Download CHAPTER3 ANALYSIS The irony found in the fourteen nursery

CHAPTER3
ANALYSIS
The irony found in the fourteen nursery rhymes is analyzed in this chapter to
ground critics on politics and social issues. Therefore, the analysis of the rhymes is
conducted in three stages. First, is to analyze 14 nursery rhymes through the elements
of poet!)' and the intertextual elements. In interpreting the rhymes, persona, tone, and
themes of nursery rhymes would be firstly discussed. Meanwhile, the intertextual
elements, allusion and irony would be discussed further to reveal the critics on
politics and society found inside the nursery rhymes. The analysis of symbol is
included .in the analysis of the allusion of nursery rhymes..Second, is to generalize
the themes and messages from the nursery rhymes. The last is to foreground the
political and social critics through the use of irony.
3.1. Poetical Analysis of Nursery Rhymes
3.1.1. I Had a Little Nut Tree
I Had a Little Nut Tree
I had a little nut tree,
Nothing would it bear
But a silver nutrueg
And a golden pear.
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The King of Spain's daughter
Came to visit me,
And all for the sake
Of my little nut tree.
In the literal level, this rhyme tells about someone who had a little nut tree.
The tree bore a silver nutmeg and a golden pear. A princess came to visit him in
order to see the little nut tree which produced valuable objects.
The title of the rhyme shows that this rhyme focuses on the ownership of the
little nut tree. It is marked with I had. The rhyme started with the explanation from
the persona about the description of the tree. The Persona also mentioned that a noble
person came because of the grandeur of the tree. From the first line until the last line,
it can be seen that the existence of the persona as the owner of the little nut tree is not
as great as the tree itself. The rhyme just discusses about the little nut tree, not the
persona. From this rhyme, the persona wanted to show the greatness of the little nut
tree. There is an irony stated in the last lines of the rhyme. The princess did not come
for the persona, but she came for the little nut tree.
3.1.1.1. Persona
The using of "I" as persona in this rhyme is most likely to be of a male
gender. It is because the little nut tree is symbol of marriage. The wealth, that the
persona had, attracted the princess to visit him. From the allusion, it can be seen that
this rhyme is alluded to the political marriage. The rhyme itself focuses much on the
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it can be shown that "I" was not too happy in having the nut tree even "I'' was visited
by a princess because of the tree. The persona used the words nothing would it bear
and all for the sake of my little nut tree. Those words show the feeling of persona
towards the nut tree. Nothing would it bear but a silver nutmeg and a golden pear
show the dissatisfaction of having the nut tree. The persona should have been proud
because the nut tree bore treasures, but this was not the persona's feeling. From this
rhyme, it is shown that the persona was envious towards the little nut tree because
the princess did not come for the persona. She came for the nut tree. "I" felt that the
nut tree was more precious than him. The persona is a male, adult, relatively
important person. This is because a Princess visited him for his belonging, a little nut
tree.
3.1.1.2. Tone
The tone in I Had A Little Nut Tree is combination among bragging tone,
happy tone, and envious tone. The persona was bragging about his little nut tree in
the beginning of the rhyme. Even it was read in bragging tone, the persona felt that
the little nut tree had no specialty and he was not proud of it. The tone was changing
into happy tone when the persona told about the visit of The King of Spain's
Daughter. In the end of the rhyme, the persona felt that the nut tree was much more
precious than him. So, the last lines are read with disappointment and envious tone
towards the little nut tree.
3.1.1.3. Allusion
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The allusion of this rhyme refers to the marriage in 1506, when King
Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain visited England to betroth their daughters.
The King's of Spain Daughter in the fifth line refers to Katherine of Aragon. Some
source also stated that The King's of Spain Daughter refers to Juana of Castile (Opie,
1941). At first, they wanted to betroth Juana of Castile with Prince Arthur. But she
was then betrothed to Philip I of Castile and the contract was transferred to her sister,
Katherine of Aragon. In conclusion, the princess from Spain refers to Katherine of
Aragon because she was the one who was married to Prince Arthur.
Prince Arthur was an heir who was expected to become the next King of
England. Just like other princes and princesses, they were married in children age.
Unfortunately, the marriage life was short due to the dead of Prince Arthur.
Katherine was then married to his brother, Hemy VIII who was infamous with his
marriage life. He had married to six wives when he was alive. Katherine of Aragon
was one of the most respectable Queens in England. People adored to her due to her
tragic marriage life, her relationship with Rome, and her characters.
From the explanation above, it can be concluded that the "little nut tree" in
the first and last line is the political marriage that was done between Spain and
England through Katherine of Aragon and Prince Arthur. The fruits of the marriage
are the golden pear and silver nutmeg which symbolizes business ventures between
England and Spain. The business ventures were covered by political marriage.
"Golden pear'' is an allusion for temptation. In Greek mythology, pear is a
sacred fruit for Hera. Hera is the mistress of heaven and goddess of fertility. In
Europe, pear was usually planted in wedding ceremony as a symbol of giving
strength to the marriage in children. In conclusion, pear shows power and it is related
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to maniage. The persona mentioned "golden pear" in fourth line to suggest
temptation of power from political marriage.
Nutmeg is a seed which is usually used as spices due to its strong scene. In
medieval era, nutmeg is closely related with eastern countries and it was got from
exploration to east countries. Like pear, nutmeg in the fourth line also symbolizes
temptation due to its function and exoticness. Nutmeg is related with colonization
because nutmeg was produced outside in Eastern countries. "Silver nutmeg" is an
allusion of temptation of power in colonizing other countries. Both England and
Spain did colonization and the political maniage established firmer relationship
between the two powerful countries.
The political maniage
was done not because of love but because of
temptation of power and wealth. It can be seen after the death of Prince Arthur.
Katherine of Aragon should many his brother, Henry VIII to continue the contract.
The base ofmaniage was prosperity and temptation ofhaving more power from each
country. Therefore, the fruits are valuable: golden pear which symbolizes prosperity
and iurmortality and silver nutmeg which symbolizes temptation of power.
From the allusion, it can be seen that the meaning of maniage was different
and it had shifted from the original purpose. Maniage is usually done because two
persons fall in love with each other and decide to make a commitment for their life
together. But from the allusion of I Had A Little Nut Tree, the purpose of maniage
has shifted and it aims on profit and material things without considering love
anymore. Maniage life is not created on sincere heart but it is based on the existence
of materialistic things. In reality these days, this is one of the reasons why the rate of
divorce is high.
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3.1.1.4. Irony
The irony is stated in the last line of the rhyme. "I'' had a tree which bore a
treasure and it is nonnally a pride for a person to have that precious thing. A princess
came to visit him with a purpose to see the little nut tree not the owner. It can be
concluded that the nut tree is more precious than the owner. This is ironical because
having a precious thing that can make other people envious is a pride for someone
but the value of the person is not seen as a nonnal person anymore. It is because the
value of the person has been.contaminated by the value of his or her wealth. People
respect the person not because of the personality but because of the wealth and
material things.
3.1.1.5. Theme
The theme of I Had A Little Nut Tree is life is easy with money because if
you have money, all pleasant things will come to you. In this rhyme, "I" was rich
because he had a nut tree which bore valuable objects and a princess came to visit
him. But in the other side, the persona was not happy to have the little nut tree even it
brings luck. The little nut tree symbolizes life of rich people. Even with great
wealthy and much money, it is not guaranteed that a person will satist)' and get
happiness. Many important people and nice people will try to acknowledge and make
a relationship with the person, but it is not because of the personality. In reality,
people want to make a relationship with rich people just because they are rich.
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3.1.2. Baa Baa Black Sheep
Baa Baa Black Sheep
Baa, Baa, Black Sheep,
Have you any wool?
Yes, sir, yes, sir,
Three bags full. One
for the master, And
one for the dame,
And one for the little boy
Who lives down the lane.
Baa Baa Black Sheep is a rhyme that tells about a black sheep that produces
three bags of wool. The wool is intended for the master, the mistress, and a little boy.
This rhyme is started with a question. It is not about the black sheep, but it is
about what the black sheep can do. This rhyme emphasizes on what the black sheep
could produce. In the third line, the black sheep answered with a yes. It answered
twice. The sheep answered with yes sir, yes sir. The phrase yes sir, yes sir is usually
heard in army forces. The answer of the sheep shows the inferiority of the sheep to
the asker. In the last lines, the black sheep described the receivers of the wool. From
there it can be concluded that the wool was intended for others' profit not for the
sheep's advantage. From the first line until the last line, this rhyme unconsciously
shows intimidation towards the sheep. Sheep as a life stock lives just for others'
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profit. It seems that the sheep will lose its existence if it does not produce anything.
This can be related to the workers in reality. Their contribution as workers to the
company is more important than the personality and life of the workers.
3.1.2.1. Persona
The persona of the rhyme is the asker in the first and second line. The role of
the persona is just to ask the capability of the black sheep to produce wool. It is
shown by the persona's task in asking question to black sheep in the second line. The
existence of the persona in this rhyme, which is doing a conversation with the black
sheep, has an aim to focus more on the feeling of the black sheep. That is why the
rest of the rhyme talks about the black sheep. The black sheep in this rhyme
expressed its hard work by stating that it had provided three hags foil of wool for the
three persons. The hard work is shown with the word foll. The persona wanted to
show that what is actually belongs to the black sheep are distributed to other people
rather than itself.
The persona in this rhyme is probably a breeder due to the
persona's task in questioning the production from the black sheep and commanding
tone which the persona used.
3.1.2.2. Tone
The tone in Baa Baa Black Sheep is divided into two phases. The first line
and second line is read by commanding tone. Even it is fonned as a question, the
requesting tone is shown in those lines. The persona wanted to show that the asker
was not only asking the sheep about the supply of wool but also ordering to fulfill the
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necessity of wool in the same time. The tone of the asker is like someone who does
not want to hear any refusal or no question.
The third line is read by an enthusiastic tone by the black sheep. The persona
wanted to show that the black sheep had provided enough wool for the three persons.
From the tone, the relation between the authority and subordinate is not a two-side
relationship. The regulation from the authority sometimes is not adjusted first with
the situation of people and society. People are just expected to obey the regulation.
3.1.2.3. Allusion
Sheep in medieval era is main commodity and important asset for the
cmmtry. The most important part of sheep that was valuable was the wool. Wool
from England was popular and it was distributed not only inside the com1try but also
outside the coootry due to its fine quality. Baa Baa Black Sheep refers to the wool
taxation in 1300s. In Edward I's reign, he made a policy about tax (Campbell, 2000).
In the rhyme, the wool was shared to three persons. The master refers to the king.
The wool taxation was collected from the merchants who wanted to trade the wool
outside the coootry. The dame refers to the merchants and the little boy refers to the
workers in the wool production. TI1e profit from the wool was shared on those
people.
From the allusion, it can be seen that the hard work of the workers in
producing wool and their capability in producing fine quality of wool were seen as a
chance to get more profit by the authority. Tax had a purpose to prosper people and
for the good of the coootry. But in the execution, tax was taken to enrich the king and
lessened workers' revenue.
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3.1.2.4. Irony
The irony is seen in the older version, it is mentioned that the little boy did
not get the wool whereas there were three bags full of wool. Only the master and
dame got the wool.
It shows an irony that happened in the reality where just the capitalist and
government that get the profit. The little boy that represents small people or the
workers will not get as much as the capitalists even they have worked hard. The one
that works hard does not get anything while the one that does nothing get the result
from the hard work. It breaks the belief that work hard will result in success and
satisrying result. In fact, only the capitalists get richer by the hard work of the
employees. There is no way that employees will not be as rich as the capitalists if
they still work under them. The situation is similar with the sheep which is
mentioned in the rhyme. The sheep did not get anything even it was the one that
produced the wool. The existence of the black sheep is just to give benefit to the
master and the dame. It is ironic because the workers that work hard get nothing,
while the authority or the boss that does not do anything gets the profit.
3.1.2.5. Theme
The theme of Baa Baa Black Sheep is hard work is not always giving result to
the one who did the hard work. The result of hard work usually gives a satisfying
result, but the result may not for the person who finishes the work. The situation is
also similar with the workers in reality. In working life, the one that gets the profit
from employees' hard work is the boss. Workers will not get anything because they
do not have the money or capital. They work to add someone's wealth. The workers
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. rest of the lines, the tone is turned into pitiful tone towards Humpty Dumpty. The
hope of the revival of Humpty Dumpty is not appearing in the end of the rhyme. A
pessimistic message is inserted from the ending tone of the rhyme.
3.1.3.3. Allusion
Humpty Dumpty refers to a huge canon in medieval era. It was told that the
canon stood on the roof of St. Many Chtl!'ch in Colchester, England, for the pmpose
of protection dtll'ing the civil war (1642-1649). It was named Humpty Dumpty
because it was big and huge. Colchester was a city that is surrounded by walls and
St. Many's wall was one of them. But one day, the chmch was attacked by the
Parliamentarians. They shot the large cannon and it fell down. No one could put it up
again due to its weigh and Colchester surrendered to the Parliamentarians after the
fall of Humpty Dumpty (Duggan & A, 2001).
Humpty Dumpty as protector of the city and big figure who was seen
unbeatable fell down in this rhyme. Humpty Dumpty symbolizes the democracy
which is built by people. The power of democracy is not like the absolute power of
sovereign. People chose some people as their representation to voice their necessity.
But the execution of democracy in reality disappoints people. The democracy fell
down because of negative comments and pessimism towards the system. One of
them is a voice which said that those people who were selected to be the
representatives of people abuse the trust and let themselves to be controlled by
greediness. This results to the regulations and actions that do not represent the need
of people. In fact, the regulations and what the authority do are controversial and do
not represent the need of all layers of society. Through the opinion and pessimistic
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should do more assignments to earn more money, meanwhile the rich will get richer
even they do nothing. This rhyme shows the power of money. This rhyme also
reflects to the tax. People work hard to earn money but they will not get the result
fully because they should pay tax. The one who has money will get everything, while
the poor will not get anything except working hard with a hope to have a better life.
3.1.3. Humpty Dumpty
Humpty Dumpty
Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall,
Humpty Dumpty had a great fall.
All the King's horses
And all the King's men,
Couldn't put Humpty together again.
People acknowledge Humpty Dumpty as one of characters in Alice in
Wonderland by Lewis Carol!. It is depicted as a huge egg that dressed like a normal
man in mid century. The image of Humpty Dumpty in Lewis Caroll's novel is
originally taken from traditional nursery rhyme. This rhyme tells about something
named Humpty Dumpty who sat on a wall. One day, Humpty Dumpty fell down and
no one could put it together again.
This rhyme is started with relaxing scene of Humpty Dumpty sat on the wall.
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second line. The third until the fifth line told about the attempt to resurrect Humpty
Dumpty. This rhyme ends tragically with the failure of any attempts to put it up
again. This rhyme focuses on the fall of Humpty Dumpty. The stable condition when
Humpty Dumpty was on the wall is just described in a line, but the rest of the lines
told about its fall. The persona wanted to show the feeling of a person when he or she
is at top. When a person is at top, it seems that time flies so fast until a moment
comes and let the person down. In the lowest part of life will feel longer than when
the person still at top. From the lines of this rhyme, the persona wanted to dramatize
the effect of the fall rather than simply told story about Humpty Dumpty.
3.1.3.1. Persona
The persona told the story about Humpty Dumpty in an objective point of
view. There is no use of subjective pronoun in the rhyme. The persona wanted to
introduce the story about Htunpty Dumpty without the contamination of personal
opinion. The persona wanted the readers to take lesson from the rhyme. Besides it,
the objective point of view also shows that the message behind the rhyme is taken
from the commoners and it contains general idea. This is the quality that the persona
wanted to show fi'om the objective point of view.
3.1.3.2. Tone
The tone in reading Humpty Dumpty is decreasing into sad tone in the end
of the rhyme. In the first line, the rhyme is read like any other children story with
usual tone. The way reading it is like reading once upon a time. Then the tone is
turned into shocked tone in the second line due to the fall of Humpty Dumpty. In the
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by negative impression and cynical view from society. Democracy had put in the top
of the wall to protect people, but in the end it fell down and broke the wall within it.
3.1.3.4. Irony
The irony of this rhyme is when Humpty Dumpty fell down from the wall
and no one could bring him up again. If it is related to the origin, Humpty Dumpty
was a canon that was ftmctioned to protect the city. The downfall of it was not only
destroyed the wall but also Jet the whole city surrendered. The irony is established
through expectation of the great canon as a protector but it resulted with it as the
cause of the surrender. This situation can be related too to the reality.
The
government or the authority is expected to be protector of people. But there are many
disappointments towards government. Many people complain
regulations. People's opinions towards governments are usually
about
tax and
skeptical and
pessimistic. This is ironical because governments are expected to be protector of
people, but it seems like there is no positive governments in this world. No one could
put the downfall of governments because the paradigm of people has been
contaminated with negative opinions towards governments.
3.1.3.5. Theme
The theme of Humpty Dumpty is there is a kind of great downfall that nothing
can be done to put it up again. In reality, there is up and down in life. People can
have a great downfall in life. Some people can get up easily, but some cannot. It is
also happened to governmental system. In this case is democracy. The name of
democracy has been so slumped until only the disadvantages can be seen from it.
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Trust and value of democracy has been contaminated by the history and people's
paradigm of it. The pessimistic view creates a stereotype and nothing can be done to
it. The stereotype of it is stick to the image of democracy and change people's
opinion towards it.
3.1.4. The Grand Old Duke of York
The Grand Old Duke of York
Oh, the grand old Duke of York,
He had ten thousand men;
He marched them up to the top of the hill,
And he marched them down again.
And when they were up, they were up,
And when they were down, they were down,
And when they were only halfway up,
They were neither up nor down.
This simple rhyme tells about a duke who was marching his soldiers to a hill.
The soldiers followed the duke whenever he marched them. They went up and down
the hill. In the end, he was neither in the top nor down of the hill.
The first line of the rhyme is started with a yell "oh, the grand old Duke of
York". Through the yelling, the persona wanted to show the grandeur of the duke. It
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the duke could lead them all. In the fifth, sixth, and seventh line the duke leaded
them and the ten thousand men followed him. From the coordination between the
position of duke and the men, the persona wanted to show that they were one through
the duke because the men followed the duke. The duke was the head or the idea of
those men. This rhyme is ended with the men were neither up nor down which means
that they did not know what they were doing. The ouly thing they did was obey the
duke. From the obedience and centralized idea which symbolizes by the duke in this
rhyme, the persona wanted to show the atmosphere of war and army forces which is
monotone and has a strict bureaucracy. In doing war, soldiers obey what authority
ask them to do without considering their own feeling and desire.
3.1.4.1. Persona
The persona in this rhyme shows his identity in the first line. The persona
yelled the Grand Old Duke Of York. From the first line, it can be seen that the
persona is not the duke and the existence of the persona is to tell a story about the
duke. The persona as the story teller showed his pity for the duke and his men. The
persona felt that the duke could go whatever he liked but he was wandering around
with no purpose. The persona also felt pity towards the ten thousand men because
they were many and powerful but they had no freedom and Jet themselves to be
leaded by a person.
In war, people do war with a purpose to win. The purpose has been leaded by
desire and lust to win. In war, murders and destruction are not seen as a sin. In the
end, when all sides are tired enough with the war, they will realize that they are
doing something which has no purpose because what they get is only Joss and
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in war field. They are all human beings with different way of thinking, but all of
them are there with one purpose which is to obey the order. This meaus that the
soldiers in the war field have thrown away their own mind to be unified with the
mind of their authority. That is how the war can be done, because it was not fruit of
thought from many people but from the desire of some exclusive people in authority.
3.1.4.2. Tone
The first line of the rhyme is read dramatically. The persona wanted to show
that The Duke of York is noble and he was a legend. Even the end of the rhyme did
not end happily; the tone is stable and enthusiastic. The tone is like the steps of
troops. The tone in The Grand Old Duke of York is more like the stepping sound of
horses. It is marked with 'n' and 'p' sounds. The roan of horse is also heard in this
rhyme by the 'r' sound in the middle of 'n' and 'p' sounds.
And wheN they weRe uP, They weRe uP,
And wheN they werRe dowN, they weRe dowN,
And wheN they weRe oNly halfway uP,
They weRe neitheR uP noR dowN.
3.1.4.3. Allusion
The Grand Old Duke of York refers to the Flanders Campaign when the
Napoleonic wars happened. The Duke of York refers to the famous Prince Frederick,
Duke of York and Albany who fought during the Wars of French Revolution. The
hill refers to the Cassel town which is located in a flat land in northern France named
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well. But then, they were retreated to Holland. In the end of the Flanders Campaign,
on October 18, 1799, the Duke signed a treaty named Convention of Alkmaar to
withdraw the allied expedition. The up and down of Duke's career which was ended
with a withdrawal is alluded by the up, down, and halfway up (Niderost, 2002)
From the allusion, it can be concluded that peace is what everyone wants in
the end of war. War is done because of ambition and desire to win. When they
realize that what they are doing is useless, the desire will suddenly shut down. It is
because they started to realize that war is a loss for both sides because they are
leaded by their own desire to fight and sacrifice. In the end, they will realize that
what they do is just a waste. They still in the same place, neither win nor lose, but not
with same situation before the war happened. Destruction and poverty have replaced
the previous situation.
3.1.4.4. Irony
The irony in this rhyme is shown in the ending of the rhyme. The irony is
when the Duke was neither up nor down. The Duke of York had been up before but
in the end he was neither up nor down. This situation contains a message about war.
Like any other war, each side desired to win but in these rhymes there were no happy
ending. There was an irony in every war. No side will ever win because war itself is
a defeat for both sides. Both sides will sacrifice lives and money. They also need to
put more focus and attention to the war. War let the whole country suffers because
there are lack offood supply, loss ofbeloved people, and insecurity in country. There
is no winner in war because both sides lose something. This is ironical because each
side expects to win in war. They do not realize that they do war to lose many lives
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3.1.4.5. Theme
The theme of The Grand Old Duke of York is following other's step means
waking in the same place. In the rhyme, the ten thousand men were following the
duke. wherever the duke wanted to go, they were there with the duke. The meu
moved by the desire of the duke and they did it not by their own desire. In the end,
they were neither up nor down which symbolizes the uncertainty of the future and
unclear destination. It will be different if they walked with their own vision. At least,
they knew their destination. The leaders of the country also should transfer their
vision to people before they lead the country. So people will understand what the
leaders do and where the country will be in the future. Many leaders neglect this and
just make some regulations without communicating them rightly to people. As the
result, people feel that they are just there to obey the rules because they have no
description on what the country will be in the future.
3.1.5. The Lion and the Unicorn
The Lion and the Unicorn
The lion and the unicorn
Were fighting for the crown;
The lion beat the unicorn
All around the town.
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Some gave them white bread,
And some gave them brown;
Some gave them plum cake,
And drummed them out of town.
This rhyme tells about a lion aud a unicorn that were fighting for a crown.
The fight was won by the lion. People in the town gave them three kinds of bread:
white bread, brown bread, aud plum cake. Then, both of them were marched out
from the city. Even lion won the fight, both of them got the breads aud shoed out
from town.
The first stanza tells about the win of the lion. In the second stanza, both of
them got presents and they were driven out of the town. These stanza shows
contradiction because the lion was the· winner in the rhyme but both of them got the
presents aud shoed out of the town. From the second stanza, the persona wauted to
show that the winner was not important. The final result is same, whether both of
them get something or lose something.
3.1.5.1. Persona
The persona acted as a story teller in this rhyme. The persona did not involve
in the story. The task of the persona is to tell a story about these two creatures. The
purpose of the persona as the story teller is to focus on the message aud general idea
in the rhyme. The persona wauted the readers to put their own opinion towards the
rhyme.
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3.1.5.2. Tone
The Lion And The Unicorn talks about the fight of two strong creatures. The
tone in reading this rhyme is enthusiastic tone from the beginning until the end of the
rhyme. The way of reading this rhyme is like marching a soldier or drununing.
Therefore, the tone is stamped and it is read enthusiastically. The stamping tone is
supported with the 'n' and 'm' sounds that create the stamping sound because those
sounds stop the flow of reading.
3.1.5.3. Allusion
It is well known that the image of lion and unicorn is a referent to the coat of
arms of United Kingdom. The symbol is depicted by a lion and a unicorn at both
sides. The unicorn is shackled and the lion is crowned. TI1ey are standing at the sides
of a shield. England is symbolized by the lion and Scotland is symbolized by the
unicorn.
It is believed that they rhyme was made to celebrate the union of England and
Scotland when King James VI of Scotland became the heir of The Virgin Queen,
Elizabeth I. King James VI of Scotland changed his title became King James I and
the new royal coat of arms was made (Wormald, 2002). The reason why the lion
defeated the unicorn in this rhyme is probably due to the crowned lion which stands
on a crown on the top of the shield. The lion dominates the picture in the royal coat
of arms. There are two lions in the symbol and both of them are crowned.
There are three kinds of bread in this rhyme. First is white bread and the
second is brown bread. Bread baking symbolizes social status in Britain. The white
bread symbolizes the upper class while the brown bread or the whole wheat bread
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symbolizes the lower class. It is said that the ''white and brown" bread bakers were
united in the Worshipful Company of Bakers in 1500s (Anonymous, 2008). The
union is similar with the union of the two countries when Queen Elizabeth I
appointed King James as her heir. The union united England which was related with
upper class people with the development of London city and Scotland which was
related with lower class people due to the villages in the country. The third is p!urn
cake. In Britain at past, plum cake is served in Christmas party and wedding party.
Plum cake in the rhyme symbolizes some Christian actions King James did when he
reigned. One of the reasons why Elizabeth I chose her cousin, James VI, to be her
heir because he was a Protestant. This would be a guarantee that the catholicization
that Queen Mary I or bloody Mary did would not happen again. Some of his
contributions to religion aspect are the establishment of Christmas day and the
translation of bible entitled King James Version (Wormald, 2002).
3.1.5.4. Irony
The irony in this rhyme is stated in the second stanza. It is ironical because
the result is not expected. The image of winner is being on top, gets the prize, and
being worshiped by others. But in this rhyme, the winner and the loser were treated
same. Desire to win is lead by the result which is usually satiszying. That is because
being a winner is special. But in establishing the country, there is no win or lose. If it
is seen from the allusion, Great Britain was a unity of Scotland and England. Since
long time ago, Scotland and England fought with each other. They fought for land.
They fought for long time ago and they had not thought about a unity. They were
leaded by desire to dominate. One day, Elizabeth I chose King James VI from
42
were unified and Scotland's king became king of the land. England people did not
angry because Queen Elizabeth herself had chosen him as the heir. The result was
satisfYing because there was no war again and both of them got the land. The war
and fought they had done for long time was useless because in the end they got what
they wanted.
3.1.5.5. Theme
The theme of this rhyme is war is not wanted by anyone and a person will
give everything to get away from war. The crown in this rhyme symbolizes victOiy.
The two creatures fought and one of them won. But both the winner and the loser
were drummed out of the town. Victory is not important in this rhyme because the
result from the winner and loser is same. It is said that they got white bread, brown
bread, and plum cake. It symbolizes that people would give everything to get far
from war. Even one of them became the winner, people still did not celebrate the
winner. No one wants war exists and it is not important who wins because war itself
is a loss. War is prevented as possible as they can.
3.1.6. Jack and Jill
Jack and Jill
Jack and Jill went up the hill,
To fetch a pail of water;
Jack fell down and broke his crown
43
And Jill came tumbling after.
Up got Jack and home did trot
As fast as he could caper;
Went to bed, to mend his head
With vinegar and brown paper,
Jill came in, and she did grin
To see his paper plaster;
Mother vexed, did whip her next
For causing Jack's disaster.
Jack and Jill is a rhyme that tells about a boy named Jack who went up to a
hill to take a pail of water. He went up with a girl named Jill. Suddeuly, he fell down
and injured his head. Jill followed him with falling down too. In modern version of
rhyme, the story stops at there. In the older version of the rhyme, the story did not
stop there. It had an extension story after Jack and Jill fell down. Both of them came
home and healed Jack's head. However, Jill was punished and blamed by their
mother because of Jack's fell.
The purpose of the hiking is stated in the second line in the first stanza. It is
the pail of water. In the end of the first stanza, they did not get the pail of water and
they fell down. This rhyme is continued with the second stanza which told about
them coming home. Jack got healed and Jill got whipped. Both of the stanzas contain
similar pattern, the disaster of Jill. In the first stanza, Jack suffered because he fell
44
down and in the second stanza, the condition of Jack was better because he was
cured at home. But Jill had different fate with Jack. She was suffered in both of the
stanzas. The persona wanted to show the suffering that women have in their life, that
women are expected to follow men and they get blamed in the first time.
3.1.6.1. Persona
The persona told a story about Jack and JilJ without taking role in the story.
This rhyme tells about two children and the persona acted as a story teller. The
persona added personal opinion through the tone and the words order in the rhyme.
The persona mentioned Jack first and then Jill in the rhyme. The persona told what
happened to Jack first. After the story about Jack finished, the persona told about Jill.
The persona showed the order of importance in the society. Men are seen as leader.
The persona showed it with telling about Jack first in both stanzas. In the first stanza,
Jill followed Jack with falling down too. The persona wanted to show that women
should follow men. In the second stanza or the extension of the lyric, the persona
also told about Jack first and then Jill. Jill did not get cure in the rhyme. In the
contrary, she was whipped and got blamed due to the fall of Jack. The persona
wanted to show that women usually blamed as the root of problem in the society.
The inequality of gender is seen through the description from the persona about the
incapability of women to be same as men.
3.1.6.2. Tone
Jack and Jill has a sad ending in the end of the rhyme by the fell of two. The
tone in this rhyme begins with enthusiastic tone. It is more like a happy tone. In the
45
beginning of the rhyme, it shows an attempt to do something. There is a hope in
getting a pail of water. In the end of the rhyme, the happy tone is decreasing into
surprised tone when Jack fell and broke his crown. In the last line, the tone is not a
surprised tone but a usual tone. Jill follows the fell of Jack. The persona wanted to
show the view to woman in society. Woman is expected to be ruled over man and
follow man. So, the fell of Jill is not surprising because Jack had fallen first.
3.1.6.3. Allusion
In Jack and Jill, the crown that is mentioned in the rhyme may refer to the
reigu of a king. The word broke his crown can contain two meanings. First is the
King is being uncrowned. Second, the King might be beheaded and lost his crown
(head). In historical record, there is a popular story about King of France whose the
reigu was ended by his people and be beheaded together with his Queen. He was
King Louis XVI. King Louis XVI was beheaded on January 21, 1793 (Anonymous,
1993). His wife, Marrie Antoinette was beheaded afterwards. They were beheaded
by the Guillotine. The reason of the beheading was because the King was found
guilty due to the conspiration against the liberty of the nation. It was said that this is
just a plot to tum the monarchy into republic. People at that time were longed for a
new form of government that could heal the financial crisis. They were fed up with
the monarchy that was just prospered the sovereign. Moreover, the lifestyle of Marie
Antoinette was too lavish. This event is a step ahead to French Revolution. The main
reason ofbeheading was supported by political needs due to the refusal of Louis XVI
to give his absolute power (Anonymous, 1999).
The pail of water symbolizes the love of French people towards him. In his
46
position as the absolute monarch of France was questioned. He fuiled to renew the
financial condition and it caused his people disappointed in him. That was resulted in
the desire for a new form of better governmental to fix the financial problem.
From the allusion, it can be seen that authority can stand due to people's
desire. The support from people will make the governmental system survive. Even
sometimes authority is more powerful than people, the consent of people is needed to
establish a strong government A lesson can be taken from the allusion of Jack and
Jill. People have power to change things in society if there is unity of idea and
willingness to change.
3.1.6.4. Irony
Jack and Jill were climbing to the hill to fetch a pail of water but in the end,
the two of them fell down and got injured. They did not get a drop of water yet they
fell from the hill. If it is related to the origin of the rhyme, it also contains irony. The
King and Queen were beheaded due to people's demand and historical record said
that France were happy because of the execution. It is ironic because the King and
Queen should be respected and adored by their people. But Louis XVII and Marie
Antoinette were not desired by their people and they were beheaded not because they
were guilty but because people wanted it. They had no power even they were the
ruler of the country. Their life was ruled by majority of people who wanted new form
of government in France.
47
3.1.6.5. Theme
The theme of Jack And Jtll is the future of a family depends on man. The
reason of them climbing up the hill was to get pail of water. A pail of water may
mean happiness. The pail of water was taken from the up of the hill. An extra energy
is needed to hike a hill because the road is not flat. Similar like happiness in marriage
life, it is achieved by hard work and patience from bottom to the top. For ahnost all
families, happiness is the main purpose of doing the marriage. The crown in this
rhyme symbolizes man's power and charisma. When the man falls in his life, the
effect does not only affect to his life but also for his family include his wife. It is
because man takes role as the head offamily.
In government, the future of the govermnent depends on people support. If
the crown or the charisma of government is broken because there is no support from
people, people will search for new form of government to provide better life for its
people. When a governmental system fails, the effect of it will affect to the whole
country. People will feel that government is useless and they will search for another
alternative. That is why there were revolutions in some countries in this hemisphere
of world.
3.1.7. Goosey Goosey Gander
Goosey Goosey Gander
Goosey, goosey gander,
Where shall!wander?
48
Upstairs and downstairs,
48
In my lady's chamber.
Where I met an old man,
Who wouldn't say his prayers,
I took him by tbe left leg,
And threw him down tbe stairs.
Goosey Goosey Gander is a rhyme that tells about an old man who did not
pray. Due to his refusal to pray, "I" tbrew him down from tbe stairs. Generally, this
rhyme teaches children not to forget praying.
Goosey and gander have same meaning. They mean simpleton or refer to
foolishness. Gander also means male goose. The persona used tbe title Goosey
Goosey Gander to show tbe foolishness of tbe characters in tbe rhyme. The persona
started his htmt to find tbe old man. The third line shows tbe foolishness of "I". It
started witb upstairs tben downstairs. Normally, people searched from downstairs to
tbe upstairs. Then after "I" arrived in tbe downstairs, he found lady's chamber. In
medieval era, lady's chamber located in tbe upstairs. The order of sequences is chaos
and confusing. The rest of tbe lines contain homble meaning and once again "I"
shows contradiction to tbe reality. People usually respect old man and have a pity to
an old man, but "I" harmed tbe old man for seeing a simple fault witbout considering
tbat he was an old man. The persona emphasizes tbe foolishness of"I" from tbe tone
in tbe end oftbe rhyme.
49
3.1.7.1. Persona
In Goosey Goosey Gander, "I" is the persona. "I" is most likely a male
gender since gander means male goose. "I" as the main character searched for the old
man and threw him down from the stairs. The using of "I" as persona in this rhyme
emphasizes the action or the searching. The persona wanted to show the tension
through the point of view from "I". The rhyme was started with a thrill through the
words Where shall I wander? and it is continued with orderly sequence of actions.
"I" started with the searching, to the finding, and to the execution of the old man.
The purpose of the throwing is just because the old man refused to pray. The persona
is an adult man who did the htmting of the old man. The persona is a strong man but
the personality is quite foolish due to the actions done by him. An adult man should
be understood that people should respect an old man and may not harm him The
persona did the htmting and killing was surely supported by a strong reason.
3.1.7.2. Tone
The tone in reading this rhyme is slowly and convincing. The first line is read
in a slow way. The second line is read enthusiastically like a person who is eager to
find something. Then the third line until the fourth line is back to the slow reading.
When the persona found the old man, the tone changed into enthusiastic tone until
the last line. The enthusiastic tone is a combination of happy and light tone. Through
the tone, the persona wanted to show that he had no burden in doing that. He did that
with light feeling like finding garbage then threw it to the bin.
50
3.1.7.3. Allusion
Lady's chamber is a small room that belongs to a highborn lady. Lady's
chamber was usually located in the top of the house. In 16th century, lady's chamber
was also used as a hiding place for catholic priests who were hunted by extreme
r
Protestants.
Goosey Goosey Gander has a relation with Catholic Church in 18th century
(National Public Radio, 2005). The context of this rhyme gives a hint to a past event
when the Orthodox Catholic priests were being hunted and slaughtered by the
extreme Protestants in England. This event was supported by the decision of King
Henry VIII. Due to the failure of annulment from Vatican, he decided to form a new
faith named Church of England. His action impacted to religious life in England.
Religion, at past, was an important aspect for the country. The decision that king's
made should be relevant with church. The power of Tudor family broke the tradition
and they controlled the religion not vice versa. The result was confusion and great
conflicts of two religions that actually had a same root, Roman Catholic and
Protestant.
The hunt happened because the Orthodox Catholic priests refused to change
their ritual. They only wanted to say their prayers in Latin rather than in English like
the new wave of Christian wanted in that era. Church of England desired to 'English'
the Christian rituals that were mostly based in Latin language.
The word "goose" in 18th century has a correlation with prostitution, while
the word "left-leg" in England has a correlation with Catholic (National Public
Radio, 2005). So, the allusion from the words relates the rhyme with prostitution and
Catholic Church. The allusion shows that the persona wanted to associate Catholic
51
Church with a prostitute because it betrayed the :lirith with praying in Latin lauguage
instead ofEuglish like the Protestaut Church did.
From the allusion, some messages cau be taken. This rhyme talks about the
misunderstauding of Christiau faith. The soldiers hunted the orthodox priests aud
killed them because they did not waut to chauge their faith. In Christiau faith, murder
is prohibited aud it is written in Holy B1ble. The war between the two religions with
the defense of religion as their reason is a form of faith confusion. It also cau be seen
as hypocrisy because what they did was contradicted with Christiau discipline.
3.1.7.4. Irony
The irony in this rhyme is clearly seen from the story. An old mau is fragile
aud needs to be protected. But in this rhyme, the old mau was attacked aud thrown
down from the stairs just because he did not pray. This shows no respect to the older.
This rhyme is telling about the importance of praying for the children but the
message inside it also shows the disrespect to older people. This rhyme is not just
showing au irony but also sarcasm.
In western culture, elder people should be respected aud precedence. Elder
people symbolized tradition. But this rhyme shows different message. The tradition
or the old mau was thrown down from the stairs. He was murdered. The old religion
that had been a tradition in Englaud aud some Europe countries were eliminated
because the King established a new religion, Church of Englaud. Many priests were
killed aud victinls aroused because of the new establishment. The existence of
religion is normally to set good value aud control humau beings for not doing auy
harm to other. But religion in history was just seen as political tools to control
53
people's faith to God through. religion. Religion was not seen as holy thing anymore
because it was contaminated by desire in power and lie. It is ironical because religion
is not divine anymore. It turns into mlllldaue.
3.1.7.5. Theme
The theme of Goosey Goosey Gander is faith is more important than life. In
this rhyme, au old man was thrown down from the stairs because of his refusal to
pray. An old man symbolizes wisdom. An ideology of Christian faith is inserted in
this rhyme. Christians believe that ouly believing in God can save someone from
· eternal death. Wisdom without faith is not useful because wisdom and intelligence
are only useful in this world, but faith is still lasted even after death. In history,
defending personal faith resulted in war and killing of many people. Even it could be
happened of misllllderstood in faith discipline and manipulation .of personal desire,
faith is so powerfullllltil it can lead people to do things beyond their nonnal ability.
That is why sometimes religion becomes a tool to fulfill personal desire.
3.1.8. Sing A Song of Sixpence
Sing A Song of Sixpence
Sing a song of sixpence,
A pocket full of rye;
Four and twenty blackbirds
52
Baked in a pie
people. People were controlled by their faith to God. Government had manipulated
When the pie was opened,
The birds began to sing;
Wasn't that a dainty dish
To set before the King
The King was in his counting-house,
Counting out his money;
The Queen was in the parlour,
Eating bread and honey.
The maid was in the garden
Hanging out the clothes,
When down came a (little) blackbird
And pecked off her nose!
Sing a Song of Sixpence is a rhyme that tells about life in a kingdom. It tells
about a special pie baked with two dozens of live blackbirds inside to be served in
front of the king and the queen. The rhyme also mentions the habitual routine of the
king and queen who liked to count his money and ate bread with honey and habitual
routine of their maid who was pecked offby a blackbird in the end of the rhyme.
56
From the title of the rhyme, it can be seen that this song is not focused on the
pie or the king. Sixpence symbolizes the peasants. So, sing a song of sixpence is
about the voice of peasants. The first stanza tells about the pie which was made of a
pocket of rye and filled with blackbirds. The pie was served for the king. Both rye
and the filling of the pie have black color. The black color creates a gloom and dark
atmosphere. It shows that the voice of the peasants towards the king and queen is
negative. The second stanza told about the king who counted his money and queen
who ate bread and honey. Since this is the song of peasants, this kind of lifestyle is
envious. The persona use the word his money to emphasize that the king was wealthy
but not with the people because the wealthy belongs to king not people. The food of
the queen is also far more luxurious than the peasant's. The last stanza talks about
the maid who was pecked by a blackbird. It is only her that suffered in this rhyme.
She did her job but a bad luck came to her. The king and queen did their job too,
which was having fun, collecting money, and made themselves full. The persona
wanted to show the negative critics towards the authority from the peasants.
3.1.8.1. Persona
The persona of the rhyme is the peasants who named the song with song of
sixpence. Sixpence is related to the amount of money that peasant's usually had in
their daily life. The persona criticized the authority especially the king and the queen
with reading this rhyme by light tone in order to mock the lifestyle of them. The
persona talked about king and queen in the first and second stanza. The persona
added the last stanza with a story about maid who had a bad luck when she was
working in the garden. This is the voice of the peasants. The persona wanted to show
that there is another life except the life of the authority. The last stanza seems
54
past, it was not only birds that were put inside the pie. Small animals like rabbit,
turtles, or frogs which were fit inside the pie would be put to entertain the guests
when the crust was cracked open.
This rhyme is alluded to the life of King Henry VIII (National Public Radio,
2005). King Henry VIII is an infamous king which was powerful due to his wealth
and had a complicated marriage life.
Black is a dominant color in this rhyme. There were rye and blackbirds
mentioned in this rhyme. Rye which is mentioned in the first stanza refers to black
wheat. Bird can be a symbol for both good and bad thing. A pigeon and dove
symbolizes purity but a raven symbolizes death and mystery. The color of the bird
refers to the characteristic of it. The black color shows the dark side which can be
meant death. The blackbirds in this rhyme symbolize bad luck and death. The rye in
this rhyme symbolizes wealth which brings gloom. It refers to the empire of Tudor
monarchs which brought uncertainty and horror to its people in medieval era.
The counting of money and bread with honey in the second stanza shows the
wealth of the King and Queen. One of the Kings of England that lived with a great
amount of money and power was King Henry VIII.
The King and the Queen in this rhyme refers to Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn,
his second wife. This rhyme is believed has a purpose to mock his lifestyle. The
sixpence in this rhyme refers to ordinary people or low economic people. The title of
this rhyme, Sing A Song of Sixpence, can be meant the voice of poor people. lf it is
related to the allusion, the poor people that sing in this rhyme are people from Henry
VIII kingdom's era where many of his decisions broke the tradition.
58
broke the relationship with Rome and h.e created a new religion name Clwrch of
England. Besides that, people also adored Katherine of Aragon rather than Anne
Boleyn as her lady in waiting. The six marriages that Henry VIII did in his life also
showed his selfishness and arrogance. It is said that his reason to many six times is
because Tudors needed a male heir. But in fact, Henry VIII married Anne Boleyn
because he fell in love with her and would do anything to get her.
Hemy VIII was married to Katherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, Jane
Seymour, Anne of Cleves, Catherine Howard, and Katherine Parr. All of his wives
did not have a happy marriage life. Katherine of Aragon and Anne of Cleves got
divorced. Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard were beheaded. Jane Seymour was
died 3:fter delivering Edward VI to earth. The last wife was Katherine Parr. She did
not love Henry VIII. She fell in love with Thomas Seymour. But she did not dare to
refuse King's proposal, so she was married to Hemy Vlll The absolute power of
Hemy as a result of his wealth made his actions could not be banned by anyone.
The maid in the last stanza refers to the maid of honor or lady in waiting that
Hemy usually attracted to. Lady in waiting was queen's personal maid that had a
duty to accompany the queen and served her. Lady in waiting usually came from
noble family and they were well educated. Anne Boleyn and Jane Seymour were
ladies in waiting before they became King's consorts. It is mentioned that he maid in
this rhyme was pecked by the blackbird. This refers to the bad luck that happened to
the ladies in waiting. Anne Boleyn was beheaded with an accusation of adultery. It is
said that Hemy VIII had enough with her due to her bad personality and he set a trap
for her to get executed. Jane Seymour as his next queen died after she delivered a son
for the King.
57
It isdivorce
found with
that there
are critics
fromdisappointed
the peasantsmany
or thepeople.
commoners
on the
His
Katherine
of Aragon
His divorce
authority. The critics are quite negative because of dark colors in this rhyme whlch
symbolizes bad luck and pessimism on the authority. King and queen as the
representation of authority are expected to be perfect model for people. In reality,
king and queen are humans too and they cannot be perfect. Their lifestyle is
commented and being criticized by society. There is no escape in living as a
sovereign. They should be perfect and flawless. That represents the situation of
goverument nowadays. People expect goverument and authority to be perfect without
any failures. Of course, the goverument and people cannot be unified completely.
Theoretically, goverument is the representation of people and should do their best to
serve people. Practically, people on goverumental institutions have their own visions
and plans for the country. Sometimes the visions are many without understanding
from one department to the others. That leads to chaos in goverument and some
regulations which are not related with people's need appear due to the untold vision
from the goverumental institutions. As the result, people throw negative critics to the
goverumentand accuse them for being intolerance and selfish.
3.1.8.4. Irony
The irony is stated in the last stanza. It is the maid who got pecked by a black
bird. In the first stanza, the black birds were served nicely inside a pie. It is prepared
to entertain the king and queen. The black birds are shown in a nice way in the first
stanza. In the last stanza, the black bird was seen as a bad luck because it attacked the
maid's nose. The black bird is not looked as an entertaiument tool anymore. It has
changed into an annoying thing for the maid. Blackbird represents life. Life for the
authority is easy and fun because they have power to rule and material to fulfill their
61
a silver platter. But it is different with the life of peasants. of the poor. Life is cruel
and hard for them because they have no power to control the life. They are lacked of
money and it is hard to fulfill daily necessity. Survive is a hard thing for them. For
people who have much money like rich people, life is easy and full of having fun.
For people who are lacked of money, everyday is a struggle and choice whether to
survive or surrender.
3.1.8.5. Theme
The theme of Sing A Song of Sixpence reality is pleasant for the rich but bitter
for the poor. The blackbirds in this rhyme were served in different way. For the king
and the queen, the blackbirds were served beautifully inside the pie. They even sang
for them. Blackbirds are not seen as bad luck but they were seen as an entertainment.
In the contrary, the maid was pecked off by the blackbird. The blackbird caused pain
to the maid. Surely, the blackbird was a bad luck for her. The impression towards the
blackbird is different in this rhyme. Blackbird besides represents gloomy
atmosphere, it also represents problem in life. The message that is inserted through
the story is life can be unpleasant for the poor and weak people, but even the
gloomiest life is looked good because the rich have money to survive in their life.
Through the rhyme, the peasants wanted to express their envy towards authority's
life and say that their life was hard.
59
daily necessity.
theyrhyme,
have isthe
usually
more
than
enough.
Their life
served of
on
knife.
In the last Money
line of the
persona
once
again
emphasizes
theisfoulness
the mice with. asking if anyone ever saw that kind of event.
3.1.9.1. Persona
In The Three Blind Mice, the persona used third person point of view. The
interaction of the persona as a storyteller is shown in the last lines with asking to the
reader: did you ever see such a tale in your life as three blind mice? The persona told
the story as if it had happened long time ago with the word tale. The persona, as
storyteller, wanted the reader to take a lesson from the rhyme. The blindness of the
mice represents foulness and the persona wanted to tell the reader for not doing the
foulness that the three blind mice did. The last lines of the rhyme also show the
feeling of the persona toward the foulness of the mice. The persona was mocking the
three blind mice due to their blindness and the situation that was happened to the
mice. It is shown by saying see how they run and did you ever see such a thing in
your life as three blind mice? From the sentence, the feeling of persona is shown.
Readers will feel as if it was the most ridiculous scene the persona ever saw.
3.1.9.2. Tone
The tone in reading this rhyme is a light tone. In the first line, the persona
wanted to show the unfortunate of the mice. It is read with a sorry tone. In the second
line, there is repetition of phrase and exclamation mark. Because of that, the second
line is ready by enthusiastic tone. Through the enthusiastic tone, the persona wanted
to express the shock and astonishment to the foulness of the mice. In the third line
until the last line, the persona read the lines with light tone. The light tone is intended
63
to mock the foolishness of the mice which kept running even they could not see
anything..
3.1.9.3. Allusion
The fanner's wife in this rhyme refers to Queen Mary I, the daughter of King
Henry VIII and Queen Katherine of Aragon. She was popular with her cruel decision
in btuning the Protestants. and some other tortures. she did to them (The Royal
Household, 2011).
Before Queen Mary I reigned, the Kingdom of England was ruled by Edward
VI, son of King Henry VIII and Jane Seymour. Because he was a protestant, some
developments in religion were made. The church service and some church texts were
changed into English. When he died, Mary I took over the throne. Queen Mary I, just
like her mother, was a Catholic but she was a fanatic one. She had a purpose to
reconcile the relationship and retmite again with Rome Catholic. As one of her
attempts, she did massive slaughter with prosecuting many Protestants in her era.
Due to horrible thing that she did, she is popular with the name Bloody Marry.
The three blind mice refer to Nicholas Ridley, Hugh Latimer, and Thomas
Cranmer. Even it is recorded in the history that the victims of Mary I was about three
hundred people, this rhyme is focused only to these people. Nicholas Ridley, Hugh
Latimer, and Thomas Cranmer were bishops of Anglican religion that were
persecuted before her death. The reason of their persecution is their religious opinion
towards her reign. The three of them were burnt in Oxford, England (ibid.).
The blindness of the mice symbolizes to the incapability of the three bishops
to see the danger. They were incapable to read the situation. It was said that they
62
were plotting against Mruy I. But they were failed and got executed. The cutting of
the tail represents their execution..
From the allusion, it can be seen that the persona connected the blindness of
the mice to the foulness of the characters from the allusion. Queen Mary I ignored
the truth that slaughtering people is a sin and she kept burning people when she
reigned. She ignored voices from people around her include her husband. England
people and the three bishops were also unable to read the situation. Both sides
struggle their own faith without seeing the real principle in their faith. Faith is
already like an ideology that should be adjusted by people in a country. Faith is not
seen as private matter but it is controlled too by the authority. The persona wanted to
mock this idea through the tone and symbols which are inserted in the rhyme.
3.1.9.4. Irony
The irony from the rhyme is shown through the blindness of the mice. In this
rhyme, the mice were running and it was not because they were playing at that time.
TI1ey run because they were chased by the farmer's wife who brought a carving knife
to cut their tails. The blindness of the mice made them incapable to run away from
the fanner's wife. So, actually they are not really running away from the dan-ger but
they were just running around because they were panicked. The irony can be seen
from this. The mice were running to save their lives but how hard they tried to run
they would not free from the danger due to their blindness. They knew the danger
was come but their attempt to run was not useful because they could not see the way
out.
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The irony can also be seen from murdered that was done by Mary I and
struggle of the Protestant inEngland. It seems that the Quee!land England people did
not fully understand about what they were doing. Queen Mary was blinded with her
desire in catholicizing England. The three bishops were also blinded with their own
desire to resuscitate the Queen. They did not realize that the root of the problem was
the difference of faith and it could not be forced because fitith is a private call.
Mundane reasons which became the background of the struggle changed the basic
meaning of faith. People of a country were also blind because their religion was
determined by the authority. Queen Marry was intended to catholicize England after
the dead of her brother, Edward VI. The catholicization was done after England had
some development in Protestant by Edward VI. The development in religion was
also blind in England. It depended on the ruler. If the ruler desired a new form of
religion, the whole country would follow the regulation and change the religion
because the ruler had desired to. Religion is not seen as individual's desire in
searching God, but it is seen as political device and it seems that religion belongs to.
the authority not individuality.
3.1.9.5. Theme
The theme of Three Blind Mice is ignorance is dangerous because you are not
shield by awareness when ignorance lives with you. The blindness of the mice
symbolizes ignorance. People who are ignorance and do not care with situation
around are in dangerous situation. They will not realize if they are caught on a
problem and when they realize, nothing they can do because they are already inside
the situation. The only thing they can do is just panicked without knowing how they
can escape from the situation. The lesson from the allusion and irony is that there is
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no way out when people are blinded by their ignorance because they just think of one
focus.
3.1.10. Cock-A-Doodle Doo
Cock-A-Doodle Doo
Cock-A-Doodle Doo!
My dame has lost her shoe,
My master's lost his fiddling stick,
And knows not what to do
Cock-A-Doodle Doo is a simple rhyme that contains four lines. It tells about a
mister and a mistress that had lost their favorite things, fiddling stick and shoe. They
became confused because of the loss and did not know what else to do.The content
of this rhyme is about the missing items of the master and the dame, but the persona
did not focus on the missing items. The title shows that this rhyme focus of the
emergence of tl1e missing items. Even the items are not important, the loud sol!lld of
the rooster adds the effect of importance to the items.
3.1.10.1. Persona
In Cock-A-Doodle Doo, the persona is most likely a rooster because it cries
cock-a-doodle doo in the beginning oftl1e rhyme. The cry of a rooster awakes people
and it is heard in the early morning before people do their activity. The rooster as the
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persona emphasizes the urgency of searching the missing items. The cry of the
rooster also shows that the missing items are important things and all people should
know about that matter.
The persona also wanted to say that the master and the dame liked to
exaggerate minor matters. It shows the superficially of the master and the dame.
Througll the rooster sound, the persona wanted to express the power of both
characters too. Even the problem in this rhyme is not important, but the power of the
master and the dame let all people bothered by this little thing.
3.1.10.2. Tone
This rhyme is read in a loud enthusiastic manner. From the four lines, three of
them are ended with 'u' sound. They are Doo, shoe, and do. The 'u' som1d is useful
to add the shouting effect in reading this rhyme. The persona wanted to tell others
that the missing items are important and the persona recklessly told others about the
importance of the missing items.
3.1.10.3. Allusion
From this rhyme, some symbols can be interpreted to refer this rhyme to
triviality and lifestyle in Victorian era. The first symbol is the title of this rhyme.
Cock a doodle doo is a cry of a rooster. The sound of the rooster refers to routine
since a rooster cries in morning when everybody wakes up and it is the sign to start
the routine. The dame in this rhyme symbolizes the lady and the master symbolizes
the gentleman.
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In past, ladies and gentlemen were noble people who spent their time with
socializing and shaping their noble image in.front.of others. They spent their time
with attending parties like tea party or ball party and it was a routine activity that
they should do. Socialization was an obligatory for middle and upper class society.
The shoe and the fiddling stick symbolize their main tools in socializing which
actually shows triviality in their lifestyle. The shoe has a connection with dancing. In
English dictionary, fiddle stick has two meanings. First is the instrument to play
violin and the second is nonsense. The dancing and nonsense are the image that can
be caught from the parties done by those noble people.
The last line says that they knows not what to ch due to the loss of their shoe
and fiddling stick. It shows the triviality of the noble people in that time. They were
noble but it seemed they were less educated and lazy due to their lifestyle. All they
could do was just dancing and gossiping. Without it; it seemed that their essence as
noble people had gone.
3.1.10.4. Irony
The irony is stated in the last line when the master and the dame did not know
whatto do due to the loss of their shoe and fiddling stick. Shoe and fiddling stick are
trivial thing and they are not crucial things that can influence normal daily activity.
The reference of this rhyme contains similar irony. Trivial thing like party
and socializing was seen as important thing and main activity for the middle and
upper class society. They should be looked as noble as their title but what they did
was same like lower class society who liked to spend their money in bar after long
day work. The difference is the lower class society worked all day long and loosed
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the pressure with drink in bar at night. While the upper class society did not work
because they were landlords and.they bad slaves. They had money even they did not
work because of their fate, born as upper class people. The poor people had to work
hard because they were born as poor people. They could do nothing because they did
not have any title and did notbelong to any noble family. In medieval era, they could
not be as noble as the upper class people even they dressed and acted like them
because they did not have great ancestors. But the life of the poor people with the
noble people was turned upside down. Poor people were more discipline and tough
because of their condition. In the contrary, the comfortable condition which noble
people lived in leaded them to trivial life. Even sometimes the noble people's
behavior was fouler than the poor people's.
3.1.10.5. Theme
The theme of Cock-A-Doodle Doo is the importance of a thing can only be
valued by its master. The missing items in this rhyme are not primary needs and they
are not a big deal. However, the effect of the loss is huge because the essence of life
from the owners is missing too. In reality, sometimes things that are not important
for other people are precious for a person and it gives great effect for the person's
life. In real life, these things are often happened due to the overexposure of images.
Vehicles, cell phone, computers, Ipad, and other gadgets are becoming main
necessity in the society. The absence of those things in sorireone's life can be seen as
incompleteness. People have forgotten that in past people lived without those things.
They still can survive and live happily. People nowadays put more focus on material
things and are not be able to distinguish the real necessity with craving. Other
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comments also can be seen from the allusion and irony which are analyzed before.
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Upper class society liked to exaggerate minor problems rather than more serious
problem likepoverty and social gapin.the country. In medieval era, some. ridiculous.
regulations appeared and showed the superficiality of the upper class society. Some
of them are sumptuary laws in Elizabethan era which set how people should dress,
wear make up, and eat in one day. The simple things like that should not be set by a
regulation. This shows that the importance of a thing depends on the personality and
power of the person. Perhaps for poor people how they can get enough money to eat is
more important than how they should dress and wear make up.
3.1.11. Little Polly Flinders
Little Polly Flinders
Little Polly Flinders Sat
among the cinders, Warming
her pretty little toes;
Her mother came and caught her,
And whipped her little dallghter
For spoiling her nice new clothes.
Little Polly Flinders tells about a girl who relaxed her feet and sat in front of
fireplace. He was just warming her toes when suddenly her mother came and hit her
due to her dirty clothes. This rhyme is started with an explanation about a girl who
was playing in front of the cinders. The persona used feminine words like pretty little
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toes and cinders instead of simply toes and fireplace. This selection of words creates
a sweet and feminine atmosphere. In .the fourth tine, the situation is getting tenser
because she got whipped. In the last line, the persona still used feminine words
which are her nice new clothes. Even the story contain violence, the persona used
feminine and fancy words to show that this rhyme is about women's life. The
persona wanted to show that women's life is pretty through the well arranged
adjectives. Besides that the persona also inserted an idea about women's puniShment
in the fourth and fifth line of the rhyme. The persona wanted to show that
punishment is part of women's life.
3.1.11.1. Persona
The persona told the rhyme from the objective point of view. It means that
the persona acted as a camera which told the readers about what persona saw. It can
be seen from the pronoun that the persona used. There is no "I" and there is no
indication that the persona took role in the story. There is no personal opinion stated
in this rhyme. The persona offered the reader to judge the story by their own opinion.
3.1.11.2. Tone
Little Polly Flinders tells about a little girl named Polly. This simple rhyme
begins with relaxed scene when she played in front of the cinders. However, in the
end of the rhyme, her mother hit Polly. The persona used light tone in reading the
beginning of the rhyme like the way a little girl talks. The tone is not changing until
the end of the rhyme even Polly was whipped by her mother. Like .Jack and Jill, the
persona wanted to show that this event is a usual even. Her mother whipped Polly
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because she dirtied her clothes. The scene symbolizes woman's image. The persona
wanted to share that a woman should keep her image. clean .in the. society if she. does
not want to get punishment from the society. Woman is guardian for social norms.
Men are not expected to be perfect and but women are expected to be good and to
have a good behavior. The persona wanted to show this thought, so the tone is not
fallen in the end of the rhyme because the persona did not feel sad about Polly.
3.1.11.3. Allusion
The second rhyme is Little Polly Flinders. In a glance, the story in this rhyme
is similar with a famous fairy tale, Cinderella. The cinders and the mother who
whipped her are two points that are similar with that tale. But if it is related to event
at past, this rhyme also refers to the image of lady in past. The last lines of the rhyme
are not just an ironic ending. It is also a sad ending. Her own mother came and
whipped her just because of the dirty clothes. Her nice new clothes symbolize the
image of lady that should be kept. The image of the lady was so important and it
should not be ruined if she wanted to socialize with other people without being
gossiped in the society.
The nice new clothes also refer to the Elizabethan way· of clothing. In that
era, wear suitable clothes based on the social status was so important until there is a
law that set the way of clothing named sumptuary clothing. Sumptuary clothing was
a law which determined the colors and materials of clothes that a person should
wore. It was suited with the social status. Each layer of society should dress as the
law dictated or the punishment would be gained. It means that the way of dressing
showed the social status of a person (Belfanti, 2009). The whipping also refers to the
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as subordinate and they should obey men. The disobedience to men was seen as the
religious violation. That's why women. were dependent with men and had a weak
position in that era.
It is a rhyme that tells about the strange habit in medieval era especially in
Elizabethan era. It also talks about the marginalization of women in the society. The
norms and the value of women did not give any advantage to women's position in
that time and they could easily be a scapegoat in society. The value of women as
human being was seen from the images which had been set by society. Weakness and
passiveness from the images had stick to women and society saw women through
that kind of point of view. That is why the renewal image of women was done by the
feminists. They did not try to banish the images which have been stick to women, but
they renew people's paradigm to women with changing the old image of women.
They emphasized the strength and intelligence of womento break the old images.
3.1.11.4. Irony
The irony is stated in the last line of the rhyme. Polly Flinders was sitting in
front of the cinder. She was just playing but suddenly her mother came and punished
her: The reason of the punishment was the irony in this rhyme. She just made her
dress dirty. A good mother will simply forgive that small matter and clean the dress.
But Polly's mother came and hit her daughter just because of the dirty dress.
1li Elizabethan era, whipping was a punishment that was done to women.
Lady Jane Grey that was popular as nine-day-queen also got whipped before she was
executed. In that era, women's position was weak and dependent with men.
Whipping stool was a part of f\nniture in household to punish women. This is ironic
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because women who are humans and have same value with men were treated as if
they were less va,luable than men, The worst part i.s that kind of ideology was
accepted by society for a long time because of common paradigm that women should
be ruled over men. Gender inequality is another ironical issue in the society. Two
kinds of human beings that should be partner turns out to be superordinate and
subordinate because men are looked stronger than women. There are cultures in this
world that determine the value of men and women. In some parts ofworld women's
value is higher than men and vice versa. Culture and society have shaped this
condition and let these two human beings have different values. Women of course do
not want to have less value and vice versa. But they can do nothing because society
has structured this value. Society and culture are constructed by men and women.
But they are trapped in their own creation and complicated their own life.
3.1.11.5. Theme
The theme of Little Polly Flinders is the image of a woman is important. In
the rhyme, the dress was dirty and Polly was punished because of that. The dirty
dress symbolized the spoiled image. In reality, an image of perfect woman is
important. If it is ruined or spoiled, the woman will be punished by the society. The
punishment will be judgment and skepticism from other people. Women should not
do any mistake and should keep their value in front of the society. Women are
expected to be perfect because they are not protected ouly their own good name but
also the good name of their family. This is a hard task for women because there is no
perfect human. Some extreme feminists see this way of thinking as exploitation of
women. The images of women are exploited and they are forced to be perfect. The
canon of good women is hard to be reached and some extreme feminists see that
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there is no point in adjusting themselves with the images in the society. They live for
themselves and.. not for. amusing other people. But the society has not ready yet to
accept the new lifestyle of the feminists and it is seen as a rebellion. Some new
lifestyles are seen as inappropriate and strange. For feminists, this kind of
controversy and rejection is just a process of a journey in the renewal image from
dependent women into independent women.
3.1.12. Rock-A-Bye Baby
Rock-A-Bye Baby
Rock-A-Bye Baby,
On the tree top,
When the wind blows
The cradle will rock.
When the bough breaks,
The cradle will fallDown will come baby,
Cradle and all!.
Rock-A-Bye, baby, thy cradle is green,
Father's a nobleman, mother's a queen;
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Sister's a lady, and wears a gold ring,
Brother's a drummer and drums for the king.
Bye, Baby Bunting,
Daddy's gone a-hunting,
To get a little rabbit's skin
To wrap the Baby Bunting in.
Rock-A-Bye Baby or Hush-A-Bye Baby is a popular lullaby for children. It is
sung to little children to calm them and send them to bed. However, if it is read
carefully, the lyric is far from calming the children. In the other way, the lyric
contains horrible message. It tells about a baby who was rocked upon the tree. Then
the bough broke and the cradle together with the baby fell down.
These days, Rock-A-Bye Baby just stops in the first stanza. Actually, there is
extended lyric from the older version of the rhyme. The extended lyrics have
different context with the rhyme and each stanza has different stories. The second
stanza tells about a royal family which consists of the .baby, father, mother, sister,
and brother with their own characteristics. The third stanza tells about a baby who
was lulled. The nurse told the baby that the father went hunting for a rabbit to bunt
the baby inside the skin.
Rock-A-Bye Baby has four stanzas. The first and second stanza are a
continuous story. While each third and fourth stanza have different story. All stanzas
are started with same line, rock-a-bye baby which is addressed to the baby. The title
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stanza, the persona opened the rhyme with cahning manner. But in the second stanza,
the.persona.continuedthe lines with" horrible sound with .the adding o( exclamation
mark in the end of the stanza. The persona wanted to show the danger of the first
stanza. The persona shocked the baby with showing the bad side of rocking a baby
upon the tree. Like parenting, all parents have their own way to raise up their
children. The persona wanted to say that there is risk in every step of parenting and
wrong way will lead to a disaster.
The third stanza has different story with the first and second stanza. The first
and second stanza is intended both for the baby and parents. The persona wanted to
tell the parents that wrong way in parenting can lead to a disaster and the message for
the baby is to be careful with the parenting way. The third stanza is intended only for
the baby. The persona wanted to say to the baby about the background of the family.
The second line is telling about the parents of the baby who are the father and·the
mother. The mother is represented by a queen because the persona wanted to show
that a mother is the rnler in the family who has a duty to manage the family and
households well. All members of family should obey the queen and the queen should
be wise to take care of the family. The father is represented by a nobleman. He is not
represented by a king because the persona wanted to show that the family could not
be rnled by two persons. Nobleman is not rnling the country but he is needed to give
advices if there is problem in the country. Nobleman is also needed to control the
development of country. He is the eye of the country. Father is defined as wise
person in family. Sister is represented by a princess who is spoiled by a golden ring.
The golden ring symbolizes marriage too. The persona wanted to show that the
purpose ofhaving a daughter is to marry her with a·.rich-or wealthy man. It is.because
the ring is made of gold, not silver or steel. The brother is represented by a drummer.
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He is not represented by a knight or prince. Dnnnmer is related with war since the
persona mentioned king in the last lin.<J. Dmm.. is a sign. to start a. war. The per$0na
wanted to show that the future of the family depends on the brother who will start to
play the drmn or not.
The fourth stanza also has different story. It does not start with rock-a-bye
baby but it is started with bye, baby bunting. This stanza is intended both for the
baby and the persona. The persona wanted to tell the baby that the father had gone
hunting for the baby. While telling it to the baby, the persona also said to herself
about that. The purpose of telling it to the baby is to assure to herself that the father
will be alright. The little rabbit skin refers to the protection for the baby. The father
hunted outside to find a protection for the baby. The persona used the word bunting
to describe fabric to wrap the baby. Bunting also means flag or material of flag. In
medieval era, knights did·explorations outside the· cmmtty to war or to colonize other
lands. They brought flag with them as a sign that they fought for the countty. The
persona symbolizes this situation through the word baby bunting.
3.1.12.1. Persona
In Rock-A-Bye Baby, the persona is a person who nursed the baby; The
persona is most likely a woman because in medieval era where the song originated, it
was very rare to find a man who nursed a baby. The existence of the persona shows
more about the emotion of the persona rather than the emotion of the baby.
Therefore, the story in the rhyme is not about the baby but about the nurse. The nurse
as the persona expressed her thought about a baby who was cradled upon the rock
and her fear that the baby would fall. The exclamation mark shows it in the last line
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The extension lyrics of the rhyme also show the emotion and the experience
of the nurse. The second.. and third stanza tells more.about the baby and the baby's
family from the persona's point of view. The second stanza, which told about the
baby and the royal family, intends to create the identity of the baby. The persona
wanted to shape knowledge about the family to the baby. The persona mentioned the
characteristics of each member. It is similar with the third stanza. The persona told
the baby that the father went hunting to get a rabbit skin for the baby. The baby was
told by the persona that the father worked hard for the sake of the baby.
Rock-A-Bye Baby has different context in each stanza but the main idea was
similar. From the persona point of view, it can be concluded that the rhyme was
intended to incept certain idea to "the baby". The baby did not create the idea
through his or her own experience. The idea was originated from the persona and the
persona put her idea through lulling the baby to sleep, The·idea was ·unconsciously
inserted to the baby.
3.1.12.2..Tone
The tone in Rock-A-Bye Baby is more like a nurse who is telling a story to
children. The tone is like a teacher who teaches the.students; sharp yet gentle. The
context of the poem is about a baby who is rocked upon the tree. The persona wanted
to show that the action is dangerous and it can lead to a disaster for both the child
and the mother. Even the end is tragic, the persona wanted the reader take a lesson
from the story.
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3.1.12.3. Allusion
The tlrird rhyme is Rock-A-Bye Baby. Many sources believe that this rhyme
refers to the era where the puritans entered America and blended with the Indian. The
culture from American Indian and British were different and there was a culture
shock between them. The puritans saw American Indian people as uncivilized with
their witchcraft, rituals, and way oflife. One of the culture shocks was poured in this
rhyme. In past, the American Indians were used to rock their baby on the top of the
tree. They Jet the wind rocked the baby while the mothers worked in the bottom of
the tree. That scene which was a usual routine for shocked most puritan mothers.
It is the allusion from the first stanza of the rhyme, The second stanza .has
been mentioned before that it contains political theme. The second stanza is alluded
to the colonization that England did in past. The baby is a symbol for the
commonwealth country. The green cradle refers to the country which was still new.
It also refers to the production of commonwealth countries which was usually land
production from Asia or Africa. The family of the baby symbolized the authori1y in
England. The father of the baby is nobleman not a king. Perhaps, it was because
England was ruled over queens in colonization era, i.e. Queen Elizabeth and Queen
Victoria. Nobleman refers to the parliamentary which sorted the regulations that
were made by the Queen. In that era, political marriage to extend the land .or.to make
an alliance was likely to do in order to strengthen the securi1y of the country. The
sister with her. gold ring refers to the political marriage.in.thatera. Brother who was
represented by a di:ummer refers to the knight who fought for the country. They
travelled outside the country and claimed other lands as England's. It is said in the
rhyme that the brother drummed for the king. The king symbolizes desire to rule. It
represents the reason of why the colonization happened. It is not represented by a
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queen because king as man has different connotation. The connotation of king is
powerihl. and it cannot be. denied by anyone because the power of king is absolute.
The last stanza of the rhyme has a same allusion to the colonization era. The
word bunting refers to the flag that the knights brought when they fought for the
country. The first line of the stanza is started with bye, baby bunting not rock a bye
baby. The word bye refers to the farewell to the knights and flag. The wrap in the last
line refers to the protection of the country. The knights hunted for new lands for the
advantages and protection of the country. The more land they got the stronger and
the richer the country.
From the allusion, a message about colonization. era and the crashed culture
can be taken from the rhyme. The emergence of England to find new lands to be
exploited broke the peace of the indigenous population in the colonization areas.
Moral and desire to rule were collided. They made conflicts and create the
atmosphere of superiority and inferiority. Once again, the desire leads a country to
ignore moral and humanity.
3.1.12.4. Irony
The ironic and sarcastic ending is clearly shown in the end of the rhyme. The
baby which was rocked upon the tree falls down due to the broken bough. It is said
that down will come the baby cradle and all! The baby was rocked by the wind to
give calm and let the baby slept, but it is soon turned into a disaster because the baby
fell down. Surely, the mother would be surprised by this incident because the early
purpose was to put down the baby not killing the baby.
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The mocking of American Indian cultnre shows western opinion towards
American Indian .culture... Western .countri.es believed thattheir culture was the.most
civilized and their race was the brightest from all races in this world. They judged
that from the expedition and observation they did. Western conntries judged that
through the differences they fonnd. They fonnd that Indian people did not wear
proper clothes, lived in tents, hnnted for living, relied on traditional medicines and
spiritual rituals in healing and solving daily problems, and many else. The
differences were seen as nncivilized and primitive. Their rituals and way of living
that focus on natnre were seen as a primitive way of living. It was not seen as unique
and different. Western people underestimated American Indian's cultnre whereas the
problem was just about the differences in detennining morals and values. It ironical
because while western people nnderestimated Indian people's cultnre which focuses
on balance in natnre and mocked them as primitive and nncivilized, Indian people
saw western people as nncivilized devil who robbed their motherland.
3.1.12.5. Theme
The theme of Rock-A-Bye Baby is there is no comfort zone and downfall is a
matter of time. The rhyme is started with a calming atmosphere where the baby was
rocked and lulled upon the tree. In the end of the rhyme, it is mentioned thatthe baby
fell down as the result of the broken bough. It turns the cahning atmosphere into
horror atmosphere. 11ris rhyme can be connected to the feeling of the peasants to the
authority. There is a message to the authority that they will not be in comfort zone
forever just because they have power. One day they will go down and their world
will be upside down. Through the persona criticized about the colonization that
England done in order to strengthen their conntiy. The superiority and inferiority that
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appeared as an excuse to colonize countries is seen as superficiality and an ignorance
towards hmpanity. This rhyme talked about the contrast of western culture with
oriental cultUie. The difference is seen as primitive and inferiority. The persona also
talked about the colonization in the second and third stanza. The persona wanted to
say that the superiority that is clirimed by western cultUie is not completely true
because no one can prove it and make it as a fact. This is just a stereotype that is
stick to the oriental country due to the difference of lifestyle.
The persona also wanted to give critics to the government and authority.
Authority is spoiled by power and sometimes they do things that are unpredictable.
Some authorities are also impressed negatively by people. The absolute monarchy,
communism, and democracy have their own stereotype and negative impression from
people. It seems that all kind of authority is not far from critics and comments.
Through the theme, the persona wanted to remind the authority that the power they
have is not eternal because they can be toppled down anytime as people wish. The
persona wanted to emphasize people's power and the distrust to the authority.
3.1.13. See Saw Margery Daw
See Saw Margery Daw
See-saw Margery Daw,
Johnny shall have a newmaster;
He shall have but a peuny a day,
Because he can't work any faster.
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See Saw Margery Daw is a nursery rhyme that is usually sung as child's play.
This simple song contains offour.lin.es. See Saw Margery Dawtells about a boy t\lat
should have a new boss because of his slow work. He also could not get more than a
penny a day because of his slow work.
The title of the rhyme is division of three words. They are seesaw, Margery,
and daw. Seesaw is a child play which contain up and down position through a plank.
Margery is a common name for Margaret in medieval era. Daw is a term from
jackdaw which means black or grey bird that is smaller than a crow. From here it can
be seen that See Saw Margery Daw is a rhyme about a kid and the kid is probably a
girl. But in the second line, the persona mentioned Johnny who is a boy. So it can be
concluded that the·persona wanted to·tell the story about a boy named Johnny to a
girl named Margery. The persona told about a child who is working. In industrial era,
these children were· called child labour. Child labour has been fmmd in medieval era.
They were working instead of playing or studying because their family was very
poor. Due to their incapability to do heavy job, they were useful in doing trivial job
and their pay was cheap. The persona contrasted the story about Johnny who was
related with child labour with tl1e title of t11e rhyme which was related with a child
play.
3.1.13.1. Persona
The persona in this rhyme is a person who told Margery the story about
Johnny. The persona was a person who knew about life and knew that what
happened to Johnny was an unfortunate fora child. Through the word see saw in the
first line, the persona wanted to share his or her own opinion that children should be
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children and rich children. In playing seesaw, there is a person in the top and another
person in the .bottom. .The. persona wanted. to say .that there.is.always .rich .children..
who was born with a good luck and poor children who was born with bad luck that
they should work for living instead of playing. But in the end of the rhyme, the
persona told Margery that Jolmny earned little because he could not work faster. Tins
shows that the persona was not fully pity to Johnny. From the line, it can be seen that
the persona gave comments about Johnny's life. Johnny got little money because of
his own fault that he could not work faster. The persona did not see that Johnny was
still a kid that could not work as fast as adult. This situation has a relation with
reality. People who employed children pay them cheaper because children usually ·
help trivial things in factory, they do not see the fact that they are still children.
Those people just see that child labours give more profit for them.
3.1.13.2. Tone
See Saw Margery Daw is read by a pitiful tone. The persona wanted to show
his feeling towards Johnny who just could earn a penny a day because he could not
work any faster. Nothing he could do because he was just a little boy, but he was
expected to do more than he could do.
3.1.13.3. Allusion
See Saw Mqrgery Daw refers to. the child. labour that happened in.
industrialization era. In that time, women and children were forced to work when
men went out for war. They had moved the economy wheel but they were paid less
than they deserved to have due to their gender. The women and children had to work ·
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because they needed to feed themselves. So, they were still working to fill their
empty stomach. The. child and. women labOtlr that.were exploited_in that era shows
the marginalization that happened to women and children. He shall have but a penny a
day refers to the small amount of money that child labours got in that time. The
small amount of money and the small portion of work that the boy did in the rhyme
refer to reality that happened in that era, which many children wandered in the street
to work instead of stndying or playing.
From the allusion, it can be seen that the exploitation of children as inferior
side was allowed in medieval era. Children were found in factory and street as they
working due to the poverty in that time. The instability of economy and commoners
welfare·forced children to work to· fill their stomach.
3.1.13.4. Irony
The irony in this rhyme is stated from the sitnation in the rhyme. Johnny as a
kid should work and he just got a peuny a day because his work was slow. He could
do nothing to changehis fate because the-slowness of his work is·natural. He was just a
boy and he was not as strong as a man. His capability in working would not as
perfect as an adult man because of the limitation of his physic. But the industry did
not see that factor and just saw how much work he could do. This is an irony because
child's obligation is to stndy and to play not spending their time in working and
earning money to buy food. As a child, how hard he tried to earn money was useless
because he would just get small job due to his age. And small job means small
money too. It was a big burden for his small body. The exploitation of children as
child labour is an ironical sitnation because children are expected to be cared and
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living. It is out of moral for employing children as labour. But in fact, children
labours are still found in some parts ofthis. world ]?ecause they are cheap. and give .
more profit for the company. Material and profit are more important than human
value.
3.1.13.5. Theme
The theme of.SeeSaw Margery J)aw is you can earn more if.you work
harder. Johnny could not earn more than a penny a day because he was slow in work.
In reality, fleXIbility and fastness in working is a skill that should be had by a worker.
But Johnny is a child in this rhyme. He had incapability in working fast. It also
shows that a person will not get a job if he or she does not have capabilities.
However, the reality in industry does not care with the incapability and condition of
the workers. Result is the more visible and important than that. The desire to get
more profit drives some factories to employ children and do things that are
contradicted with moral just to get more profit. The priority is shifted. The value of
human is less prior if it is compared with material things like money.
3.1.14. Half A Pound of Tuppenny Rice
Half A Pound ofTuppenny Rice
Half a pound oftuppenny rice,
Half a pound of treacle,
That's the way the money goes,
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Pop goes the weasel!
Up and down the city road,
In and out the Eagle,
That's the way the money goes,
Pop goes the weasel!
Half A Pound of Tuppenny Rice tells about how the money circulates inside
the city. It told that the money went on half a pound of rice and syrup. The money
was also used in and out the city.
The persona mentioned the tuppenny rice and treacle in the first and second
line as the demand. Then, the persona said that it was how the money went. Then, the
persona mentioned again the fifth and sixth line about the city road and eagle. After
that, it is explained that it was how the money went. The first, second, fifth, and sixth
line refers to the necessity. They are the demand which caused the circulation of
money. The persona wanted to show that the existence of money comes out after the
demand. Weasel refers to a slender animal and dishonest person. From the word, the
persona wanted to show that money is like a weasel and it cannot be trusted. Pop ·
means sudden or very quickly. From the phrase, the persona wanted to say that
money goes very fast and people should not feel safe if they have money because it
will be used up to fulfill daily necessity.
3.1.14.1. Persona
The persona in the rhyme is the person who owned the money. The persona
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necessity. From the order of the demand first then money, the persona wanted to
show that the demand of life. asked the,persona to find money and.spend..the money.
The
demands that the persona mentioned were food, entertainment, and
transportation. For the persona, the value of money is less than what the persona
needed. Money is just tool to fulfill the persona's necessity. It is explained by the
word pop which means fast. It is fast to come and go. The persona is most likely an
commoner who worked for fulfilling daily necessity.
3.1.14.2. Tone
Half A Pound ofTuppenny Rice is read by a happy and enthusiastic tone. The
lines before pop goes the weasel is read like a circular. The lines that consist up and
down and the in and out is read like a circular to show the circulation of money.
There is an exclamation mark after pop goes the weasel. The popping sound is
clearly identified in this line. Pop is an onomatopoeia of an explosion. The
combination of pop and exclamation mark marks that this line should be read
enthusiastically. The persona wanted
to
show that people are working hard to earn
and collect money with enthusiastic tone. However, the money that is collected is
just used up for daily necessity. Money is an abstract thing and no one can fully have
it because money circulates in daily life.
3.1.14.4. Allusion
Half A Pound Tuppenny Rice contains cockney language that is popular in
London among labors. Cockney slang is a vernacular language that shows solidarity
and status class in the society. Pop and weasel are derived from the cockney rhyming
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slang. Pop comes from the word "popping" which means pawning. Weasel comes
from the words. "weasel and stoat" which means coat. In.past, .there was a..beliefthat
people should wear the best clothes to attend the Sunday service. Most people had
coat and suit even they were poor. When they were run out of money, poor people
liked to pawn their coat to get money. The money was used to pay their daily life.
After they earned the money back, they paid the coat back and used the coat to attend
the Sunday service.
In the first stanza, it is said that the money went up for the half pound of
tuppenny rice and treacle. The word tuppenny in this rhyme refers to two pennies.
Treacle itself is pale cane syn1p. Half a potmd of tuppenny rice and half a pound of
treacle refer to the daily food that poor people bought to feed themselves. ln the
second stanza, it explained that It goes up and down the city road and the Eagle. The
Eagle in this rhyme refers to a pub·near the city road in London· which is now called
the Eagle Tavern. Poor people at that time liked to spend their money in pub after
long day work. So, their money was also spent inside the pub.
Some nursery rhymes that are discussed above keep story about poverty and
hard time that happened in past. It tells about how the poor people earned money.
Children and women should work and sometimes precious thing should be pawned.
It is a. sad.and hard story to be told to children through nursery rhymes. The persona
wanted to remind people that money is an abstract thing and the value of money is
not as important as the. necessity of people.. Money appears due to the.demand .of
people to survive in this life. They need to eat and entertain themselves. Money is
needed to survive in this life.
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3.1.14.5. Irony
The irony can be groWld if it is related to the story behind the rhyme. The
irony is shown when people should pawn their coat to get money. The money from
the coat would be spent inside the pub. When the money had collected back, they
took away the coat and wore it for Srn1day service. After Sunday, the coat was seen
as commodity to be pawned again. It went again and again until this activity became
routine. This is ironical because they did not try to find another way out for better
life. They lived and worked for what they called routine without thinking of better
future. They were trapped in the poverty due to their routine. And they thought that it
was their fate, to be deficit all the time.
The irony is also found if it is related to the reality. Money is almost all
people's desire and they will do anything to get it. But it is an abstract thing and
nobody could ever have it. People work hard to earn money. But they will not get
any money to keep because it will be spent for daily necessity. Some people spend
their life, night and day, to earn more money with a hope they will not be deficit
again. But the more people have much money, the bigger desire to spend it to other
unnecessary things. There will never be enough money for someone because money
is an abstract thing. It is not the money which people desire, but it is the power of
money. The more they drink it, the thirstier they will be.
3.1.14.6. Theme
The theme of Half A Pound ofTuppenny Rice is money is an abstract thing.
Money is actually just wasted up for daily necessity. There is nothing left for private
saving because logically private saving is. intended. to buy something desired. It is
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told in the rhyme that the money was used for daily necessity, around the town, and
in the eagle. Eagle is name of a bar in England.. This. rhyme wants to share.. that .
money is an abstract thing. People can earn lots of money but it is meaningless
because it will be used up to survive in this life. From the theme, the persona wanted
to show that the value of money depends on what it can buy. In reality, money is so
powerful until the things that it can buy are not just about real objects but also heart
and relationship. Value of human and truth also can be bought by money. It depends
on the way of thinking of each person. But in fact, many problems appear in the
society due to the power of money.
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3.2. General Themes of the Selected Nursery Rhymes
*table in attachmenttablel
It is explained before in the previous subchapter about the elements and
themes. of nursery rhymes. In this subsection, general themes and messages, which
are inserted in the selected nursery rhymes, are analyzed to find out the area of ideas
inside the nursery rhymes. Further explanation about whether nursery rhymes contain
adult's ideas can be concluded from the analysis of the table.
In general, the themes that are found from the selected nursery rhymes
contain messages and critics on social issues like politics, war, religion, inequality of
gender, poverty, materialism, critics on governments, and critics on social gap. Even
nursery rhymes are originated from 16th until 18th century, nursery rhymes contain
universal and timeless messages which can be used as a reflection to recent social
issues. Nursery rhymes contain history through the allusion and from the history,
they can be used as a review to humanity. The themes that have been mentioned
above still appear these days. For example, critics on social· gap and materialism are
still appearing in society these days. Social gap happens between the rich and the
poor, superior and inferior race, men·and women;From 16th century, these things had
already happened. Of course, the context is different now because of the
development of human rights. Nursery rhymes as the reflection of society from past
prove that those social issues still relevant until now and values about humanity
should be discussed for better understanding of humanity itself
From the table above, if can be concluded that the most general themes that
are inserted in the selected nursery rhymes are politics, critics on social gap, and
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materialism. Eight rhymes from the fourteen nursery rhymes contain themes about
politics. Seven rhymes critics. on sociaL gap.. Then,.. six .rhymes from the fourteen
nursery rhymes contain theme about materialism. It is almost half of the total of
nursery rhymes. These three themes are general themes that appear more frequent in
the selected nursery rhymes.
Politics theme includes explanation about political marriage, religion as
political tool, domination of certain culture in government, and governmental system
(monarchy vs. democracy). In I Had A Little Nut Tree, there are comments about
political marriage that was happened between Prince Arthur and Katherine of
Aragon. The purpose of marriage is not based on love anymore. There are many
aspects that are appeared in doing marriage. From the political marriage which is ·
happened in medieval era, it can be seen that marriage is done to achieve success and
wealth. ·The purpose ·of marriage· is shifted from love to materialistic reason. In
Goosey Goosey Gander and Three Blind Mice, the comments on religion also appear.
Religion is powerful because it relates to the relationship between God and humans.
Almost all humans in this world have spiritual side in their heart which always seeks
to the presence of God. That is one of the reasons why religion exists. Spiritual
experience canlead someone to be braver to actto express their gracefulness in God.
Humans are many but through religion they are one. They are unified by their faith to
God. This kind of power has been used by irresponsible people or authority to fulfill
their own desire. They order people to do what they want through the name of
religion. This action has turned the divinity ofreligion·become so mundane until
some people do not believe that there is pure divine motive in religion. Nursery
rhymes also inserted critics about governmental system, Some ofthem-are found in .
Humpty Dumpty and Sing A Song of Sixpence. Voices from the commoners towards
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governmental system are quite negative. It seems that both monarchy which is based
on absolute power of sovereign and democracy which. is. based on the representatives.
of people contain stereotype and there are many weaknesses from the systems. From
the analysis, it can be seen that there is gap between authority and commoners. The
role of people's representatives in democracy also does not change the stereotype of
authority because they are failed to fulfill the demand of people. Some of people are
even controlled by their own desire and abuse their position. It seems that it is hard to
unite authority with commoners due to various interests in society. In general,
politics theme talks about people's comments on governmental system and how the
authority rules the country.
Critics on social gap mostly talk about the difference and disparity among
one social group with the others. The social gap includes gap between rich people
and· poor people, The critics on the gap are explained in Cock-A-Doodle Doo, See
Saw Margery Daw, and Sing A Song of Sixpence. The life of rich people is different
with the life of poor people. Poverty, triviality in life, and greediness are the main
focus in the critics. Poor people judged rich people that their life is trivial, selfish,
and apatl1y towards each other. Social gap between cultures is also found through
Rock-A-Bye.Baby. From the nursery rhyme, it is found a critic on the superiority of
western culture. Western people especially British colony clainled that their culture is
the most brilliant culture and that allowed them to colonize other countries.
Besides gap on wealth and culture, social gap also happens between men and
women. The critics on inequality of gender are found in Jack and Jill and Little Polly
Flinders. The position of women is weak in the society and it results in the
marginalization .of women. It. seems that the value of women. is less than value. of.
men and it results in inequality of rights in the society. From kinds of social gap
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explain above, the gap usually results in injustice, marginalization, and social
jealousy.
Materialism talks about the role of material things like money or wealth in
society, whether it replaces human values and becomes reason of social problems.
Money as exchange tool has become so powerful until it becomes motivation of
people to work hard or even do fraudulent things. The interest of people in wealth
also makes some people chase it through relationship to rich people. The usefulness
of material things has made people to chase it beyond other things like affection or
wisdom.
Topics about politics, social gap; and materialism still become current talks in
society and they are still being discussed by social observer and counnoners. Even
the allusion from the nursery rhymes originated from past events, the discussion and
messages inside them are still relevant with the situation in today's society.
Other themes which have lesser frequency to appear in the selected nursery
rhymes are war (3), critics on government (3), religion (2), inequality of gender (2),
and poverty (2). Even they have lesser frequency than other themes, the indication
that nursery rhymes also discuss about this specific themes is existed.
Critics on government explain about the regulations fi'om the authority and
the execution in society. It also counnents about the effectiveness of current
governmental system and its regulations. The dissatisfaction of the counnoners
towards authority is revealed through the analysis of some nursery rhymes. Baa Baa
Black Sheep reveals the dissatisfaction towards wool taxation which happened in
medieval era. The tax is happened until now. Pros and contras appear from the
application of tax in society. People question about the transparency and purpose of
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the taxation. The regulations and governmental system that are applied to people
result in both positive. and negative impression..
Religion in the sociecy is not only acted as spiritual matters. Since the age of
kingdoms, religion has become authoricy's tool to control people. Some regulations
in country are also adjusted with religion if the country has national religion. In
socie1y, religious organization can be more powerful than government sometimes.
Besides the abuse of religion's power in socie1y, religion is· also seen as reasons of
war. War can be happened because of misunderstanding between two religions and
differences between the religions. People's faith and religion are different depend on
their backgrotmd and spiritual experience. The desire to dominate world and unite
the world into one religion become reason of war between a country with the others.
Gender issues also develop from past until now. The feminist movements and
the awareness of human rights do not make the issues sink. In the contrary, people
keep talking about it due to the movements and the effects to the socie1y. The
messages of inequali1y of gender are inserted through I Had A Little Nut Tree that
women are seen as cornmodicy through marriage, Jack And Jill that the value of
women is seen less important than men, and Little Polly Flinders that the images of
women are also seen as important thing more than the value Of women as human
being. Voices of women about injustice in sociecy. are .clearly heard in nnrsery
rhymes. One of the reasons is because nnrsery rhymes are being passed through
women. Women as teachers, nannies, and mothers are people.that areresponsible.in
preserving the nnrsery rhymes and carrying them to children. Messages and critics
about inequa!i1y of genders are carried together through the nursery rhymes. From
here, it can be concluded that nnrsery rhymes are also acted as feminist's medium to
share their opinion towards inequali1y of rights in socie1y.
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The last theme is poverty. In some parts of world, poverty is a social problem
that cannot be banished. easily.The roots. of this.. problem are. many.. It can. be.
ignorance, apathy, and failure in welfare program. Poverty shows the social gap
which still happens in the society. It also shows that the governments have not been
able to manage this problem. The discussion of poverty and ways to stop it still
become common discussion in society.
It can be concluded that politics is the most general theme that can be taken
from the fourteen nursery rhymes. The second most general theme is social gap and
the third is materialism. All themes that can be taken from the nursery rhymes reveal
that nursery rhymes contain voices from commoners towards authority and social
system. They also contain critics on life. It can be concluded from the analysis that
people need better system of life through the overview of the social issues through
the discussion in nursery rhymes.
From the generalization of themes in nursery rhymes, it can be seen that
nursery rhymes contain mature themes rather than children-like themes. Messages
and critics about politics and social arouse from the analysis of nursery rhymes. It is
found that the selected nursery rhymes mostly contain adults' aspiration about social
life and the application of governmental system in the society. They also comment
about m1eertainty in government and inconvenience in society due to the social gap..
In general, the outlook of nursery rhymes is fun and naive through the illustration
and characters. They are .also. packed nicely withouLa touch. of adult's interest.to
make them more attractive to be introduced to children. But from the analysis of
poetical elements and the generalization of themes, it can be seen that nursery
rhymes talks about politics and social issues which happened in society. The
allusions that are found in each nursery rhyme also support the nursery rhymes as
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medium to share opinion about politics and society. Children are normally unaware
ofthe.allusions due to the limitation of.knowledge..in historica]events.. This proves.
that nursery rhymes are overshaded by adults' interest.
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3.3. Political and Social Critics Through The Use of Irony
The analysis of irony from nursery rhymes reveals some irony which can be
related to pelitics and social issues in the society. The allusion that refers the nursery
rhymes with past events connects the analysis of this poem with issues in society, i.e.
gender inequality and racism.
Gender issues and racism have been. main. topic. in society since at least Jor .
the last three centuries. Women and colored people as the minority in society had
suffered due to the marginalization which is established in the society. Stereotypes
and opinions on them create the images of women and colored people.
Society has created certain images of women and treated them not as an
individual but through the stereotypes of women. Although they are seen as weak
and passive, women are expected to be perfect in the society. Little Polly Flinders
has explained that images of perfect women should not be spoiled to prevent the
punishment from the society. The perfect images for women which are adored by
society can be represented by the qualifications that are required in most beauty
pageants.It are usually emphasized on brain, beauty, behavior. The image of miss
universe summarizes what society expects for women; ln the contrary, the existence
of women is not as important as their role in society. They are seen less important
and do not get equal right with en. In fact, women are underestimated in society.
The society also underestimates the power of women. It seems that power is not
related with women. Even for the term girl power which is usually heard in public.
Girl power may mean that even women are weak they still can do something useful
and good just like men. The comparison between men and women is still unbalanced
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images of women in society. There is no equal right in society for women even the
images .of.women. h< ve been renewed 1Jy feminists.,. Women earn. less moo.ey than
men even they do equal job. Men take the biggest role in politics life. People do not
trust women as leader because people think that women are not logical enough to
lead. It is influenced by people's stigma that women act with their feeling not brain.
In some nursery rhymes that have been analyzed in the previous chapter, it is
known that those nursery rhymes set certain image to women inside the lyrics:·There ·
are some images of women in society that can be seen in Jack And Jill which reveals
the idea that women should follow men, Little Polly F1inders which contain an idea
that women should behave well, and I Had A Little Nut Tree which talks about
women as commodity in marriage life:
Since the civilization era, western culture has set values and nonns that
should be done by women. One of the grounds is come from Holy Bible which said
that women should obey men. This order generally means that women should be
helpful partner fur men.and men become head of family. But the order from the bible
was taken for granted and people misrepresented the order. The order was
misinterpreted into women should be ruled over men. This is the history of women's
passive image. Women should behave well and became perfect to protect the name
of the family, TI1e disobedience is also seen as sin in the society. So, women often
had limited freedom and they were marginalized in society. That is why many
women have become. victims. in..political and.,social problems just because .their
position in society was too weak to defense themselves. The obedience of women
was misinterpreted as the foulness of women, whereas they were expected to obey
men. Women were also seen as commodity in the family because having wen·
behaved women was luck. It raised a hope that they could be married to rich man or
lOL
high positioned man. Women's value was canonized from their beauty, behavior, and
obedience. They were.not seen asfulLhuman. because their. intelligent;e. and val ie as
free human were not counted.
Western countries like United States and United Kingdom have become
multicultural countries. Varieties of races mix up and live together inside the
countries. However, history recorded that there was marginalization of certain races
especially colored people in western country. Even it is not as hard as the past three
centuries, but the effect is still felt and there is still a marginalization to colored
people. Colored people are seen less civilized and less bright than white people. One
of the reasons is because of their accents and their incapability in speaking English
with perfect graunnar. AAVE (African American Vernacular English) is one of the
examples of discrimination in skin-colored people due to their imperfect graunnar.
The double negation, replacement· of to be, and limitation in prommciation are· seen
as stupidity. Actually, it is logical because colored people are not native and they live
as bilingual in stranger's country. Colored people who live in multicultural countries
also need to murder their real identity and tradition to blend with others. Western
society underestimates colored people because they have different culture, way of
living, physical characteristics, language, and ideology. This fact questions the
meaning of multicultural country. Multicultural country means a country which
contains different kind of cultures, but the colored people in multicultural country
have to forget their own culture to blend with others. In this country, people with
different kind of races have. to
unifY· instead of living with their own cultures in
harmony.
Nursery rhymes
also keep
message
about
racial
differences and·
discrimination in Western culture to certain races like in Rock-A-Bye Baby.
103
American Indians have been marginalized in the society since the British colony met
them... Due to their natural.li.fe,. they were. seen as primitive human beings. which.have
uncivilized culture. In Western law, an area where there was no building meant that
the place belonged to nobody. This law corrected British people to take American
Indian's mother earth because they were no building or houses in that area. This is
ironical because the definition of house is different .for British people and American
Indian people. American Indian lived inside tents and their home was their land.
Western people judged American Indian as uncivilized and corrected themselves in
colonizing the land because the difference in culture and way of thinking. Difference in
culture was seen as primitiveness and stupidity. Western culture had lessened the ··
value ofhuman beings. This is ironic because there was a great ignorance in Western
culture whereas they thought that it was the most civilized and brightest culture.
The second important issue that is disctJssed in nursery rhymes is religion.
Religion contains different meaning with world and reality. There is no way to
coiDJect religion with science, philosophy, ideology, and technology. Religion has a
divine characteristic and can not be coiDJected with earthly ideology. That is the
theory which everybody knows. In fact, religion has become authorities' tool since
the kingdom and religion existed. Religion and kingdoms in earth ruled together. In
western countries, the regulations from kingdoms were suited with Bible and God's
orders. However, sometimes the existence of religion in authority had been
contaminated with authority's desire and religion just became the mask behind the
desire. They stole the power of religion to- control people. In some cases, -religion
became a scapegoat to do war, execution, and mass murders. Like in Three Blind
Mice, the burnt of protestant people were done due to the catholicization in the reign
of Queen Mary I. The hunt of the orthodox catholic priests which was done by the
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protestant people in Goosey Goosey Ganders also shows the ignorance of people
towards the. reaLnonn in..religion. From generaL.references, the. bu111t of witches;
Christian's torture, and execution of women to follow their husbands' death are some
examples of actions which used religion as its reason. The meaning of religion is
turned upside down. Religion is not useful to control humans from sins and chaos,
but it has been used to fulfill authority's desire and became a tool to control people.
In Goosey Goosey Gander, it is said that faith is an important thing. If it is
connected to the history about war between religions, faith is not contained divine
meaning anymore because the contamination of politics and powers inside it. It
seems that religion has become a propaganda to fulfill certain purposes which is not
related to religion itself People do not see that war, murder, and lie which are hiding
behind religion as sinful actions. The paradigm that spread in society is that whatever
lies behind religion is holy and right: Some people do not use-their logic because of
the divine meaning in religion. People think that they cannot understand the actions
because it is not earthly thing and only God knows the reason behind it. Ironically,
this kind of thinking has been exploited by irresponsible people in parliament and
goverument.
The third equally important issue in society which is discussed through
nursery rhymes is material things, i.e. money. Money takes important role in society.
It is so powerful until many people struggle in life to get it. Money as material thing
has becomeJeason behind political and social issues. Some nursery rhymes contain
opinion about money and wealth.
Half A Pound ofTuppenrry Rice explains how the money circulates and how
it is spent in daily life. Money is just a tool in society to simplify human's trade.
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Because the money is in hand, it will be used up to buy daily necessity. In reality,
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money is not just an ordinary object. Money is powerful because it is used to
exchange things. in daily life. However,. the rn.eaning of m.oney is n.ot just simply an
exchange tool. . Many people think that having much money means having
happiness because people can have things they want in life. Money as exchange tool
is precious because it can resemble the value of life, i.e. happiness and success. So
money does not only become a tool to fulfill daily necessity, but it has become also a
tool to fulfill people's needs in love and relationship like has been explained in I Had A
Little Nut Tree.
I Had A Little Nut Tree also contains opinion about material thing. Through
the theme and tone, the persona showed his dissatisfaction towards the treasure tree.
It is because the princess did not come to visit him personally but she came because
of the little nut tree which is the allusion of wealth. In reality, having much money is
usefi.Jl to create and maintain relationship with· other people:It is hard to distinguish
real friends with pretentious friends who just want to maintain relationship if money
exists. Money is powerful because it is not only useful to acquire daily necessity but
also useful to acquire love and affection.
From the explanation above, it can be seen that there is contradiction between
the outlook of nursery rhymes with the poetical analysis of nursery rhymes. Nursery
rhymes contain more than just playful lyrics. The words inside the nursery rhymes
contain complicated history about kingdoms at past and they are inserted by critics
towards social life. Stories of kingdoms that are inserted in nursery rhymes reveal
critics about social life and ironical life of the sovereign. In the other hand, stories
about kingdoms which are inserted in nursery rhymes manufactured fantasy and
dreamlike atmosphere. Due to the application of them towards children, tl1ey are
packed with playful illustration and merry tones. Unconsciously, they cover the
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social critics in nursery rhymes and make people nnaware with the heavy messages
inserted .inside. nursery rhymes,
Despite of the fantasy atmosphere in nursery rhymes, stories about kingdoms
in nursery rhymes contain irony about life. The stories about kingdom in children's
literature are usually consisting of a king and a queen with beautiful princess and
gorgeous prince. But in reality, the marriage life of the king and queen was not that
happy. King Henry VIII had married six wives to get a male heir and to fulfill his
need in women's affection. His first wife, Katherine of Aragon, was betrothed to
Prince Henry VII when she was just two years old. But Prince Henry VII died in
yonng age and she should marcy his brother, Henry VIII, who was younger than her.
Unfortunately, her second marriage life also ended tragically. She was divorced
because King Henry VIII was in love with Anne Boleyn. But another rumor said that
she could not provide a male heir. Katherine as princess could not choose her fhture
and the purpose of her marriage was not because oflove but because of treaty. The
marriages that happened between prince and princess usually were not because they
were fall in love with each other and they decided to marcy each other. They did not
have any freedom to choose and their life was dictated by the parliament.
The image of king and queen are powerful and loved by their people but it is
not always happened in the reality. Marie Antoinette was a lavish queen who was
infamous with her lifestyle. She was fashionable and spoiled inside the kingdom. But
in the end of her life, she should be beheaded together with her King, Louis XVII.
Kings and Queen are not always been loved by their people and their life will not
always end with a happy end. In fact, most of them died because of the execution and
disease.
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It can be concluded tbat tbe life of tbe royal family itself is an irony. They
were looked. powerfhl but they were powerless on their own life. They were mler but
tbey were mled by parliament and mles inside tbe kingdom. Being members of royal
family is not different as being a prisoner because tbere are born witbout freedom.
All of tbose ironies found in nursery rhymes proved tbat nursery rhymes
contain mature tbemes and critics on social life behind tbe playful packaging. The
social issues are not thoroughly explained to children. The politics and social
messages which are inserted through tbe allusion and irony are not understood by
children since tbeir knowledge about allusion used in nursery rhymes is stiJllimited.
However, tbe discussion of social issues in nursery rhymes is proven to be worth to
analyze since it contains timeless message for tbe society. Through tbe analysis, it
can be seen tbat tbe meanings of each nursery rhymes are not as simple as tbeir
presentation. Nursery rhymes as poetry contain deeper meaning· and complicated
messages about society and how it works in daily life. They contain voices and
opinions from commoners to social system which creates tbe pattern of social issues
just like a spider which embroiders its web.