The Elephant
The poem explores the theme of existence and nothingness through the metaphor of an elephant that never existed. The speaker describes the non-existence of the elephant, emphasizing its absence in various scenarios, from the beginning of time to the present day. The poem's central idea is the impossibility of proving or conceiving of something that does not exist, highlighting the limitations of human understanding and language.
By Carlos Drummond de Andrade · First published 1945 · Genre: Poetry, Fable, Fantasy · 458 words
First lines
With my scant resources I make an elephant.
I count on some wood from old furniture to prop him up.
What this Textopian page supports
The Elephant is listed on Textopian as a poem by Carlos Drummond de Andrade, dated 1945 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Carlos Drummond de Andrade
- Date: 1945 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Fable, Fantasy, Philosophical Fiction, Surrealism
- Length: 458 words
- Structure: 1 section, 19 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Elephant by Carlos Drummond de Andrade
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The Elephant?
- How does this poem by Carlos Drummond de Andrade fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Poetry first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- Garden by Carlos Drummond De Andrade
- Sadness In Heaven by Carlos Drummond De Andrade
- You Carry The World On Your Shoulders by Carlos Drummond De Andrade
- Make Believe Lullaby by Carlos Drummond De Andrade
- Porcelain by Carlos Drummond De Andrade
- The Table by Carlos Drummond De Andrade
Genres
- Poetry — The text is highly lyrical, with a focus on imagery, metaphor, and emotional expression.
- Fable — The narrative uses an anthropomorphic elephant to convey moral and philosophical themes.
- Fantasy — The story involves a fantastical element of creating an elephant from unconventional materials and imbuing it with life-like qualities.
- Philosophical Fiction — The themes explore deeper existential and emotional questions about life, purpose, and human experience.
Tags
Brazilian Literature · Poetry · Modernism · Symbolism · Nature · Wildlife · Elephant · Imagery · Metaphor · Allegory · Stream-of-Consciousness · Free Verse