Rhetorical Analysis

The Lowest Animal by Mark Twain shatters the illusion that the human species is superior in every way to animals. The essay satirizes that animals are superior to the human species through the use of made up experiments. Twain utilizes these experiments to demonstrate the parallels between the behaviors of animals and man. These experiments showcase how animals are the “higher animals”. Even more, the experiments are attempting to prove how we, as man, have descended from these higher animals only to lose a few of their favorable traits.

Twain uses a scientific method as explained by him without the use of opinion or to disclose his beliefs made for a trustworthy writer. To prove that, he gathered information revealing the descent of man. In this, he made clear of every possible assumption. By setting up legitimacy ahead of the essay, Twain can play with the audiences' desires later when he reveals his tests to be a relationship between human and animal traits. By utilizing experimental differentiations between man and animals Twain reasonably shows that people, in their brutal attributes and sporadic practices, are entirely worse than the animals.

In fact, it could be said that this is indeed a satirical writing, as it is quite unlikely that the author actually placed several humans in a cage, whom all killed each other on the grounds of difference of opinions. It appears that the majority of this satire is used to underscore the pure disbelief Mr. Twain has towards the actions of the human race in comparison to their animal

Twain proceeds with his vivid metaphors which he calls experiments. He persuades his readers to examine the ill traits of humanity and see the world through his eyes. One example of this is when he describes an article about how three monks were burnt

(Twain, 13)” This is an example of greed, instead of using ones’ earnings that is useless to them and giving it to someone that could benefit more from it, one often keeps it. This proves mankind 's trait of greed is consistent, but who is to say that it is not also common in higher animals? Well Mark Twain put this to the test with his experiments, “ 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. The squirrels and bees and certain birds made accumulations, but stopped when they had gathered a winter supply, and could not be persuaded to add to it either honestly or by chicane (Twain,

A major point within “Why the Beaver Should Thank the Wolf” is that the predators are not always the big problem, but instead a big help, and that they are withering down to a non-existent state. The animal that Hannibal uses as an example is the wolf in Wyoming. I believe whole heartedly with Hannibal in saying that if it was not for the wolves, many ecosystems and the prey would not thrive as much as they do.

In How Smart are Animals? The author Dorothy Hinshaw Patent, is entertaining us when she puts in the anecdote to tell us that animals aren't smart they are just trained good as well as being descended from wolves, and that is how Villa helps Andrea she doesn't understand the concept of danger. Patent is informing us that animals do understand us and they are intelligent. She starts off she story by giving us a little entertaining section like a hook about 2 paragraphs long to get us to learn about how smart animals really are. This story was made as a supported informational evidence piece because it was full of evidence supporting the central claim of, animals aren't just ¨animals¨ they do understand and they do have feelings. Patent includes

Also,“[t]he passion of revenge is unknown to the higher animals” (Twain 537). Man cannot get over the

Through his writing, Twain displays how people follow the trend because they do not want to be left out in the society. 2. In the beginning of “Corn-Pone Opinions”, Twain uses “I” and then switches to “we” when he refers to the society and how conformity

Before Rainsford entered the “Dangerous Game,” General Zaroff, the owner of the island, tried to persuade Rainsford to believe that killing humans is not murder. The General was explaining to Rainsford that he had invented a new animal to hunt, a animal that can reason, make hunting last longer and more interesting, humans. Rainsford couldn’t help but to speak; “‘Hunting? Good God, General Zaroff, what you speak of is murder’” (Connell 27).

According to Mark Twain's, "The Lowest Animal" there are few similarities between man and animal, but many differences. Twain also sends the message that animals are far superior to humans, through various experiments. The main differences noted are related to cruelty, indecency, and fighting, all of which put man below animals. First, cruelty is described as a trait that only man has, not animals. Animals will kill, only for what they need to survive, whereas man will kill for sport and enjoyment.

Money and fine clothes could not mend the defects or cover them up; they only made hem more glaring and more pathetic.” (136)Even though he was a “white man”, he still acted as a slave. Twain is proving that the nurture, or family that someone is raised by shapes their true

Mark Twain is a world renowned author who has explored many concepts on societal issues. One of his most famous works, A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court, touches on many views Twain had on societal issues. He also discusses the struggle of being in the sixth century. When reading the novel, one may realize that the story is a satire of his beliefs. For example, he was appalled by the idea of the Church, and displays his disgust in the novel.

Romantic authors wrote about the gallantry and chivalrousness of the nobility and the kindness and graciousness shown towards the common folk (Class). However, Twain exposes the Romantics’ naivety through Sandy’s child-like disillusion of the swineherds as ogres and their idiocy for writing tales themselves about knights and ogres as though they were fact. Through the adventures of Hank Morgan in sixth century England and by lambasting the nonsensical romantic writers, Mark Twain conveys the message to his readers to be critical of the world.

“What are we? Humans? Or animals? Or savages? (79)”, this quote is from the book, Lord of the Flies by William Golding.