How The Grinch Stole Christmas and The Cat in the Hat Are Both in Latin — Imagine That!

(ARA) — If years were named after authors as Chinese calendar years are named after animals, the year 2000 could well be called “The Year of Seuss.”

Just before Thanksgiving, Jim Carrey stars in Universal Studios’ adaptation of the beloved holiday tale How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Two weeks later, The Cat in the Hat joins Horton the Elephant, Gertrude McFuzz, and the Whos in Seussical, a new Broadway musical.

Earlier this year, Latin scholars Jennifer and Terence Tunberg released a Latin translation of The Cat in the Hat (Cattus Petasatus), following their successful Latin rendition of How the Grinch Stole Christmas (Quomodo Invidiosulus nomine GRINCHUS Christi natalem Abrogaverit).

If you ask any child—from two to ninety-two—what their favorite Seuss character is, you’ll likely hear one of two answers: the small-hearted Grinch or the larger-than-life Cat in the Hat. But how well do we really know them? Take these quizzes and see!

GRINCHUS QUIZUS

• What was the main reason the Grinch hated Christmas?
• What would comprise the Whos’ typical Christmas Day feast?
• What were the “first things to go” when the Grinch reached the first Who house?
• Who was the only Who who saw the Grinch on Christmas Eve? How old was she?
• What did the reformed Grinch do at the Whos’ Christmas feast?

WHAT’S YOUR CAT I.Q.?

• What are the two items the Cat always wears?
• Who was the “voice of reason” urging the children not to let the Cat stay while their mother was away?
• While entertaining the children, the Cat balanced nine objects at once while bouncing on a ball. Name four.
• What came out of the big red wood box?
• How was the mess cleaned up before Mother got home?

If you answered more than three questions correctly on each test, you’re ready for your next adventure: reading How the Grinch Stole Christmas and The Cat in the Hat… in Latin.

With Latin’s resurgence in schools, the Tunbergs embraced the challenge of translating Seuss. Quomodo Invidiosulus… sold more than 20,000 copies in its first year, prompting demand for additional Seuss translations.

“Rendering The Cat in the Hat into Latin was a challenge,” Jennifer notes. “The lines are short and rhythmic—but except for a few new words, the Latin remains faithful to earlier forms.”

Terence adds, “People often think of Latin only as the language of science or academia. But it’s surprisingly accessible. Cattus Petasatus is perfect for first- and second-year Latin students, and the Grinch makes a great next step.”

Latin enrollment has surged since the 1970s. Studies show Latin students score significantly higher on SAT verbal sections, and younger students studying Latin often advance months ahead in reading skills. More than 65% of college admissions offices consider applicants with two or more years of Latin or Greek to be stronger candidates.

The Latin versions of How the Grinch Stole Christmas and The Cat in the Hat are available at Barnes & Noble, Borders, Waldenbooks, and major retailers.

ANSWERS: GRINCHUS QUIZUS — 1) all the noise; 2) Who-pudding, rare Who-roast-beast; 3) Who stockings; 4) Cindy-Lou Who, age two; 5) carved the roast beast.

WHAT’S YOUR CAT I.Q.? — 1) red-and-white striped hat, red bow tie; 2) the fish; 3) cup, milk, cake, books, fish, rake, toy ship, toy man, fan; 4) Thing One and Thing Two; 5) cleaned with a multi-armed machine.

Courtesy of ARA Content