Dialogue in "The Legend of the Capitoline Venus" is written in the form of a play. The names of the speakers are not provided, so you must figure out who is saying what. I recommend writing the names of the speakers as you read through the story the first time.

Mark Twain got the inspiration for "The Legend of the Capitoline Venus" from the report of an actual hoax, the Cardiff Giant. Find information about the Cardiff Giant online by typing "Cardiff Giant" AND "Museum of Hoaxes" into Google or: hoaxes.orglarchive/permalink/the_cardiff giant.
For more detail, if you want it, use the lhup.edu article (lhup.edu AND "Cardiff Giant"). Wikipedia does not provide enough information. Cite your source(s), and if you use any additional articles, attach a printout of the part(s) you use. (See reminders above.)

Read the article, put it away, and think before you write. Do not plagiarize; do not write anything unless you fully understand it.

Part A: In a paragraph of four to six numbered sentences, summarize the story "The Legend of the Capitoline Venus" in story form (i.e., tell the story from beginning to end using past tenses.)

Part B: In a paragraph of four to six numbered sentences, summarize the history of the Cardiff Giant. Include 1) the motives for creating it, 2) the method of creating the giant and perpetrating the hoax (How did Hull fool people?), and 3) the public reaction after it was "discovered."

Part C: Answer these questions in separate numbered paragraphs; include supporting information for your answers and comparisons. Use and underline appropriate comparison structures. Consult your Gold Sheets for proper form.

1. Explain how the true story of the Cardiff Giant could have provided an inspiration for Mark Twain to write "Legend of the Capitoline Venus."

2. Compare John Smith's and George Hull's motives for perpetrating their hoaxes.

3. Compare the statues themselves. What did they look like?

4. Compare the reactions of the public when the statues were "discovered."

5. Compare the lives of George Hull and George Arnold, the sculptor in "Capitoline Venus," following the "discovery" of the statues.