The Owl and the Pussy-Cat
| The Owl and the Pussy-Cat went to sea In a beautiful pea-green boat, They took some honey, and plenty of money, Wrapped up in a five-pound note. The Owl looked up to the stars above, And sang to a small guitar, "O lovely Pussy! O Pussy, my love, What a beautiful Pussy you are, You are, You are! What a beautiful Pussy you are!" Pussy said to the Owl, "You elegant fowl! How charmingly sweet you sing! O let us be married! too long we have tarried: But what shall we do for a ring?" They sailed away, for a year and a day, To the land where the Bong-Tree grows And there in a wood a Piggy-wig stood With a ring at the end of his nose, His nose, His nose, With a ring at the end of his nose. "Dear Pig, are you willing to sell for one shilling Your ring?" Said the Piggy, "I will." So they took it away, and were married next day By the Turkey who lives on the hill. They dined on mince, and slices of quince, Which they ate with a runcible spoon; And hand in hand, on the edge of the sand, They danced by the light of the moon, The moon, The moon, They danced by the light of the moon. |  |
| Edward Lear |
Monsignor Ryan’s Reflections on “The Owl and the Pussy-Cat”
“The Owl and the Pussy-Cat” is probably Edward Lear’s most famous poem, and a good example of Victorian nonsense verse. But can we really analyse nonsense literature, or subject it to critical scrutiny? After all, the very name implies that it is not supposed to make sense. Yet whenever a poem attains iconic status, it is worth reflecting on how it achieved that status.
“The Owl and the Pussy-Cat” was first published in Lear’s 1871 collection, “Nonsense, Stories, Botany, and Alphabets”. The poem, in summary, tells of the love between the owl and the pussycat and their subsequent marriage, with the turkey presiding over the wedding. They obtained the wedding ring from a pig who sells own his own for a shilling. It is not so well known that Edward Lear wrote “The Owl and the Pussy-Cat for a friend’s daughter, Janet Symonds who was born in 1865 and was three years old when Lear wrote the poem. Janet was the daughter of a friend, John A. Symonds who was a pioneering poet in his own right. Concerning “The Owl and Pussy-Cat” is one male and one female? We have a definite answer supplied by Lear himself in a little known sequel. There it is revealed that the owl is male and the pussycat female.
The word “runcible” in the poem was a coinage of Lear for this particular poem. Yet nobody is sure what “runcible” actually means. It is defined in the Oxford Dictionary as simply a nonsense word coined by Lear. Lear himself didn’t help matters. As well as applying the word to a spoon he went onto to use “runcible" to describe his hat, a wall and even his cat.
But this still leaves us with the question is “The Owl and the Pussy-Cat” meant to mean anything or is it a delightful fantasy? After all it features anthropomorphic animals: the owl and the pussycat can talk, the owl sings a song and plays the guitar, the pig is involved in financial transactions and the turkey officiates at ceremonies. So is this making a commentary on Victorian society? There are endless interpretations and theories. My own opinion is that we are dealing with nonsense literature and should consequently treat it as such. We are clearly in a fantasy world here, and should surely simply enjoy the delicious use of language, rhyme and imagery.
“The Owl and the Pussy-Cat” is probably Edward Lear’s most famous poem, and a good example of Victorian nonsense verse. But can we really analyse nonsense literature, or subject it to critical scrutiny? After all, the very name implies that it is not supposed to make sense. Yet whenever a poem attains iconic status, it is worth reflecting on how it achieved that status.
“The Owl and the Pussy-Cat” was first published in Lear’s 1871 collection, “Nonsense, Stories, Botany, and Alphabets”. The poem, in summary, tells of the love between the owl and the pussycat and their subsequent marriage, with the turkey presiding over the wedding. They obtained the wedding ring from a pig who sells own his own for a shilling. It is not so well known that Edward Lear wrote “The Owl and the Pussy-Cat for a friend’s daughter, Janet Symonds who was born in 1865 and was three years old when Lear wrote the poem. Janet was the daughter of a friend, John A. Symonds who was a pioneering poet in his own right. Concerning “The Owl and Pussy-Cat” is one male and one female? We have a definite answer supplied by Lear himself in a little known sequel. There it is revealed that the owl is male and the pussycat female.
The word “runcible” in the poem was a coinage of Lear for this particular poem. Yet nobody is sure what “runcible” actually means. It is defined in the Oxford Dictionary as simply a nonsense word coined by Lear. Lear himself didn’t help matters. As well as applying the word to a spoon he went onto to use “runcible" to describe his hat, a wall and even his cat.
But this still leaves us with the question is “The Owl and the Pussy-Cat” meant to mean anything or is it a delightful fantasy? After all it features anthropomorphic animals: the owl and the pussycat can talk, the owl sings a song and plays the guitar, the pig is involved in financial transactions and the turkey officiates at ceremonies. So is this making a commentary on Victorian society? There are endless interpretations and theories. My own opinion is that we are dealing with nonsense literature and should consequently treat it as such. We are clearly in a fantasy world here, and should surely simply enjoy the delicious use of language, rhyme and imagery.
Edward Lear 1812-1888
Edward Lear was an English artist, illustrator, musician, author and poet.
He is principally known for his literary nonsense in poetry and prose and especially his limericks, a literary form he took pride in popularising.
Edward Lear was an English artist, illustrator, musician, author and poet.
He is principally known for his literary nonsense in poetry and prose and especially his limericks, a literary form he took pride in popularising.
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