obviously, but just because the preacher says it’s so...doesn’t always mean it’s so...right
W: That’s true.
A: See that’s not so bad.
W: My turn [Wendy rolls] …I got 5!
A: So, guys 5 is questioning on implications and consequences.
W: How does this story apply to everyday life? Or how could one use this story as a teaching moment? That seems pretty obvious because they both judged Scoresby. So the narrator was judging Scoresby on the things that he heard and the clergyman was judging Scoresby on the what he was experiencing with him if he was telling us the truth. So, you can’t judge a book by it’s cover.
A: Right. Good.
W: Your go!
A: Okay [Amy rolls] …3…
W: So, three are questions on reasons, evidence, and rationale.
A: What other evidence might have been helpful to know in regards to Scoresby’s prestigious award?
W: Oh yes!
A: Okay so…Twain left out lots of time and place in this short. He only had 1797 words, so we weren’t privy to all the other fabulous things Scoresby did in his career.
W: We knew he could study and we knew he didn’t something big in the Crimean War.
A: We just had to go off what the narrator told us. Maybe Scoresby was a team player. Truly, he could have been a team player and like a good soldier had the motto there is not about ME it’s about WE.
W: Right! Exactly! I think there was a lot left out!
A: Oh, tons left out!
W: All right! My go?
A: Yep…1
W: [Wendy rolls] …one
A: One! Okay guys, one is like the lower level questioning…it’s conceptual clarification.
W: Okay, how does this story relate to today’s situation (Military, non-military, teacher, clergy?) There are clearly a lot teachable moments in this piece. We still have military academies today. We just talked about West Point a couple weeks ago. And have we not been shaped by amazing teachers? That is what the clergyman did for Scoresby. He was actually a very good teacher that shaped him into having a very successful life.
A: Okay, we will do one more each. [Amy rolls]
W: All right!
A: One!
W: These are clarification types of questions as well.
A: Oh, this is a good one. This is so perfect. You are going to laugh when I read this.
W: Okay!
A: What other themes stood out for you?
W: Of course, you had a way to get that in there! What’cha got?
A: So obviously luck has to do with chance. We kind of talked about that earlier. Reputation vs. true identity…
W: Ohhhh yeah!
A: That was one that I really wanted to expand on, but maybe our listeners can do that.
W: That would have been a good one.
A: And listen to this…how about intelligence vs. instinct?
W: Right! Yeah! Yeah!!! I can see those as well.
A: Okay…and what about jealousy…that was just like a given.
W: Kind of inline with the word luck…jealousy. There definitely was some jealousy going on in this story.
A: Absolutely. But I just really loved the intelligence vs. instinct. I think we could have really expanded on that one. I knew we didn’t have a lot of time but…Maybe I’ll just do some writing on my own…
W: You can put in on our blog.
A: Sure. So late one is for you!
W: Okay [Wendy rolls] …#2…
A: Number two are the assumption questions.
W: All right! What was your first assumption of the story? Wow…that question right there is kind of loaded because I thought the little note…
A: The disclaimer…
W: Right, the disclaimer…. Did it change when you got to the end or with a second reading? I don’t know because I approached it kind of skeptically because he said, right away, that this story was told to me...so…but it was a clergyman. And he vouched for its truthfulness. I’m stepping back and just reporting it. I don’t know. I guess I really never thought of Scoresby as a fool and I just felt like the clergyman didn’t get himself enough credit.
A: Initially on a first reading for me I was looking at what the clergyman said…you know the clergyman; they are not supposed to lie. So, I was thinking so how in the heck does this fool make general. So, I just read it as such. And then I got to the end and I was ticked off. So ticked off at the clergyman that I read it again and thought you are a jealous little clergyman fool.
W: I think this is where we talk about where kids bring their schema to discussing a piece of literature, so I have a different schema about clergyman. I read it and right away thought…hmmm…I don’t know if this guy is trustworthy because he was a clergyman whereas you took it as he is trustworthy because he is a clergyman. So…everything after was a grain of salt. I even wrote at the bottom of my notes that the clergyman pities him. And he shouldn’t.
A: Right!
W: This was fun.
A: Oh good. I’m so glad. I was trying to give you the time to learn all that technology stuff for our website...I will have to say...I do like working on the idea shells together for the episodes. But I like to come in after you and say…hmmm…lets take this in a different direction.
W: That’s true, but I have to say that you’ve got skills! … Am I out of a job? But I loved learning a little tech stuff, too. You get the job of editing all the bloops and blunders...sort of like our Scoresby character.
W: I’m ready to move on to our last section--Random.
RANDOM - 37:04
A: So ready. I thought it would be fun to give some interesting facts on this prolific author as there is so much Twain information out there on the Googlewebs.
W: Okay guys...Amy is literally shoving some lists my way that I haven’t seen yet...so this might be a little bit of interesting.
A: Don’t worry...I have 10 facts, and I split the list with you, so I’m not doing all the talking. You just have to read my dribble if you can do so. If there are any failures...I’ll own it as my bloop. Here’s the even numbered facts since I’m the odd friend who likes to spring things on you randomly. Heheheheh!
W: Not odd…If you remember right, I did it to you in the Epilogue. But sure…So…totally going in cold but here it goes…Fun Fact #10 – Twain called THE BOOK OF MORMON “Chloroform in Print.” Chloe Larmarca did you just make this up?
A: No…I don’t deal in Fake News…I fact checked everything. This came from his piece called “Roughing It.” We don’t have time to explain how I ran each and every fact down, so just trust me, I did my homework.
W: Okay . . . but I don’t want to see our names or podcast on the hot seat list. Remember the Plagiarist in Season 1 Episode 8…
A: Yes, I do...so like I said, trust me. So fun fact #9 – Twain was a huge supporter of the abolition of slavery and women’s rights. He even paid for education for people of color. He was a great dude.
W: Sounds like it . . . Okay Fun fact #8 – Twain’s friend Nikola Tesla who was an electrical engineer, cured Twain’s constipation problems with one quick jolt of electricity. For real, Amy? Is this any relation to our modern-day Tesla?
A: [laughing] This is for real…constipation…we can’t have constipation. I shouldn’t have eaten all this cheese. And yes … Nikola Tesla invented the Tesla coil and Tesla is named after him. Now for Fun fact #7. Twain wrote a children’s book called Advice to Little Girls. Vladimir Radunsky illustrated the book for him. Now the premise of the book was to encourage young girls to think for themselves and follow the rules loosely. One of the passages from the book was “Good little girls always show marked deference for the aged. You ought never to ‘sass’ old people unless they ‘sass you first.”
W: You know that is really good advice and know you’ll always find a way to get a person of age to sass you first just so you could quote Twain.
A: Yep...you know me so well!
W: Love a good sass, not going to lie … That’ll be me…fun fact #6 – Mark Twain gave a lecture…ah…Amy…on Masturbation and jokingly quoted Homer by saying that a passage in the Iliad said “Give me masturbation or give me death.”
A: [Amy in hysterics] …I’m trying not to laugh…
W: I think I am doing very well. Whether Twain was joking or not … falsely quoting Homer … I’m not touching this with a 10-ft pole.
A: Hehehe! You said 10-foot pole…. No pun intended, Giuliana Asolo?
W: Moving on … next fact? You did that on purpose. I know that!
A: Okay … fun fact #5 . . . Mark Twain’s autobiography was not published until 2010 which is 100 years after his death. Twain left explicit instructions for the 100-year delay so he could basically speak his mind.
W: And truly be dead. Will definitely be checking that out. The next fact # 4 … Samuel Clemens patented the Adjustable and Detachable Straps for Garments—suspenders for those of you confused like me
A: Just in case you wanted to reconsider the Homerian quote?
W: I don’t. I don’t…let’s go!
A: laughing…. fun fact #3. . . apparently Twain despised Jane Austen. He wrote “Every time I read Pride and Prejudice, (it’s like a retelling) I want to dig her up and beat her over the skull with her own shin-bone. Violence at its best in the 19th century. There is a great article written by Emily Auerbach in Virginia Quarterly Review: “A National Journal of Literature and Discussions issue Winter 1999.”
W: I love me some Jane Austin … Samuel! But these are some interesting facts. #2 is a great one – Twain was born on the day Halley’s Comet flew by earth in 1835 and died on April 21, 1910—the same day Halley’s comet flew by again. Wow! Seriously?
A: Yes! Hence why I wanted to note his birth and death in the beginning … finally, . . . Fun fact #1– Mark Twain wrote of the earworm phenomenon or effect—you know songs that you just can never get out of your head.
W: You mean like Baby shark, doo, doo, doo, doo…
A: Mommy shark doo, doo, doo, doo
Clink of the prosecco glasses!
W: It’s the end doo, doo, doo…yes! He did that to us … and the Macarena. Let’s not go there. But thanks for changing it up a bit. Our listeners are probably wondering how our minds work...maybe your mind, but we said we were going to lighten the mood this season and get back to doing what we do best…
A: and that is?????
W: …drinking prosecco…I mean…Giving entertaining and informative information while we drink prosecco. So next episode’s prose is a thriller. We will be discussing Lucy Foley’s The Guest List.
A: It was also our local DC Book Club’s pick, but this episode will air before our meeting, so it may inspire our book club members to take a listen before another prosecco party at the house. So final thought’s boss? Am I fired?
W: Never. One last shout out to all our Veterans...Thanks for what you do. To those of us in the military and those of you who’ve served … every day is Veteran’s Day...See you next episode.
***Closing/Outro*** (same every time) 43:50