6. The Third and Final Continent - Class 11 - Woven Word

Author: D.H. Lawrence

Textbook: Woven Words

Genre: Short Story (Psychological Fiction)

Summary

“The Rocking-horse Winner” is a psychological short story about a boy named Paul who desperately seeks luck to gain money and earn his mother's approval. His mother, Hester, appears loving but is emotionally detached and believes she has no luck. The household constantly whispers, "There must be more money!"—a haunting refrain that Paul internalizes. Determined to change his family’s fortunes, Paul begins to ride his wooden rocking-horse with a strange intensity, believing it helps him predict the winners of horse races. Along with the gardener Bassett and his Uncle Oscar, Paul wins large sums of money by betting, hoping to please his mother. Despite securing a fortune, the whisper in the house only grows louder. Paul becomes increasingly obsessed with being "sure" of the winners, leading to mental and physical exhaustion. His final effort to predict the Derby winner—Malabar—succeeds, earning over eighty thousand pounds. However, the stress costs Paul his life. The story ends with tragic irony: Paul’s luck brings wealth but not happiness, and his death underscores the emotional void money could not fill.

Character Sketches

Paul:

A sensitive and intense young boy who longs to win his mother’s affection by being "lucky." He believes he can attain luck through frenzied rides on his rocking-horse. Paul's determination and obsession ultimately lead to his death.

Hester (Paul’s Mother):

A beautiful woman dissatisfied with her life and emotionally cold toward her children. She equates luck with money and fails to recognize her son’s emotional needs until it’s too late.

Bassett:

The gardener and former soldier who becomes Paul’s trusted partner in betting. He is deeply loyal and treats Paul’s instincts with reverence, almost religious belief.

Uncle Oscar:

Paul’s wealthy uncle who becomes intrigued by Paul's predictions and secretly encourages his gambling. He benefits from Paul’s luck but ultimately regrets his role in the tragedy.

Themes

✨ Literary Devices

Title Justification

The title “The Rocking-horse Winner” is deeply symbolic. It refers to Paul, who rides his wooden rocking-horse to find the names of winning horses. Ironically, although he becomes a "winner" in the literal sense by correctly predicting horse races and gaining wealth, he ultimately loses his life in the process. The rocking-horse becomes both his tool of success and the cause of his destruction, making the title fitting and ironic.

One-Mark Questions

1. Why was there a sense of anxiety in Paul’s house?

   There was always a shortage of money in the family despite their lavish lifestyle. This created a constant feeling of pressure and dissatisfaction.

   
   

2. What did Paul believe about luck and money?

   Paul believed that being lucky would automatically bring him money. He thought luck was more valuable than being born rich.

   
   

3. How did Paul predict the winners of horse races?

   He would ride his rocking-horse furiously until he reached a trance-like state. In this state, he believed he "knew" the name of the winning horse.

   
   

4. Why did Paul not want his mother to know about the money?

   He feared that if his mother found out, she would stop him from betting. He wanted to surprise her and win her love silently.

   
   

5. What happened to Paul at the end of the story?

   Paul became seriously ill and died after correctly predicting the Derby winner, Malabar. His death highlighted the cost of his desperate need for love and approval.

Three-Mark Questions

1. Why did Paul become obsessed with being lucky? How did this obsession affect him?

   Paul's mother often blamed her misfortune on marrying an unlucky man and believed that luck brought money. Paul internalized this belief and became obsessed with being lucky so that he could provide money for his mother and make her happy. He thought that if he could prove he was lucky, she would love him more. His obsession led him to predict horse race winners through a strange ritual of riding a rocking-horse. Over time, this took a toll on his physical and mental health. Eventually, the pressure and intensity of the Derby prediction caused him to collapse and die.

   
   

2. How did the house itself become a character in the story?

   The house is personified with whispering voices that constantly repeat, “There must be more money!” These whispers symbolize the family’s greed and endless dissatisfaction. The haunting refrain affects Paul deeply, pushing him toward his tragic quest. The house, therefore, becomes a symbol of the emotional and material pressures that drive the characters. It reflects the toxic environment created by materialism and lack of emotional warmth. Through the house, the author emphasizes how physical surroundings can mirror inner turmoil.

   
   

3. Explain the irony in the ending of the story.

   The ending is deeply ironic because Paul’s efforts to bring luck and wealth to his family ultimately lead to his death. While he succeeds in winning a large fortune through his betting, he gains no peace or affection in return. His mother, whom he wants to please, only realizes the cost of her emotional coldness after he dies. The story suggests that material success is meaningless without emotional connection and well-being. The phrase "he’s best gone out of a life where he rides his rocking-horse to find a winner" underlines the futility of his sacrifice. Thus, the "winner" becomes the biggest loser.

Value-Based Question

What lesson can we learn from Paul’s tragic journey in The Rocking-horse Winner?

The story teaches us that love and emotional security are far more important than money or material success. Paul's tragic death shows that children crave emotional connection, and when they don’t receive it, they may go to unhealthy extremes to win approval. Greed, obsession with wealth, and lack of parental affection can deeply affect a child's well-being. The story reminds us to value people over possessions and to nurture love over ambition.

End

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