Tom Simson

E1004844

Tom Simson is a naïve but kind-hearted young prospector in Bret Harte’s short story “The Outcasts of Poker Flat,” whose innocence and loyalty contrast with the cynicism of the exiled gamblers and outcasts.

All labels observed (1)

Label Occurrences
Tom Simson canonical 4

How this entity was disambiguated

Statements (48)

Predicate Object
instanceOf fictional character
literary character
prospector
admires John Oakhurst
ageDescriptor young
alsoKnownAs The Innocent
appearsIn The Outcasts of Poker Flat
appearsInGenre Western fiction
short story
appearsInLanguage English
belongsToLiteraryMovement American Realism
linked to: American realism
belongsToSubgenre local color fiction
contrastsWith John Oakhurst
the exiled gamblers of Poker Flat
the outcasts of Poker Flat
createdBy Bret Harte
feelsGratitudeToward John Oakhurst
firstAppearanceYear 1869
firstPublishedIn Overland Monthly
gender male
hadMoneyReturnedBy John Oakhurst
hasCharacterTrait kind-hearted
loyal
naïve
optimistic
trusting
hasFullName Tom Simson
hasNationality American (fictional)
hasOccupation prospector
hasRelationshipWith Piney Woods
linked to: Piney Woods (Texas)
hasSetting Poker Flat, California (fictional mining camp)
isEngagedTo Piney Woods
linked to: Piney Woods (Texas)
isProtectedBy John Oakhurst
isUnawareOfPastOf Duchess
Mother Shipton
lostMoneyTo John Oakhurst
meets the outcasts from Poker Flat
narrativeRole foil to the cynical gamblers and outcasts
source of pathos
residesIn Sandy Bar (near Poker Flat, in the story)
sharesProvisionsWith the outcasts from Poker Flat
showsKindnessTo the outcasts from Poker Flat
symbolizes innocence
moral purity
youthful idealism
timePeriod California Gold Rush era
travelsWith Piney Woods
linked to: Piney Woods (Texas)
wasOnceGamblerWith John Oakhurst

How these facts were elicited

Referenced by (4)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.