The Outcasts of Poker Flat is a short story written by Bret Harte in 1869. The story is set in the American West during the mid-1800s, and it revolves around a group of people who are exiled from the town of Poker Flat.
The story begins with a description of the town of Poker Flat, which has become known for its rowdy behavior and gambling. The townspeople have decided that they need to clean up their act, and they have decided to exile anyone who they believe to be a troublemaker.
The group of outcasts includes John Oakhurst, a professional gambler; Duchess, a prostitute; Mother Shipton, an old woman known for her sorcery; and Uncle Billy, a drunkard who has stolen some mules. The group sets out on horseback towards Sandy Bar, where they plan to start anew.
As they travel, the group encounters Tom Simson and his fiancée Piney Woods. They are also headed to Sandy Bar, hoping to get married there. John Oakhurst warns them about the dangers ahead but allows them to continue on their journey.
The group eventually reaches a mountain cabin where they take shelter from a snowstorm. While there, they discover that Uncle Billy has stolen all of their food and supplies and left them stranded without any resources.
John Oakhurst realizes that their situation is dire and decides that he will sacrifice himself for the sake of the others. He leaves the cabin in order to give himself up to authorities who are searching for him back in Poker Flat.
As he leaves, he gives Tom Simson his watch as a gift for Piney Woods. He tells them that he will not return but hopes that they will make it safely to Sandy Bar.
In the end, all of the outcasts except for Tom Simson and Piney Woods perish in the snowstorm. Their bodies are found by search parties several days later.
Overall, The Outcasts of Poker Flat is a poignant story about the consequences of human judgment and the power of sacrifice. It shows us that even those who are cast out by society can display incredible courage and selflessness in the face of adversity.
To summarize, the story is about a group of people who are exiled from their town and head towards Sandy Bar. They encounter a couple on their way, take shelter in a cabin during a snowstorm before realizing that they have been left without any food or supplies.
John Oakhurst sacrifices himself for the others while Tom Simson and Piney Woods survive. The story is a lesson about human judgment and selflessness.
In HTML format, we can use underline to emphasize important words such as the names of characters or places. We can also use bold to highlight key points in our summary.
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The Outcasts of Poker Flat is a short story written by Bret Harte in 1869.
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Key Points:
– Story written by Bret Harte in 1869
– Set in mid-1800s American West
– Group exiled from Poker Flat
– Outcasts include John Oakhurst, Duchess, Mother Shipton, Uncle Billy
– Encounters Tom Simson and Piney Woods
– Takes shelter in cabin during snowstorm
– Uncle Billy steals all food and supplies
– John Oakhurst sacrifices himself for others
In conclusion, The Outcasts of Poker Flat is an engaging short story that teaches readers about human behavior and selflessness. By using HTML formatting techniques such as underlines, bolds, lists and bullet points, we can make the text more readable and easier to understand for our audience.
