KidLit Forum

In science and philosophy a just-so story, also called an adhoc fallacy, is an unverifiable and unfalsifiable narrative explanation for a cultural practice, a biological trait or behaviour of humans or other animals (source: Wikipedia)
THE ELEPHANT’S CHILD is one of my favourite ones (beside THE BEGINNING OF THE ARMADILLOS) because to its resemblance to THE LITTLE PRINCE by Exupery = the same curious child that is not understood by the adults around him, or understands the world in a different way.
Although the story is a little bit long, it is still easy to read due to the repetition of certain fragments, assonances („frisking and whisking his trunk, „slushy-squshy mud”), alliteration(„a really truly trunk”) and tongue twisters („the great grey-green, greasy Limpopo river”) that gives rhythm to the story.
There are a few occasions, still, where young readers may have difficulties in understanding the text: „(...) it is my opinion that your acquaintance in the large pattern leather ulster (and by this he meant the Crocodile) will jerk you into yonder limpid stream before you can say Jack Robinson.”; „Rash and inexperienced traveller, we will now seriously devote ourselves to a little high tension, because if we do not, it is my impression that yonder self – propelling man-of-war with the armor-plated upper deck (and by this, O Best Beloved, he meant the Crocodile) will permanently viciate your future career. ”
The language in this story (except for the observations above) is pretty accessible to young readers and it provides a good reading material, as the author uses linking pronunciation (here coarticulation: overlapping sounds) for a more fluid reading and for a more naturalistic sound: „(...)and he said, speaking through his nose, like this Led go! You are hurtig be” , „This is too butch for be!”, „Scuse me.”
Upside down aestheticism is to be read when the elephant’s family describe its new trunk:
„It looks very ugly,said his hairy uncle , the Baboon.”
„It does, said the Elephant’s Child, But it is very useful (...).”

It is also worth noticing the beginning of the story: given the fact that it is a story one can assume that it should have the classic formula of Once upon a time. Well, this expression is changed to a more beautiful, and why not poetic one: "In the High and Far off times..."

The most beautiful part of the story is the end poem which summarizes the whole collection of stories - porquoi stories:
I KEEP six honest serving-men:
(They taught me all I knew)
Their names are What and Where and When
And How and Why and Who.
I send them over land and sea,
I send them east and west;
But after they have worked for me,
I give them all a rest.
I let them rest from nine till five.
For I am busy then,
As well as breakfast, lunch, and tea,
For they are hungry men:
But different folk have different views:
I know a person small—
She keeps ten million serving-men,
Who get no rest at all!
She sends ‘em abroad on her own affairs,
From the second she opens her eyes—
One million Hows, two million Wheres,
And seven million Whys!

_________________
Monika Bandi