Why does every single nursery rhyme book I've ever seen, illustrate Humpty as an egg? Nowhere does it say that he is indeed and egg! Why does everyone copy the ridiculuous notion of him being an egg?
2006-09-02
03:00:14
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13 answers
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asked by
TrickMeNicely
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in
Entertainment & Music
➔ Other - Entertainment
"Traditionally" nursery rhymes were passed on by word of mouth (without pictures). Humpty Dumpty was circulating for many, many years before one person drew him as an egg, and then everybody afterwards did the same.
2006-09-02
03:07:45 ·
update #1
Hi, TrickMeNicely,
Since it all had to do : with some "Egg"....
.....I have just decided : I am going for the "chicken".. ;D
..That way, they both got a point!;))
..and this is also, a tradition!! ;pp
>>>>>>>>>>
My regards!
2006-09-03 14:19:34
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answer #1
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answered by Kimberly 6
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That Humpty Dumpty is an egg is not actually stated in the rhyme. In its first printed form, in 1810, it is a riddle, and exploits for misdirection the fact that "humpty dumpty" was 18th-Century reduplicated slang for a short, clumsy person. Whereas a clumsy person falling off a wall would not be irreparably damaged, an egg would be. The rhyme is no longer posed as a riddle, since the answer is now so well known. Similar riddles have been recorded by folklorists in other languages, such as Boule Boule in French, or Lille Trille in Swedish; though none is as widely known as Humpty Dumpty is in English.
2006-09-02 10:05:49
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answer #2
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answered by Anonymous
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lol good question. but since the rhyme doesnt mention who or what humpty is, then somebody has to set a guideline so humpty was portrayed as a moving egg who would break into pieces when fallen from the wall, and others had to copy that humpty was an egg or else it would be very confusing for the children. nursery rhyme should be simple and sweet.
2006-09-02 10:09:01
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answer #3
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answered by mei mei 4
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There are other things that Humpty Dumpty could have been instead of an egg..he could have been a mirror, a vase, a plate, etc. Basically anything that breaks and can still be put back together
By the way, he's also empty. When he falls, yolk and white dont come spilling out all over the place!!
2006-09-02 10:12:03
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answer #4
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answered by Am 3
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Because if he was depicted as a man, well, think about it! He broke his head!! It would be messy and bloody. To keep kids from the gory violence of the great fall they depict Humpty Dumpty as an egg.
2006-09-02 10:08:44
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answer #5
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answered by songbird 6
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Yes, you're right. Until someone qualified finds concrete proof that it was an egg, I SHALL NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES PICTURE HIM AS AN EGG IN MY HEAD WHEN I THINK OF HIM.
Wait a sec... "picture him"... WHY am I assuming we're talking about a BOY??? Eggs don't have sex... Oh man this is a great material for philosophical reasoning.
I can't stop thinking about it, not even if I wanted to. Thanks for this opportunity to think logically!!
2006-09-02 10:07:55
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answer #6
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answered by Anonymous
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This Nursey Rhyme was at one time a riddle in 1810. Now it is a well known Nursery Rhyme.
I didn't know that did you?
2006-09-02 10:10:52
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answer #7
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answered by Amanda~Ashley 2
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"humpty dumpty" was 18th-Century reduplicative slang for a short, clumsy person. Whereas a clumsy person falling off a wall would not be irreparably damaged, an egg would be.
Don't fight it, it is what it is.
2006-09-02 10:04:19
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answer #8
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answered by Ciliciam 3
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,,,in the beginning, he (now don't ask why Humpty is a he) he was an egg...all the pictures show him as an egg...
2006-09-02 10:04:23
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answer #9
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answered by Pooks 6
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Yep
2006-09-02 10:02:38
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answer #10
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answered by Gayan J 4
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