The Outcasts of Poker Flat
Introduction + Context
Plot Summary
Detailed Summary & Analysis
Themes
All Themes Morality vs. Immorality Fate The Brutality of the Old West
Quotes
Characters
All Characters John Oakhurst Uncle Billy The Duchess Mother Shipton Tom Simson Piney Woods Jim Wheeler
Symbols
All Symbols The Deuce of Clubs
Literary Devices
All Literary Devices Allusions Dialect Foreshadowing Genre Hyperbole Imagery Irony Metaphors Mood Motifs Pathos Personification Setting Situational Irony Style Tone
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The Outcasts of Poker Flat
by Bret Harte
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Introduction Intro
Plot Summary Plot
Summary & Analysis Summary
Themes
  • All Themes
  • Morality vs. Immorality Theme Icon
    Morality vs. Immorality
  • Fate Theme Icon
    Fate
  • The Brutality of the Old West Theme Icon
    The Brutality of the Old West
Quotes
Characters
  • All Characters
  • John Oakhurst
  • Uncle Billy
  • The Duchess
  • Mother Shipton
  • Tom Simson
  • Piney Woods
  • Jim Wheeler
Symbols
  • All Symbols
  • The Deuce of Clubs Symbol Icon
    The Deuce of Clubs
Lit Devices
  • All Literary Devices
  • Allusions
  • Dialect
  • Foreshadowing
  • Genre
  • Hyperbole
  • Imagery
  • Irony
  • Metaphors
  • Mood
  • Motifs
  • Pathos
  • Personification
  • Setting
  • Situational Irony
  • Style
  • Tone
Theme Wheel Theme Viz
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Download the Teacher Edition
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Jim Wheeler

The Outcasts of Poker Flat Symbols

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The Deuce of Clubs

The Deuce of Clubs

Before committing suicide, John Oakhurst writes his epitaph on a playing card, the deuce of clubs, which symbolizes Oakhurst’s understanding that life is a game of luck. Oakhurst’s epitaph, which he pins on a tree…

read analysis of The Deuce of Clubs

The Deuce of Clubs Symbol Icon
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Jim Wheeler
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Jim Wheeler
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The Deuce of Clubs
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The Deuce of Clubs
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