Tuesday 9 October 2012

Review Pied Piper of Hamelin

The Pied Piper of Hamelin is a poem by Robert Browning set in Hamelin's Town, Brunswick. The sub heading is 'A Child's Story', suggesting a fairy tale. He starts the first stanza using in media res, with no introduction offering a riveting beginning with only a setting, which leaves much to the readers contemplation. We also get the sense he is omniscient in this poem when he writes,

But, when begins my ditty,
Almost five hundred years ago,
To see the townsfolk suffer so
From vermin, was a pity.

This is because he describes what is unknown to the readers as 'vermin', however he is already erudite in the story. The perspective is from the narrator recounting the tale, which gives the voice a sense of purpose; he is telling the story for a direct reason. The poem uses rhyming couplets and is in iambic pentameter which flows like a song, perhaps even the song to the Pied Piper's music, which may be why the sub heading is A Child's Story.

The poem being in linear chronology and using enjambment supports the story telling and fairy tale theme as we can understand that this is a story the narrator has told many times- again showing a clear sense of purpose being conveyed- as there is no sign of natural speech; there is a complete lack of discourse markers and it flows perfectly like a song, perhaps even the song to the Pied Piper's music.

The use of imagery is strong when the appearance of the Pied Piper is described, when Browning writes

His queer long coat from the heel to head
Was half of yellow and half of red,
And he himself was tall and thin

The use of simple primary colours again appeals to children however the description creates the image of a jester like figure, who should he fail in making the King laugh would be at great risk. This is effective because in this poem it is the 'jester' who holds the upper hand, suggesting role reversal. Browning describes the Mayor in a negative way, which may actually be to insult the Council and those of high authority, for example on line 47:

With the corporation he sat,
Looking little though wondrous fat

and continues throughout the poem to insult the Mayor and council. This may be a comparison with the rats, who take all they please straight from the people - just like the Mayor and council in all their false glory and apparent fake power as they cannot resolve the rat invasion themselves. The poem becomes quite sinister when Browning describes the sounds of the rats-

You heard as if an army muttered;
And the muttering grew to a grumbling;
And the grumbling grew to a mighty rumbling

You may say through the use of personification that again Browning proposes an analogy between the rats and the Council, showing how the cannot be trusted amongst their whisperings and lies. This becomes an extended metaphor

The children are described when the Pied Piper lures them into his musical trance after the Mayor lies to him, and the way they are portrayed provides a great contrast between them and the council:

Out the children came running,
All the little boys and girls,
With rosy cheeks and flaxen curls,
And sparkling eyes and teeth like pearls

This is especially effective as it conveys them as almost angelic; showing how unfair it is that they should be taken as a consequence to the selfishness of the council and how conceited and pompous they truly are. The poem finalizes with the narrator talking to a boy called Willy, telling him of how If we've promised them aught, let us keep our promise! Proving it serves as a cautionary tale and sending out a prominent message.



1 comment:

  1. This is a very good response to the poem. You are analysing in depth. You have a strong understanding of the narrative elements. Your style is clear and shows that you are able to make perceptive points.

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