Analyse:
- 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?
Research:
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.
Make a presentation:
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.)
Suggestions for artist to present:
Note that these are just suggestions. Feel free to choose someone you like who is not on the list.
The UK:
Paul Nash
Tracy Emin
Henry Moore
David Hockney
Thomas Gainsborough
Banksy
Leonora Carrington
The USA:
Edward Hopper
Andy Warhol
Georgia O'Keeffe
Jackson Pollock
Mary Cassatt
Anna Mary Moses (Grandma Moses)
Darryl McCray (Cornbread)
Australia:
Sidney Nolan
Grace Gossington Smith
Margaret Preston
Rover Thomas
David Meggs Hooke
Emily Kame Kngwarreye
New Zealand
Virginia King
Ani O’Neill
Ralph Hotere
Michael Parekowhai
Tony Fomison
Francis Upritchard
Francis Neil Dawson
Canada:
Emily Carr
Shary Boyle
Bill Reid
Janet Cardiff
David Altmejd
Daphne Odjig
Richard Hambleton
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?