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Similarities between Shell Silverstein and Dr. Seuss.
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Mike ClinePaper 3Petrusky
Shel Silverstein
“Masks” “Hug O’ War”
She had blue skin, I will not play at tug o’ war.
And so did he. I’d rather play at hug o’ war,
He kept it hid Where everyone hugs
And so did she. Instead of tugs,
They searched for blue Where everyone giggles
Their whole life through, and rolls on the rug,
Then passed right by— Where everyone kisses,
And never knew. And everyone grins,
And everyone cuddles,
And everyone wins.
Shel Silverstein was an American poet, songwriter, and author. He was born
in 1930 in Chicago.
When I was a kid—12 to 14, around there—I would much rather have been a
good baseball player or a hit with the girls, but I couldn't play ball. I couldn't
dance. Luckily, the girls didn't want me. Not much I could do about that. So I
started to draw and to write. I was also lucky that I didn't have anybody to
copy, be impressed by. I had developed my own style; I was creating before I
knew there was a Thurber, a Benchley, a Price and a Steinberg. I never saw
their work till I was around 30. By the time I got to where I was attracting
girls, I was already into work, and it was more important to me. Not that I
wouldn't rather make love, but the work has become a habit. (Mercier)
“Shel invited children to dream and dare to imagine the impossible, from a
hippopotamus sandwich to the longest nose in the world to eighteen flavors of ice
cream to Sarah Cynthia Sylvia Stout who would not take the garbage out.”
(www.ShelSilverstein.com) Shel Silverstein is one of the most prolific poets of the
20th century. In just a few lines of simple word choices, he evokes the rawest
emotions not felt since childhood.
Masks is a poem that emphasizes we all have something in us that we keep
hidden from the rest of the world. It can be a guilty pleasure, a sorrowful past, or a
traumatic event. We could pass by somebody willing to help us cope and work
through or come to terms with these inner thoughts, if only we didn’t shy away from
each other. This short poem is perfect in length. Masks is the encouragement to
never be afraid of who you truly are.
Hug O’ War is the product of many interpretations. The first one that comes
to mind is the desire to be against fighting and global warfare. Even on the smallest
and literal levels, Hug O’ War sounds like a game that would generate more smiles
and laughter! The game can also be a metaphor for the perfect world. Instead of
bullies in the schoolyard, there would be those kids that hugged you unexpectedly
all of the time. What is wrong with that?
Silverstein’s style is similar to Dr. Seuss’; Quick concise rhymes that hit the
nail on the head every time. It is this sort of shotgun poetry that kids and adults
alike love. Masks has only 24 vocabulary words, yet within those few words is an
entire lifetime of experiences everybody has. Dr. Seuss’ most famous poem, Green
Eggs and Ham, consists of just 50 vocabulary words, yet it is without debate one of
the greatest poems ever to have been penned. Green Eggs and Ham has much more
meaning than Sam trying to get the antagonist to eat green eggs and ham. “I do not
like green eggs and ham I do not like them Sam-I-Am.” (Dr. Seuss) The lesson is that
you should not judge anything by its cover, or more colloquially, don’t knock it till’
you’ve tried it. The similarities between the two authors are also apparent in their
metaphorical references. Just as Silversteins Masks refer to our inner lack of self-
esteem, Dr. Suess uses his metaphors to illustrate our lack of confidence, which
ultimately reflects our self-esteem.
Masks tells us to not be afraid of being ourselves, and Hug O’ War tells us to
not fight with each other. Be comfortable in your own skin, and be comfortable with
other people’s skin (race, gender, sexuality, or choices). The two poems in mention
are specifically aimed at children, yet so powerful they can make adults reflect
inwards. Shel Silverstein exhibits a childlike persona on stage, but not in a negative
description. Picture Mr. Rogers. He has an upbeat attitude and a fun charismatic
smile that comes through in these two poems. Whatever is holding you back from
being comfortable with yourself, let go of it! Do not dredge about against life, fly
happily along with it.
Hug O’ War may represent Silverstein’s experiences in the Korean war.
Silverstein was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1953, at the age of 23. He spent a tour
in Japan and Korea fighting for American freedom.
Shel spent his time in the Army working as a cartoonist and a reporter for the
Pacific edition of the Stars and Stripes publication. Even though, he was not
considered a "model soldier", often poking fun at the military and the officers
in his cartoons, Shel would look back at his days in the Army with fondness
and as an opportunity for him to grow as an artist. (Ludwig)
John Lennon’s famous song, Imagine, is a similar piece of art in content and
meaning. Imagine was written and released in 1971, just three years prior to
Silverstein’s “Where The Sidewalk Ends” collection of poems that included Hugs O’
War. Imagine was written as an anti-war statement. As we grew, so did our
relationship with that notion that we are equals. Reading Hugs O’ War as an adult
brings those childish blind spots back up. Hug O’ War is the life we should be living
as adults.
The two poems Masks, and Hugs O’ War by Shel Silvertein are perfectly
handcrafted works of art that makes kids say, “Yeah! DUH!” and adults say, “Wow, I
never thought of it that way”, when in actuality they were once smarter than they
give themselves credit for. It is only when those gaps open from “growing up” that
new thoughts and false ideals cover already beautifully and simply constructed
morals. “Having the ability to paint is something more than merely seeing the colors,
seeking the form. It’s in execution, in skill.” – Shel Silverstein (Stacy)
Works Cited
Stacy. "The Many Sides of Shel Silverstein." Neatorama. N.p., 17 May 2009. Web. 19 Nov. 2013. <http://www.neatorama.com/2009/05/17/the-many-sides-of-shel-silverstein/>.
Suess, Dr. The Cat In The Hat. New York: Random House, 1957. Print.
Ludwig, Elisa. Shel Silverstein. Philadelphia: Chelsea House, 2004. Print.
"Welcome to Shel Silverstein | Shel Silverstein." Welcome to Shel Silverstein | Shel Silverstein. N.p., n.d. Web. 19 Nov. 2013.
Mercier, Jean F. "Publisher's Weekly Interviews Shel Silverstein." Publisher's Weekly Interviews Shel Silverstein. N.p., 24 Feb. 1975. Web. 19 Nov. 2013. <http://shelsilverstein.tripod.com/ShelPW.html>.