1.What is Hitler’s Superiority theory?
~Hitler was a dictator, no doubt. But his casual remark to build up the spirit of his athletes had not been taken seriously. He believed in Aryan-superiority theory. He believed that the Germans belonged to the master’s race. He thought that the German athletes would perform better than the other participants in the 1936 Olympic Games. He thought others to be inferior to Germans.
2.Who is Jesse Owens? Why was he expected to win in the long jump?
~ Jesse Owens is an American athlete who won four gold medals in the 1936 Olympic Games that were held in Berlin, Germany.
It was expected of Jesse Owens to win a gold medal in long jump because he had already established a new world record in it only a year before. He had won many awards and medals and he had trained himself for this.
3.Why was Owens not too worried about the match?
~ Jesse Owens was not worried about the Aryan superiority theory. Jesse had trained, sweated, and disciplined himself in the six years. He had already established a new world record in it only a year before. He was sure that he would take one or two of those gold medals too.
4.Explain the line “I have no expectations”.
~ Owens says these lines angrily. As he knew that an angry athlete is prone to make mistakes. Despite knowing this, he got angry that resulted in the underperformance which disallowed him to qualify in the jump. He failed twice during the practice of the long jump.
5.Why does Owens dismiss the claim of Hitler?
~Hitler was a dictator, no doubt. But his casual remark to build up the spirit of his athletes had not been taken seriously by Owens as he knew that Hitler thought that the German athletes would perform better than the other participants. He thought others to be inferior to Germans. But Owen was confident as he had practiced hard and had even set the world record the previous year.
6.Why was Owens shocked during the long jump trial?
~ During the long jump trial, the thing which surprised Owens was the performance of that Luz Long, who was a German. He could pass at the first chance in the trials in his practice leaps which would prove more than the Germans were a superior race. Owens was much disappointed and startled, he had started losing confidence.
7.Why did he kick the pit in disgust?
~ When Owens saw Luz performing so good during the trials of long jump, he got nervous and tensed. Being startled he failed twice in the trials in the practice leaps and got mad. He was boiling with anger with Hitler’ s adolescent Aryan hypothesis. So he committed mistakes. His performance during the trials was poor. And out of anger he kicked the pit in appall.
8.Why did Owens lose his confidence?
~When Owens saw Luz performing so good during the trials of long jump, he got nervous and tensed. Out of nervousness, he failed twice during the trials of the practice leaps. His performance was very poor, whereas Luz qualified for the very first time. This is the reason why he started losing his confidence.
9.Why was Owens frustrated? How did he try to encourage himself?
~ Owens knew that an angry athlete always makes mistakes. Despite knowing this, he got angry that resulted in the underperformance which disallowed him to qualify in the jump. He was frustrated as he failed twice during the practice of the long jump whereas Luz got qualified for the first time.
To encourage himself he thought bitterly “Did I come 3000 miles for this? To foul out of the trials and make a fool of myself?”.
10.What does Owens wants to prove to Hitler?
~ Jesse Owens wanted to win the match and show Hitler that he was not inferior, as according to Hitler all other performers are inferior to Germany. If he looses the match, then it would add truth to Hitler’s theory that the German race was superior and his athletes were meant to win.
11. Who encouraged Owens? Who was he?
~ Luz long, the competitor of Owens in the long jump, encouraged Owens when he saw him failing.
Luz Long was an Olympian who embodied the very idea of the Nazi party. A tall, blue-eyed and blond 21-year-old, Long at the time held the European record for the long jump and was expecting along with his country’s leaders to win a gold medal in the upcoming Berlin Olympic games.
12.Why did Owens fail for the first two times in the trial?
~ Jesse Owens was very angry when he saw Luz Long, as he was a German and was kept under wraps by Hitler, who believed in Nazi Aryan – Supremacy. He was mad and startled to see that Luz got qualified for the very first try. And so in the first two jumps Jesse Owens was not even able to qualify as an angry athlete is the one who is sure to make mistakes.
13.Why was Owens so surprised?
~ Owens was surprised to see the performance of the tall blond German athlete, Luz. He was startled to see luz hitting the pit at almost 26 feet on his practice leap. He got tensed and started losing confidence when he saw Luz’s performance, and saw him getting qualified in the very first try.
14.What did Luz do when he saw Owens failing?
~ Long allegedly Luz Long the competitor of Owens in the long jump advised Owens to measure his run from a point a foot behind the takeoff board, thus eliminating the chance that he would foul again and eliminate himself from the competition. He encouraged him and gave him a few basic tips for better performance.
15.What did Owens do to thank Luz?
~ Owens qualified for the finals with the help of Luz long’s advice and the basic tips which he gave him for better performance. His tips helped him to get through the trials after he failed in the first two attempts. Owens went to luz’s room that night to thank him. Luz not only greeted him well but also hosted him for two hours and thus, both became good friends despite being competitors.
16. How did Owens manage to get qualified for the finals?
~ Luz Long being the opponent player of Owens, was friendly with him and even helped him to get qualified for finals. He suggested that Owens should draw a line behind the take-off board and then jump. Because of him Owens got encouraged and managed to get qualified for finals.
17.How did the match end?
~ There was a hand to hand rivalry between Owens and Luz. Besides being friends they were competitors too and both were a good player. But the match ends declaring Owens to be the winner. Owens not only manages to get qualified for the finals but Jesse Owens went on to win four gold medals that year. But Owens feels that Luz Long’s friendship was the greatest Olympic prize which he won in Berlin.
18.What did Owens do to succeed in the match?
~ Owens had trained, sweated, and disciplined himself for six years with the Games in mind. He had his eye especially on the running broad jump as he had set a world record a year ago and it was expected of him to win that Olympic event hands down. He was a bit tensed and startled between and started losing confidence but managed to win with the help of Luz who encouraged him.
19.Give the character sketch of Luz.
~ Luz Long had a lean muscular frame. He was an Olympian who embodied the very idea of the Nazi party. He held the European record for the long jump and was expecting along with his country’s leaders to win a gold medal in the upcoming Berlin Olympic games. He was a good human being and had a true sense of sportsmanship. This was proved when he helped his competitor, even he lost
20.Character sketch of Owens.
~ Jesse Owens is an American athlete who won four gold medals in the 1936 Olympic Games that were held in Berlin, Germany. A hero exhibits the character traits of work ethic, courage, and perseverance. It was expected of Jesse Owens to win a gold medal in long jump because he had already established a new world record in it only a year before. He had won many awards and medals and he had trained himself for this.
21.Describe the match and the friendship of Luz and Owens.
~ Owens saw Luz as his professional opponent since long was brought by Hitler to beat Owens. His anger led to his fowling in the trials. Witnessing the failure Luz helped and advised Owens to focus on the jump. This eased Owens and gave him the opportunity to believe in himself. They slowly developed a bond. Owens went fo luz’s room that night to thank him. Luz not only greeted him well but also hosted him for two hours and thus, both became good friends despite being competitors.
22. What was the reaction of Luz when Owens owns?
~ After winning the competition when Owens landed from his final jump, Luz was the first man there to congratulate him. He shook hands with Jesse firmly, despite the fact that Hitler was watching them from the stands. This was a great display of true friendship and sportsman spirit from Luz.
23.Discuss “24- carat friendship felt for Long Luz”.
~ When Owens says that he felt 24-carat friendship for Luz Long, he meant to say that Long’s friendship was pure and true. When Luz was congratulating him after winning the gold in the board jump finals, it was not the fake smile with a broken heart, but a genuine one. Despite being a competitor, Luz was genuinely happy that his friend Owens won the gold medal.
24.What was the actual prize for Owens?
~ Luz Long’s friendship was the greatest Olympic Prize that Owens ever won in his life. Luz Long’s compassion and his personality touched Owens. Luz Long recognized the battle in Owens’ mind and offered him a valuable tip. Despite being a competitor, Luz was genuinely happy that his friend Owens won the gold medal.
25. What was the reaction of Hitler?
~ Hitler reacted angrily and glared at Owens and Luz from the stands not a hundred yards away when he Long congratulated him by shaking hands with him as Long was trained and brought by Hitler in the competition with a hope that he will win the competition.
26.What do you understand of Hitler from the passage?
~ Hitler had secretly nurtured a very strong Nazi youth and had kept him hidden until the day, to frighten other athletes, especially Owens. Hitler would have been fully aware that an angry athlete often errors and that perhaps was what he wanted. His slyness in doing so would allow his athlete to win. Hitler had a thought that all other competitors were inferior to Germany.
27.Discuss how Luz shows the true spirit of sportsmen.
~ Luz Long, a tall handsome German athlete and the competitor of Owens sets a great example of true sportsmanship in the Olympic games. Though he was a German he did not believe in Hitlers’ theory. He was Jesse Owens’ opponent player and could have easily won a gold medal in the running broad jump event. But being a true sportsman, he became friendly with Jesse Owens and helped him, giving some basic tips. He told him to draw a line behind the take-off board and jump from there. This tip worked and the next day Owens won the gold medal.
28. Is the title of the story appropriate?
~ The title of the story “My Greatest Olympic Prize” is quite appropriate.
In the story Owens and Luz were competitors. Though being brought by Hitler, Luz never believed in Hitler’s theory. Being a true sportsman he helped his opponent giving him basic tips to get qualified and helped him to win. Despite being a competitor, Luz was genuinely happy that his friend Owens won the gold medal.
29.Discuss the theme of the story ” my greatest Olympic prize”.
~ True friendship and true sportsmanship are the main themes of the story “My greatest Olympic prize”. Luz shows the quality of being a true sportsman by helping his competitor Owens to get qualified for finals by giving few advice and basic tips. Luz and Owens bonded good. They started bonding a strong friendship. Despite being a competitor, Luz was genuinely happy that his friend Owens won the gold medal.