What happened in The Rocking-Horse Winner?
Paul makes a winning bet that earns his family a handsome sum of money, but his frenzied rocking leads him to fall off of his rocking-horse and sink into a coma. He eventually dies.
What power does the rocking horse give Paul?
The main supernatural element is Paul’s uncanny ability to ride his rocking-horse to a place simply called “there.” If Paul can get there, he can know the winner of a particular race.
Who is Paul in the rocking horse winner?
Paul is a young boy who fulfills his mother’s desire for more luck and money by betting on horses. He plays the role of an adult, but his sacrifices for his family are not appreciated. Hester is Paul’s greedy and irresponsible mother.
How old is Paul in the rocking horse winner?
The story covers over the span of a year, and after Paul gives his mother the money, it mentions that he would be going to his father’s private school in the fall. Based on all of these clues, we can gather that he is at least 5 years old, probably 6 or 7.
Why does Paul avoid telling the secret of his rocking horse in the rocking horse winner?
Why does Paul avoid telling the secret of his rocking horse? He fears that the horse will lose its magic.
How was the conflict resolved in The Rocking Horse Winner?
Explanation/Discussion: This gift ought to be the happy ending, the resolution of the conflict: The parents are unlucky and poor, so the lucky and wealthy son gives them as much money as they could want. Unfortunately, this story doesn’t have a happy ending. Paul’s gift only seems to make them want even more money.
What was the point of the Rocking Horse Winner?
“The Rocking-Horse Winner” summary key points: Paul becomes determined to allay his mother’s discontent by betting on horses to earn money. Paul believes that when he rides his rocking-horse, he obtains knowledge of the winning horse in the race.
Who is the Unlucky Woman in the Rocking Horse?
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in The Rocking-Horse Winner, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work. The story opens with a description of a woman (still unnamed, but later revealed as Hester) who is unlucky.
Where does the Rocking Horse story take place?
The family lives in a “pleasant” house near London and employs several servants. Though they live in comfort, the family (especially Hester) is preoccupied by their perceived rotten luck. Most of the story’s action takes place inside the family home, which eventually becomes “haunted” by the family’s unspoken and endless desire for more money.
Why was Paul so interested in the Rocking Horse?
It is never clear why Paul is so drawn to his rocking-horse, but it is obviously an important symbol in the story. A rocking-horse is a toy for a young child, and on one level it symbolizes Paul’s unwillingness to grow up, and his need to be constantly be seeking his mother’s approval.