NCERT Solutions for Class 11 English (Snapshots) Chapter 1: The Summer of the Beautiful White Horse

Complete solutions for Class 11 English Snapshots Chapter 1 – “The Summer of the Beautiful White Horse” by William Saroyan: an original summary, theme and message, word meanings, and every textbook exercise question (the four “Reading with Insight” questions and the “Try This Out” activity) reproduced exactly as in the NCERT book and answered in full, exam-ready prose. We also add extra short and long questions, MCQs, Assertion–Reason items and FAQs for thorough revision.

Class: 11 Subject: English Book: Snapshots Type: Story (Chapter 1) Author: William Saroyan Session: 2026–27
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About the author

William Saroyan (1908–1981) was an American novelist, playwright and short-story writer of Armenian descent. Born in Fresno, California, he drew heavily on his Armenian immigrant background and the lives of ordinary, often poor, people he knew in the San Joaquin Valley. His writing is warm, humorous and optimistic, celebrating innocence, kindness and the human spirit. Saroyan won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama for his play The Time of Your Life (1940), which he famously declined, and an Academy Award for the story behind the film The Human Comedy. “The Summer of the Beautiful White Horse” comes from his collection My Name Is Aram (1940), a series of linked stories narrated by the boy Aram about his Armenian relatives.

Summary

The story is narrated by Aram, looking back fondly on a summer when he was nine years old. One morning at four o’clock, his cousin Mourad – considered crazy by everyone except Aram – taps on his window, sitting astride a beautiful white horse. Aram is thrilled, for his deepest longing has always been to ride a horse, yet he is troubled too: the boys belong to the Garoghlanian tribe, a poor Armenian family famous for eleven centuries of honesty. He cannot believe Mourad would steal, but knows the horse must be stolen.

Aram persuades himself that riding a stolen horse is not real stealing, since they never intend to sell it. The cousins ride joyfully through the countryside, with Mourad singing and racing the horse. They hide the animal in the barn of a deserted vineyard and take secret early-morning rides for some time. We learn that Mourad has, in fact, had the horse for about a month.

That afternoon, the farmer John Byro visits Aram’s house and complains that his white horse, stolen a month ago, is still missing. Aram realises the truth and begs Mourad not to return the horse until he himself learns to ride. Mourad, however, insists the horse must go back to its rightful owner. Weeks later the boys meet John Byro on the road; he studies the horse closely, admits it is the twin of his own, but says the family’s reputation for honesty makes him trust his heart over his eyes. Moved, the boys quietly return the horse the next morning. John Byro is amazed to find it stronger and better-tempered than before. The story gently celebrates innocence, trust and the moral code of a poor but proud people.

Theme & message

The central theme is the triumph of honesty, trust and family pride over temptation. Though Aram and Mourad love the horse and dread parting with it, their inherited code – the Garoghlanian fame for honesty “for something like eleven centuries” – finally wins. John Byro’s decision to believe his heart rather than his eyes shows the power of mutual trust within a close community. The story also celebrates the innocence and joy of childhood, the beauty of nature and freedom, and the idea that a person’s spirit (Mourad’s wild, horse-loving streak) need not match that of his practical father. Saroyan suggests that good values, once deeply rooted, guide people even when the temptation to do wrong is great.

Word meanings

Word / PhraseMeaning
magnificencegreat beauty and splendour
hallmarka distinctive feature or quality
poverty-strickenextremely poor
comicalamusing, funny
piousdevout; here, deeply sincere and gentle
stillnesscalm; absence of movement
longingsstrong desires or yearnings
trot(of a horse) move at a moderate steady pace
roarto make or utter a loud deep sound; here, to sing loudly
crazy streakan eccentric, wild trait in one’s nature
natural descendantone who inherits a quality by nature
furious in temperquick to become very angry
irritableeasily annoyed
capriciousunpredictable; changing suddenly
vagrantwandering; without a fixed pattern
snorted(of a horse) forced air noisily through the nose
reared(of a horse) rose up on its hind legs
irrigation ditcha channel that carries water to fields
desertedabandoned; empty of people
surreya light, four-wheeled horse-drawn carriage
conscience-strickentroubled by feelings of guilt
suspiciousinclined to doubt or mistrust

Textbook exercise solutions

The following questions are reproduced exactly as printed in the NCERT Snapshots textbook and answered in full.

1. You will probably agree that this story does not have breathless adventure and exciting action. Then what in your opinion makes it interesting?

ANSWERAlthough the plot is quiet and uneventful, the story holds the reader through its warmth, gentle humour and rich characterisation. Mourad’s carefree, “crazy” nature, Uncle Khosrove’s thunderous “It is no harm; pay no attention to it,” and the boys’ innocent self-justifications are genuinely funny. The deeper interest, however, lies in the moral tension: two boys from a tribe famous for honesty struggle between their passionate love of the horse and their inherited code of right and wrong. The vivid, poetic description of the early-morning rides, the freedom of the countryside and the bond between cousins create a charming, nostalgic atmosphere. Finally, John Byro’s touching faith in the family’s honesty—trusting his heart over his eyes—gives the simple tale real emotional and moral depth.

2. Did the boys return the horse because they were conscience-stricken or because they were afraid?

ANSWERThe boys returned the horse chiefly because they were conscience-stricken, not out of fear. Throughout the story their pride in the Garoghlanian reputation for honesty weighs on them; when Aram suggests keeping the horse for a year, Mourad is shocked that a member of the family could even think of stealing, and declares the horse must go back to its “true owner.” The turning point is John Byro’s remark that, despite recognising the horse, he trusts the family’s fame for honesty over the evidence of his own eyes. His faith makes the boys feel morally bound to deserve that trust. They had little to fear—Byro could not prove the theft and even doubted his own eyes—so it is their conscience and family honour, awakened by his trust, that move them to return the horse.

3. “One day back there in the good old days when I was nine and the world was full of every imaginable kind of magnificence, and life was still a delightful and mysterious dream…” The story begins in a mood of nostalgia. Can you narrate some incident from your childhood that might make an interesting story?

ANSWER (sample)When I was eight, my grandfather kept a small mango tree in our courtyard, and every summer I waited impatiently for its first ripe fruit. One holiday morning I woke before dawn, certain the topmost mango had ripened overnight, and quietly dragged a stool out to reach it. The branch bent, the mango slipped from my fingers, and I tumbled into the soft flower bed below with a thud. My grandfather found me lying there, laughing and covered in mud, the mango safe in my hand. Instead of scolding me, he sat beside me, peeled the fruit, and we shared it as the sun rose—he telling me stories of his own boyhood mischief. That ordinary morning became one of my happiest memories: not because anything dramatic happened, but because of the warmth, the laughter and the simple joy of a shared mango at daybreak. (Narrate your own childhood incident, focusing on small, vivid details and feelings.)

4. The story revolves around characters who belong to a tribe in Armenia. Mourad and Aram are members of the Garoghlanian family. Now locate Armenia and Assyria on the atlas and prepare a write-up on the Garoghlanian tribes. You may write about people, their names, traits, geographical and economic features as suggested in the story.

ANSWER (sample write-up)Locating them: Armenia is a landlocked country in the Caucasus region, between Asia and Europe, bordered by Turkey, Georgia, Azerbaijan and Iran. Ancient Assyria lay to the south, in the region of present-day northern Iraq, north-eastern Syria and south-eastern Turkey, around the upper Tigris river. Both are part of West Asia.The Garoghlanian tribe (as suggested in the story): The Garoghlanians are an Armenian tribe to which the narrator’s family belongs. They migrated and settled at the edge of an American town (Walnut Avenue, in California’s San Joaquin Valley) yet keep their old-country identity, speaking Armenian among themselves. Their names—Aram, Mourad, Khosrove, Zorab, Arak—reflect their Armenian heritage.Traits: The tribe is famous above all for its honesty, prized “for something like eleven centuries.” They are proud first, honest next, and firm believers in right and wrong; they would never cheat or steal. They are also warm, hospitable and high-spirited, with a recurring “crazy streak” (seen in Khosrove and Mourad) of wild, generous emotion.Geographical & economic features: They live at the edge of town near vineyards, orchards, irrigation ditches and country roads. Economically they are very poor—“poverty-stricken”—with little money, yet their wealth lies in their values, community bonds and pride. (Use an atlas to mark Armenia and Assyria, then expand this write-up in your own words.)

Try This Out

“The horse stood on its hind legs, snorted, and burst into a fury of speed that was the loveliest thing I had ever seen.” These lines could be an artist’s delight. Try to draw a picture as depicted in the above lines.

ACTIVITYThis is a drawing activity for you to do in your notebook. Imagine the scene and sketch a powerful white horse rearing up on its hind legs, head thrown back and nostrils flared as it snorts, with its mane and tail streaming as it bursts forward. Show the open countryside—a field of dry grass, a distant irrigation ditch, and the early-morning sky behind it—to capture the “fury of speed” and the beauty of the moment. Add light colours for the dawn to convey the joy Aram feels while watching.

Extra questions

Short answer

1. Who narrates the story, and how old was he at the time of the events?

ANSWERThe story is narrated by Aram, who was nine years old during the events and recalls them years later with fondness.

2. Why was Aram unable to believe that Mourad had a horse?

ANSWERBecause his family was extremely poor and could not afford a horse, and because the Garoghlanian tribe was famous for its honesty—so Aram could not believe a family member would steal one.

3. How did Aram justify the riding of the stolen horse to himself?

ANSWERAram reasoned that stealing a horse merely for a ride was not the same as stealing money, and that it would become real stealing only if they tried to sell the horse—which he knew they never would.

4. What was Uncle Khosrove’s favourite saying, and what did it reveal about him?

ANSWERHe would roar, “It is no harm; pay no attention to it,” no matter how serious the matter. It revealed his irritable, impatient temper and the family’s “crazy streak,” yet also a large, homesick heart.

5. Why did John Byro not accuse the boys despite recognising his horse?

ANSWERBecause he knew the boys’ parents and the family’s eleven-century reputation for honesty; he chose to trust his heart over his eyes, saying a suspicious man would believe his eyes instead of his heart.

Long answer

6. Write a character sketch of Mourad as presented in the story.

ANSWERMourad is the spirited, free-hearted cousin who is the soul of the story. Though everyone except Aram considers him “crazy,” he is in fact full of joy, energy and a deep love of life—the “natural descendant” of the family’s wild streak rather than of his practical father Zorab. He has a remarkable bond with animals: he tames the horse, soothes dogs and tenderly nurses a robin’s broken wing. He is adventurous and impulsive, taking secret dawn rides, yet beneath his wildness lies a firm moral core. When Aram suggests keeping the horse longer, Mourad is genuinely shocked, declaring that no Garoghlanian could be a thief and that the horse must return to its true owner. Loving, brave, kind and ultimately honest, Mourad embodies both the joy of childhood and the values of his tribe.

7. How does the story bring out the values and code of conduct of the Garoghlanian family?

ANSWERThe Garoghlanian family is poor in money but rich in values, and the whole story turns on its code of conduct. Their defining trait is honesty, famous “for something like eleven centuries,” even from a time when they were the wealthiest family in the world. They are “proud first, honest next,” firm believers in right and wrong who would never take advantage of anyone, let alone steal. This code creates the central conflict: the boys love the horse but cannot keep it without betraying their heritage. Mourad’s outrage at Aram’s suggestion of keeping it, and the eventual return of the horse, show how deeply these values are held. John Byro’s decision to trust the family’s reputation over the evidence of his eyes confirms how widely respected that code is. Saroyan thus shows that inherited moral values can guide people firmly, even against strong temptation, and that such honesty earns lasting trust within a community.

MCQs & Assertion–Reason

1. Who wrote “The Summer of the Beautiful White Horse”?

(a) Ruskin Bond   (b) William Saroyan   (c) O. Henry   (d) Mark Twain

ANSWER(b) William Saroyan.

2. To which tribe do Aram and Mourad belong?

(a) Assyrian   (b) Garoghlanian   (c) Halabian   (d) Fetvajian

ANSWER(b) Garoghlanian.

3. The Garoghlanian family was most famous for its:

(a) wealth   (b) horses   (c) honesty   (d) farming

ANSWER(c) honesty.

4. At what time did Mourad come to Aram’s window with the horse?

(a) Midnight   (b) Four in the morning   (c) Noon   (d) Sunset

ANSWER(b) Four in the morning.

5. Who was the real owner of the white horse?

(a) Uncle Khosrove   (b) Zorab   (c) John Byro   (d) Dikran Halabian

ANSWER(c) John Byro.

6. What was Uncle Khosrove’s constant refrain?

(a) “Make it quick”   (b) “It is no harm; pay no attention to it”   (c) “I spit on money”   (d) “Get down”

ANSWER(b) “It is no harm; pay no attention to it.”

7. Where did the boys hide the horse?

(a) In Aram’s yard   (b) In John Byro’s barn   (c) In the barn of Fetvajian’s deserted vineyard   (d) On Olive Avenue

ANSWER(c) In the barn of Fetvajian’s deserted vineyard.

8. What name did Mourad give the horse when speaking to John Byro?

(a) Vazire   (b) My Heart   (c) Snowflake   (d) Beauty

ANSWER(b) My Heart (“My Heart,” said in Armenian).

9. How long had Mourad actually had the horse before returning it?

(a) A day   (b) A week   (c) About a month   (d) A year

ANSWER(c) About a month.

10. Why did John Byro not accuse the boys of stealing his horse?

(a) He did not recognise the horse   (b) He trusted the family’s reputation for honesty   (c) He was afraid of them   (d) He had already found his horse

ANSWER(b) He trusted the family’s reputation for honesty.
MCQ Answer Key: 1-(b), 2-(b), 3-(c), 4-(b), 5-(c), 6-(b), 7-(c), 8-(b), 9-(c), 10-(b).

Assertion–Reason – choose: (a) A and R true, R explains A; (b) A and R true, R does not explain A; (c) A true, R false; (d) A false, R true.

1. Assertion (A): Aram found it hard to believe that Mourad had a horse.

Reason (R): The family was poor and famous for its honesty, so a member could not have bought or stolen one.

ANSWER(a) Both true and R correctly explains A.

2. Assertion (A): Aram convinced himself that riding the horse was not really stealing.

Reason (R): He believed it would become stealing only if they tried to sell the horse.

ANSWER(a) Both true and R correctly explains A.

3. Assertion (A): John Byro openly accused the boys of stealing his horse.

Reason (R): He recognised the horse as his own by looking into its mouth.

ANSWER(d) A is false—he did not accuse them but trusted the family’s honesty—while R is true.

4. Assertion (A): Mourad refused to keep the horse for a whole year.

Reason (R): He felt that keeping it longer would amount to stealing, which no Garoghlanian could do.

ANSWER(a) Both true and R correctly explains A.

5. Assertion (A): After the horse was returned, John Byro found it weaker and worse-tempered.

Reason (R): The boys had ridden the horse roughly every morning for many days.

ANSWER(d) A is false—Byro found the horse stronger and better-tempered than ever—while R is true.
A–R Answer Key: 1-(a), 2-(a), 3-(d), 4-(a), 5-(d).

Exam tips

  • Remember the key names and details: narrator Aram (aged nine), cousin Mourad, the Garoghlanian tribe, owner John Byro, and Uncle Khosrove’s refrain.
  • For value-based questions, stress the theme of honesty, trust and family pride; quote that the family was famous for honesty “for something like eleven centuries.”
  • Note the distinction the boys draw: riding is not “real” stealing because they never mean to sell the horse—this often appears in extract questions.
  • For John Byro, highlight that he trusts his heart over his eyes—a favourite line for short-answer and inference questions.
  • Support character sketches of Mourad with evidence: taming the horse, soothing dogs, healing the robin, and his refusal to keep the horse.

FAQs

What is the main theme of “The Summer of the Beautiful White Horse”?

The main theme is the triumph of honesty, trust and family pride over temptation, set against the innocence and joy of childhood in a poor but proud Armenian family.

Why did Aram and Mourad finally return the horse?

They returned it because they were conscience-stricken. Their family’s long reputation for honesty, and John Byro’s decision to trust that reputation over the evidence of his eyes, made them feel morally bound to return the horse to its true owner.

Why was Mourad considered “crazy” by his family?

Mourad was full of wild energy, joy and a love of adventure—the “natural descendant” of the family’s eccentric streak (like Uncle Khosrove)—rather than being practical like his father Zorab, so the family called him crazy.

Questions are reproduced verbatim from the NCERT Snapshots textbook; the summary and all answers are written originally by ClearStudy.

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