by Shaheen Darr

Created on: July 03, 2008   Last Updated: August 15, 2008

Edward Lear (1812 - 1888). He was a writer and an artist and the son of a stockbroker. He is well known for writing 'nonsense' poems which he wrote to explore the excitement of the world around us to discover 'undreamt-of lands and wonders not only unseen but scarcely even imagined' The owl and the pussycat is one such poem.

Lear gives a human quality to the animals in this poem and he writes about an owl and a pussycat who go to sea in a beautiful 'pea green boat' This is a impossible scenario especially when he goes on to say that they took some 'honey, and plenty of money' again lending very human qualities and characteristics to these two animals. It would be impossible to find an owl and a cat together in the first place and to have them sailing to sea makes it even more improbable. There is a slight hint of a tongue in cheek humour to have imagined a strange sight like this. The cat that he writes about could have been his own cat 'Foss' on which he based this poem.

The strangeness continues when we read that 'they took some honey, and plenty of money, wrapped up in a five pound note, and the owl manages to play a guitar and sing to the cat while looking up at the stars 'What a beautiful Pussy you are!' It is quite a sweet and romantic scenario if it wasn't so impossible in the real world.

The cat is charmed by the elegant 'fowl' and suggests that they get married because they have waited too long. There is just one problem, there is no ring! It seems strange for the cat who signifies the female to propose to the owl who is the male equivalent but it is showing the dominance of the woman to take the first step. Now they travel to a land for a year or so where a 'bong-tree' grows to find a pig who will have a ring on his nose. Again the fairy tale quality of this poem shows through to reveal a child like quality in Lear's nature to have imagined such a situation.

The pig sells them the ring for a shilling and they set off to be married by none other than a turkey who lives on a hill. They eat mince and quince using a 'runcible' spoon and then walking hand in hand on the edge of the sand they dance by the light of the moon. The word 'runcible' does not exist in the English language and was coined for this poem adding to it's nonsensical theme.

There might be an underlying meaning to the words in this poem where the animal characters might actually represent real people that Lear knew in his life. Or it could have been his interest in animals that made him write this poem. Some other poems include 'The Pobble's Toes' and 'The Jumblies' and the fairytale quality of these poems was enjoyed and appreciated by children. Lear must have enjoyed cultivating this creative side of his character for their benefit.

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