The Red Pony: Part II

by John Steinbeck
This novella links four episodes in the life of Jody Tiflin, a young boy growing up on a California ranch during the early 20th century.

Here are links to our lists for the novella: Part I, Part II, Part III, Part IV

Here are links to our lists for other works by John Steinbeck: Cannery Row, East of Eden, Of Mice and Men, The Grapes of Wrath, The Pearl, Travels with Charley
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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. strenuously
    strongly or vigorously
    His eyes narrowed, his mouth worked strenuously; for the first time that afternoon he was intent.
  2. intent
    giving or marked by complete attention to
    His eyes narrowed, his mouth worked strenuously; for the first time that afternoon he was intent.
  3. sidle
    move unobtrusively or furtively
    Jody sidled nearer, moving one foot slowly after the other.
  4. perspective
    appearance as determined by distance from the viewer
    Then he lay on his back in the grass and looked up at the dumpling summer clouds. By closing one eye and destroying perspective he brought them down within reach so that he could put up his fingers and stroke them.
  5. range
    a series of hills or mountains
    He said to his mother, “Do you know what’s in the big mountains?”
    She looked at him and then back at the ferocious range, and she said, “Only the bear, I guess.”
  6. aloof
    distant, cold, or detached in manner
    When the peaks were pink in the morning they invited him among them: and when the sun had gone over the edge in the evening and the mountains were a purple-like despair, then Jody was afraid of them; then they were so impersonal and aloof that their very imperturbability was a threat.
  7. imperturbable
    marked by extreme calm and composure
    When the peaks were pink in the morning they invited him among them: and when the sun had gone over the edge in the evening and the mountains were a purple-like despair, then Jody was afraid of them; then they were so impersonal and aloof that their very imperturbability was a threat.
  8. gnarled
    old and twisted and covered in lines
    Out of the sleeves came strong bony wrists and hands gnarled and knotted and hard as peach branches.
  9. blunt
    having a broad or rounded end
    The nails were flat and blunt and shiny.
  10. abruptly
    quickly and without warning
    He turned abruptly, and ran into the house for help, and the screen door banged after him.
  11. colander
    bowl-shaped strainer used to wash or drain foods
    His mother was in the kitchen poking out the clogged holes of a colander with a hairpin, and biting her lower lip with concentration.
  12. adobe
    sun-dried brick used in hot dry climates
    “The old 'dobe that’s washed almost away, you mean?”
    “Yes, señora. When the rancho broke up they put no more lime on the 'dobe, and the rains washed it down.”
  13. repose
    freedom from activity
    The old man was standing as he had been, but he was resting now. His whole body had sagged into a timeless repose.
  14. inflexible
    not making concessions
    “I don’t need an old man. This isn’t a big ranch. I can’t afford food and doctor bills for an old man. You must have relatives and friends. Go to them. It is like begging to come to strangers.”
    “I was born here,” Gitano said patiently and inflexibly.
  15. trough
    a container from which cattle or horses feed
    They stood near the watering trough while the horses sauntered in from the hillsides for an evening drink.
  16. saunter
    walk leisurely and with no apparent aim
    They stood near the watering trough while the horses sauntered in from the hillsides for an evening drink.
  17. brutality
    the trait of extreme cruelty
    He hated his brutality toward old Gitano, and so he became brutal again.
  18. rheumatism
    any painful disorder of the joints or muscles
    “It’s a shame not to shoot Easter,” he said. “It’d save him a lot of pain and rheumatism.”
  19. parallel
    something analogous to something else
    He looked secretly at Gitano, to see whether he noticed the parallel, but the big bony hands did not move, nor did the dark eyes turn from the horse. “Old things ought to be put out of their misery,” Jody’s father went on.
  20. scuffle
    walk by dragging one's feet
    As they walked up toward the house Jody noticed again that Gitano’s body was as straight as that of a young man. Only by a jerkiness in his movements and by the scuffling of his heels could it be seen that he was old.
  21. relent
    give in, as to influence or pressure
    Carl was afraid he might relent and let the old man stay, and so he continued to remind himself that this couldn’t be.
  22. diffident
    lacking self-confidence
    Gitano laid his hat on the floor and diffidently sat down.
  23. rebuke
    an act or expression of criticism and censure
    “Well, you can go and live there, then.”
    “I was born here,” Gitano said in gentle rebuke.
  24. rapier
    a straight sword with a narrow blade and two edges
    Jody stood overwhelmed by the thing in Gitano’s hand, a lean and lovely rapier with a golden basket hilt.
  25. hilt
    the handle of a sword or dagger
    Jody stood overwhelmed by the thing in Gitano’s hand, a lean and lovely rapier with a golden basket hilt.
  26. intricate
    having many complexly arranged elements; elaborate
    The hilt was pierced and intricately carved.
  27. smolder
    have strong suppressed feelings
    Gitano’s eyes smoldered angrily and he shook his head.
  28. profoundly
    to a great depth psychologically
    Now Gitano regarded him profoundly, as though he pondered.
  29. parcel
    a wrapped package
    Gitano looked down at the long deerskin parcel in his hand.
  30. longing
    prolonged unfulfilled desire or need
    A longing caressed him, and it was so sharp that he wanted to cry to get it out of his breast.
Created on Wed Oct 03 13:05:21 EDT 2018 (updated Tue Oct 09 16:50:35 EDT 2018)

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