logo

48 pages 1 hour read

Steve Sheinkin

Undefeated: Jim Thorpe and the Carlisle Indian School Football Team

Steve SheinkinNonfiction | Biography | Middle Grade | Published in 2017

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Prologue-Part 1, Chapter 8Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Part 1: “First Half”

Prologue Summary: “Tryout”

When Jim Thorpe walks on to the Carlisle Indian School football field in a borrowed, grass-stained uniform, head coach Pop Warner tells him to get off the field because he doesn’t want Thorpe to get hurt. Thorpe is not quite six feet tall. He’s muscular, but much smaller than the other players on the varsity team. He insists that he wants to play, and Warner laughingly tosses Thorpe the first store-bought football he’s ever held telling him to “give [the] varsity boys a little tackling practice” (2). Thorpe starts on the goal line and runs through every defender twice. Warner is enraged with his team but intrigued by Thorpe’s success. Thorpe isn’t surprised with himself. He tosses the ball back to Coach Warner and says, “Sorry, Pop. Nobody’s going to tackle Jim” (3).

Part 1, Chapter 1 Summary: “The Star”

Charlotte and Hiram Thorpe marry in 1882 and live on Sac and Fox land in the “Indian Territory” (present day Oklahoma). In 1887, the United States government opens the land to new white settlers, and the land is quickly taken from Indigenous control. Charlotte Thorpe gives birth to twins, James (Jim) and Charles (Charlie), in 1888. In addition to their English names, the boys receive Indigenous names: Jim’s is Wathohuck, which means “Bright Path.

blurred text
blurred text
blurred text
blurred text
Unlock IconUnlock all 48 pages of this Study Guide

Plus, gain access to 8,450+ more expert-written Study Guides.

Including features:

+ Mobile App
+ Printable PDF
+ Literary AI Tools