1. The Lowest Animal by Mark Twain
Feature Menu
Introducing the Story
Literary Skills Focus: Satire—The Weapon of Laughter
Literary Skills Focus: Literary Perspectives
Reading Skills Focus: Recognizing a Writer’s Purpose
Writing Skills Focus: Think as a Reader/Writer

2. The Lowest Animal by Mark Twain
What forces shape human character?

3. The Lowest Animal Introducing the Story
Click on the title to start the video.

4. The Lowest Animal Introducing the Story
As a humorist, Mark Twain had a keen eye and sharp aim on social problems
He used his wit as a weapon to target injustice.

5. The Lowest Animal Introducing the Story
In “The Lowest Animal,” Twain pokes fun at the stature of humans within the animal kingdom.
He lampoons a broad spectrum of subjects: greed, slavery, war, the subjection of women, science, and religion.
[End of Section]

6. The Lowest Animal Literary Skills Focus: Satire—The Weapon of Laughter
To bring about social change, satire ridicules the shortcomings of people and institutions.
I have been studying the traits and dispositions of the “lower animals” (so-called) and contrasting them with the traits and dispositions of man. I find the result humiliating to me. For it obliges me to renounce my allegiance to the Darwinian theory of the Ascent of Man from the Lower Animals, since it now seems plain to me that that theory ought to be vacated in favor of a new and truer one the Descent of Man from the Higher Animals.
From “The Lowest Animal” from Letters from the Earth by Mark Twain, edited by Bernard DeVoto. Copyright 1938, 1944, 1946, © 1959, 1962 by The Mark Twain Company. Copyright 1942 by The President and Fellows of Harvard College. Reproduced by permission of HarperCollins Publishers. 6

7. The Lowest Animal Literary Skills Focus: Satire—The Weapon of Laughter
Although satire is meant to be funny, its main purpose is to attack something the author strongly disapproves of—using the weapon of wit.
The political world and the social scene are a satirist’s common targets. 7

8. The Lowest Animal Literary Skills Focus: Satire—The Weapon of Laughter
Satire began as a literary form, with the writer taking up the pen to poke fun through exaggeration and irony.
Today you can find satire in books, plays, song lyrics, talk shows, cartoons, graphic novels, and web sites. Can you think of an example? 8

9. The Lowest Animal Literary Skills Focus: Satire—The Weapon of Laughter
A favorite technique of the satirist is exaggeration— overstating something to make it look ridiculous.
I was aware that many men who have accumulated more millions of money than they can ever use have shown a rabid hunger for more I furnished a hundred different kinds of wild and tame animals the opportunity to accumulate vast stores of food, but none of them would do it [T]he ant pretended to store up supplies, but I was not deceived. I know the ant.
From “The Lowest Animal” from Letters from the Earth by Mark Twain, edited by Bernard DeVoto. Copyright 1938, 1944, 1946, © 1959, 1962 by The Mark Twain Company. Copyright 1942 by The President and Fellows of Harvard College. Reproduced by permission of HarperCollins Publishers. 9

10. The Lowest Animal Literary Skills Focus: Satire—The Weapon of Laughter
Irony is another important technique in the art of satire. Irony is a discrepancy or contrast
between what is said and what is really meant
between what appears to be true and what is really true

11. The Lowest Animal Literary Skills Focus: Satire—The Weapon of Laughter
There are three basic types of irony
verbal irony
situational irony
dramatic irony
Verbal irony is unique because it is produced by speakers on purpose to make a point.

12. The Lowest Animal Literary Skills Focus: Satire—The Weapon of Laughter
Verbal Irony
Verbal irony occurs when someone says one thing but means the opposite. It
is the simplest kind of irony
can become sarcasm if taken to a harsh extreme
“I don’t think I’ve read enough books about computers yet,” Mr. Blavatsky said.

13. The Lowest Animal Literary Skills Focus: Satire—The Weapon of Laughter
Verbal Irony
Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice begins with an excellent example of verbal irony.
It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife.
How is this an example of verbal irony? What examples of verbal irony does Twain use in “The Lowest Animal”?
[End of Section]

14. The Lowest Animal Literary Skills Focus: Analyzing Historical Context
To understand some of the major social issues Twain addresses, consider what was going on during the time in which he lived.
In other words, consider the historical context for his works.

15. The Lowest Animal Literary Skills Focus: Analyzing Historical Context
During Twain’s Lifetime
Twain was born and raised in the slaveholding state of Missouri during the decades leading up to the Civil War.
In fact, his book Adventures of Huckleberry Finn addresses the horrible effects of slavery on both slaves and slave owners.

16. The Lowest Animal Literary Skills Focus: Analyzing Historical Context
During Twain’s Lifetime
Other issues regarding human rights were also gaining attention during Twain’s lifetime:
Women were beginning to organize to fight for greater political rights.
Many businessmen of the late 1800s were profiting from the backbreaking work of the lower classes, so the plight of the poor was a growing concern.

17. The Lowest Animal Literary Skills Focus: Analyzing Historical Context
During Twain’s Lifetime
Also during this time, scientific studies, such as those conducted by Charles Darwin, caused many people to
rethink traditional ideas about religion.
give greater credence to the idea that environment influences human behavior.
Charles Darwin

18. The Lowest Animal Literary Skills Focus: Analyzing Historical Context
During Twain’s Lifetime
As you read, think about how Twain’s writing reflects the changing attitudes toward slavery, work, women’s rights, science, and religion that he may have perceived during his lifetime.
[End of Section]

19. The Lowest Animal Reading Skills Focus: Recognizing a Writer’s Purpose
A writer can have many reasons for writing.
to describe
to inform
to entertain
to narrate
to analyze
to persuade 19

20. The Lowest Animal Reading Skills Focus: Recognizing a Writer’s Purpose
Recognizing a writer’s purpose helps you understand the meaning of that writer’s work.
A satirist’s main purpose is to bring about change through humor. 20

21. The Lowest Animal Reading Skills Focus: Recognizing a Writer’s Purpose
A satirist uses humorous exaggeration as a tool to
attack something with which the author disagrees
prompt people to reexamine their beliefs and values
encourage the development of new attitudes and perspectives
bring about real-world change 21

22. The Lowest Animal Reading Skills Focus: Recognizing a Writer’s Purpose
In writing this paragraph, what might Mark Twain’s purpose be?
The higher animals engage in individual fights, but never in organized masses. Man is the only animal that deals in that atrocity of atrocities, war. He is the only one that gathers his brethren about him and goes forth in cold blood and with calm pulse to exterminate his kind.
From “The Lowest Animal” from Letters from the Earth by Mark Twain, edited by Bernard DeVoto. Copyright 1938, 1944, 1946, © 1959, 1962 by The Mark Twain Company. Copyright 1942 by The President and Fellows of Harvard College. Reproduced by permission of HarperCollins Publishers.
What is the subject of Twain’s attack? 22

23. The Lowest Animal Reading Skills Focus: Recognizing a Writer’s Purpose
Into Action: Use a chart to record examples of exaggeration and irony used to make a point. In the second column, comment on the point Twain makes.
Examples of Exaggeration and Irony
Twain’s Point
“The Descent of Man from the higher Animals”
It sounds like Twain believes animals are more advanced than humans.
[End of Section]

24. The Lowest Animal Writing Skills Focus: Think as a Reader/Writer
Find It in Your Reading
Satirists frequently use exaggeration to point out social follies or absurdities.
In “The Lowest Animal,” for example, Twain writes that man “has made a graveyard of the globe,” an obvious exaggeration.
As you read, use a notebook to record other examples of exaggeration.
[End of Section] 24

25. Vocabulary

26. The Lowest Animal Vocabulary
dispositions n.: natural ways of acting or thinking.
verified v.: proved something to be true.
caliber n.: quality or ability.
wantonly adv.: carelessly, often with ill will.
transition n.: passage from one condition, form, or stage to another.
avaricious adj.: greedy.
atrocious adj.: very evil, savage, or brutal.

27. The Lowest Animal Vocabulary
The word dispositions refers to temperaments or natural ways of acting or thinking.
“Pleasant dispositions make teamwork easy,” said Principal Leonard. 27

28. The Lowest Animal Vocabulary
Which student appears to have a positive disposition?

29. The Lowest Animal Vocabulary
If something has been verified, it has been proven to be true or correct.
The travel agent verified that our passports were current. 29

30. The Lowest Animal Vocabulary
The names of the candidates couldn’t be verified in time for the student newspaper’s deadline because ________
. . . the student newspaper’s fact checker couldn’t access the database. 30

31. The Lowest Animal Vocabulary
Caliber is used to describe a level of quality or ability.
“We don’t often receive applicants of such a high caliber,” said the internship director. 31

32. The Lowest Animal Vocabulary
Which of the following words has the same meaning as caliber?
a. stronghold
b. belief
c. ability

33. The Lowest Animal Vocabulary
Wantonly is used to describe something that is handled carelessly, often with ill will or unruly disregard.
The commercial fisherman wantonly tossed nets into the school of dolphins. 33

34. The Lowest Animal Vocabulary
Which employee appears to be performing his tasks wantonly?

35. The Lowest Animal Vocabulary
A transition is a passage from one form or stage to another.
Ali’s transition from inexperienced tennis player to district champion is the result of hours of practice.

36. The Lowest Animal Vocabulary
When you think of the word transition, what other words come to mind?
Word:
Definition:
Image:
Sentence:
transition
n.: passage from one form or stage to another.
Examples:
change
evolution
conversion
Joy is in transition from high school to college student.
shift

37. The Lowest Animal Vocabulary
Avaricious means “greedy” or “materialistic.”
Because Soon-yi offered to share her prize from the radio call-in contest, it is clear that she is not avaricious.

38. The Lowest Animal Vocabulary
Which word is the opposite of avaricious?
greedy
rapacious
grasping
generous
covetous
materialistic
acquisitive 38

39. The Lowest Animal Vocabulary
Atrocious means “very evil, savage, or brutal.”
The documentary showed the atrocious conditions under which some animals were kept.

40. The Lowest Animal Vocabulary
Which office building probably has the more atrocious working conditions?
[End of Section] 40

41. The End

42. QuickTalk

43. The Lowest Animal How can laughter be a positive force?
QuickTalk
How can laughter be a positive force?
Think of times when humor has brought about positive results.
Describe these times to a partner.
[End of Section]

44. Meet the Writer

45. The Lowest Animal
Meet the Writer
Mark Twain (1835–1910) is the most celebrated humorist in U.S. history.
Born Samuel Langhorne Clemens in the backwoods of Missouri, he worked as a printer, steamboat pilot, soldier, gold prospector, storyteller, and journalist before taking up the pen to launch a prosperous literary career.
more about the writer
[End of Section]

46. Build Background

47. The Lowest Animal Build Background
Twain satirizes human nature by describing a series of scientific experiments that he supposedly conducted at the London Zoological Gardens.
He humorously addresses Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution, which was developed in On the Origin of Species (1859) and The Descent of Man (1871). Twain takes one of Darwin’s central ideas—that humans ascended from earlier ancestors, or the “lower animals”—and turns it upside down.
[End of Section]

48. Read with a Purpose

49. The Lowest Animal Read with a Purpose
Read to learn how Twain comes to the conclusion that human beings are inferior to other animals.
[End of Section]