Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss
Who Is Dr. Seuss?
Vocabulary and References
Great Web Sites on Dr. Seuss
Rhyming Scavenger Hunt
Dr. Seuss and Political Cartoons Activity
Yertle the Turtle and Leaders Activity
Dr. Seuss and Political Cartoons
Theodore Geisel wrote hundreds of political cartoons for a New York magazine called
PM. Political Cartoons do the following:
1) Highlight the single most significant aspect of a news item
2) Reflect a subjective evaluation of a news story highlight
3) Focus on a single item which is clearly identified and represent a simplification of
a complex issue
4) Use techniques of caricature, symbolism, satire, light and dark designs,
exaggeration and proportion
5) Require reader knowledge current events
Preparation:
1) Define caricature, symbolism, satire, exaggeration, proportion, and stereotyping.
2) Search through the University of California, San Diego database of Theodore Geisel’s
political cartoons at http://orpheus.ucsd.edu/speccoll/dspolitic/. Then pick one cartoon
that catches your interest. Answer the following questions about the cartoon. (NOTE: It
may require you to research information about the time period):
What issue is the cartoon commenting?
What is the news background of the issue?
What is the cartoonist’s apparent opinion of the issue?
What is the message of the cartoon? (ideas, feelings, moods)
What symbol can you identify in the cartoon, and what does each symbol represent?
What techniques, such as satire, caricature, or irony, does the artist use to make his or her point?
What other device does the cartoonist use to make his or her point?
Are there other ways in which the cartoon could be interpreted?
Do you agree or disagree with the cartoonist? Explain your reasons?
Activity:
1) Find a political cartoon in today’s newspaper or search the archives of political
cartoonist Bruce Plante at tulsaworld.com at
http://www.tulsaworld.com/opinion/cartoon.aspx
2) Answer the same questions above for the modern political cartoon that you did for
Geisel’s cartoon.
3) Write a paragraph that compares and contrasts the two cartoons. How are they
similar? How are they different? Which one do you prefer and why?
With the Class:
1) Write your own political cartoon and present it to the class.
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