Found myself wondering how morbid some of the poems/songs I had learnt,were. The childhood ones to be precise. And even more specifically, the English rhymes.
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Take for example, 'Jack and Jill went up the hill to fetch a pail of water. Jack fell down, broke his crown and Jill came tumbling after!'. Poor Jack- imagine actually happening to a little boy- we'd have to call 911 asap! And imagine that poor girl coming rolling from the hill.....!!!
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Then there's 'Inky pinky ponky (please don't laugh on this one, we did learn it!)... Father had a donkey. Donkey Died, father cried. Inky Pinky Ponky!' As a kid too, I always felt bad hearing about the poor donkey....but understood it's significance much later.
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And, "Piggy on the railways lines, picking up stones. Down came an engine and broke Piggy's bones. "AAh", said the Piggy, "that's not fair". "Oh!" Said the engine driver, "I don't care!" Where have those animal activists gone? You teaching a kid to run over a pig and saying it's ok!?
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Some more:
"Barber, barber, shave a pig!How many hairs to make a wig?Four and twenty, that's enough!Give the barber a pinch of snuff"......
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Good night, sleep tight,
Don’t let the bedbugs bite.
And if they do, then take your shoe
And knock ‘em ‘til
They’re black and blue!
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"Goosey, goosey, gander,Whither shall I wander?Upstairs, and downstairs,And in my lady's chamber.
There I met an old manWho wouldn't say his prayers!I took him by the left legAnd threw him down the stairs."
There I met an old manWho wouldn't say his prayers!I took him by the left legAnd threw him down the stairs."
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"Rock-a-bye, baby,in the tree top.When the wind blows,the cradle will rock.When the bough breaks,the cradle will fall,And down will come baby,cradle and all. "
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"My Bonnie lies over the ocean,My Bonnie lies over the sea.My Bonnie lies over the ocean,Please bring back my Bonnie to me.
Bring back,Bring back,Oh, bring back my Bonnie to me, to me.Bring back,Bring back,Oh, bring back my Bonnie to me.
Last night as I slept on my pillow,Last night as I slept on my bed,Last night as I slept on my pillow,I dreamt that my Bonnie was dead.
Bring back,Bring back,Oh, bring back my Bonnie to me, to me.Bring back,Bring back,Oh, bring back my Bonnie to me"
Bring back,Bring back,Oh, bring back my Bonnie to me, to me.Bring back,Bring back,Oh, bring back my Bonnie to me.
Last night as I slept on my pillow,Last night as I slept on my bed,Last night as I slept on my pillow,I dreamt that my Bonnie was dead.
Bring back,Bring back,Oh, bring back my Bonnie to me, to me.Bring back,Bring back,Oh, bring back my Bonnie to me"
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"Solomon Grundy,Born on Monday,Christened on Tuesday,Married on Wednesday,Took ill on Thursday,Worse on Friday,Died on Saturday,Buried on Sunday: This is the end of Solomon Grundy."
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Many of these rhymes have a significance/ an adult explanation of thoughts, but why introduce these thoughts to kids? As a child, I obviously never understood the nuances of the poems, but would feel bad while saying some, and didn't know why. Now, when I re-read them I realise the subtle negativity that flows through them, which sub-consiously stays on in the mind.
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And this is not to sound political correct. Neither is this post on the line of thought as those who think Enid Blyton and other children stories are racist, sexist or xenophobic.(now that thought is utter rubbish and I certainly do not agree with it- but that on some other post...)
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My question is, what on earth are these morbid poems doing in children's books and why are they taught in schools?
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14 comments:
what about foo bai foo? Heard the adult version? :))
as a new mom i so agree and find myself changing them.
"As a kid too, I always felt bad hearing about the poor donkey....but understood it's significance much later."
What significance? Please explain.
Its an interesting point. I remember thinking this about 'Rock a bye baby' but I didn't extend it to the others as you've done. I'm not sure I know....but here are a few stray thoughts:
1. The oh-so-popular 'Ring-a-ring-of-roses' originated at a time when leprosy was affecting several people and cures weren't easily available. People took to carrying some flowers in their pocket to ward off the smell of rotting flesh. The poem alludes to it and the grand finale of 'all fall down' is supposed to be everyone falling down dead. Morbid or what??
2. Enid Blyton is an old favorite of mine, since I grew up reading her books. As an adult though, I think her characterisations were extremely stereotyped. Americans as glamours airheads, French as charming but essentially dumb people, the 'gollywog' doll that was out-lawed a few years back since it was supposed to be offensive to the black community. Still I guess she was a victim of the mindset of her times and still managed to produce a large number of very readable books.
Sorry for the long comment....nearly a post in itself I guess!
So true, most nursery rhymes now looking back, seem so sadistic and morbid...ughh!!
You bet! Preparing them for the real world I guess. :)
How have you been?
Pretty fascinating..
Bikhre bikhre pal yehan,
Kahan unhe dhoondoo?
Yeh na ho ke unke khoj mein
Kuch aur mera kho baithoo...
Tarassha hai jise kabhi mahfuuz hoke,
Yeh vakt ke churaye hue lamhe
Kya ik baar phir unse mil sakoo?
inhin palon ko dil mein sambhale.. chal sakoon,
aur raaste mein jab kahin ruk jaoon, to thehar kar, inhein yaad kar, chal sakoon...
rakhe ja sakte hain yeh mahufooz, fir zindagi bhar.... taki inhein yaad karke.... jab dil chahe to muskura sakoon.....,
aur jab dil chahe to ro sakoon....
kahin mil kaaye , woh phir se.. to unhein dekh,
phir un palon ko yaad kar, pyaar se mil sakoon,
baat karte karte jab, phir baat pahunche pehle ki baaton jaisi to unke chehre ko apni aankhon mein basa kar.... dil ko sambhal sakoon,
unki baaton par hans sakoon, aur unki nazakat ko dil hi dil choom sakoon.
well I really dun think those nusery rhymes have anything to worry abt. They r silly rhymes for kids. Like u said we didn't u'stand em back then - we only saw the fun bit of it - learning n singing em. I guess thats what kids r all abt - having fun. Now that we r adults we may see some of em as WRONG but then when we r kids, we r not adults, r we?
Keshi.
* white: haan re- you're abs right! Never thought of that one. ;)
*Pecos: hmm...would suggest don't do that- when your kid grows up, you'll be questioned as to why your version is diff from the teacher's!;)
*apoo: No other significance but that of death and the sadness that accompanies it. Nowadays when I think of the poem, I feel real sad- maybe it's the donkey. :)
*ideasmith: Heya!!! Finally I see you on my blog!:)
Good point about Enid Blyton...
and to know more on the history of the other rhymes,check this link.
http://www.rhymes.org.uk/
*menagerie: :))
* blue: Yes, subconsciously putting it in minds does make them aware but I guess not totally prepare...
Am good! Been away from cyberland for some time, hence delays in replying to all mails/messages/comments.... :)
* perspective: thank u thank u! (he he)
*adi: (waah! waah!) Thanks for adding to my poem!:)
* keshi: Like I was telling Blue Athena, anything that is subconsciously fed remains in the mind, and at times becomes slow poison...and I feel somewhere down the line it does reflect/ surface...
i think that we do not necessarily have to shelter kids from the evil of the world
kids intelligence is underrated, i feel it is a better course to explain things to them rather than locking them up in a room and hoping that they would never get introduced to violence and sex etc
all nursery rhymes therefor deal with topics that are boderline morbid, but the way in which they are written make them easy for kids to understand.
problem is no one explains these poems to the kids.
here's another example
ringa ringa roses, pocket full of poses, hisha hoosha we all fall down.
now this was written when there was a measle epidemic going around in england, the ringa ringa roses refers to the measles, pocket full of poses refers to pockets full of medicine (thats what poses is), and the rest basically means that we fall ill and then collapse.
lovemarks...such is the irony of this country..we keep fighting over these stupid communal things to be taught/not taught in schools...
Ever wondered why so many people wrote such lyrics for kids and on one ever said anything against it!!
* Raghav: You know if we were to start explaining these poems to the kids (for eg the rock-a-bye baby one), then there will definitely be a reverse and wrong pyschology inserted into their minds. Then it's better to let them not understand ;) or maybe create different and better meaning for the same.
I know about the ringa ringa roses poem- in fact that's why had mentioned that most of these rhymes have a significance in the adult world due to events that took place in that country then.
I really don't see why we need to teach the kids here the same.
* Shikha: true!
Hey, btw, you all settled in? :)
Actually I have been dropping in every now and then...not regularly but enough to stay in touch. Don't always comment, though. :)
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