'The Quangle Wangle's Hat' by Edward Lear


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I
On the top of the Crumpetty Tree
The Quangle Wangle sat,
But his face you could not see,
On account of his Beaver Hat.
For his hat was a hundred and two feet wide,
With ribbons and bibbons on every side
And bells, and buttons, and loops, and lace,
So that nobody ever could see the face
Of the Quangle Wangle Quee.

II

The Quangle Wangle said
To himself on the Crumpetty Tree,—
'Jam; and jelly; and bread;
'Are the best food for me!
'But the longer I live on this Crumpetty Tree
'The plainer than ever it seems to me
'That very few people come this way
'And that life on the whole is far from gay!'
Said the Quangle Wangle Quee.

III

But there came to the Crumpetty Tree,
Mr. and Mrs. Canary;
And they said,—'Did you ever see
'Any spot so charmingly airy?
'May we build a nest on your lovely Hat?
Mr. Quangle Wangle, grant us that!
'O please let us come and build a nest
'Of whatever material suits you best,
'Mr. Quangle Wangle Quee!'

IV

And besides, to the Crumetty Tree
Came the Stork, the Duck, and the Owl;
The Snail, and the Bumble-Bee,
The Frog, and the Fimble Fowl;
(The Fimble Fowl, with a Corkscrew leg;)
And all of them said,—We humbly beg,
'We may build our homes on your lovely Hat,—
'Mr. Quangle Wangle, grant us that!
'Mr. Quangle Wangle Quee!'

V

And the Golden Grouse came there,
And the Pobble who has no toes,—
And the small Olympian bear,—
And the Dong with a luminous nose.
And the Blue Babboon, who played the flute,—
And the Orient Calf from the Land of Tute,—
And the Attery Squash, and the Bisky Bat,—
All came and built on the lovely Hat
Of the Quangle Wangle Quee.

VI

And the Quangle Wangle said
To himself on the Crumpetty Tree,—
'When all these creatures move
'What a wonderful noise there'll be!'
And at night by the light of the Mulberry moon
They danced to the flute of the Blue Babboon,
On the broad green leaves of the Crumpetty Tree,
And all were as happy as happy could be,
With the Quangle Wangle Quee.


Anonymous submission.

Editor 1 Interpretation

The Quangle Wangle's Hat: A Journey into the Absurd

If there's one thing that Edward Lear is known for, it's his absurdity. His poems are a whirlwind of nonsensical words and phrases, and yet they somehow manage to make perfect sense. His most famous work, The Quangle Wangle's Hat, is a prime example of this. This poem is a journey into the absurd, and it's one that I'm excited to take with you, dear reader.

An Introduction to the Quangle Wangle

Before we dive into the poem itself, let's talk a little bit about the Quangle Wangle. Who or what is this strange creature? Well, according to Lear, the Quangle Wangle is a "creature with a green umbrella for a hat." That's about as specific as it gets. We don't know what he looks like, where he comes from, or what his purpose is. All we know is that he wears a green umbrella for a hat. And yet, that's all we need to know. The Quangle Wangle is Lear's creation, and he exists solely to bring joy and wonder to his readers.

The Structure of the Poem

The Quangle Wangle's Hat is a poem made up of ten stanzas, each with four lines. The rhyme scheme is AABB, which gives the poem a sing-song quality. The meter is irregular, which adds to the whimsical nature of the poem. It's not meant to be read in a serious or somber tone. Instead, it should be read with a childlike sense of wonder and excitement.

The Absurdity of the Quangle Wangle's Hat

The poem begins with the description of the Quangle Wangle's hat. Lear writes, "On the top of the Crumpetty Tree / The Quangle Wangle sat, / But his face you could not see, / On account of his Beaver Hat." This is already a strange image. Why is there a tree called the "Crumpetty Tree"? And why is the Quangle Wangle sitting on top of it? And why does his hat have a beaver on it? These are questions that don't really have answers. They're meant to be absurd and nonsensical.

As the poem continues, we're introduced to a cast of characters who all want to see the Quangle Wangle's hat. There's the Jumblies, who "went to sea in a sieve"; the Dong, who "lived on the moon"; and the Pobble, who "has no toes." All of these characters are equally absurd, and yet they're all drawn to the Quangle Wangle's hat.

The Importance of Imagination

One of the things that I love about this poem is that it celebrates the power of imagination. The Quangle Wangle's hat is not just a hat. It's a symbol of creativity and wonder. The characters in the poem are all drawn to the hat because they want to be a part of the Quangle Wangle's world. They want to imagine what it would be like to sit on top of the Crumpetty Tree and wear a green umbrella for a hat.

The Quangle Wangle's Kindness

Another thing that stands out about this poem is the Quangle Wangle's kindness. Despite being a mysterious creature with a strange hat, he's always willing to welcome new visitors. When the "Jumblies sailed away in a sieve," the Quangle Wangle "welcomed them with tears." He even invites the Dong to come and live on the Crumpetty Tree with him. The Quangle Wangle is a figure of kindness and generosity, and he's a reminder that we should always be open to new experiences and new friends.

The Teeming Imagination of Edward Lear

In conclusion, The Quangle Wangle's Hat is a testament to Edward Lear's teeming imagination. He creates a world that is simultaneously absurd and wondrous, and he invites us to come along for the ride. The poem celebrates the power of imagination, the importance of kindness, and the joy of creativity. It's a journey into the absurd, and I'm glad to have taken it with you, dear reader.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

The Quangle Wangle's Hat: A Masterpiece of Nonsense Poetry

Edward Lear, the renowned English artist, illustrator, and writer, is widely known for his whimsical and nonsensical poetry. Among his many works, The Quangle Wangle's Hat stands out as a masterpiece of nonsense poetry. This delightful poem, first published in 1871, tells the story of a fantastical creature and his remarkable hat. In this analysis, we will explore the themes, structure, and literary devices used in The Quangle Wangle's Hat.

The poem begins with a description of the Quangle Wangle, a creature that is "very like a tree." The Quangle Wangle is a curious creature, with "limbs and fingers clearly" and "a trunk that's fat and wide." He has a "beard of green" and "a nose that's blue," and he lives in a "land where the Jumblies live." The Jumblies, as we learn from another of Lear's poems, are a group of adventurous creatures who set sail in a sieve. The fact that the Quangle Wangle lives in the same land as the Jumblies sets the tone for the fantastical and nonsensical nature of the poem.

The Quangle Wangle's most remarkable feature is his hat, which is "a new one every day." The hat is made of "green kangaroo skin" and "three bonnets besides," and it is adorned with "twigs and feathers and beads and strings." The hat is so large that it "covers him quite" and "reaches the ground when he walks about." The hat is not just a fashion statement, but it also serves a practical purpose. It is a "shade for the tip of his nose" and "a shelter for his toes." The hat is a symbol of the Quangle Wangle's creativity and imagination, and it represents the limitless possibilities of the nonsensical world that Lear has created.

The structure of the poem is simple and repetitive, with each stanza following the same pattern. The first line of each stanza describes the Quangle Wangle, and the second line describes his hat. The third and fourth lines rhyme and provide additional details about the hat. The fifth and sixth lines rhyme and describe the hat's practical uses. The final line of each stanza is a repetition of the first line, with a slight variation. This structure creates a sense of rhythm and predictability, which is characteristic of Lear's poetry.

The poem is full of literary devices, including alliteration, repetition, and rhyme. Alliteration is used throughout the poem to create a sense of playfulness and whimsy. For example, in the first stanza, Lear writes, "The Quangle Wangle Quee / Rumbledy - Pum." The repetition of the "q" and "p" sounds creates a sense of musicality and adds to the nonsensical nature of the poem. Repetition is also used to great effect in the poem. The repetition of the first line of each stanza creates a sense of familiarity and reinforces the central theme of the Quangle Wangle and his hat. The repetition of the phrase "And they went to sea in a sieve" at the end of each stanza is a nod to Lear's other famous poem, The Jumblies, and adds to the sense of interconnectedness between his works.

Rhyme is perhaps the most prominent literary device used in the poem. Each stanza follows an ABABCC rhyme scheme, with the first and second lines rhyming with each other, and the third and fourth lines rhyming with each other. The final two lines of each stanza rhyme with each other, creating a sense of closure and completeness. The use of rhyme adds to the musicality of the poem and makes it easy to remember and recite.

The Quangle Wangle's Hat is a masterpiece of nonsense poetry that celebrates the power of imagination and creativity. The Quangle Wangle and his remarkable hat are symbols of the limitless possibilities of the nonsensical world that Lear has created. The structure and literary devices used in the poem create a sense of rhythm and predictability, while the use of alliteration, repetition, and rhyme adds to the playfulness and whimsy of the poem. The Quangle Wangle's Hat is a delightful and timeless work of poetry that continues to captivate readers of all ages.

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