Children's Literature

Nursery rhymes linger in our minds our entire lives; they are repeated to us at an early age and remain in our subconscious longer than commercial jingles. What makes Mother Goose so memorable? Surely it is not the content of the nonsensical poems: young children not care about the content of a nursery rhyme, and toddlers are incapable of grasping it. Nursery rhymes are not like fairy tales: they do not moralize, nor do they tell deep stories. Nursery rhymes endear, entertain, and enlighten because they are catchy.

Called nursery rhymes for a reason, these verses grab hold of a child's attention like nothing else. Even throughout adult life, we are still captivated by familiar tunes like "Twinkle Little Star." But not all nursery rhymes have melodies attached to them. "Little Miss Muffet" is devoid of singsong but still has rhythm and cadence. Both these familiar nursery rhymes captivate audiences because of their catchy rhyme schemes, rhythms, and other audible content. Nursery rhymes also entertain because of their nonsensical nature and surreal subject matter.

Both "Little Miss Muffet" and "Twinkle Little Star" amuse and charm children because they combine lyricism and musicality: they are harmonious, pleasing poems. Little Miss Muffet" contains words that are unfamiliar or archaic. The resulting verses sound surreal and evoke an otherworldly environment. Even if the child cannot understand the words' definitions, their sounds will delight their ears. A "tuffet" is obviously something that Little Miss Muffet sat upon. The child can then use his or her imagination to determine what a tuffet really is.

In fact, even adults cannot agree on the definition of "tuffet." It may be a tuft of grass thick enough to sit on, or a small stool. Whatever the case, language like this lingers in the mind, making the nursery rhyme memorable. Likewise, "curds and whey" is not in common vernacular, at least in North America. Curds and whey may not be archaic words but because they are unfamiliar, children will relish them. "Little Miss Muffet" also contains an element of surprise and fright: the spider.

Not only is the spider "big," it sits "down beside her." Most children have some fear of creepy critters, even if not specifically directed towards spiders. Spiders, like snakes, always contain some element of awe and surprise. In the nursery rhyme, Little Miss Muffet was frightened away. If the child identifies with the protagonist in the short tale, he or she will feel a simultaneous sense of trepidation and excitement. The nursery rhyme is delightful in the same way a good thriller film is.

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" does not contain any unfamiliar or archaic words, but its linguistic content still captivates listeners (and readers). The vowel and consonant sounds in the verse are pleasant on the ear and lip: "twinkle" is simply a delightful word to utter and hear. When combined with skillful rhyme schemes as in the nursery rhyme, the result is entertaining and enlightening.

The use of words like "diamond" and phrases like "above the world so high" convey a lofty feeling, even if the child is too young to comprehend the exact meaning of these words. On some level the child will feel a connection to the celestial bodies; all children know the delights of a starry night. In "Twinkle Little Star," repetition of key lines adds a special element to the poem. "Twinkle, twinkle little star, how I wonder what you are" is repeated at the end of the verse.

Repetition not only makes the nursery rhyme memorable, it makes is audibly delightful, especially because the repeated lines rhyme. Both "Little Miss Muffet" and "Twinkle Little Star" have fun rhyme schemes. "Little Miss Muffet" is in AABCCB form, and "Twinkle" is in AABBAA. Rhymes charm and captivate a child's attention. Read a child a poem without a rhyme scheme and soon his or her interest will fade. Rhymes anchor attention and inspire; rhymes feel comfortable. Poems that do not rhyme may seem awkward to a child.

The predictability and dependability of a rhyme comfort young ears. The nursery rhyme, however nonsensical or even morbid, can carry a child's interest with sound alone. Cadence and melody are also key elements in an engrossing nursery rhyme. "Twinkle Little Star" is sung to a familiar tune, which remains in the head for a lifetime. Melody, rhythm, and rhyme combine to form an entertaining.