Seminar 1.

“Sensible nonsense”: English nursery rhymes.

1.What is “sensible nonsense”? Think of the possible social and cultural background
of it.

Sensible nonsense is a literary device where seemingly absurd or surreal elements are used
to explore deeper truths about the human condition or society. This technique appears throughout
literature and is often employed to critique norms, question reality, or provide fresh perspectives on
social and cultural issues. It serves as a powerful tool for authors to circumvent censorship,
challenge conventional wisdom, and engage readers in complex ideas through humor and whimsy.
Historical Background
The use of sensible nonsense in literature can be traced back to various eras and cultures, each
employing it to reflect or challenge the social and cultural contexts of the time:
 Classical Antiquity: Works like Aristophanes' plays often used absurd scenarios and
fantastical elements to comment on politics and social issues in ancient Greece.
 Middle Ages: Texts such as "The Canterbury Tales" by Geoffrey Chaucer utilized
humorous and nonsensical stories to critique the British class system and religious
hypocrisy.
 Renaissance and Enlightenment: Writers like Jonathan Swift in "Gulliver's Travels" used
fantastical narratives to satirize contemporary politics, culture, and ideologies.
 19th Century: Lewis Carroll’s "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" is a seminal work of
sensible nonsense, using logical absurdities and whimsical characters to explore questions of
identity, authority, and knowledge.
 20th Century: Authors like Franz Kafka and Samuel Beckett crafted narratives in which
illogical and surreal elements underscore existential and absurdist philosophies, questioning
the nature of reality and human existence.
Social and Cultural Functions
The role of sensible nonsense in literature often reflects broader social and cultural dynamics:
 Critique and Satire: Sensible nonsense allows writers to critique societal norms,
governance, and cultural trends without direct confrontation. Satirical works featuring
absurdity can bypass censorship and speak to sensitive issues under the guise of humor or
fantasy.
 Philosophical Inquiry: Many works use nonsense to delve into philosophical questions,
challenging perceptions of reality and the limits of logic. This invites readers to question
their own assumptions and perspectives.
 Psychological Exploration: Literature featuring surreal, nonsensical elements often
explores human psychology, revealing the complexities of the mind and the illogic often
inherent in human behavior and social structures.
 Cultural Reflection: The prevalence and nature of sensible nonsense can reflect the
anxieties and aspirations of a culture at a specific historical moment. For example, post-war
literature often incorporates absurdity to represent the dislocation and trauma of those times.
Impact on Audience
The impact of sensible nonsense on audiences is significant in various ways:
 Engagement: It draws in readers with its whimsy and imaginative qualities, holding their
attention while subtly introducing complex themes.
 Education: Through entertainment, sensible nonsense educates audiences about social
issues, philosophy, and human behavior.
 Emotional and Cognitive Relief: It often provides a humorous or surreal way to deal with
heavy themes, offering emotional catharsis or a mental break from the harsh realities of life
2. Name the groups of deviations that are usually used in “SN”.

"Sensible nonsense" in literature often leverages various forms of deviation from the
expected norms of narrative, logic, and language to create a unique effect that challenges readers
and prompts deeper reflection. The following are key groups of deviations commonly used in this
genre:
1. Logical Deviations
Logical deviations involve breaking the rules of conventional logic to create absurd or
paradoxical situations. These deviations challenge the reader’s sense of reality and encourage a re-
examination of what is considered sensible or rational. For instance, Lewis Carroll's "Alice's
Adventures in Wonderland" is replete with characters and situations that defy logical expectations,
such as a cat disappearing until nothing is left but its grin.
2. Linguistic Deviations
Linguistic deviations play with language in unconventional ways, including puns, nonsense
words, and malapropisms. These can serve to disorient the reader or to satirize linguistic
conventions themselves. Edward Lear and Dr. Seuss are famous for their playful use of language,
creating words that, while nonsensical, sound plausible within the linguistic context they create.
3. Narrative Deviations
These deviations occur when the structure of a narrative breaks from traditional forms, such
as non-linear storytelling, meta-narrative techniques, or the inclusion of elements that disrupt the
narrative flow. Books like "If on a winter's night a traveler" by Italo Calvino subvert narrative
expectations by presenting a book made up of the first chapters of ten different (and incomplete)
novels.
4. Character Deviations
Characters in sensible nonsense literature often behave in ways that defy psychological or
social norms. They may act without clear motivations, change personalities abruptly, or exist solely
as embodiments of abstract concepts. Characters in absurdist plays, like those by Samuel Beckett or
Eugene Ionesco, often lack conventional development and instead exist within a framework that
emphasizes the irrational or existential.
5. Cultural and Social Deviations
These are deviations that intentionally break from or invert social and cultural expectations.
This can be seen in satires and works that use absurdity to criticize social norms, government
policies, and cultural ideologies. Jonathan Swift’s "Gulliver’s Travels" uses fantastical societies to
satirize and critique the politics and cultural practices of his time.
6. Genre Deviations
This involves blending or bending genres in ways that confound traditional genre
expectations. For instance, a story might begin as a detective novel but gradually transform into a
fantastical narrative with magical realism elements. Such deviations challenge the reader's genre-
based expectations and can lead to new insights or interpretations

Logic and Order: This plays with established rules and expectations. Examples include:
 Animals acting human or vice versa (dogs wearing hats, people barking)
 Objects defying gravity (floating furniture, upside-down houses)
 Size changes (enormous ants, tiny skyscrapers)
Language and Meaning: This twists words and creates nonsensical but seemingly logical
statements. Examples include:
 Made-up words that sound official ("The flummoxed widgets danced a jig.")
 Literal interpretations of idioms ("It's raining cats and dogs, so I better bring an umbrella for
my feline friends.")
 Nonsensical rhymes or wordplay ("The purple cow jumped over the moonbeam pie.")
Common Sense and Reality: This takes familiar situations and injects the absurd. Examples
include:
 Using everyday objects for bizarre purposes ("Brushing your teeth with a spoon")
 Animals engaging in human activities ("Cows having a tea party")
  Putting unusual characters in everyday settings ("A pirate captain ordering a latte at
Starbucks")
"Sensible nonsense" thrives on the balance between the familiar and the unexpected. It uses
these deviations to create humor and a sense of delightful absurdity

3. What are the main functions of SN?

Sensible nonsense in literature, while often whimsical and entertaining, serves several
profound functions that extend far beyond mere humor or absurdity. Here are some of the main
functions of sensible nonsense:
1. Social Critique
One of the most significant functions of sensible nonsense is to critique and satirize societal
norms, politics, cultural expectations, and human behaviors. By presenting these elements in an
absurd, exaggerated, or fantastical context, authors can bypass direct confrontation, making it easier
to point out flaws and inconsistencies in society. For example, Jonathan Swift's "Gulliver's Travels"
uses fantastical lands and situations to criticize European politics and the pettiness of human
endeavors.
2. Philosophical Exploration
Sensible nonsense often delves into deep philosophical questions about reality, existence,
morality, and human understanding. Through absurd scenarios and logical paradoxes, such
literature challenges readers to question the stability and reliability of their perceptions and beliefs.
Works like Franz Kafka’s "The Metamorphosis" or Samuel Beckett's plays introduce scenarios that
defy rational explanation, pushing readers to confront existential and philosophical dilemmas.
3. Cognitive and Creative Freedom
This genre provides a playground for mental exploration, allowing both writers and readers
to break free from the constraints of logical and linear thinking. By engaging with narratives that
defy conventional rules of story structure, character development, and causality, readers expand
their cognitive flexibility and engage in a form of mental play that can be creatively liberating and
intellectually stimulating.
4. Humor and Entertainment
At its core, sensible nonsense is often simply fun. It uses humor, which can be a powerful
tool for engagement and enjoyment. The entertainment value of nonsensical literature, like that
found in the works of Lewis Carroll or Douglas Adams, draws readers into engaging with texts that
might also subtly (or not so subtly) introduce them to more serious themes and issues.
5. Emotional Relief and Psychological Coping
The absurdity and irreverence of sensible nonsense can offer emotional relief and a means of
coping with the often illogical or unjust aspects of life. By laughing at the ridiculous, readers may
find solace in recognizing that not everything in life has to make perfect sense. This can be
particularly poignant in times of social unrest or personal hardship where the real world may seem
as nonsensical as the literary worlds being depicted.
6. Education and Persuasion
Sensible nonsense can serve educational purposes, using the allure of the absurd to engage
readers in complex discussions about logic, language, science, and philosophy. It can also be
persuasive, subtly promoting critical thinking or skepticism towards authority figures and accepted
norms. This technique can gently shift perspectives or encourage deeper inquiry into important
issues.
7. Cultural Reflection and Criticism
Literature featuring sensible nonsense often reflects the cultural anxieties, absurdities, and
the zeitgeist of its time. It can serve as a form of cultural criticism, reflecting on the absurd aspects
of contemporary life and highlighting how cultural norms evolve

4.What is the difference between children’s folklore and the one for the adults?
Children's folklore and adult folklore differ in several key aspects, each tailored to suit the
developmental needs, comprehension levels, and cultural roles appropriate for their respective
audiences. Here are the main differences:
1. Content and Themes
 Children's Folklore: Typically involves simpler, more straightforward themes that are easy
for young minds to grasp. The stories often have clear moral lessons or educational value,
focusing on virtues like honesty, bravery, and kindness. They are usually less violent and
more sanitized compared to their original versions or adult counterparts.
 Adult Folklore: Can encompass more complex themes and delve into deeper human
experiences. These stories often include darker elements, such as violence, tragedy, betrayal,
and adult relationships. The moral lessons, if present, are usually more nuanced and less
overt.
2. Purpose and Function
 Children's Folklore: Primarily aims to educate and socialize children. It helps in instilling
social norms, moral values, and cultural traditions, often through cautionary tales or
inspirational stories. The storytelling is also designed to stimulate imagination and can be
used as a bedtime ritual to aid sleep.
 Adult Folklore: Serves to reinforce cultural identity and continuity, often preserving
complex aspects of a community's history, values, and beliefs. Adult stories can also
function as entertainment or as a means to address social issues metaphorically or
symbolically.
3. Complexity of Language and Structure
 Children's Folklore: Uses simpler language, repetitive structures, and rhythmic elements
that aid in memorization and verbal recitation. The narrative is generally linear, with clear
distinctions between good and bad characters.
 Adult Folklore: May employ a richer, more complex language and incorporate
sophisticated literary devices such as irony, allegory, and symbolism. The structure can be
more intricate, featuring flashbacks, multiple viewpoints, and less clearly defined moral
boundaries.
4. Use of Supernatural and Fantasy Elements
 Children's Folklore: Often features magical elements, fantastical creatures, and a clear
sense of wonder and enchantment. These elements are typically portrayed in a positive light,
captivating children’s interest and sparking their imagination.
 Adult Folklore: While also rich in supernatural elements, the portrayal might be more
ambiguous or linked to darker themes. Supernatural aspects might be used to explore
existential questions or the darker sides of human nature.
5. Emotional Tone and Impact
 Children's Folklore: Generally maintains a hopeful, uplifting tone, even when dealing with
challenges or adversaries. The resolution often reinforces security and safety, providing
emotional comfort.
 Adult Folklore: Can vary widely in emotional tone, not shying away from eliciting feelings
of fear, sadness, or moral ambiguity. The endings can be unsettling or unresolved, reflecting
the complexities of real life.
6. Cultural Reflection
 Children's Folklore: Tends to focus on imparting timeless wisdom that transcends specific
cultural moments, although it is often rooted in cultural ideals.
 Adult Folklore: Might be more directly responsive to contemporary issues, reflecting
current societal debates, conflicts, or crises

5. Why does “Mother Goose Nursery Rhymes” is a treasure of the English

literature? Who is Mother Goose? Specify on the metaphors and poetics of the
poems collected in this book. Think of the equivalent books or collections of rhymes
for children in the Ukrainian literature.

The term "Mother Goose" is a broad categorization of nursery stories and rhymes, usually
intended for toddlers or the youngest of readers. At face value, the rhymes seemingly share a
commonality of form, purpose, and characteristic sound, but in reality, beyond these basic
attributes, they actually represent a disparate group of lyrical stories with little in common. Varying
dramatically in origins, age, and content, the stories we regard as the canonical Mother Goose
rhymes are actually an amalgam of contrary folk tales, poems, and literary exercises that share a
prototypical sound and length. Often introduced to small children as their first exposure to
literature, the rhymes are thought to help children learn to verbalize their thoughts into cohesive
language. Traditionally, most nursery rhymes are seemingly nonsensical, though many are born
from a variety of thematic sources, including political intrigue, centuries-old gossip, folk language,
and religious allegories.
Typically, nursery rhymes share some characteristics even within their diversity of content
and form. As a rule, nursery rhymes tend to be written as poetry, with redundant phrases and
imagery. Further, their length rarely consists of more than a few dozen lines. Their nature
predisposes them to working well as both verse and song, and as such, many have been set to
music, creating some of the more recognizable childhood lullabies. The vast majority owe their
origins to Europe—with several of the most recognizable having been born in England—though
some can trace their roots to American writers. One example of such a rhyme, "Mary Had a Little
Lamb," was written by the American author Sarah Hale, and the tale derives from a real incident
involving a classmate of Sarah's attempting to bring a live lamb to school with her. Hale published
the poem in 1830, and the verse quickly joined the pantheon of Mother Goose rhymes.
The symbolic Mother Goose is herself a European creation, though her association with the
traditionally famous sonnets and poems is today primarily the sole province of American
imaginations. The first documented usage of the term "Mother Goose" in English was the 1729
translation of Charles Perrault's collection of fairy tales called Mother Goose Tales (originally
printed in French in 1695). Around 1780, famed children's author John Newbery released his own
collection of nursery rhymes titled Mother Goose's Melody: Or, Sonnets for the Cradle. As to the
term "Mother Goose" itself, no definitive origin has been determined, though several speculative
possibilities exist. Two of the most strongly advocated theories center on a pair of French queens
named Bertha. The first theory alleges that the name was derived from the eighth-century Queen
Bertha of Pepin who was the mother of Charlemagne and who may have had the nickname "Queen
Goosefoot," possibly due to a birth defect that left her with a deformed foot. The second theory
revolves around the eleventh-century Queen Bertha, wife of Robert II, who was rumored to have
given birth to "a goose-headed child," possibly due to inbreeding within the royal family. Both
women are said to have been generous with children, thus possibly cementing their legacies with
that of stories told to children. Other popular theories involve Queen Sheba and a colonial-era
woman in Boston named Elizabeth Goose (or, variably "Vergoose" or "Vertigoose"), a
grandmotherly woman who told stories from her own youth to a series of local children. Indeed,
visitors to Boston are often taken to the presumed grave at the Granary Burying Ground of this
American "Mother Goose," although given the time frame in which she lived, she could not have
been the originator of the term "Mother Goose."
The disparate backgrounds of the Mother Goose rhymes themselves stretch over a variety of
time periods and creative intents. A surprising number of the rhymes owe their creation to political
and social issues. In fact, several of the more prominent Mother Goose rhymes are taunting political
slogans, mocking such figures as Mary Queen of Scots, Henry VIII, Mary Tudor, and
Queen Elizabeth I. For instance, "Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary" and "Little Miss Muf-fet" are
thought to be directly commenting on the reign of Mary, Queen of Scots, whereas "Hey Diddle
Diddle" likely refers to a sexual scandal that occurred in the court of Queen Elizabeth I, and "Little
Boy Blue" concerns Henry VIII confidante Cardinal Thomas Wolsey. Perhaps one of the more
detailed of these suggestive political metaphors is "Sing a Song of Sixpence" which is thought to
refer to Henry VIII himself. Sister Mary Joan Patricia has suggested in her examination of the
rhyme that the story underlying the lyrical rhyme is concerned with Henry's "confiscation of rich
abbey lands, his divorce from Catherine of Aragon, his infatuation with Anne Boleyn, her short
reign, and swift execution." She portrays the poem as a metaphor for Henry's poor Kingship
wherein verse like "Sing a song of sixpence / A pocket full of rye" refers to Henry's overt theft of
money and lands from his people, while "The Queen was in the pantry / Eating bread and honey /
The maid was in the garden" are subtle criticisms of Queen Catharine of Aragon's belief she was
secure in her position as Queen of England with the figure of the maid standing as an overt
insinuation of the King's lover, Anne Boleyn, as a third party in their marriage. However, the
difficulty in confirming the true intents of the rhymes' anonymous and forgotten authors has made
identifying the hidden meaning behind such story poems largely guesswork, with wildly divergent
theories offered for several of the rhymes.

https://www.encyclopedia.com/literature-and-arts/language-linguistics-and-literary-terms/
literature-general/mother-goose