Question

1) What does the tall man in the cartoon stand for? Why is he looking toward Europe?

2) Had war already broken out in Europe by 1938?
3) What events added to fear of a war threat?
4) What list is the tall man holding behind his back? To what earlier war does the list refer to?
5) Why is the cartoon titled “A Good Time for Reflection”? What does the word “reflection” mean in this case?
6) Do you think the cartoonist was in favor of US involvement in European Wars? Explain your answer.

Answer 1

1) The tall man stands for the United States and he is looking towards Europe to show his observation of the ongoing war in Europe but his unwillingness to participate in that war.

2) No, the war started in 1939 and lasted till 1945

3) The events that added to the fear of a war threat was that almost all America's Allies in Europe had been defeated by the German coalition, and they sensed the possibility of the war extending to them after a total defeat of their major Allies in Europe (France and Britain).

4) The list shows the losses borne in the previous great war fought by America in Europe earlier in the century.

The earlier war was World War I

5) The cartoon is titled “A Good Time for Reflection” to call the attention of the American public to remember the losses and the consequences of the initial meddling of America in war in Europe.

'Reflection' here means to remember what happened in the past.

6) The cartoonist was not in favor of America's involvement in European war.

He specifically pointed out the negative impacts of the initial America's war in Europe, and brings back to memory their devastating effects in America.