|
|
From "More Nonsense"
Edward Lear (1812-1888)
Tekst/illustrasjoner:
Edward Lear/Edward Lear, farvelagt av Anne Schjelderup og Øyvind
Olsholt
Filosofiske spørsmål:
Øyvind Olsholt
Sist oppdatert: 10. mars 2004
"More Nonsense, Pictures, Rhymes,
Botany
&c"
was published by Robert Bush in 1872. This book contained not only
limericks, but also botanic drawings to which Lear gave funny names,
and a humorous alphabet in which Lear's humorous drawings and short
nonsense descriptions of animals accompanied
each letter.
I
There was an old man in a barge,
Whose nose was exceedingly
large;
But in fishing by night,
It supported
a light,
Which helped that old man in a barge.
II
There was an old man who when little
Fell casually
into a kettle;
But, growing too stout,
He could never get out,
So he passed
all his life in that kettle.
III
There was a young lady, whose nose,
Continually prospers
and grows;
When it grew out
of sight,
She exclaimed
in a fright,
'Oh! Farewell to the end of my nose!'
IV
There was an old man of Dumbree,
Who taught
little owls
to drink tea;
For he said, 'To eat mice,
Is not proper
or nice'
That amiable
man of Dumbree.
V
There was an old person of Dundalk,
Who tried to teach fishes to walk;
When they tumbled
down dead,
He grew weary,
and said,
'I had better go back to Dundalk!'
VI
There was an old man in a tree,
Whose whiskers
were lovely to see;
But the birds of the air,
Pluck'd
them perfectly bare,
To make themselves nests
on that tree.
Suggested topics for philosophical discussion
- Extreme body parts
Many of these limericks depict
persons with unnatural body parts, for
instance long noses and beards. Have you ever made a drawing
of a person with extreme body parts? Can you remember why you
did this? What did you want to express by drawing this? Do extreme
body parts tell most about the character of the person in
the drawing, or the person who made the drawing?
- Natural vs.
unnatural
In limerick IV there is an old man who wants to teach owls to
drink tea. He thinks it is better for them to drink tea than
to eat mice. But is it really better for an owl to drink tea
than to eat mice? What is most natural for an owl to do? Is
it sometimes better to learn "unnatural" things than
to do what is (considered) natural? For humans, for animals?
What is natural for you to do, and what is unnatural?
- Old people
Most of the main
characters in these limericks are old. Do you think there
are special reasons why Lear chose old people for his rhymes?
Was he trying to say something about old people in general?
Or perhaps it was simply because the word "old" fits
into the rhythm
of the poem?
- Being offended
Do you think people are offended when they read these rhymes?
Are you offended by any of these rhymes? If so, why? Do you
know persons that are never offended by anything? Would you
like to be such a person?
|
|
|
|
|