tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456802468539868519.post9203909625620777137..comments2023-10-12T02:21:40.102-07:00Comments on English Historical Fiction Authors: Political Meaning in 18th Century Nursery Rhymes (Part Two)Debra Brownhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03256313302199653185noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456802468539868519.post-79738407628835120412012-04-30T20:54:56.523-07:002012-04-30T20:54:56.523-07:00My thoughts exactly, Katherine! It's such fun ...My thoughts exactly, Katherine! It's such fun to speculate. So pleased you enjoyed the article. : - )Lucinda Branthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09773969616612019527noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456802468539868519.post-32227448996535446282012-04-30T20:52:08.745-07:002012-04-30T20:52:08.745-07:00That is certainly one theory I've read about, ...That is certainly one theory I've read about, Mike. The other is that it refers to smallpox. In any event, both contagious and teaching children to stay away from people suspected of harboring disease. And yes, the posy to stop the spread of the disease. The thinking being that the contagion was in the air. It would have helped with the stench too!Lucinda Branthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09773969616612019527noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456802468539868519.post-24960362114909348682012-04-30T20:47:00.388-07:002012-04-30T20:47:00.388-07:00LOL, Grace. You outed me there! : - )LOL, Grace. You outed me there! : - )Lucinda Branthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09773969616612019527noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456802468539868519.post-6876456637758272692012-04-30T20:46:16.599-07:002012-04-30T20:46:16.599-07:00Me too, Marguerite! I still have my first Mother G...Me too, Marguerite! I still have my first Mother Goose Nursery Rhymes book given to me when I was about three. I thought being the eldest of three was hard work, but being the eldest of seven is unimaginable! That said my mother was one of thirteen, and her mother, my Grandmother WAS the old woman who lived in the shoe - particularly when all her grandchildren came to visit on her birthday. Thanks for stopping by. So glad you found this site!Lucinda Branthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09773969616612019527noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456802468539868519.post-39241380079909164402012-04-30T14:16:28.899-07:002012-04-30T14:16:28.899-07:00Whether these historical explanations of nursery r...Whether these historical explanations of nursery rhymes are true or not (and aren't there always revisionists among the scholarly) they certainly add to one's enjoyment. Thanks Lucinda, for a fun and informative article.Katherine Ashehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12487069502818472478noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456802468539868519.post-77689031939981958902012-04-30T12:32:26.166-07:002012-04-30T12:32:26.166-07:00Am I correct in thinking that Ring-a-ring-a-roses ...Am I correct in thinking that Ring-a-ring-a-roses is a reference to the Plague ("Atishoo! Atishoo" We all fall down") and that a sweet-smelling posy of flowers was thought to counteract the contagion?Mikehttp://mikerendell.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456802468539868519.post-31934745195132869432012-04-30T07:48:27.042-07:002012-04-30T07:48:27.042-07:00Any excuse for a picture of Johnny Depp is fine by...Any excuse for a picture of Johnny Depp is fine by me! <br />G xPippa Elliotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10128414630918980034noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456802468539868519.post-77619004729867981792012-04-30T07:05:44.830-07:002012-04-30T07:05:44.830-07:00I love nursery rhymes, and I hadn't heard the ...I love nursery rhymes, and I hadn't heard the theories behind any of these except Georgie Porgie. I'm the eldest of seven children, so my mum used to call herself the old woman who lived in a shoe - not, I hasten to add, that she ever whipped us. Thank you, I've just discovered this site, it's great.Marguerite Kayehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06886711566567879237noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456802468539868519.post-1475304215043798422012-04-30T02:32:00.707-07:002012-04-30T02:32:00.707-07:00Thanks for stopping by, Sue, and letting us in on ...Thanks for stopping by, Sue, and letting us in on yet another surprising theory. I must admit, the "shape" theory is a bit of a stretch - hence the (!) showing my surprise too. : - )Lucinda Branthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09773969616612019527noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2456802468539868519.post-48670064662462181052012-04-30T01:09:59.129-07:002012-04-30T01:09:59.129-07:00"There was an old woman who lived in a shoe&q..."There was an old woman who lived in a shoe" - is probably a corruption of "There was an old woman who lived in a STEW" - "the stews" were the slums, the shantytowns. Nothing to do with the shape of the British Isles which are more usually compared to a bear sitting down with a pig's head in its lap.Sue Millardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12497131054867099544noreply@blogger.com