North Atlanta Equestrian Book Club
Study Guide for A Sporting Proposition by James Aldridge
Compiled by Denise G. Masters, © 2015
James Aldridge (1918-2015) is an Australian born author who wrote more than 30 books including fiction and non-fiction. His later work, beginning in the 1960s, was for children and young adults. Horses are a common feature in his novels, and A Sporting Proposition, published in 1973, is one of his best known works. A Disney movie, Ride a Wild Pony, based on the book was released in 1975.
The story is set in a small town in Australia between World War I and II. A boy and a girl both claim to own a pony. They must go to court to settle the ownership question.
For more information, see:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Aldridge
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ride_a_Wild_Pony
http://booksandmud.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/pbotd-16th-march-james-aldridge.html
Questions – be ready to discuss these topics:
1. What does the phrase “a sporting proposition” mean?
sport·ing adjective \ˈspȯr-tiŋ\
: of, relating to, or used in sports
: fairly good
: done or behaving in a way that treats the other people in a sport or competition fairly
prop·o·si·tion noun \ˌprä-pə-ˈzi-shən\
: something (such as a plan or offer) that is presented to a person or group of people to consider
: a statement to be proved, explained, or discussed
: something that someone intends to do or deal with
2. What is the Australian bush?
See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_bush#Australia
Goanna: Australian Monitor Lizard.
See http://www.outback-australia-travel-secrets.com/goannas-monitor-lizards.html
3. Who is the narrator of this story? How is the narrator’s father important?
4. How would you describe Scotty’s life? What is his personality like?
Larrikin: See http://www.britannica.com/topic/larrikin
5. How did Scotty get Taff?
6. What kind of pony is Taff? What is the relationship between Scotty and Taff?
7. What events surrounded the disappearance of Taff? What do you think happened to him?
8. How would you describe Josie? What happened to her that changed her life?
See http://www.polioaustralia.org.au/australian-polio-history/
9. What is a dog cart? How will this help Josie?
See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dogcart
10. Once Taff is gone, what does Scotty do?
11. When Scotty sees Josie and Bo at the fair, what happens?
12. Do you think that Bo is Taff?
13. How does the saying "possession is nine-tenths of the law" apply to the ownership of Bo/Taff?
See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Possession_is_nine-tenths_of_the_law
14. What do the townspeople of St. Helen think about the pony situation?
15. Rich vs. poor. How does Scotty's and Josie's social status and wealth, or lack thereof, affect people's judgment of guilt or innocence?
Australia's squatter aristocracy or "squattocracy". See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Squatting_%28pastoral%29
16. Why did Scotty refuse Ellison's offer of a new pony and 20 pounds?
17. Why does Mr. Quayle say "must I quote Shylock to this court about the feelings of pain and distress?"
This is a reference to a powerful speech by Shylock in Shakespeare's play "The Merchant of Venice" (Act III, Scene 1). Shylock is a Jewish moneylender. When one of the Christian characters, Antonio, who borrowed money from him and cannot pay it back, Shylock demands to paid with "a pound of flesh". He wants revenge not only for the loss of his money but also for the anti-semitic acts committed against him by Antonio. He argues that Jews have the same feelings feelings as Christians do. See http://nfs.sparknotes.com/merchant/page_110.html. Consider who feels wronged during this trial and determine who wants their pound of flesh.
18. At what moment do both Scotty and Josie realize something significant about the pony? How do you think this will change what happens?
19. Are you pro-Scotty or pro-Josie?
20. What is the fair sporting proposition that the judge agreed to? How is it like a game or sport?
Grand guignol. See http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/grand%20guignol
21. Do you think that "the silver thread of natural justice" was carried out?
22. At the end, how were Scotty and Josie equals?
Study Guide for A Sporting Proposition by James Aldridge
Compiled by Denise G. Masters, © 2015
James Aldridge (1918-2015) is an Australian born author who wrote more than 30 books including fiction and non-fiction. His later work, beginning in the 1960s, was for children and young adults. Horses are a common feature in his novels, and A Sporting Proposition, published in 1973, is one of his best known works. A Disney movie, Ride a Wild Pony, based on the book was released in 1975.
The story is set in a small town in Australia between World War I and II. A boy and a girl both claim to own a pony. They must go to court to settle the ownership question.
For more information, see:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Aldridge
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ride_a_Wild_Pony
http://booksandmud.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/pbotd-16th-march-james-aldridge.html
Questions – be ready to discuss these topics:
1. What does the phrase “a sporting proposition” mean?
sport·ing adjective \ˈspȯr-tiŋ\
: of, relating to, or used in sports
: fairly good
: done or behaving in a way that treats the other people in a sport or competition fairly
prop·o·si·tion noun \ˌprä-pə-ˈzi-shən\
: something (such as a plan or offer) that is presented to a person or group of people to consider
: a statement to be proved, explained, or discussed
: something that someone intends to do or deal with
2. What is the Australian bush?
See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_bush#Australia
Goanna: Australian Monitor Lizard.
See http://www.outback-australia-travel-secrets.com/goannas-monitor-lizards.html
3. Who is the narrator of this story? How is the narrator’s father important?
4. How would you describe Scotty’s life? What is his personality like?
Larrikin: See http://www.britannica.com/topic/larrikin
5. How did Scotty get Taff?
6. What kind of pony is Taff? What is the relationship between Scotty and Taff?
7. What events surrounded the disappearance of Taff? What do you think happened to him?
8. How would you describe Josie? What happened to her that changed her life?
See http://www.polioaustralia.org.au/australian-polio-history/
9. What is a dog cart? How will this help Josie?
See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dogcart
10. Once Taff is gone, what does Scotty do?
11. When Scotty sees Josie and Bo at the fair, what happens?
12. Do you think that Bo is Taff?
13. How does the saying "possession is nine-tenths of the law" apply to the ownership of Bo/Taff?
See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Possession_is_nine-tenths_of_the_law
14. What do the townspeople of St. Helen think about the pony situation?
15. Rich vs. poor. How does Scotty's and Josie's social status and wealth, or lack thereof, affect people's judgment of guilt or innocence?
Australia's squatter aristocracy or "squattocracy". See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Squatting_%28pastoral%29
16. Why did Scotty refuse Ellison's offer of a new pony and 20 pounds?
17. Why does Mr. Quayle say "must I quote Shylock to this court about the feelings of pain and distress?"
This is a reference to a powerful speech by Shylock in Shakespeare's play "The Merchant of Venice" (Act III, Scene 1). Shylock is a Jewish moneylender. When one of the Christian characters, Antonio, who borrowed money from him and cannot pay it back, Shylock demands to paid with "a pound of flesh". He wants revenge not only for the loss of his money but also for the anti-semitic acts committed against him by Antonio. He argues that Jews have the same feelings feelings as Christians do. See http://nfs.sparknotes.com/merchant/page_110.html. Consider who feels wronged during this trial and determine who wants their pound of flesh.
18. At what moment do both Scotty and Josie realize something significant about the pony? How do you think this will change what happens?
19. Are you pro-Scotty or pro-Josie?
20. What is the fair sporting proposition that the judge agreed to? How is it like a game or sport?
Grand guignol. See http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/grand%20guignol
21. Do you think that "the silver thread of natural justice" was carried out?
22. At the end, how were Scotty and Josie equals?