The Varmint (1917) — AI Story Visualization

Plot Analysis Summary

A boastful student struggles with rejection, school discipline, athletics, and romance during his first year at Lawrenceville Academy.

Story Structure — 4 Plot Phases

From Expulsion To Arrival

The protagonist is expelled from a co-educational boarding school and travels to Lawrenceville Academy. During the journey, he confides in a passenger who is later revealed as the Latin professor.

Key Events

• Expulsion From Boarding School — The protagonist is expelled from his previous co-educational boarding school. Location: Co-educational boarding school
• Journey Toward Lawrenceville — The protagonist travels by coach toward the boys' academy. Location: Coach to Lawrenceville Academy
• Confession On The Coach — He recounts his past conduct and expulsion to a silent fellow passenger. Location: Coach to Lawrenceville Academy
• Professor Revealed — The silent passenger is later revealed to be the school's Latin professor. Location: Coach to Lawrenceville Academy

A Campus Without Friends

At Lawrenceville, the protagonist boasts about winning over the students but instead becomes broadly disliked. His dining behavior, gullibility, and social mistakes intensify his isolation.

Key Events

• Arrival At Academy — The protagonist arrives at the boys' school, known for its football teams. Location: Lawrenceville Academy
• Boastful Newcomer — He confidently predicts that the students will soon accept his influence. Location: Lawrenceville Academy campus
• Campus Hostility Grows — His behavior gradually makes him widely disliked by the other students. Location: Lawrenceville Academy campus
• Second Prunes Serving — He asks for a second helping of prunes, offending school dining conventions. Location: School dining hall
• Salesmen Approach — Tennessee Shad participates in the schoolboy salesmanship directed at the newcomer. Characters: Tennessee Shad Location: Lawrenceville Academy campus
• Junk Purchase — The protagonist becomes an easy mark and buys the various junk products offered. Characters: Tennessee Shad Location: Lawrenceville Academy campus
• House Baseball Loss — He loses the house baseball game, worsening his standing among the students. Location: School baseball field
• Flight From The Licking — He runs away from a promised beating after the baseball defeat. Location: Lawrenceville Academy campus

Athletics Against Academics

He neglects his studies while earning a place on the football team. His baseball defeat and flight from punishment deepen his social ostracism before the athletic opportunity changes direction.

Key Events

• Flight From The Licking — He runs away from a promised beating after the baseball defeat. Location: Lawrenceville Academy campus
• Social Ostracism Deepens — His flight from punishment sends him deeper into social isolation. Location: Lawrenceville Academy campus
• Football Team Selection — Despite neglecting his studies, he makes the school's football team. Location: Lawrenceville football field
• Eligibility Examination — He must pass an examination before he can play in the football game. Location: Lawrenceville Academy classroom
• Blank Paper Submitted — He hands in a blank paper for the required examination. Location: Lawrenceville Academy classroom

Victory And Affection

He submits a blank examination paper, then participates in a victorious football game. The school year closes with his romantic attention toward Laura.

Key Events

• Blank Paper Submitted — He hands in a blank paper for the required examination. Location: Lawrenceville Academy classroom
• Football Game Begins — He takes part in the football game after the examination episode. Location: Lawrenceville football field
• Football Victory — The school wins the football game in which he plays. Location: Lawrenceville football field
• Romance With Laura — After the football success, the protagonist makes love to Laura. Characters: Laura Location: Lawrenceville Academy
• School Year Outcome — The first school year concludes after academic, social, athletic, and romantic experiences. Characters: Laura, Tennessee Shad Location: Lawrenceville Academy

Story Breakdown

• Expulsion And Departure — The protagonist leaves his former school and begins the journey toward a new academic environment.
  • Former School Expulsion — He is expelled from a co-educational boarding school.
  • Coach Confession — He recounts his past conduct during the journey to Lawrenceville.
• Hidden Professor Encounter — A seemingly silent passenger becomes an important early revelation.
  • Silent Fellow Passenger — The protagonist speaks to a quiet traveler on the coach.
  • Latin Professor Revealed — The passenger is later identified as the Latin professor.
• Campus Social Rejection — The protagonist's confidence and conduct produce widespread dislike at Lawrenceville.
  • Boastful Arrival — He predicts that the students will soon submit to his influence.
  • Dining Hall Offense — His request for additional prunes becomes a notorious social offense.
• Schoolboy Salesmanship — Tennessee Shad participates in exploiting the protagonist's gullibility.
  • Sales Pitch — Tennessee Shad takes part in offering merchandise for sale.
  • Junk Purchases — The protagonist buys the junk products offered by enterprising students.
• Baseball Humiliation — A house baseball defeat creates a major social setback.
  • House Game Loss — The protagonist loses the house baseball game.
  • Flight From Punishment — He runs away from a promised licking after the defeat.
• Football Redemption — Athletic opportunity counterbalances the protagonist's academic and social failures.
  • Team Selection — He makes the football team despite neglecting his studies.
  • Blank Examination — He submits a blank paper before the football game.
  • Winning Football Game — His team wins the football game in which he plays.
  • Romance With Laura — He makes love to Laura after the athletic success.

Directed by

William Desmond Taylor

Key Cast

• Jack Pickford — John Humperdink Stover
• Louise Huff — Laura
• Theodore Roberts — A Roman
• Henry Malvern — Tough McCarty
• Ben Suslow — White Mountain Canary