The Fall of Ulysses: An Elephant Story

"The Fall of Ulysses: An Elephant Story" by Charles Dwight Willard is a story from the early 1900s about a man who tries to teach an elephant, Ulysses, how to read and write. This becomes a funny look at smartness, talking, and how humans and animals get along. The main character, full of hope and maybe a bit silly, thinks he can make Ulysses smarter by teaching him. But as Ulysses learns, he starts to know more than his teacher. Their friendship changes, and Ulysses becomes the smarter one. The story ends with Ulysses using his new knowledge to question his teacher, leading to a sad ending that shows what can happen when we're too proud or when we underestimate how smart animals can be.