I believe there is a defect in

  An SVG Primer for Today's Browsers
  Chapter V - Dynamic SVG and JavaScript

at

http://www.w3.org/Graphics/SVG/IG/resources/svgprimer.html#simple_events

The code  example

<ellipse cx="150" cy="75" rx="10" ry="40" fill="blue" onactivate="alert('ellipse') />

is missing a closing " for the onactivate parameter value, and hence should read

<ellipse cx="150" cy="75" rx="10" ry="40" fill="blue" onactivate="alert('ellipse')"/>

Though the Document recommends posting to public-svg-ig@w3.org that archive recommends posting here (http://lists.w3.org/Archives/Public/public-svg-ig/)