THE SUMMER OF A

BEAUTIFUL WHITE
HORSE

-William Saroyan
William Saroyan (1908-1981)
• William Saroyan, an Armenian-American novelist,
playwright, and short story writer was born in Fresno,
California.
• His father was an Armenian Pastor who immigrated to New
Jersey in 1905 where he was forced to take farm-labouring
work. Inspired by his fathers writings William Saroyan
decided to become a writer.
• An American author whose stories celebrated optimism in the
middle of trials and difficulties of the Depression-era. Several
of Saroyan's works were based on his childhood experiences
among the Armenian- American fruit growers of the San
Joaquin Valley or dealt with the rootlessness of the
immigrant.
• His first collected stories were published in ‘The Overland
Monthly’. Some of his best-known works are The Time of
Your Life, My Name Is Aram and My Heart's in the
Highlands.
• He was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1940, and
won the Academy Award for Best Story (1943) for the film
 Author’s View About his race

“ I should like to see any power of the world destroy this race; this
small tribe of unimportant people whose history is ended, whose wars
have all been fought and lost, whose structures have crumbled, whose
literature is unreal, whose music is unheard, whose prayers are no
longer uttered. Go ahead, destroy this race – see if you can do it. Send
them from their homes into desert. Let them have neither bread nor
water. Burn their houses and their churches. See if they will not live
again. See if they will not laugh again. See if you can stop them from
mocking the big ideas of the world.”
MAP OF ARMENIA
 PLOT
• The story has been taken from
the collection, My Name is
Aram(1940), an international
bestseller, and talks about a
young Armenian boy and the
colourful characters of his
immigrant family.
• The author recalls a childhood
incident of riding a stolen
beautiful white horse during
the summer season with
nostalgia which was filled
with adventure and thrill.
 THEME
• The story deals with the theme of the
adventure and thrill of youth and strong
tribe character and reputation.
• The conflict between feelings and reasons
• It also emphasises the need of avoiding
stereotypes in one’s judgement of others.
• The redemptive powers of forgiveness,
understanding, honour and community are
the themes that are enhanced through the
story.
RECAPITULATION
• The Garoghlanian Family​
• Proverty-stricken: poverty which is amazing and comical​
• Just enough money to fill the bellies​
• Famous for honesty and integrity​
• Proud first, then honest​
• Very important to uphold the family name​
• Could never take advantage of anybody​
• Could never ever steal​
• Main Characters : Two Armenian Boys​
• Aram: nine years old , crazy about horses​
• Mourad: Thirteen years old, crazy streak, adventurous,
lives life to fullest, ready to take risked, full of exuberance,
reckless, carefree, did not mind  breaking the rules of the
family, meant no harm, very confident,    warm hearted and
generous, cared for his cousin Aram ​
RECAPITULATION
• Mourad steals a horse
• Crazy streak in the family: Uncle Khosrove
(eccentric)/ idiosyncratic behaviour of the clan
• John Byro: Owner of the horse
• Aram informs Mourad about John Byro’s but
continue to ride the horse for the next two
weeks
Chapter- The Summer of Beautiful White Horse
MESSAGE • Despite social and economic
challenges some truths some
absolute and should be
practiced under all
circumstances.
• Must not allow our
adversities to get the better
of us. Poverty does not
define anyone’s emotional
quotient.
• Society runs smoothly if
people have faith and trust
in their relationships.
• Never give in to temptations