Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
Parodies

Printable Version (opens in new window).

Hello Wonderlanders,

Here are the original poems that Lewis Carroll parodies in the first half of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. A "parody" is written in the style of the original and makes fun of or ridicules it. It is interesting that Carroll's poems have in many cases become more famous than the originals.

Regards,

Mr. Draeger

The Original Poems that Lewis Carroll Parodies
(page numbers are for the Dover Thrift Edition)  

Against Idleness and Mischief
by Isaac Watts(1674-1748)(Carroll's Parody appears on pg. 9)  

How doth the little busy Bee
        Improve each shining Hour,
    And gather Honey all the day
        From every opening Flower!

    How skilfully she builds her Cell!
        How neat she spreads the Wax!
    And labours hard to store it well
        With the sweet Food she makes.

    In Works of Labour or of Skill
      I would be busy too:
  For Satan finds some Mischief still
      For idle Hands to do.

  In Books, or Work, or healthful Play
      Let my first Years be past,
  That I may give for every Day
      Some good Account at last.

The Old Man's Complaints and How He Gained Them
by ROBERT SOUTHEY (1774-1843)(Carroll's Parody appears on pp. 29-32)

    You are old, Father William, the young man cried,
        The few locks which are left you are grey;
    You are hale, Father William, a hearty old man,
        Now tell me the reason I pray.
   
In the days of my youth, Father William replied,
I remember'd that youth would fly fast,
    And abused not my health and my vigour at first
      That I never might need them at last.
   
You are old, Father William, the young man cried,
      And pleasures with youth pass away,
  And yet you lament not the days that are gone,
      Now tell me the reason I pray.
 
In the days of my youth, Father William replied,
      I remember'd that youth could not last;
  I thought of the future whatever I did,
      That I never might grieve for the past.
 
You are old, Father William, the young man cried,
      And life must be hastening away;
  You are chearful, and love to converse upon death!
      Now tell me the reason I pray.
 
I am chearful, young man, Father William replied,
      Let the cause thy attention engage;
  In the days of my youth I remember'd my God!
      And He hath not forgotten my age.

Speak Gently
by David Bates(Carroll's Parody appears on pp. 39-40)

Speak gently! It is better far
To rule by love than fear;
Speak gently; let no harsh words mar
The good we might do here!

Speak gently! Love doth whisper low
The vows that true hearts bind;
And gently Friendship's accents flow;
Affection's voice is kind.

Speak gently to the little child!
Its love be sure to gain;
Teach it accents soft and mild;
It may not long remain.
Speak gently to the young, for they
Will have enough to bear;
Pass through this life as best they may,
'Tis full of anxious care!

Speak gently to the aged one,
Grieve not the care-worn heart;
Whose sands of life are nearly run,
Let such in peace depart!

Speak gently to the erring; know
They may have toiled in vain;
Perchance unkindness made them so;
Oh, win them back again!

Speak gently! He who gave his life
To bend man's stubborn will,
When elements were in fierce strife,
Said to them, "Peace, be still."

Speak gently! 'is a little thing
Dropped in the heart's deep well;
The good, the joy, that it may bring,
Eternity shall tell

©2005-2008 Glen Draeger (all rights reserved)
Millstone Education: World Literature / http://www.millstoneeducation.com/worldLit