This 1939 cartoon by American cartoonist Herb Block depicts Poland as a vulnerable little girl confronted by a wolf (representing Nazi Germany) and a bear (representing Soviet Russia). The wolf has a Hitler hairstyle and the words "Nazi Germany" on its pillow, while the bear resembles Stalin and has "Soviet Russia" on its pillow. They have gotten into bed together, symbolizing the alliance formed between Nazi Germany and Soviet Russia to conquer and divide Poland following the Nazi-Soviet Pact. The cartoon was meant to express American disgust with the pact.

1. This 1939 cartoon was drawn for the
American public by the US cartoonist
Herb Block.

2. What is the message of this cartoon?

3. To do this question, you
need first to borrow two
concepts from English:
Denotation
(what you see)
Connotation
(how it affects its audience)
This 1939 cartoon was drawn for the
American public by the US cartoonist
Herb Block.

4. A small girl, labelled ‘Poland’ is
confronted by two fairy-tale
predators.
The little girl is vulnerable, weak
and there-to-be-eaten; to attack a
little girl is a disgusting thing to do.
Denotation
Connotation
Meaning
Poland is in danger.
This 1939 cartoon was drawn for the
American public by the US cartoonist
Herb Block.

5. The words ‘Nazi-Germany’ are
on the wolf’s pillow; the wolf has
a ‘Hitler’ hair-style.
The words of the fairy-tale: ‘all the
better to EAT you with!’
Denotation
Connotation
Meaning
Nazi Germany is a ravenous
wolf (= an aggressive
predator state) wanting to
devour (= annex) Poland.
This 1939 cartoon was drawn for the
American public by the US cartoonist
Herb Block.

6. The words ‘Soviet Russia’ are
on the bear’s pillow; the bear
has a look of Stalin.
The bears tried to kill Goldilocks in
the fairy-tale. (Also, ‘the bear’ is a
traditional symbol of Russia)
Denotation
Connotation
Meaning
Stalin’s Russia is an frightening
bear (= a dangerous predator
state) wanting to kill (= destroy)
Poland.
This 1939 cartoon was drawn for the
American public by the US cartoonist
Herb Block.

7. The wolf and the bear have got into
bed together in order to catch the
little girl.
‘Getting into bed with’ is a slang
term for making an alliance,
uniting with.
Denotation
Connotation
Meaning
Hitler and Stalin have united to
conquer Poland
This 1939 cartoon was drawn for the
American public by the US cartoonist
Herb Block.

8. Finally, always remember
to look at:
Origin
(who drew it)
Date
(when it was published)
This 1939 cartoon was drawn for the
American public by the US cartoonist
Herb Block.

9. This 1939 cartoon was drawn for the
American public by the US cartoonist
Herb Block.
1939.
At the time of the Nazi-Soviet Pact,
(?)after the conquest and division of
Poland by Germany and Russia.
Date
Details
Significance
The cartoon is a reaction of disgust
to the Nazi-Soviet Pact.

10. This 1939 cartoon was drawn for the
American public by the US cartoonist
Herb Block.
The US cartoonist Herb Block.
Block was a liberal, who hated the
dictators, but cared most about
America’s interests.
Origin
Details
Significance
Block, further away in America and
therefore more detached,
NEVERTHELESS still thought the
Nazi-Soviet Pact self-serving,
cynical and disgraceful.