Where in the nursery rhyme does it say humpty dumpty is an egg?

Question

I always wondered that!!!

Answer 1

It's a riddle disguised as a rhyme. The answer to the riddle is that he's an egg.

Think of it this way: what could be sitting on a wall, have a great fall, and yet be irretrievably broken? A lot of things, of course, but I think the illustrations for Humpty-Dumpty must go way back, too.

Answer 2

As others have already said, it is not directly stated, but it was originally a riddle and "egg" was the answer.

It was first printed in 1810 but is believed to be much older. It's original version was slightly different from the version we know today:

Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall,
Humpty Dumpty had a great fall,
Threescore men and threescore more
Cannot place Humpty Dumpty as he was before.

Answer 3

Ask yourself, "Why would all the King's Horses and all the King's Men try to put an egg together again?"

Simple. This rhyme was actually a secret message telling the news of the death of a major ruler. Whether he was obese or not can't be concluded. After all, we call our rich folks "fat cat" even though they may be as thin as a rail.

Put this rhyme in the context of the former Soviet Union - doesn't it fit like a glove?

It is said that most nursery rhymes were actually coded messages from the dark ages. "Ring around the rosie" was actually a message to remember that if someone develops a round rash, stay away because it's contagious, and you will die with them. Somewhat in the same vein of, "When lines are down, don't you hang around," "Stop, drop and roll," or "Make it click."

Answer 4

"According to an insert taken from the East Anglia Tourist Board in England, Humpty Dumpty was a powerful cannon during the English Civil War. It was mounted on top of the St Mary's at the Wall Church in Colchester defending the city against siege in the summer of 1648. Although Colchester was a Royalist stronghold, it besieged by the Roundheads for 11 weeks before finally falling. The church tower was hit by enemy cannon fire and the top of the tower was blown off, sending "Humpty" tumbling to the ground. Naturally all the King's horses and all the King's men (Royalist cavalry and infantry respectively) tried to mend "him" but in vain. Other reports have Humpty Dumpty referring to a sniper nicknamed One-Eyed Thompson, who occupied the same church tower.

Visitors to Colchester can see the reconstructed Church tower as they reach the top of Balkerne Hill on the left hand side of the road. An extended version of the rhyme gives additional verses, including the following:

In Sixteen Hundred and Forty-Eight
When England suffered the pains of state
The Roundheads lay siege to Colchester town
Where the King's men still fought for the crown
There One-Eyed Thompson stood on the wall
A gunner of deadliest aim
From St. Mary's Tower his cannon he fired
Humpty-Dumpty was its name...

In another theory, Humpty Dumpty referred to King Richard III of England, the hunchbacked monarch, the "Wall" being either the name of his horse (called "White Surrey" in Shakespeare's play), or a reference to the supporters who deserted him. During the battle of Bosworth Field, he fell off his steed and was said to have been "hacked into pieces". (However, although the play depicts Richard as a hunchback, other historical evidence suggests that he was not.)

Humpty Dumpty may also refer to a Roman war machine called a Testudo used to cross moats and climb over castle walls. Humpty Dumpty refers to the turtle-like look of the machine and the noise of the wheels."

Answer 5

You know as kids we would aways look at humpty dumpty pictures and could see he was a big egg...I never though of it before,but in the rhyme they never mention him as an egg...We just assume it because of the pictures...Hands down for you....
Clowmy

Answer 6

It doesn't SAY humpty is an egg, it only IMPLIES it by what happens. Humpty had great fall and no one could put it together again. Try dropping an egg and putting it back together again. Drop an orange, no problem. Drop an apple, no problem.

Answer 7

It was never stated in the Rhyme but illustrators chose an egg character.

Personally I always thought it was Mr. Potatoe Head because the same thing happened to me when he fell off the table when I was younger... ohhh so traumatic!

Answer 8

I never noticed that, I think that a publisher must have changed it because a person falling off a wall and getting busted up wouldn't be appropriate for children. If he is a guy, it is a bit disturbing that they would try to put him back together, yuck.

Answer 9

Honey, you need to get to college to occupy your time. A brain like that needs something to do. Mine's the same.

Remember me when you pass with high grades.

Answer 10

Hey, I'm not an egg.