Discussion Topic Nine (2010/5/3~5/9): Interpreting the Images from The Little Prince (1)
There are several pictures in The Little Prince that convey important messages concerning the differences between a child's mind and that of an adult's. The picture below is one of them.
Discussion Question: What is the significance of these two pictures for the Little Prince and for you?
The picture on the top is covered with something, so we have to imagine what is inside. The picture below is very interesting, because a huge elephant is hiding there. It's full of imagination.
ReplyDeleteI would like to put me and my child into the first picture. See, one adult and one child are sitting in the tent talking. What fun it is to hide in there.
~Vinia
There must be creativity and imagination. When growing up, people tended to be deficient in innovation. The first time on seeing this painting, my first answer is “this is a hat.”However, little author said it was a boa constrictor swallow an elephant. At that moment, I felt shameful and embarrassed.
ReplyDeleteI am used to thinking in a monotonous way and unwilling to accept the variation aspect on everything. I have forgotten how to fancy the world in a childish way. The little prince is quite innocent and naïve. He just likes a newborn baby to the malicious world. But he follows his own heart and keeps low profile on each circumstance. I am impressed by his innocence and courage.
These personalities motivate a person plowing through hindrance and moving forward to the future. Now, I try to shift my aspect on everything. Being a childish person brings me more joy than before.
saleishia student id:98540315
The naive child asks adults whether or not they are scared by his drawing. Their shared and unanimous answer is a negative because all they see is a normal hat. However, for the naïve child, it is a picture of a snake swallowing an elephant. The naïve child uses his creativity and thoughtful observations to see the surroundings whereas adults don’t bother to slow down their busy steps a little bit. The child realizes adults lack imagination and thus he considerately draws a perspective drawing for them. However, adults consider it useless and boring to draw pictures and tell him to do something significant to them like having a decent job.
ReplyDeleteThe Little Prince is obsessed with the picture the child draws. He criticizes the adults who don’t appreciate them. The Little Prince thinks that adults are unreasonable, unchangeable and stubborn. He doesn’t think there’s anything wrong with the picture; instead, he thinks that this picture is a masterpiece.
I’m quite envious of children’s talents for drawing. I was once inventive and childish when I was a child. When I’m reaching the adulthood, I’m gaining knowledge on the way. Therefore, I learn how to differentiate and have stereotypes of things. I’m no longer into change. Pictures can be used to express and leak out emotions. The picture of the snake swallowing an elephant really makes me reflect a great deal about my past childhood.
Cherry StudentID: 98540339
The Little Prince can understand the author’s painting. He is very pure, innocent and imaginative. The Little Prince’s thought is clear and hasn’t been polluted yet so his mind is not confined to adults’ thoughts. He can imagine whatever he wants and conveys his ideas to people by his way.
ReplyDeleteAdults can do that too when they are still children. Because when they are still little children, they are innocent and therefore are imaginative. However, as they become adults, they go through so many things that they learn that something is good while something is bad. Their thoughts are confined. Therefore, they no longer could be so imaginative as children.
student ID：98540343
In my opinion, the little prince has a pure and innocent heart. He is not a complicated adult,so he can understand what the author wants to convey in the picture. If I am a child, I can see a thing in a pure way which is very different from adults. Besides, children are very imaginative. They can see a things in many way.
ReplyDeletestudent ID:98540334
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI think the two pictures express the innocence, sincerity of the little prince. It needn't be explained too much, and it was just drawn without any special meaning. However, it was just drawn from creation. For me, as a child, there were all my imaginations in the first picture. As a adult, the second picture shows my thoughts have been limited by the society and the world of adults.
ReplyDeletestudent ID: 98540335
I think the Little Prince has the utter innocence. He is not influenced by adults' thought and remains the pure imagination. The first picture leaves me thinking imaginatively and creatively. On the contrary, the second one restricts my idea. It reveals an elephant in a snake's stomach. Then, all that comes to my mind is just the same as the picture. I think the real world really limits our mind or some other things.
ReplyDeletestudent id:98540332
When the first time that I saw these two pictures, I couldn’t imagine that it’s an elephant eaten by a snake because it hardly happens in the reality.
ReplyDeleteThe little prince is an imaginative child that he could imagine many things that differentiate from those in adult’s mind. These two pictures is a whole new standard for me because they teach me that I can think things with different ways instead of using monotonous way to look things. Using different ways can learn different things.
Adults see the first picture as a hat, while the little actually draws an elephant swallowed by a boa constrictor. When the little prince explains to adults, they refuse to accept his statement. In this case, little prince criticizes that adults are unrepentant and their thoughts lack of imagination. Well, little prince’s idea of the picture really gives me a reflection. However, coming back to these two pictures, I doubt whether I would have other answers in my childhood perspective. Perhaps, I still think it is a hat. XD
ReplyDeletestudent ID:98540338
When I first time see this picture, I was shocked! Because it recalled what I forget in the past. We always know we need have a child's mind ,but we always forget to keep it. I like this picture and after I see it ,I always remember it. I think it's not only imagine ,but also child's mind.
ReplyDeletefrom: Yao ID:95820328
There is a boa constrictor digesting an elephant in these two pictures for the Little Prince, but it is just a hat for me. The Little Prince is so innocent, considerate and creative. He can look at the essence of these two pictures and considers things without constrain. It is easy that we are affected by the appearance and value which are only the surface of all things. Hence, the Little Prince’s way of thinking could be an example for people to follow.
ReplyDeletefrom Eric 鍾昕展, Student ID 95360305
The two pictures are basically the same, but as we age we see things differently. In the little prince, the story wanted to concieve the difference between the adult world and a childs world. As an adult life is a burden, bills to pay, dead lines to meet, children to raise and educate, people to impress and so on. As adults our sights have been blurred, we've lost focus, and lost our imagination. We've lost the naiveness, the purity of a child, the innovation, the innocence, and our inner child( knowing how to have fun without considering of the consequences). The writer hopes that mayeb out of or hectic life of work and burdens, we could return to neverland and let out our inner child once in a while.
ReplyDeletefrom 98540326 Serene Hu.
I think generally speaking, people think that it is just a hat. Indeed, in my point of view, I think it is a hat, too. However, when little prince says it is a snake swallowing an elephant, I’m really surprised for I think his imagination is very great. Maybe it is because he has a profound and thoughtful mind, he can see through what the painter of the photo wants to express. I really appreciate his ability of imaging things. Maybe the little prince thinks in the hat, it is the world and knowledge he wants to get. As for me, I think in the hat, there are affections and great relationship I have with my dear family.
ReplyDelete~from Moranda Huang Student ID:98540324~
These two pictures to me shows that how human changes while they grow. I think that when you are a child, children do not know anything about the world and full of uncertainty and curiosity.
ReplyDeleteThat is why children want to try new things and learn new things because they are not affraid of making mistakes and have the passion for everything. But adults can not have the guts to try because they have this kind of fear. Fear that they might get scolded or laughed for not doing something well for this world is cruel. The world gets more and more complicated and tough people choose things with more and more conditions. Because life is getting harder, adults need to survive therfore they begin to scare of making mistake and ignore things around them. That's why they don't wanna spend time on something that's creative and probably bring them happiness. That' also the reason why I think the adults in Little prince don't understand the picture.
98540306 MaggieLin
Compared to the first picture, the second one signifies the innocence of the little prince. The little prince is full of imagination, which reminds the readers that we should not be contaminated by circumstances and stay away from being sophisticated. Life is supposed to be interesting and filled with imagination. Don’t take everything in a monotonous way and be creative. With Creation, our life would be enlightening and contains a lot of excitement. As for me, I was kind of surprised by the little prince’s extraordinary imagination of the picture. He also metaphorically gives me a lesson that I should always look on the bright sight when facing the difficulties. Attitude is everything. Looking at the predicament in a positive attitude, I believe I would be happy all the time.
ReplyDeleteFROM:Sally侯怡如 ID:98540320
Compared with the first picture, the second picture tells the imagination of people and the innocence of children.
ReplyDeleteAs for me, well, frankly speaking, when i saw the 1st picture, i did not think it is a hat, and i thought that there was someting covered by the clothing or some thing but i did not think it too much. And when i saw the 2nd picture, i realized how amazing is our human imagination for i might not think that there is an elephant in a snake's mouth, it is quite interesting, isn't it? What's more, when i know that most people take this as hat, i was wondering " why people would rather gice such answer? wouldn't they think something more about it? Much more creative about it?" and i found out that our imagination and creativity are gradually losing for we do not use it. I think it is pity and we should make good use of our own imagination and creativity which would bring our life much more interesting and fun!
## 98540340 Enid Lin
We could not judge one thing via appearance. Everything has its inner qualities which are undiscovered. Adults and kids have difference manner of thinking. The abilities of organization are various. In some cases, it would cause some misunderstandings and bewilderments. We all have much creation and imagination. As time passed, we gradually lose the abilities. At the end, we become a rational and realistic person who only regards benefits and profits. In order to prevent this, I think we should try to remain this gift. Try our best to be creative and innovative.
ReplyDelete# 98540342 Aaron
I think it is saying that grownups only see the appearance of the picture because they are lack of imagination; on the other hand kids tend to think more and imagine what it would be like to be inside the picture. I think it’s a really important thing that we still have a hart of a child and don’t stop thinking about things. Although when you grow up, you have a lot of presser in life and stop your imagination. I think the book is trying to tell you that although we are really busy in our life, don’t forget to stop and make a little space for our imaginations, that way you’ll find life aren’t that insipid.
ReplyDeleteA hat? Or an elephant in a snake? As far as I am concerned, as long as people are still innocent enough, they will give you the second answer. However, people now only focus on things which will make the fortune rather something full of creativity. Nowadays, people become snobbish and selfish. On the contrary, if people are as naive as the little prince, they can see things in different aspects, and then the answer will change. I think that we should try hard to maintain our creativity and imagination because both of them can make our life more colorful and interesting.
ReplyDeleteI think these two pictures are full of imagination. When the first time I saw these pictures, I was like an adult thinking that it was just a hat. After reading the explanation of the author and imagined seriously, I found the Little Prince and the author were both very creative. In this book, most of people especially adults are lack of imagination, for they often take everything for granted and are unwilling to use their brain to think. This is like our modern people, who only see the surface of things without observing carefully. I think we should learn children’s lively imagination, which can make our lives become more colorful and our mind are full of creativity.
ReplyDeletefrom 98540345 Nicky Kuo
I think these two pictures would like to express the naive, purity, innocent and imaginative. To children, there is one thought coming up their minds. A snake eats an elephant. nothing else. But why all the adults tell them it is a hat. Children could not understand how come it is. Therefore the Little Prince think grownups are odd.
ReplyDeleteTo me, what I think is what the story told us. I thought it is a hat. Maybe I am not pure any more. I learned so many things from the media. They always tell us what is right or what is wrong. It killed our imagination. After reading the story, I should view things in different ways.
From 曾昱翔 student ID 95360306
When I saw the first picture for the first time, I thought it is a hat without hesitation, but actually I was wrong. The second picture tells us that it is a painting of a boa constrictor digesting an elephant. When we grow older and older, our imagination and creativity seems become less and less. The narrator and the Little Prince are so innocent and naive that they could understand the painting at the first sight. Their thoughts are not influence by this complicated society and can observe things from many different perspectives. For everybody, I think it is very important to keep a pure heart, just like the author and the Little Prince.
ReplyDelete~from 陳金巧 Kim Student ID: 98540301~
In my opinion, both of these two pictures are full of imagination and creation. For the Little Prince, he thinks it is an elephant covered with a clothe whose thought is the same as the author. Little Prince’s mind is like a child, he is always curious about anything and has different perspective form adults. For me, when I first saw the first picture, I think it is a ugly hat which is abandoned by someone. But when I knew the truth, I was shocked and ashamed since I think I have lost my imagination gradually and I can only see the surface of things instead of thinking outside the box.
ReplyDeletestudent ID:98540321
The first time that I saw the upper pictures, I thought that there is a little cat under a blanket.
ReplyDeleteI think these two pictures enable me to be just like a little kid. I found that I became a curious kid, and just purely imagine what on earth the animal is under the blanket.
I do love the pictures because I feel relaxing when making a guess what the picture means. It helps me to go back to my childhood.
What is the significance of these two pictures for the Little Prince and for you?
ReplyDeleteI think the first picture means what the adult thinks. The second picture is much more imaginative and more like what a child think of. When people grow up, they gradually think like a adult. Therefore, they really can't think more imaginative and more creative. I love the second picture more than the first one. It really reminds me that being an adult doesn't mean you have to think like an adult. Sometimes when you think like a kid is more helpful to what you encounter.
What is the significance of these two pictures for the Little Prince and for you?
ReplyDeleteI think the significance of this two picture for me is having more imaginations is a important thing.
from:小玠 ID:95820317
When we do not know the answer. For the first time,I think it is a hat, nothing special.After tell the answer, the surprise was a snake swallow the elephant!! I was very surprised. I think the kids are very imaginative. Then when I was home,I was wondering whether I was not children. So I think I seem to be mature, serious, ordinary,and not as imaginative child. This is what we have to think.
ReplyDeletestudent ID:95360326,Jonny
What is the significance of these two pictures for the Little Prince and for you?
ReplyDeleteThe first picture represents the image of ordinary grown-ups. On the contrary, the second picture is the imagination for little prince, he has strong ability of imagery. He thinks that a elephant is hided by the hat. When I am a child, I also link something easy to something special.
ID 98540317
What is the significance of these two pictures for the Little Prince and for you?
ReplyDeleteI think the significance of these two pictures for the Little Prince is the narrator can speak to his heart and stir his imagination, so the narrator and the Little Prince can match each other and start their first conversation. Their good relationship begins to build because of these two pictures. Moreover, because the narrator is an adult and the Little Prince is a child, it resembles that parents tell stories to their children.
Therefore, for me these two pictures let me recall my memory about my childhood and the pictures stimulate my imagination, too. At first, I am not very sure about what the author draws. I think there must be something hiding inside the mud in the first picture. However, I find it is unfortunate that adults always think it is a hat. It appears that adults’ imagination is killed by themselves or the society. I am so glad that my imagination is better than adults because adults’ imaginations are going to be killed totally. What I learn from these two pictures is I should let my imagination go widely and don’t try to confine my imagination or other people’s. Just keep our young minds and have our own imaginations. Don’t be influenced by our society’s stereotype on everything.
~from 賴幼鳳 Student ID number: 98540348
I think that the Little Prince wants to remind us of having a thought of innocent and childlike. Young children always express and think directly. They draw, say, and learn what they exactly see. But we adults will think twice before saying a word, and we will take things too seriously and complicatedly. Besides, we are lack of imagination. In children’s mind, everything is fantasy to them. But on the other hand, adults are always busy and they don’t want to spend time on something unreal. In my opinion, I think the significance of these two pictures is that I should relax myself more often. And sometimes, I can see things in a child way. Maybe I can find that it is more interesting than I’m thinking now.
ReplyDelete98540349 顏筱瑄
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ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, these two pictures tell me that if we can see throgh the truth. Looking at something, we may just see the surface. But if we pay more attention, we can know what is inside or the message conveyed.
ReplyDelete~郭偉達98540346