Tasks: A Fable by Mark Twain
- What is the definition of 'a fable'? Why do you think the author has chosen this as the title?
- Mark Twain names two of the animals in the story: Hathi the elephant, and Baloo the bear. This is an allusion to a book by Rudyard Kipling that has been turned into a much-loved Disney cartoon. What book is this, and what does the author achieve by making this allusion?
- One interpretation of the short story's theme is that everyone sees art from their own point of view and interprets it in their own way. Do you think this is the theme of the story, or can you suggest a different theme?
- Does the story have a message or a moral lesson?
- Does the story have a protagonist?
Use the internet or the school library and find out more about the author, Mark Twain.
For a long time, Mark Twain was considered the foremost American author, but over time he has become more controversial, and some of his books have been banned from schools in the United States.
Research the tasks in the box below. Use your research to make a fact sheet about Mark Twain. Compare your work with a partner's. Can you improve each other's fact sheets?
- What works are Mark Twain famous for?
- Find out why it is said that Mark Twain was a superstar in his own time.
- Find out why some schools choose to ban his books.
Use a presentation tool like Power Point, Prezi, or Google Presentation, so that you can show examples of works of art as you speak. The presentations may be held in front of a smaller group, or in front of the class.
- Pick an artist from the United Kingdom, the U.S., Australia, Canada, or New Zealand.
- Find one or more artworks by the artist that you like.
- Present the artist.
- Does the artist belong to a specific art period or movement? Talk about what is typical of works that belong to that specific period or movement.
- Explain what you like about the work/works of art.
- Does the work of art have a theme or message?
- What do you think the artist has wanted to express with this work of art, and what devices are used to achieve this? (Colour, darkness and light, symbols etc.)
After the presentations: discuss in groups or in class.
- Which artists and artworks did you like best, and why?
- Is art primarily about pleasing the audience and being liked?
- What characterises 'good art'?
- Is it the artists' intention with a work of art that is most important, or is it our own interpretation of it that matters most?
Related content
An example of a short story analysis, with comments about how the analysis is written.