The Python
By: J. N. “Ding” Darling
Presented By: Jenna Hays
Reaction
What was your initial reaction to the cartoon?
Background Information
• Political cartoon in the Des Moines
Register
• Created in 1917 about World War 1
Subject
• What is going on
in the cartoon?
• Earth is slowly
being ingested by
a snake
symbolizing the
Germans starting
to taking over
during World War
One.
Audience
• Who is the
intended
audience?
• Citizens of the
invaded/soon to be
invaded countries
who could fight
against the
Germans.
Balance
• Is the cartoon
balanced?
• The cartoon is
balanced on both
sides of Earth. The
head and sign help
to balance out the
blob of body on
the opposite side.
• Does the
placement of the
snake affect the
overall message?
• If the snake was
almost done eating
Earth, it would bring
a sense of
hopelessness to the
message. If it had
less countries
swallowed, it would
make people think it
wasn’t their problem
and leave it for the
locals to take care of.
Omission
• What is omitted
from the cartoon?
• The eyes are blanked
out of the snake.
Looking into
someone’s eye is
supposed to be like
looking into their
soul. The blank eye
suggests Germans
didn’t have a soul.
Ethos
• Is the source
credible?
• The cartoon comes
from a newspaper
making it credible
Logos
• Is the cartoon
logical?
• No, pythons are not
normally larger than
planets nor do they
eat said planets. The
meaning, however, is
logical because
Germany was slowly
starting to take over
the world.
Pathos
• Does the cartoon
appeal to your
emotions?
• Yes, this cartoon
sparks anger towards
Germany for trying
to take control of the
world and also
inspires citizens from
the countries being
attacked to get up
and kick German
butt.
Bibliography
• Cracking the AP U.S. History Exam 2010
Edition
Page 255
Copyright 2009 by The Princeton
Review, Inc.