Transcript Project on a story by Mark Twain's 'Luck'

Project on a story by Mark
Twain's "Luck"
Prepared by Zenkova, Kochergina and Striyashko,
students of Financial University.
About the author
Samuel Langhorne Clemens (Mark Twain) was
born on 30 November 1835 in Florida. His
parents were John and Jane Clemens. After
moving to Missouri John met Jane and some
years later they married. There were seven
children in their family but only four survived.
Samuel was the sixth child.
Mark Twain
About the author
At the age of 4 his family moved to Hannibal,
Missouri. This town impressed him and it was
later described in The Adventures of Tom
Sawyer and Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. At
the age of eighteen Mark Twain left the town
and began to work as a printer. He worked in
different cities of the USA.
About the author
In 1859 Mark Twain got a steamboat pilot
license. Samuel worked as a pilot until 1861.
Mark Twain had a wife Olivia Langdon. They
married in 1870. He started working as a writer
and editor in the newspaper. The married
couple had 3 daughters: Jean, Clara and Susy.
His son died of diphtheria. In 1904 Olivia died.
They lived together for 34 years.
Mark Twain and his family
About the author
Mark Twain spent a lot of time in Hartford and
at Quarry Farm where he wrote his famous
writings. Mark Twain became a famous
American author and orator. A lot of critics and
peers appreciated his wit. Mark Twain used
different pen names that’s why some of his
works are not known.
Mark Twain died of a heart attack in 1910. He
was interred in Woodlawn Cemetery.
Plot of the story
The story concerns a decorated English military
hero, Lord Arthur Scoresby, a total idiot who
triumphs in life through good luck. At the time of
the Crimean War Scoresby is a captain. Despite his
complete incompetence, everyone misinterprets his
performance, taking his blunders for military
genius, and his reputation is enhanced with every
false step he makes. At the climax of the story,
Scoresby mistakes his right hand for his left and
leads a charge in the wrong direction, surprising a
Russian force which panics and causes a retreat of
the Russian army, thus securing an Allied victory.
Plot of the story
Another interpretation of the story is that the Reverend is
simply jealous of the successes Scoresby has achieved. The
Reverend, in the past, was an instructor at a military academy,
where he taught a young Scoresby. According to the
Reverend, Scoresby was a poor student, and "blundered" his
way through promotions. When the war began, the Reverend
joined the conflict, but with a lower rank of his ex-student.
Throughout the story one can see that the Reverend is bitter,
and his apparent distaste for the lord seems at odds with his
role as a clergyman. The "absolute fool" in the story is not
Scoresby, who ascended the ranks of the military through
action, but rather the Reverend, who cannot accomplish
anything in his lifetime.
Opinion about the plot and the main
characters
Plot of the story “Luck” is very interesting and
unusual. First we read on behalf of a man who
visited a dinner in London. But then the narrator
becomes a clergyman. Characters are described
in detail, especially Arthur Scoresby. Mark Twain
vividly describes the events and the mood of the
characters.
Opinion about the plot and the main
characters
Arthur Scoresby cause us wonder and
sympathize. He is a very lucky man. By happy
coincidence, he achieves great success in life. But
he probably does not realize how much he was
lucky and what it is big responsibility. Clergyman
met with Arthur very long ago. He surprised by
luck of Scoresby. Only the clergyman know what
Arthur really silly.
Opinion about the plot and the main
characters
We believe that the clergyman did the right
thing when he told his old friend the truth. But
someone must know how Scoresby has made
his fame actually.
In addition
The story of Mark Twain's "Luck" was not
filmed. We think that this story is worth reading
all because it is interesting and informative. The
main moral of the story it is: «They are proof
that the best thing that can happen to a man is
to be born lucky».