Dumbo

Have you seen the new Dumbo movie yet? Disney has just released a remake. In the film, Danny DeVito plays Max Medici, the owner of a circus.

Read the following words and phrases and their definitions.

• in captivity - not free; kept in a cage or something similar
• to run away - to leave your home suddenly without permission and go somewhere else to live
• doing voice-overs - speaking words in a movie or television programme without being seen
• gruff - rough or rather unfriendly or very serious
• to survive - to continue to exist
• similar to - almost the same as someone or something else
• he has a big heart - he is very generous and kind
• emotions - feelings
• xenophobia - fear of strangers or foreigners
• to embrace - to accept and support someone and believe in them
• confidence - the feeling that you can do something well or succeed at something

First read the assignment. Next watch the video. Take notes to help you do the assignment.

1. According to Danny DeVito, where do animals belong?


2. Danny says: “In Dumbo, we have people from all over the world.”
   Name three or more countries where these people come from.


3. In what way is Max Medici different from the characters DeVito usually plays?


4. When people look at Dumbo, what do they feel or do?


5. One of the messages that you get out of the movie is that you have to embrace people for who they are.
   Explain what this means.