Part Two, The Reason Behind the Rhyme
"Heavy Words Lightly Thrown" by Chris Roberts
In some cultures an egg symbolizes the soul. In others an egg that falls and breaks is a symbol of an unwanted pregnancy. Humpty Dumpty was also an egg and because of this, scholars have studied the origin of many popular children's rhymes to determine exactly the meaning and context the original tale. Chances are that humpty dumpty wasn't a allegory for an unplanned pregnancy, but a story of a large canon improperly used during the English Civil War by Cavaliers in 1648.
Not all rhymes are so simple though. Apparently Jack and Jill lost their virginity up on that hill. Breaking your crown, in the context of which the poem was originally written, is a euphemism for having sex for the first time and going up the hill probably means that Jack and Jill were celebrating a pagan May-day fertility ritual.
In other rhymes, politics and religion of the time are highlighted. In the original context of Yankee Doodle, British soldiers were making fun of the American Revolutionary soldiers' inability to properly dress for war (he stuck a feather in his cap, and called it macaroni). After gaining independence however, the Americans adopted the tune and with great irony played it as the Brits signed documents acknowledging surrender of the States. Baa, Baa, Blacksheep is meant as a guide to taxation during feudal times in England as one bag of wool symbolizes a third of farmers income going to the King, one third to the church (represented by the Dame in the rhyme) and the final third left for the little boy, or the farmers themselves. And lastly, those three blind mice whose tails got cut off, were actually three blind men (either specific individuals or a whole group of rebellious protestants) who saved up their money to have an English bible read aloud to them which was a crime against Catholic law. They were burned at the steak. Apparently in East Sussex, there is a huge bonfire held every year to commemorate the protestant martyrs.
In some cultures an egg symbolizes the soul. In others an egg that falls and breaks is a symbol of an unwanted pregnancy. Humpty Dumpty was also an egg and because of this, scholars have studied the origin of many popular children's rhymes to determine exactly the meaning and context the original tale. Chances are that humpty dumpty wasn't a allegory for an unplanned pregnancy, but a story of a large canon improperly used during the English Civil War by Cavaliers in 1648.
Not all rhymes are so simple though. Apparently Jack and Jill lost their virginity up on that hill. Breaking your crown, in the context of which the poem was originally written, is a euphemism for having sex for the first time and going up the hill probably means that Jack and Jill were celebrating a pagan May-day fertility ritual.
In other rhymes, politics and religion of the time are highlighted. In the original context of Yankee Doodle, British soldiers were making fun of the American Revolutionary soldiers' inability to properly dress for war (he stuck a feather in his cap, and called it macaroni). After gaining independence however, the Americans adopted the tune and with great irony played it as the Brits signed documents acknowledging surrender of the States. Baa, Baa, Blacksheep is meant as a guide to taxation during feudal times in England as one bag of wool symbolizes a third of farmers income going to the King, one third to the church (represented by the Dame in the rhyme) and the final third left for the little boy, or the farmers themselves. And lastly, those three blind mice whose tails got cut off, were actually three blind men (either specific individuals or a whole group of rebellious protestants) who saved up their money to have an English bible read aloud to them which was a crime against Catholic law. They were burned at the steak. Apparently in East Sussex, there is a huge bonfire held every year to commemorate the protestant martyrs.
posted by carlymarie | 11:28 AM
2 Comments:
So the big question, Carly, is if you have children someday, will you teach them the origins behind the words when they sing about Jack and Jill?
I'd like to borrow that book when you're done, it sounds interesting.
I'm going to protect my childrens naivity throughout their younger years of course. But honestly my concern about whether my kids will find out about unfair taxation during feudal times through baa baa black sheep pales in comparison to how much i worry about what to do about video games, movies, Britany Spears, and other parts of american pop culture.
I was sitting with my bro a few days ago while he was playing a street fighting game and every other word coming from the tv was an explective. Serious ones too like "f*ck you" and "God Da...." I cant even type those!
Obviously my kiddos wont get their hands on those kind of games in my house, but what i worry about is what they will play over at friend's places. It's such a scary world when you think about having to raise sweet, loving, God-fearing, children.
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