Project on a story by Mark Twain's "Luck"

Prepared by Zenkova, Kochergina and Striyashko, students of Financial University.

About the author

Samuel Langhorne Clemens (Mark Twain) was born on 30 November 1835 in Florida. His parents were John and Jane Clemens. After moving to Missouri John met Jane and some years later they married. There were seven children in their family but only four survived. Samuel was the sixth child.

Mark Twain

About the author

At the age of 4 his family moved to Hannibal, Missouri. This town impressed him and it was later described in The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. At the age of eighteen Mark Twain left the town and began to work as a printer. He worked in different cities of the USA.

About the author

In 1859 Mark Twain got a steamboat pilot license. Samuel worked as a pilot until 1861. Mark Twain had a wife Olivia Langdon. They married in 1870. He started working as a writer and editor in the newspaper. The married couple had 3 daughters: Jean, Clara and Susy. His son died of diphtheria. In 1904 Olivia died. They lived together for 34 years.

Mark Twain and his family

About the author

Mark Twain spent a lot of time in Hartford and at Quarry Farm where he wrote his famous writings. Mark Twain became a famous American author and orator. A lot of critics and peers appreciated his wit. Mark Twain used different pen names that’s why some of his works are not known. Mark Twain died of a heart attack in 1910. He was interred in Woodlawn Cemetery.

Plot of the story

The story concerns a decorated English military hero, Lord Arthur Scoresby, a total idiot who triumphs in life through good luck. At the time of the Crimean War Scoresby is a captain. Despite his complete incompetence, everyone misinterprets his performance, taking his blunders for military genius, and his reputation is enhanced with every false step he makes. At the climax of the story, Scoresby mistakes his right hand for his left and leads a charge in the wrong direction, surprising a Russian force which panics and causes a retreat of the Russian army, thus securing an Allied victory.

Plot of the story

Another interpretation of the story is that the Reverend is simply jealous of the successes Scoresby has achieved. The Reverend, in the past, was an instructor at a military academy, where he taught a young Scoresby. According to the Reverend, Scoresby was a poor student, and "blundered" his way through promotions. When the war began, the Reverend joined the conflict, but with a lower rank of his ex-student. Throughout the story one can see that the Reverend is bitter, and his apparent distaste for the lord seems at odds with his role as a clergyman. The "absolute fool" in the story is not Scoresby, who ascended the ranks of the military through action, but rather the Reverend, who cannot accomplish anything in his lifetime.

Opinion about the plot and the main characters

Plot of the story “Luck” is very interesting and unusual. First we read on behalf of a man who visited a dinner in London. But then the narrator becomes a clergyman. Characters are described in detail, especially Arthur Scoresby. Mark Twain vividly describes the events and the mood of the characters.

Opinion about the plot and the main characters

Arthur Scoresby cause us wonder and sympathize. He is a very lucky man. By happy coincidence, he achieves great success in life. But he probably does not realize how much he was lucky and what it is big responsibility. Clergyman met with Arthur very long ago. He surprised by luck of Scoresby. Only the clergyman know what Arthur really silly.

Opinion about the plot and the main characters

We believe that the clergyman did the right thing when he told his old friend the truth. But someone must know how Scoresby has made his fame actually.

In addition

The story of Mark Twain's "Luck" was not filmed. We think that this story is worth reading all because it is interesting and informative. The main moral of the story it is: «They are proof that the best thing that can happen to a man is to be born lucky».