The Carnival of the Animals

January 4, 2026

Developing Enduring Faith, Dinner Table Reflections, Great Works, The Full Table

This post is part of a series entitled Dinner Table Reflections designed to help families engage with works of art together, instilling in children Truth, Goodness, and Beauty while cultivating a habit of regular contemplation and discussion.

The Carnival of the Animals is a playful musical suite by Camille Saint-Saens, comprised of 14 short movements totaling less than 25 minutes. Each movement sketches an animal or a scene found in a carnival, perfect for short listening sessions around the dinner table to spark family conversation!

Take a few minutes to identify a freely listenable set of the songs (there are a multitude) and bookmark it to share with your family. Then plan to listen to these at whatever pacing is best for your family – one a night, two paired together, spread out over a few weeks, or back-to-back each evening. As you listen to each suite, let the conversation flow naturally but here are some question prompts to use as needed and if beneficial:

Play the music prior to revealing the title so that your family can guess the animal or pick up on patterns (e.g., fast, slow) about the song based upon the music itself.
- If desired, share the list (of all or some) of the titles so that they can pick which one they believe best fits.
How does the composer use different instruments to represent different animals?
How does the composer use different rhythms and sounds to represent different animals?
- E.g., long notes, short staccato, low sounds
What mood or emotion are they seeking to convey? Are these pieces realistic or exaggerated in their portrayal of each animal?
After listening to a few, do you have one you enjoy for a specific reason?

Some detailed specifics for some of the songs:

How does the composer make the lion roar?
How does the music for hens and roosters fit chickens in a yard feeding?
How is the music different for a tortoise (slow) compared to the elephant (heavy)?
Does the aquarium make you think of water? How so?
What is different from the aviary (flitting about) compared to a kangaroo (jumping about)?

As always, there is no need for right answers, only reflection, contemplation, and conversation.

Wish to read more? Visit the full list of Dinner Table Reflections here!

Disclaimer: The above article solely represents the views of the author and does not represent any endorsement or statement by the Academy. Read more here.

Matthew Breazeale

Assistant Head of School

Matthew joined 91��Ƭ�� in 2014 after working in the public education sector as a teacher and school administrator. During his time at 91��Ƭ��, Matthew has served as a teacher, Lower School Head, Interim Head of School, and is currently the Assistant Head of School. Matthew married his wife, Rachel Beth, in 2012. Rachel Beth graduated from 91��Ƭ�� and their two sons also attend 91��Ƭ��. A passionate fan of UNC, Matthew normally finds a way to make it to every home UNC football game. In addition to cheering on the Heels, Matthew enjoys reading and playing games with his family. Matthew earned his undergraduate degree (history and political science) and his Masters in School Administration from UNC Chapel Hill. He completed his doctorate (Ed.D.) at Drexel University, focusing on human resources and continuing adult education. His dissertation focused on examining the aspects of classical Christian education that alumni believed helped them maintain an enduring faith into adulthood.