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AnthropomorphismAnthropomorphism For All For All::

the universal appeal the universal appeal of talking animalsof talking animals

Cheryl MartinCheryl Martin

SLIS 5440SLIS 5440

Fall 2003Fall 2003

DescriptionDescription

This is a visual This is a visual display of a display of a collection of ten collection of ten children’s stories children’s stories that feature that feature animals who animals who converse with converse with their human their human counterparts.counterparts.

PurposePurpose The purpose of this The purpose of this

project is to compare project is to compare the types of talking the types of talking animals that are animals that are portrayed in books, portrayed in books, movies, and folktales, to movies, and folktales, to identify the cultures identify the cultures from which these stories from which these stories emanate, and to emanate, and to examine the messages examine the messages presented in these presented in these stories.stories.

MethodMethod I located the materials in this collection by I located the materials in this collection by

selecting items from my personal selecting items from my personal collection of books and movies, as well as collection of books and movies, as well as the collections of friends, and by choosing the collections of friends, and by choosing items from my school library.items from my school library.

The Mouse and the The Mouse and the MotorcycleMotorcycle

Cleary, Beverly. Cleary, Beverly. The Mouse and the MotorcycleThe Mouse and the Motorcycle. New York: HarperCollins, 1990.. New York: HarperCollins, 1990.

Ralph, a young mouse who longs for adventure, finds plenty when he scurries into Ralph, a young mouse who longs for adventure, finds plenty when he scurries into room 215 of the Mountain View Inn in search of food. There he discovers a mouse-room 215 of the Mountain View Inn in search of food. There he discovers a mouse-sized motorcycle that he decides to ride. After an accident leaves him trapped in the sized motorcycle that he decides to ride. After an accident leaves him trapped in the trash can, Ralph meets Keith, the young owner of the motorcycle, and a special trash can, Ralph meets Keith, the young owner of the motorcycle, and a special friendship develops between the two independent and adventurous souls. friendship develops between the two independent and adventurous souls.

The Golden Mare, the The Golden Mare, the Firebird, Firebird,

and the Magic Ringand the Magic Ring Sanderson, Ruth. Sanderson, Ruth. The Golden Mare, the Firebird, The Golden Mare, the Firebird,

and the Magic Ringand the Magic Ring. Boston: Little, Brown and . Boston: Little, Brown and Company, 2001.Company, 2001.

A young huntsman named Alexi discovers a A young huntsman named Alexi discovers a beautiful golden mare one evening as he travels beautiful golden mare one evening as he travels through the woods seeking his fortune. For sparing through the woods seeking his fortune. For sparing her life, the mare agrees to serve him. With the her life, the mare agrees to serve him. With the mare’s help, Alexi finds a job at the Tsar’s palace, mare’s help, Alexi finds a job at the Tsar’s palace, the rare mythical Firebird, a magic ring, and the rare mythical Firebird, a magic ring, and eventually, the hand of Yelena the Fair for his bride. eventually, the hand of Yelena the Fair for his bride.

The Horned Toad PrinceThe Horned Toad Prince

Hopkins, Jackie Mims. Hopkins, Jackie Mims. The Horned Toad PrinceThe Horned Toad Prince. . Atlanta: Peachtree, 2000.Atlanta: Peachtree, 2000.

Rebecca Jo loves riding across the prairie Rebecca Jo loves riding across the prairie practicing her roping skills, but one day while practicing her roping skills, but one day while she’s doing just that a gust of wind blows her she’s doing just that a gust of wind blows her brand new cowboy hat into one of the dangerous brand new cowboy hat into one of the dangerous arroyos where her father has forbidden her to go. arroyos where her father has forbidden her to go. Rebecca Jo is forced to make a deal with a Rebecca Jo is forced to make a deal with a horned toad to retrieve her hat in return for three horned toad to retrieve her hat in return for three favors. But once the hat is saved, Rebecca Jo favors. But once the hat is saved, Rebecca Jo doesn’t want to keep her part of the bargain and doesn’t want to keep her part of the bargain and the horned toad must force her to keep her word. the horned toad must force her to keep her word.

Davey’s Blue-Eyed Davey’s Blue-Eyed FrogFrog

Easton, Patricia Harrison. Easton, Patricia Harrison. Davey’s Blue-Eyed FrogDavey’s Blue-Eyed Frog. . New York: Clarion Books, 2003.New York: Clarion Books, 2003.

When Davey finds a talking, blue-eyed frog in the When Davey finds a talking, blue-eyed frog in the pond near his house he can hardly wait to show it pond near his house he can hardly wait to show it to his friends. But, Amy, the frog who reveals that to his friends. But, Amy, the frog who reveals that she is actually a princess, doesn’t intend to she is actually a princess, doesn’t intend to cooperate. She insists that Davey must kiss her to cooperate. She insists that Davey must kiss her to break the spell that her evil uncle has placed upon break the spell that her evil uncle has placed upon her. As time runs out, Davey is forced to choose her. As time runs out, Davey is forced to choose between his desire to impress his friends and Amy’s between his desire to impress his friends and Amy’s fear of being stuck as a frog forever. fear of being stuck as a frog forever.

James and the Giant PeachJames and the Giant Peach

Dahl, Roald. Dahl, Roald. James and the Giant PeachJames and the Giant Peach. New . New York: Puffin Books, 1996. York: Puffin Books, 1996.

Strange things happen after James drops some Strange things happen after James drops some magic crystals by the old peach tree. One peach magic crystals by the old peach tree. One peach begins to grow and grow and grow until it’s as big begins to grow and grow and grow until it’s as big as a house. When James goes inside, he meets a as a house. When James goes inside, he meets a group of characters including Grasshopper, group of characters including Grasshopper, Earthworm, and Centipede. But the real Earthworm, and Centipede. But the real adventure begins when the stem snaps and the adventure begins when the stem snaps and the peach rolls away flattening his two unkind aunts peach rolls away flattening his two unkind aunts in its path. in its path.

Owl EyesOwl Eyes Gates, Frieda. Gates, Frieda. Owl EyesOwl Eyes. New York: Lothrop, Lee & Shepard . New York: Lothrop, Lee & Shepard

Books, 1994.Books, 1994.

After Raweno, Everything-Maker, fashioned the various After Raweno, Everything-Maker, fashioned the various animals from clay, he gave the creatures time to observe animals from clay, he gave the creatures time to observe the place where they would live and consider how they the place where they would live and consider how they would like to be finished. Owl offers his opinion on all of the would like to be finished. Owl offers his opinion on all of the other animals, but cannot decide what he would like. other animals, but cannot decide what he would like. Eventually his indecisiveness angers Raweno. Finally, Eventually his indecisiveness angers Raweno. Finally, Raweno becomes exasperated and Owl is given a short Raweno becomes exasperated and Owl is given a short neck, large eyes, and brown feathers and is commanded to neck, large eyes, and brown feathers and is commanded to sleep all day and stay awake all night so that he can no sleep all day and stay awake all night so that he can no longer irritate Raweno.longer irritate Raweno.

Good Boy!Good Boy! Zoehfeld, Kathleen Weidner. Zoehfeld, Kathleen Weidner. Good Boy!Good Boy! New York: New York:

HarperCollins, 2003. HarperCollins, 2003.

Owen desperately wants a dog of his own so he starts a Owen desperately wants a dog of his own so he starts a dog-walking business in order to prove to his parents dog-walking business in order to prove to his parents that he is responsible enough. One day, while walking his that he is responsible enough. One day, while walking his other ‘clients’, Owen meets up with Hubble, a brown other ‘clients’, Owen meets up with Hubble, a brown mutt who isn’t from around the neighborhood or even mutt who isn’t from around the neighborhood or even the planet. Hubble is on a mission from the dog star the planet. Hubble is on a mission from the dog star Sirius to prepare Earth dogs for an inspection visit from Sirius to prepare Earth dogs for an inspection visit from the Greater Dane and Owen is just the boy to help him the Greater Dane and Owen is just the boy to help him succeed.succeed.

Dr. DolittleDr. Dolittle

Doctor DolittleDoctor Dolittle. Dir. Betty Thomas. Videocassette. . Dir. Betty Thomas. Videocassette.

2020thth Century Fox, 1998. Century Fox, 1998.

After swerving to avoid hitting a dog, Dr. John After swerving to avoid hitting a dog, Dr. John Dolittle wrecks his car, hitting his head on the Dolittle wrecks his car, hitting his head on the windshield and awakening a long-dormant gift for windshield and awakening a long-dormant gift for communicating with animals. The doctor’s clinic is communicating with animals. The doctor’s clinic is soon overrun by animals of all shapes and sizes soon overrun by animals of all shapes and sizes seeking his care, causing his wife, family, and seeking his care, causing his wife, family, and friends to question the good doctor’s grip on reality. friends to question the good doctor’s grip on reality.

Stuart LittleStuart Little

Stuart LittleStuart Little. Dir. Robert Minkoff. Videocassette. . Dir. Robert Minkoff. Videocassette.

Columbia Tri-Star, 1999.Columbia Tri-Star, 1999.

When Mr. and Mrs. Little take a trip to the orphanage When Mr. and Mrs. Little take a trip to the orphanage to adopt a baby brother for their son George, they to adopt a baby brother for their son George, they meet Stuart, a talking mouse who not only walks meet Stuart, a talking mouse who not only walks upright, but dresses in human clothes and behaves upright, but dresses in human clothes and behaves just like a normal child. Although the initial reaction to just like a normal child. Although the initial reaction to Stuart’s arrival is anything but joyful, the rest of the Stuart’s arrival is anything but joyful, the rest of the family is soon charmed by the little mouse as well.family is soon charmed by the little mouse as well.

The Jungle BookThe Jungle Book

The Jungle BookThe Jungle Book. Dir. Greg Michael. Videocassette. Walt . Dir. Greg Michael. Videocassette. Walt Disney Video, 1994.Disney Video, 1994.

Mowgli is left to fend for himself in the jungle after his Mowgli is left to fend for himself in the jungle after his father is killed during a tiger attack on their hunting father is killed during a tiger attack on their hunting camp. Animals of the jungle befriend the boy and teach camp. Animals of the jungle befriend the boy and teach him to live in the wild. Years later, he encounters the him to live in the wild. Years later, he encounters the daughter of the man who commissioned the hunting daughter of the man who commissioned the hunting party that his father was guiding when he was killed party that his father was guiding when he was killed and must struggle with the decision to return to and must struggle with the decision to return to civilization or remain in the jungle.civilization or remain in the jungle.

Character AnalysisCharacter Analysis

Character AnalysisCharacter Analysis

In selecting and examining the items In selecting and examining the items for my project, I discovered that a wide for my project, I discovered that a wide variety of anthropomorphic animal variety of anthropomorphic animal characters can be found in children’s characters can be found in children’s literature. Wild and domesticated, literature. Wild and domesticated, small and large, mammals, insects, and small and large, mammals, insects, and reptiles, fierce and gentle, rare and reptiles, fierce and gentle, rare and commonplace; representatives of commonplace; representatives of almost every category appear.almost every category appear.

Cultural AnalysisCultural Analysis

In beginning this research, In beginning this research, I assumed that I would find I assumed that I would find anthropomorphic stories anthropomorphic stories from a variety of cultures. from a variety of cultures. However, once I narrowed However, once I narrowed the scope of my project to the scope of my project to include only those stories include only those stories in which the animals and in which the animals and humans conversed with humans conversed with each other, the opposite each other, the opposite was true. was true.

Cultural Analysis, cont.Cultural Analysis, cont. The stories in my collection largely come from The stories in my collection largely come from

English speaking North America or England. English speaking North America or England. Owl EyesOwl Eyes, a retelling of a traditional , a retelling of a traditional Kanienkehaka (Mohawk) legend is one Kanienkehaka (Mohawk) legend is one exception, as is exception, as is The Golden Mare, the The Golden Mare, the Firebird, and theFirebird, and the Magic Ring, Magic Ring, which is based which is based on elements from a number of traditional on elements from a number of traditional Russian fairy tales. Additionally, Russian fairy tales. Additionally, The Horned The Horned Toad Prince, Toad Prince, whichwhich is a retelling of the classic is a retelling of the classic tale of the frog prince, incorporates a Latin tale of the frog prince, incorporates a Latin flair through the use of Spanish vocabulary flair through the use of Spanish vocabulary and a Southwestern setting.and a Southwestern setting.

Thematic AnalysisThematic Analysis

These anthropomorphic stories feature These anthropomorphic stories feature many common themes with very few many common themes with very few unique messages. Any of these unique messages. Any of these themes could just as easily be themes could just as easily be developed through human characters, developed through human characters, but the use of animals seems to bring but the use of animals seems to bring a greater impact and clarity to the a greater impact and clarity to the message.message.

Common ThemesCommon Themes

CourageCourage FamilyFamily HonestyHonesty LoyaltyLoyalty KindnessKindness HeroismHeroism

AcceptanceAcceptance DiversityDiversity ClevernessCleverness SelflessnessSelflessness CooperationCooperation CompassionCompassion

SummarySummary

In researching this topic, I decided to narrow my scope of interest to only those children’s stories wherein animals and people communicated with each other. Surprisingly, this drastically limited the number of items available for inclusion in my collection because many stories with anthropomorphic characters do not include humans or do not involve conversation between the humans and animals. Had I made the decision to narrow my scope earlier in the process, I might have been able to locate a larger and more varied group of works from which to choose. Because of my own interest in stories of this nature and love for animals, I will most likely continue to add titles to this collection as I come across them and possibly use this material as part of my library web page one day.