The Rocking Horse Winner
Dramascripts Series
What’s inside...
A boy growing up in a household where there is no love and no luck but always a shortage of money develops an uncanny ability to pick horse-race winners while furiously riding his wooden rocking-horse. The children could hear it all the time, though nobody said it aloud. They heard it at Christmas, when the expensive and splendid toys filled the nursery. Behind the shining modern rocking-horse, behind the smart doll's-house, a voice would start whispering: 'There must be more money! There must be more money!';
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
15-18
Length
40 pages
Text complexity
Character compass
Paul
Bassett
Uncle Oscar
Mother
Discussion points
Why do you think Paul believes that he can make his family more wealthy by riding his rocking horse?
How do the different family members react to the whispers of 'There must be more money!' around the house?
What emotions do you think Paul felt when he was trying to predict the winners of the races?
Can you think of a time when you really wanted to help solve a problem? What did you do?
What do you think is the main lesson of the story?
Tip: Role play these questions
Before reading, give your child a brief overview of the story’s setting and characters to set the context.
Pause at key moments in the story to ask your child how they think a character is feeling, or what they might do next.
Encourage your child to think about the motives behind the characters' actions and discuss alternative choices the characters could have made.
Relate the story’s themes to real-life situations by asking your child to think of examples of similar situations in their own life.
After finishing the story, ask your child to draw a scene or a character from the book and explain why they chose it.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: The dangers of materialism
Explanation: In 'The Rocking Horse Winner,' the young protagonist becomes obsessed with earning money through betting, driven by his mother's insatiable need for wealth. This obsession ultimately leads to tragic consequences, illustrating the destructive nature of materialism.
Real-World Application: Children can learn the importance of valuing relationships and personal satisfaction over the pursuit of material wealth. This encourages them to focus on meaningful personal and interpersonal development rather than external validations.
Example Lesson: The importance of communication within the family
Explanation: The lack of open communication between family members in the story contributes to misunderstandings and unmet emotional needs. The protagonist's secret efforts to solve financial problems highlight the negative impacts of poor communication.
Real-World Application: This lesson emphasizes the need for open dialogue between family members about challenges and feelings. Encouraging children to express their concerns and listen to others can foster a supportive and understanding family environment.
Example Lesson: Understanding the concept of luck and its unpredictability
Explanation: The boy in the story believes that he can predict winning horses by riding his rocking horse to a state of 'luck'. This magical belief system demonstrates the uncertain and unreliable nature of depending on luck.
Real-World Application: Children learn that success is not based on luck but through effort, preparation, and making informed decisions. This can help them develop a more realistic and responsible approach to achieving their goals.
Example Lesson: The psychological impact of parental expectations
Explanation: The mother's constant dissatisfaction and pressure for more money deeply affects the boy’s psychological well-being and self-worth, as he equates love with financial success.
Real-World Application: This narrative can help parents understand the impact of their expectations on their children’s mental health. It encourages creating a nurturing environment where children are valued for who they are, not what they can provide.