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Jan 1, 1500
THESIS
Through the development of poetry, it is evident that it is ever changing as there are new variations to the presentation of poetry, and new messages behind words and rhymes to keep up with the changes in society. -
Fairy Tales
Fairy Tales were first defined in the 17th century. A fairy tale is a short story that features fantasy characters such as fairies, goblins, elves, etc. Often fairy tales include moral lessons where good and bad is portrayed. The older fairy tales were intended for adults and also kids, but today they are written mostly for children. Charles Perrault was the first significant person to write fairy tales in his “Mother Goose” collection, such as “Sleeping Beauty” for example. -
Nursery Rhyme
The nursery rhyme was defined in the 19th century. Most nursery rhymes were not written down until the 18th century. However, there are rhymes existing before this, including "Cock a doodle doo", which dates from at least the late 16th century. “Three Blind mice” was written in 1609. A nursery rhyme is a short rhyming story often set to music. These rhymes are often formed from historical and political events, such as “Mary had a little lamb” that came from a true North American story. -
Charles Perrault
Charles Perrault was a French author, and lived from 1628 to 1703. He was an educated man who laid the foundations for a new literary genre, the fairy tale. His best known tales are “Red riding Hood”, “Cinderella” and “Puss in boots” all stories that were written in French. After Charles lost his job as a secretary under Jean Baptiste, he decided to dedicate himself to the children again. At 69 he wrote “Tales and Stories of Past with Morals” subtitled as “Tales of Mother Goose”. -
Jack Spratt
Appeared in John Clarkes collection of sayings as:
"Jack will eat not fat, and Jull doth love no leane.
Yet betwixt them both they lick the dishes cleane."
It became more popular and known when it was published in Mother Goose's Melody. It is said to have many different interpretations of this story in history. The myth is about King Charles and his wife, when he declared war on Spain the parliament refused to finance him (lean wallet) his wife waged a war tax (fat wallet) -
Sarah Whipple Goldhue
This time period (the 17th century) was filled with many different ethical systems and morals emphasis was put mainly on the significance of family, love, religion, and even gender roles. This was shown most evident in Goldhue’s poetic “Letters to her Family”. In which she says goodbye to her loving husband and family sending them the good will of the lord and her own best wishes for their lives. Shows the roles of which a mother would wish for her kids and what was expected at the time. -
John Newbery
John Newbery is often credited as being the originator of books for children designed to give real pleasure, as well as instruction. Newbery’s first children’s book, ‘A Little Pretty Pocket Book’ was first written in 1744, and was an illustrated catalogue of children’s amusement based on the English alphabet. Later in 1751, Newbery began his first periodical designed for young children named ‘The Lilliputian Magazine’. His books were seen as guiding young children into becoming prosperous adults -
“Baa Baa Black Sheep”
This is an English nursery rhyme which had the original tune used for “twinkle twinkle little star”. The origins and meaning to this nursery rhyme include the medieval wool tax in 1275 and also a connection to slave trade. -
Ballad
It comes from the mediaeval French dance songs or “ballares”. They are a form of verses usually narratives set to music, created from a mixture of poetry and song styles from the late medieval century all the way to the 19th century. Ballads gained popularity beginning in Europe then spread internationally to America, Australia and even Africa. -
Limericks
A kind of humorous verse with five lines, the 1st 2nd and 5th line rhyme with each other along with the 3rd and 4th lines, which are shorter and form a rhymed couplet. Made popular by Edward Lear in the 19th century. -
Edward Lear
Famous author remember as a pleasant funny man, for his limericks (humorous witty usually 5-line poem that rhymes). From an early age he showed artistic skills with no formal training he started writing nonsense rhymes for children of Knowsley Hall where it was Lord Stanley who got him to draw illustrations for his poems. These poems and illustrations would later be published as The Book of Nonsense. -
Lewis Carroll
Lewis Carroll wrote the novel and sequels to Alice in Wonderland (1865). He was known for creating comic fantasies, and versus in poetry that were seen as being ‘childlike’. They were seen as novels with complicated and mature thought processes and reasoning- especially for a novel where the protagonist was a young child. His influence on children’s literature remains even today, as he introduced readers with a young protagonist who was capable of emotions reserved for mature heroes. -
Haiku (Hokku)
Originally called Hokku by Matsuo Bashō (1644–1694) until the late 19th century when Masaoka Shiki (1867–1902), renamed the Haiku. It is a very short Japanese poem that has 3 lines. Has up to 17 syllables, traditional haiku poems had 17 syllables on the dot 5-7-5 in each line. -
Dr. Seuss (1904-1991)
American writer, poet and illustrator. He was more interested in writing a good story rather than a real one. In school he was the editor of the schools magazine where he published his cartoons. Until he and a bunch of his friends were caught drinking and he was stripped of his tittle. His stories taught lessons to kids with, newly invented words that appealed to kids with their creativity and crazy rhymes. Stories include “Green Eggs and Ham” & “The Lorax”. -
Paul West
Paul West was a novelist and poet born in 1930. His most popular poetry was “The Spellbound Horses” in 1960, “The Snow Leopard” in 1964, “Tea with Osiris” recently in 2006, and he has also developed the Alphabet poetry for children. Alphabet poetry focuses on a particular topic, and the words are written so that they are in alphabetical order. -
Jump Rope Rhymes 21st century
The origins of jumping rope in of itself are unclear but it dates back to ancient times, but it was around the 40’s and 50’s when double dutch became extremely popular. There are many different rhymes that have been associated with skipping rope now it is the 21st century version of oral traditions. Kids skip rope to these beats until they mess up, many have variations that could have different results for different attempts. Examples include “Miss Mary Mack” and “Strawberry Shortcake”.
