C5:The Lowest Animal: Analyzing the Text, p.380
Directions: Complete Questions 1-8 by typing the questions in BLUE and the answers in
BLACK. The format should be question-answer format. For example:
1. In lines 1-8, how does Twain indicate his intention to satirize Darwin’s ideas about human
nature? How does this paragraph reveal Twain’s tone toward humans and animals?
Twain satirizes Darwin’s ideas about human nature by saying how he “renounces” his
“allegiance” to Darwin’s theory of the Ascent of Man from the Lower Animals. He further says
that the “lower animals” humiliate Twain as he compared their traits with that of man. This
paragraph reveals his thoughts on humans as he thinks that we are far more inferior to animals
rather than vice versa. We are a destructive race hat further devolve as animals only evolve.
2. In lines 9-17, Twain says that he reached his conclusions by following the scientific method.
How well does the rest of the essay support this assertion?
His essay supports this assertion as he explains his hypothesis, generalization, experiments, data,
area in where he worked, and talks about his procedures and what he found within this
experiment. He also proved every postulate presented by testing it in an actual experiment and
saw to adopting or rejecting the postulate according to the results.
3. When describing a buffalo hunt, Twain writes, they had charming sport (line 38). How does
the rest of the passage reveal the irony that is implicit in this statement?
He reveals irony within this passage by first calling it a charming sport to hunt the great animals,
but then not long afterwards, he proceeds to insult the Earl saying that he is cruel whereas the
anaconda is not. He then says that we descended from the anaconda not the other way around for
we lost our way in which we became cruel.
4. What is the outcome when Twain tries to persuade different wild and tame animals to
accumulate vast stores of food? What purpose do the examples serve
The animals proved to not take more than what they need even despite the use of trickery. Every
animal gave back what was in excess and only took enough for a winter’s supply. He uses birds,
bees, squirrels, and even ants to prove that we are careless people who simply destroy and take
more than what they need; thus, they are higher animals than we are.
5. Twain cites many examples of human cruelty through the ages. What purpose do these
examples serve? ()
Twain refers to how Man is the only animal to enslave. This reference is to prove the
point that Man is not as high as portrayed. Twain connects cruel acts to Man and exploits the fact
that Man is one of the lowest animals on earth.
6. What does Twain mean when he writes that Man is the Animal that blushes. He is the only one
that does it or has occasion to? (85-86)
Twain elaborates how there are certain emotions “are strictly confined to man” and that
animals are lower than man as man has purpose behind such actions. For example, Twain
declares how monkeys and man laughs; however, the monkey is compared to a bird called the
This study source was downloaded by 100000860007226 from CourseHero.com on 02-08-2023 14:22:23 GMT -06:00
https://www.coursehero.com/file/56323676/Copy-of-C5-The-Lowest-Animal-Analyzing-the-Text-p380/
Directions: Complete Questions 1-8 by typing the questions in BLUE and the answers in
BLACK. The format should be question-answer format. For example:
1. In lines 1-8, how does Twain indicate his intention to satirize Darwin’s ideas about human
nature? How does this paragraph reveal Twain’s tone toward humans and animals?
Twain satirizes Darwin’s ideas about human nature by saying how he “renounces” his
“allegiance” to Darwin’s theory of the Ascent of Man from the Lower Animals. He further says
that the “lower animals” humiliate Twain as he compared their traits with that of man. This
paragraph reveals his thoughts on humans as he thinks that we are far more inferior to animals
rather than vice versa. We are a destructive race hat further devolve as animals only evolve.
2. In lines 9-17, Twain says that he reached his conclusions by following the scientific method.
How well does the rest of the essay support this assertion?
His essay supports this assertion as he explains his hypothesis, generalization, experiments, data,
area in where he worked, and talks about his procedures and what he found within this
experiment. He also proved every postulate presented by testing it in an actual experiment and
saw to adopting or rejecting the postulate according to the results.
3. When describing a buffalo hunt, Twain writes, they had charming sport (line 38). How does
the rest of the passage reveal the irony that is implicit in this statement?
He reveals irony within this passage by first calling it a charming sport to hunt the great animals,
but then not long afterwards, he proceeds to insult the Earl saying that he is cruel whereas the
anaconda is not. He then says that we descended from the anaconda not the other way around for
we lost our way in which we became cruel.
4. What is the outcome when Twain tries to persuade different wild and tame animals to
accumulate vast stores of food? What purpose do the examples serve
The animals proved to not take more than what they need even despite the use of trickery. Every
animal gave back what was in excess and only took enough for a winter’s supply. He uses birds,
bees, squirrels, and even ants to prove that we are careless people who simply destroy and take
more than what they need; thus, they are higher animals than we are.
5. Twain cites many examples of human cruelty through the ages. What purpose do these
examples serve? ()
Twain refers to how Man is the only animal to enslave. This reference is to prove the
point that Man is not as high as portrayed. Twain connects cruel acts to Man and exploits the fact
that Man is one of the lowest animals on earth.
6. What does Twain mean when he writes that Man is the Animal that blushes. He is the only one
that does it or has occasion to? (85-86)
Twain elaborates how there are certain emotions “are strictly confined to man” and that
animals are lower than man as man has purpose behind such actions. For example, Twain
declares how monkeys and man laughs; however, the monkey is compared to a bird called the
This study source was downloaded by 100000860007226 from CourseHero.com on 02-08-2023 14:22:23 GMT -06:00
https://www.coursehero.com/file/56323676/Copy-of-C5-The-Lowest-Animal-Analyzing-the-Text-p380/
