Hippo Quote by Jack Kerouac
“And the Hippos were boiled in their tanks!”
About This Quote
Source Novel: On the Road, Jack Kerouac, 1957
A vivid, absurd image highlighting the grotesque or chaotic aspects of a situation.
In simple terms: A shocking, bizarre scene is described.
Key Takeaway
Notice absurdity, question reality.
Themes
absurdity
chaos
visual imagery
Mood
confused
intrigued
Type
satirical
provocative
When to use this quote
- political satire
- art critique
- social commentary
Key Concepts
surrealism
symbolism
Questions to Reflect On
- What does the image symbolize?
- How does absurdity affect perception?
A Different Perspective
The metaphor may obscure the underlying issue.
![“Back in the kitchen, Mummy was trying to make her [knitted] hippo stand up on the table. I had to swallow a gasp of horror -- its head was the same size as its body, none of its limbs were equal in length, and it appeared to have a fin. She didn't seem perturbed and carried on trying to make it…” quote by Hester Browne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/7c4/hester-browne-25208_quote_back-in-the-kitchen-mummy-was-trying-to_898464.jpg)
