1. By Stephanie O. Smith A Literary Analysis of Theodor Seuss Geisel

3. When I began research about Theodor Seuss Geisel, I realized that not too many readers understood the moral meanings behind the literature he wrote. As I continued to research, I discovered that I knew very little about his love for children literature and how his books not only had moral values, but also political meaning. He wrote most of his literature during the age of the civil rights movement and war- time. The man who became known as, Dr. Seuss kept the mind of a child alive with his many books of lesson of life. To understand the morals in his books one most take a closer look at the written words and the characters he wrote about. The Cat in the Hat is one of his more popular books teaching a lesson about morals. The first thing you notice is that the children are home along. Left by them-selves to do any thing they want. Thinking about this makes me realize that history continues to repeat itself today with so many children home along facing all kinds of temptation. As Geisel say, “So we set in the house we did nothing at all. Doing nothing at all, is something I will not allow in my home. It is one thing to abandon your children and leave them alone, but it is entirely different to watch them sit and do nothing. Geisel makes you aware of the fact that, even though it is raining outside the children are idol. They just, “sit sitsitsit.” (Geisel) They are not reading, or involved in any type of activity.

4. One of the many great things about Geisel is his ability to make you aware of a social problem a fun way. Then walks in the cat in the hat as if he owns the place promising fun and many good tricks. As he puts it, “I will show them to you, your mother will not mind at all if I do.” Geisel uses this fish to open up the mind of both the parent and children. There are predictors out there just waiting to show our kids a lot things that are not good for them. One wonders how many times the youth of today, are startled when a parent is informed about something that they should not be engaged in. I am certain that the percentage is greater now than ever before of children involving themselves in the wrong activity because they do have supervision. Fact, there is a fish in every childs life whether they are left alone of not. It is when he introduces the fish you begin to understand the moral behind the cat. “No! No! Make that cat go away!” Dr. Seus writes. You instantly realize the voice of reason is through a tiny fish that is always, easily dismissed, and looked over. All the while, the cat continues to entice the children in doing things he knows their mother would not approve of. The tiny fish in the background constantly says,” No, tell him to stop.” I wonder how Geisel does it. A man who is childless, but able to dissect and understand the temptations most kids face in the world. This book was published in the fifties and yet it is still very relevant to the time we live in.

5. By the end of the book the cat is introduce to more characters by the name of thing one and thing two. In the chaos he created, he makes a mess of what was once a clean home. The cat claiming, “these things are good things” writes Geisel, when they are not. By this time, you feel the frustration of the author who wants you to empathize with the two children abandoned and left alone to make decisions on their own. One questions the morals of the age we live in today. What we are teaching our children? Are we teaching them to stand up and say no to the cat’s they see? Or do they stand there, unmoving, unable to speak, and to stunned to hear the fish in the background of their minds telling them to say no. At the end of the book, the cat has made a mess and recognizes the time of the mother’s arrival. The fish finally gets their attention, “Do something! Fast! Do you hear!” (Geisel) Upon this statement, they acknowledge their mother getting closer to the house and so the clean up begins. The boy tells the cat, “you do as I say you pack up those things and take them away,” writes Geisel. It takes the fear of getting into trouble to invoked action. When you think about this, a certain realization comes to mind. Most youth of today lack courage to stand up to a person who is a bully without fear. Gesiel has taken a very common perspective in our society and presented it in a way that helps a child understand when something or someone is dishonest. The mother returns home to a clean house, as if nothing has happen. The Cat in the Hat is a book written to help young children read, but it also teaches morals and how to say “NO”!

6. The Cat in the Hat is just one of many books Geisel wrote with great storylines and moral values. Green Eggs and Ham is another classic he wrote. Seuss young reader book, which has the main protagonist presenting a dish that, has never been eaten to a nameless person who simply refused to eat green egss and ham. This book was written in a time when you were disliked simply because of your race. The protagonist whose name is Sam-I-am leaves the nameless person alone after he tastes the green eggs and ham. The nameless person finds he likes the dish shouting “I do I do like green eggs and ham” and takes up the name Sam-I-Am. (Geisel) Written to encouraged reading but leaves lesson that is simple: try not to dislike something due to appearance, to just simply try it, give it a chance. Try to be open minded, engaged in a conversation with the person, you might discover that person could become your best fried. Next, Geisel writes a book called, “Horton Hears a Who.” This is a story about a loveable elephant that discovers a tiny world in a grain of sand. Only to be kicked out of his community because they think he is crazy and try to destroy the small grain of sand. The most unforgettable lines in the book Horton Hears a Who “a person is a person no matter how small.” I love the way Geisel draws in a playful way to grab the attention of child and rhymes in a way to make them want to read leaving, while giving the moral of the story, which is respecting people regardless of their difference. Whether they are big, small, different race, or gender, every one should be treated equal.

7. In society today, first impression plays a very important role in our lives. Thus, parents should leave a very good impression with their children. Everything has become viable to them due to parent buying purchasing anything they ask for. Because of technology, you can now purchase Geisel books on Tag Readers. These books comes with a computerize pen that allows children to read with the pens assistance. This new powerful tool will enable Geisel lessons in life to continue to live in our homes. That is just how wonderful Dr. Geisel books are too many old and young readers. Hop on Pop is also a great book for children to begin to read. Geisel's rythmingwords are specifically uses short vowel for the letter “O.” There are truly many wonderful books Dr. Seuss has written for children to not only become better readers but to also understand the morals the morals behind the story. We give so much freedom, but so little wisdom in morals and integrity. Hoping they will not be like the children in The Cat in the Hat who just stand around and let the cat ruin their house. There is so much Theodor Seuss Geisel’s books offer that we sometimes fail to teach our children. I have always been a fan of his literature as I watch my young children mature, and read the collection of Dr.Suess books. The Cat in the Hat has become one of our favorites. I am satisfied; they are learning to read while rhythms and wonderful illustration of are being taught.

8. Buckna, David. The Good Dr. Seuss. 16 Mar. 2008 . <www.assistnews.net/stories>. Kaplan, Melissa. Theodor Seuss Geisel: Author Study. 19 Dec. 2009. <http://www.anapsid.org/aboutmk/seuss.html>. mitch. Literary Analysis of Dr. Seuss. 09 Feb 2003 . 21 Feb 2010 <slashdoc.com>. Reed, Zero. Themes of Race in Dr. Seuss’ “Green Eggs and Ham” . 19 Aug. 2006. 21 Feb 2010 <bookstove.com/children/themes-of-race-in-dr-seuss-green-eggs-and-ham · >. SCOTT, A. O. Sense and Nonsense . 26 Nov. 2000. <partners.nytimes.com/library/magazine/home/20001126mag-seuss.html · >. Works Citied