Damn Modern English meanings!

[PeteC]

For the 3rd term coming up at my daughter's school they want the parents to try to teach them a simple poem at home that they can recite to the class. I learned the Owl and the Pussycat at the same age and had to do the same kind of recital. However, look at the words of this classic poem and what some of it means in English today. I can't teach her that. I'll either have to change the words or limit her to some select verse(s). Edward Lear is probably turning over in his grave! Pete

The Owl and the Pussycat poem

The Owl and the Pussycat went to sea
In a beautiful pea-green boat,
They took some honey, and plenty of money,
Wrapped up in a five pound note.
The Owl looked up to the stars above,
And sang to a small guitar,
"O lovely Pussy! O Pussy, my love,
What a beautiful Pussy you are, you are, you are,
What a beautiful Pussy you are."
Pussy said to the Owl "You elegant fowl,
How charmingly sweet you sing.
O let us be married, too long we have tarried;
But what shall we do for a ring?"
They sailed away, for a year and a day,
To the land where the Bong-tree grows,
And there in a wood a Piggy-wig stood
With a ring at the end of his nose, his nose, his nose,
With a ring at the end of his nose.
"Dear Pig, are you willing to sell for one shilling your ring?"
Said the Piggy, "I will"
So they took it away, and were married next day
By the Turkey who lives on the hill.
They dined on mince, and slices of quince,
Which they ate with a runcible spoon.
And hand in hand, on the edge of the sand.
They danced by the light of the moon, the moon, the moon,
They danced by the light of the moon.

[Nereus]

You have probably looked on line already, Pete, but if not there are thousands of them listed, from simple 3 or 4 lines, to whole epics. You can probably find something that has some relevance to Thailand, or her environment.

[PeteC]

Yeah, I know. Being a British school though they've been hinting to use a British poem. I'll either go with the O&P first sentence and last two sentences, or first stanza of Charge of the Light Brigade. Maybe I'll put it to a loud bass and she can rap it?! Pete

[margaretcarnes]

But think what an achievement it would be for her to learn it verbatim Pete? And what an opportunity to explain some of the now quirkier lines? OK - a shilling is history - but we do still have 5 pound notes. And 'Pussy' is still widely used for a cat!
It may seem an oldfashioned way to teach, but it won't do her any harm. Once she has learnt the poem it will stay with her for life, regardless of any modern interpretation, and might help her to see how the use of language can change.

[sargeant]

being an old fart pete i dont know what the old meaning of runcible is let alone a modern one lol

although i agree married seems a probem

[Khundon1975]

Sarge I think it is a large spoon with holes in it, to drain liquids from solids.

I could be wrong though.

[margaretcarnes]

'RUNCIBLE' - spoon kind of fork for pickles curved like a spoon and having three broad prongs (one with a sharp edge) First used by Edward Lear as a nonsense word.

This is the definition given in the Oxford Library of Words and Phrases. Word Origins. A copy of which Him Indoors fortunately picked up in the charity shop last week.

So in fact the name of the spoon derived from Edward Lears 'nonsense' word - and has stuck. No pickle lover should be without one!

[sargeant]

ok pete now we know what a runcible is and it doesnt seem to bad
as for marriage at least the owl and the pussy cat are different species and gender
now all you have to teach her is then again maybe not

as for humpty dumpty dont go there overweight and health care reform is a quagmire

edited for humour

[PeteC]

This has been on the back burner due to our weekend in Bangkok for Disney. I'm not going to burden her today starting on it again, but just let her frolic in the sweet memories of the show she saw. She's still dancing around with her magic wand.

Maybe instead I'll teach her the full name of Bangkok: Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahinthara Ayuthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom Udomratchaniwet Mahasathan Amon Piman Awatan Sathit Sakkathattiya Witsanukam Prasit. Pete

[margaretcarnes]

Easy for you to say!