The Red Pony (Masterplots II: American Fiction Series, Revised Edition)
At a glance:
- Author: John Steinbeck
- First Published: 1937
- Type of Plot: Story cycle
- Time of Work: About 1910
- Setting: Salinas Valley, California
- Principal Characters: Jody Tiflin, Carl Tiflin, Billy Buck, Mrs. Tiflin, Grandfather, Gitano
- Genres: Long fiction, Psychological fiction, Bildungsroman, Pastoral
- Subjects: Maturation or coming of age, Children, Family or family life, North America or North Americans, United States or Americans, Twentieth century, Nature, California, West, U.S., Death or dying, Ranches, ranchers, or ranching, Life and death, Horses, Ponies
- Locales: Salinas Valley, CA
The Novel
These stories present a young boy’s entrance into maturity through his encounters with life’s harsh realities. Death, disappointment, and the world’s stubborn refusal to conform to human ideals break down Jody’s childlike certitudes. Yet, though Jody at times is callous or bitter because of these experiences, he ultimately realizes that life holds both disappointment and promise and that acceptance of life with endurance and sympathy is the way of maturity.
In the first story, “The Gift,” Mr. Tiflin presents Jody with a red pony which Jody names...
[The entire page is 2198 words long]
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See Also:
- - For teachers, the The Red Pony Lesson Plan.
- - The Red Pony summary and study guide in the eNotes.
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