Analysis of The Broom, the Shovel, the Poker and the Tongs
Edward Lear 1812 (Holloway) – 1888 (Sanremo)
The Broom and the Shovel, the Poker and Tongs,
They all took a drive in the Park,
and they each sang a song, Ding-a-dong, Ding-a-dong,
Before they went back in the dark.
Mr Poker he sate quite upright in the coach,
Mr Tongs made a clatter and clash,
Miss Shovel was dressed all in black (with a brooch),
Mrs Broom was in blue (with a sash).
Ding-a-dong! Ding-a-dong!
And they all sang a song!
'O Shovely so lovely!' the Poker he sang,
'You have perfectly conquered my heart!
Ding-a-dong! Ding-a-dong! If you're pleased with my song,
I will feed you with cold apple tart!
When you scrape up the coals with a delicate sound,
You enrapture my life with delight!
Your nose is so shiny! your head is so round!
And your shape is so slender and bright!
Ding-a-dong! Ding-a-dong!
Ain't you pleased with my song?'
'Alas! Mrs Broom!' sighed the Tongs in his song,
'O is it because I'm so thin,
And my legs are so long - Ding-a-dong! Ding-a-dong!
That you don't care about me a pin?
Ah! fairest of creatures, when sweeping the room,
Ah! why don't you heed my complaint!
Must you needs be so cruel, you beautiful Broom,
Because you are covered with paint!
Ding-a-dong! Ding-a-dong!
You are certainly wrong!'
Mrs Broom and Miss Shovel together they sang,
'What nonsense you're singing today!'
Said the Shovel, 'I'll certainly hit you a bang!'
Said the Broom, 'And I'll sweep you away!'
So the Coachman drove homeward as fast as he could,
Perceiving their anger with pain;
But they put on the kettle, and little by little,
They all became happy again.
Ding-a-dong! Ding-a-dong!
There's an end of my song!
| Scheme | xabaxcxcBb debefgfgBb bhbhijijBb dkdkxxxxBb |
|---|---|
| Poetic Form | Tetractys (20%) |
| Metre | 01001001001 11101001 011101101101 01111001 101011101001 101101001 11011101101 101101101 101101 011101 1111001011 111001011 101101111111 111111101 111101101001 101011101 11111011111 011111001 101101 111111 01101101011 11101111 011111101101 111101101 11011011001 11111101 111111011001 01111011 101101 111001 101011001011 11011001 101011001101 101011101 101011011111 01011011 1111010010110 11011001 101101 111111 |
| Closest metre | Iambic pentameter |
| Characters | 1,559 |
| Words | 292 |
| Sentences | 37 |
| Stanzas | 4 |
| Stanza Lengths | 10, 10, 10, 10 |
| Lines Amount | 40 |
| Letters per line (avg) | 30 |
| Words per line (avg) | 7 |
| Letters per stanza (avg) | 298 |
| Words per stanza (avg) | 71 |
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Submitted on May 13, 2011
Modified on March 21, 2023
- 1:28 min read
- 59 Views
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"The Broom, the Shovel, the Poker and the Tongs" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 7 May 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem-analysis/9775/the-broom%2C-the-shovel%2C-the-poker-and-the-tongs>.
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