During Dr. Seuss’s life, he had witnessed two world wars, a cold war, the civil rights movement, and a technology revolution. Several of Dr. Seuss’s books are related to these topics and the controversy that came with the territory. During his childhood, World War I was in the midst of happening. While in college World War II was starting up ( ). These two events in his life had part in one of his books, Yertle the Turtle.
Dr.Seuss uses a magical language that challenges the norm and captivates children of all ages. For example: the cruffulous croak and smogulous smoke, the snergelly hose, rippulous pond, gruvvulous glove and miff-muffered moof ( ).
Dr. Seuss is an important figure in the lives of children everywhere. His stories are children’s classics that are fun to read and also tackle some real life issues. Dr. Seuss’s political views are very apparent in his some of his books like The Butter Battle Book, which discusses the issues of the Cold War.
Seuss, was surrounded by rhymes and rhythm ever since his mother would chant songs she remembered from her childhood, to sing him to sleep. Seuss started out his writing and drawing career in college at Dartmouth for the school paper, and ended up being one of the most successful writers to this day. One of the many things that landed him a job in the industry was drawing advertisement cartoons, which he did during the great depression to support him and his wife. He became a well known name for his cartoons about an insecticide called Flit by writing the catchphrase “Quick, Henry, the Flit!” During his advertising career, Seuss drew cartoons for Standard Oil, General Electric, Narragansett Brewing Company, NBC and many more. During WWII Suess joined the United States Army, but not to fight. He became the first commander of the first ever Motion Picture Unit of the United States Armed Forces. His job was to create animated war propaganda films/drawings to ridicule the United States opponents, but also to write promotional films for the American citizens and troops at war. Some of his famous pieces include “Yertle the Turtle”, in which he pokes fun at Hitler, and “The Butter Battle Book”, where Suess where he presents what went on in the Cold War and the Arms race then taking place between America and Russia.
Roald Dahl was on a trip from England to Africa and while he was on his trip he encountered many odd people. Miss Trefusis and U.N Savory are some of the people he met while he was on his trip. U.N. Savory was a wig-loving person but was afraid to show that he wore them. Miss Trefusis was a toe-hating, finger-hating, germ-hating old woman that often sat at the same dining-room table as Roald. They were both strange people, but everyone on the ship was strange as well.
“Waiting for the Signal From Home…”, PM Magazine, February 13,1942, Dr. Seuss ddndn Collection, MSS230, Special Collections and Archives, UC San Diego Library.
Sullivan, C. W., III. "J. R. R. Tolkien's The Hobbit: The Magic of Words." Touchstones: Reflections on the Best in Children's Literature. Children's Literature Association, 1985. 253-260. Rpt. in Novels for Students. Ed. Marie Rose Napierkowski and Deborah A. Stanley. Vol. 8. Detroit: Gale, 2000. Literature Resources from Gale. Web. 3 Mar. 2014.
This week we read about Picture books and we were assigned to read The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrice Potter and Where The Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak. I really enjoyed reading these children’s books because I do not remember reading The Tale of Peter Rabbit, but reading it now I really got to appreciate the story, enjoy the illustrations and the story. I vaguely remember reading Where The Wild Things Are, so I am glad that I was able to reread it because I think that it is a very cute and enjoyable story for younger children While reading Chapter 3 from the textbook, “The Tale of Peter Rabbit,” and “Where The Wild Things Are” I formed several different observations. The first observation that I formed while reading this week
World War II, the major historical event during the life of John Knowles, the author of A Separate Peace, started in 1939. Germany instigated the war, and shortly afterward was joined by Japan and Italy. America, however, fought on the side of The Allies, England and France. Although the United States was still recovering from the Great Depression, it entered the war after the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941. The military drafted men into the war, and women took their places in the work force, people abandoned the old way of life and looked forward to a new one. American literature reflects this transition, as the novels written in the post-war period are far more ambitious, expanding past the bounds of traditional literature. Modernism, a major movement at that time, was stimulated by World War II, severing ties with the past and embracing the changes of the future. *Knowles in A Separate Peace illustrates the identity crisis of teenage boys with Gene Forrester?s hypocrisy, Phineas? duality, and Elwin Lepellier?s insanity.
Seuss wrote stories and books to inspire kids and teach them the love of reading while in the same time entertain them. For example, one of his quotes he let you think about how do you want to shape your life and you have plenty of choices “You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose.” “37 Dr. Seuss Quotes”.
Though more than one century has passed, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland still new generations of young and older readers alike. Among many other reasons, Carroll’s tale may be explained by its particular work on language and the mass effects it produces in the mind of children and adults, therefore creating a remarkable literary work.
Theodor Seuss Geisel made history by changing the way children read. He made it so much simpler, interesting and funny for kids of all ages to enjoy reading. Although some of his editorial cartoons and books were controversial they opened the eyes of many in this world. The attraction for Theodor Seuss Geisel’s silly characters and words continue on today. They are featured in movies, commercials, and merchandise. He will forever be remembered as Dr. Seuss. Although he never had children of his own he knew what to say and do to entertain children. Theodor Seuss Geisel’s answer to questions about him not having children was always; ““You have ‘em, and I’ll entertain ‘em.” It takes a lot of work and dedication to entertain a child, to Theodor Seuss Geisel it came naturally.
Griffith, John W. and Charles H. Frey. "Classics of Children's Literature." Perrault, Charles. Little Red Riding-hood. Upper Saddle River: Pearson Prentice Hall, 2005. 10-11. Print.
Dr. Seuss I took an unconventional approach in the topic I chose for my reading assignment – whereas most groups selected single novels, my partner and I opted to read a collection of short stories by none other than the notorious Dr. Seuss. Were I writing this essay on a “normal” book, I would be able to pose a question about the book itself and answer it in an ordinary sort of way. However, given the subject matter I have chosen, an essay on an individual book, though possible, would be a very tricky thing to do. It would be wiser, and probably easier, to respond to the man himself. My decision to respond to the man himself makes many more choices – what facet of Dr. Seuss shall I ask myself questions about? I think perhaps I first need to give some brief biographical information on the man to understand the background he’s coming from. In 1904, Theodore Seuss Geisel was born in Massachusetts, USA. I have not been able to find too much documentation about his childhood, but he certainly did not come from a terribly poor or terribly unsuccessful family… in fact, his family had owned a local brewery in their home town of Springfield for several years. Ever since his childhood, Geisel had dabbled in the fields we all know and love him for today… for instance, during bible recitals, he read the verses to a rhythm and often in rhyme. In High School he wrote many short essays and drew cartoons for the school paper, and even then he had adopted a pseudonym for himself – “Pete the Pessimist”. Upon graduation, Geisel began studying literature at Oxford university, as his original intent was to become an educator… even then, he punctuated his time at Oxford with his job editing and contributing to the “Jack-O-Lantern”, ...
When my parents read to me, they enjoyed reading Dr. Suess books, which became popular with the publication of The Cat In The Hat. I was only interested in looking at books with color. When the books were colorful they grabbed my attention quickly. I couldn’t wait for my parents to come in my room at night and read to me from The Cat in the Hat. I think that this is one of the popular books that parents should read to their children.
Although an extremely successful playwright author, talented poem author, and a superb novelist in his early years of writing, A. A. Milne is known around the world because of his highly treasured children’s book series, Winnie-the-Pooh. Milne’s love for writing and words started at a young age, but he didn’t pursue this career path until after graduating from Cambridge with a degree in mathematics according to S. Ward (9). Milne was able to relate to the young readers of his children’s books, as well as give a sort of distinguished outlook with the parents and adult readers. Alan ventured far beyond children’s literature, unwilling to stay with one type of writing for too long of a period of time. Because Alan Alexander Milne attempted many contrasting types of work, he showed to be skillful in writing a wide variety of compositions.
...n illogical world with nonsensical ideas and his imaginative mind expressed throughout the whole novel, it may seem as though the novel is quite childish and pay just pertain to children and young adult, but contrary to that anyone who decides to grab the book and take time out to read will discover the enjoyment in the book no matter what ag; one can be neither too young or too old.