Horton _ Transcendentalism Template - TeacherWeb

							                                                                                        Your Last Name 1

Willy Wonka

C. Abbott

English 3: __

3 January 2011
              The Transcendentalist Approach: Dr. Seuss’ “Horton Hears a Who”

       American Transcendentalism was a literary movement and a philosophy whose followers
believed basic truths could be reached only “going beyond,” or transcending, reason. The founding
Transcendentalists, Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau, find truth reflecting with nature,
spirit, and one’s own intuition; they believe that the individual has the power to change the world. The
children’s book and subsequent short cartoon “Horton Hears a Who” by Dr. Seuss is about an elephant
named Horton that goes against society’s conformity to protect an invisible civilization, Whoville, he
cannot prove exists. In concurrence, Dr. Hoovey, a scientist and the mayor in Whoville, proves to the
Who people the existence of an outside world. Although Dr. Suess may not have intentionally tried
to illustrate Transcendental thought, one cannot deny the strong Transcendental ideas
presented.
        In the beginning of “Horton Hears a Who,” Horton explain what Horton does that relates to

Transcendental thought here                      . This relates to Transcendental thought because

explain to what aspect of Transcendental thought Horton’s actions apply                              .

The Transcendental work “_____________________” by _______________ portrays the same ideas,

“Add a quotation to show parallel(s) between the example from “Horton” and the Transcendental work

here          “( # ). This shows clarify what exactly the quotation means here. Add another

sentence of commentary to link the quotation to your example and your thesis statement here

       At the same time, Dr. Whoveey, the scientist in Whoville, also demonstrates a Transcendental

ideal because tell what Dr. Whoveey does that relates to Transcendental thought here

. In fact, the work “_______________” by ________________ supports this when the narrator

synonym for says , “Add a quotation to show parallel(s) between the example from “Horton Hears a

Who” and the Transcendental work here                 ”( # ). This quotation relates because explain
                                                                                              Your Last Name 2

how the quotation and the example from “Horton Hears a Who” are related here              . Add another

sentence of commentary to link the quotation to your example and your thesis statement here             .

       Later, tell of another example from “Horton Hears a Who” that relates to Transcendental

thought here                . Again, Transcendental ideals shine through in the cartoon. One is yet

again reminded of a founding Transcendental work “                     “ by                      : “Add a

quotation to show parallel(s) between the example from “Horton Hears a Who” and the Transcendental

work here                           ” ( # ). This reveals explain exactly what aspect of Transcendental

thought the example applies to here                           . Add another sentence of commentary to

link the quotation to your example and your thesis statement here                .

       Finally, tell of another example from “Horton Hears a Who” that relates to Transcendental

thought here                . In further support of Transcendental ideals, show one more parallel

between “Horton Hears a Who” and a Transcendental work here                          . In “            ___“

by                    , the narrator synonym for says, “Add a quotation to show parallel(s) between the

example from “Horton Hears a Who” and the Transcendental work here

” ( # ). The quotation relates to the cartoon because expand on the idea here                            .

Add another sentence of commentary to link the quotation to your example and your thesis statement

here              .

       Although the story “Horton Hears a Who” may not be intentionally an example of

Transcendentalism, the cartoon draws distinct parallels with the founding Transcendentalists works.

Add your own wrap-up sentence here to conclude your ideas and the essay here

.