Elephant or Elebird?: dialogic formation of truth and subjectivity in Dr. Seuss's Horton Hatches the Egg & Horton Hears a Who!. Issue 2 (3rd April 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kimiagari, Mohammad Mehdi
• Is Part Of: International journal of children's spirituality. Volume 22:Issue 2(2017)
• Page Start: 154
• Page End: 162
• Publication Date: 2017-04-03
• Subjects: Mikhail Bakhtin -- Dr. Seuss -- dialogism -- Horton -- subjectivity; Moral education -- Periodicals; Religious education -- Periodicals; Spirituality -- Periodicals; Children -- Religious life -- Periodicals; 155.25
• DOI: 10.1080/1364436X.2017.1289899
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1364-436X

Abstract

Abstract: The voice of the other seems to become more than just a marginal voice in Dr. Seuss's Horton stories. Throughout these two narratives the character of this big elephant constantly reinforces the marginal voice of the other through a dialogic relationship. Horton the elephant cannot and will not stand a ruling voice. He persistently searches for the other. He is big and he does big things for small things. His acts of compassion and solicitude can best be explained through Mikhail Bakhtin's views on dialogism and language. The aim of this essay is to analyse the mentioned stories in the light of Bakhtin's theories on discourse and subjectivity. All through both of these books in children's literature, readers can detect the dialogic formation of truth and subjectivity as Horton experiences the clash of marginal with dominant. Margin crosses the borders of the centre and therein lies the rub.