Animal Literature/ Folklore
There is a broad spectrum of how elephants are
depicted in literature and folklore. Elephants have played a huge role in both children’s
and adult literature. Dr. Seuss Horton
Hears a Who is one of many children’s book where an elephant is used to teach
youth a moral lesson. In more philosophical pieces, such as Naturalis Historia
by Pliny the Elder, the elephant is analyzed in relation to humans. In books like
J.R.R Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings the elephant is shown in its militant and
working roles. In each of these literary pieces the elephant plays a symbolic
role to help convey a message.
Dr. Seuss Horton Hears A Who is a children’s book about an elephant
named Horton. One day Horton hears cries coming from a speck of dust, and
learns that the dust is actually a small planet called Whoville. The mayor of
Whoville asks Horton to protect the planet and Horton sets out to do just that.
Horton is extremely ridiculed by the other animals because they do not believe
there is anything in the speck of dust. However, despite the other animals
opinions Horton keeps in mind the quote“ a person’s a person no matter how big
or small”, and continues to protect Whoville as he promised.
In the book Horton Hears A Who, Horton the
elephant represents kindness, trustworthiness, and perseverance. Cicero once
said “ No other animal has been so intensely & consistently anthropomorphized
than the elephant”. Animals are often anthropomorphized when it comes to
children because it helps them understand the moral of a story. The theme from
Horton hears a who “ a person’s a person no mater how big or small” not only
teaches children to have respect for everyone no matter their size, but also
cause major debates in US when is came to ideas of abortion.
Philosophers such as Pliny the Elder have also
put a different view of elephants in literature. In Pliny the Elders the Naturalis
Historia, he depicts the elephant in an ethological view. In the Naturalis
Historia, Pliny the Elder explains how “the elephant is the animal closest to humans
in regards to intelligence”. In his book
Pliny also states “ the elephant has qualities rarely apparent in humans namely
honesty, good sense, justice, and respect for the stars, sun and moon.” It is
very apparent why each of these authors used an elephant to convey the message
of their piece. As discussed before elephants are very intelligent and caring
creatures. Although they are very massive in size elephants are overall gentle
creatures.
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