Graduation Date
Spring 2011
Document Type
Project
Program
Other
Program
Master of Arts degree with a major in English, emphasis in Literature
Committee Chair Name
x
Committee Chair Affiliation
Cal Poly Humboldt Faculty or Staff
Keywords
x
Abstract
My project focuses on the politically oriented works of literature by Ted Geisel (aka Dr. Seuss): The Butter Battle Book; Horton Hears a Who; The Lorax; The Sneetches; Yertle the Turtle; The [3 J Bartholomew books. Brief mention is made of other Dr. Seuss work, with acknowledgement of other American authors having similar political messages. Focus is given to the "targeted audience" of these children's books, with the claim that Seuss's choice of audience is more successful than the standard adult audience of most advocacy literature, if the goal of the author is positive societal change. Support for this claim is drawn from child psychology studies of Vygotsky, Kohlberg, Erikson, et al. The "Yopp!" which was interjected by a small child in Horton Hears a Who is compared and contrasted to Walt Whitman's "barbaric yawp" and shown to be community focused and utilitarian, whereas Whitman's "yawp" is self-serving for personal recognition and empowerment. More specifically, I will compare the entire collection of Dr. Seuss's political works to Horton's "Yopp!"; both the word and the works suggest that children have awareness, agency and ability to make a change in their world. According to the theories of developmental psychology, the challenges of potential global crisis, abuse of political power, and resource depletion can be introduced at the early ages. For solving these issues with messages of altruism (Horton ... ), environmentalism ( Lorax), peace (Butter Battle ... ), social and political tolerance (Zax) and multi-cultural respect (Sneetches) there is not a more palatable, user-friendly format for reaching that end than the genius, political works of Dr. Seuss.
Recommended Citation
Steichen, Beverley Elaine Kee, "The Resounding "Yopp!": The Political Voice of Dr. Seuss in American Literature" (2011). Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects. 2631.
https://digitalcommons.humboldt.edu/etd/2631