This essay will compare Lewis Carol's poem and parody "Father Williams" to its original poem "The old man's comforts and how he gained them" by Robert Southey. The poem is part of Lewis Carroll's novel "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland".
But what exactly makes a parody? A definition by Vladimir Propp is delivered and followed by some information about the authors and the content of their poems. With the help of several questions, the poems are analysed syntactically as well as semantically to answer the question, if Carroll's poem can be regarded as a parody of Southey's poem.
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Defining Parody
- Author Information: Lewis Carroll
- Author Information: Robert Southey
- Analysis: Comparing "Father William" and "The Old Man's Comforts"
Objectives and Key Themes
This essay aims to compare Lewis Carroll's parody "Father William" to Robert Southey's original poem, "The Old Man's Comforts and How He Gained Them," analyzing their pragmatical, semantical, and syntactical levels to determine what makes Carroll's poem a parody.
- Defining parody and its characteristics
- Biographical information of Lewis Carroll and Robert Southey and their writing styles
- Comparative analysis of the two poems at the pragmatical, semantical, and syntactical levels
- Identification of elements that constitute "Father William" as a parody
- Exploration of Carroll's use of irony and sarcasm
Chapter Summaries
Introduction: This introductory section lays the groundwork for the comparative analysis of Lewis Carroll's "Father William" and Robert Southey's "The Old Man's Comforts and How He Gained Them." It outlines the essay's objective: to determine the elements that constitute Carroll's poem as a parody by examining both poems on pragmatical, semantical, and syntactical levels. The introduction briefly touches upon the differences in length and structure between the two poems, hinting at the potential influence these factors might have on the overall effect of the parody.
Defining Parody: This section provides a definition of parody based on Vladimir Propp's work, emphasizing the exaggeration of specific features and the imitation of external characteristics that overshadow or negate the inner meaning of the original work. The discussion highlights that anything can be parodied, including poems, setting the stage for the analysis of Carroll's poem as a parody of Southey's work.
Author Information: Lewis Carroll: This section delves into the background of Lewis Carroll (Charles Lutwidge Dodgson), focusing on his use of parody, particularly in his nonsense verse, and the puzzle-solving elements often found within his works. It also addresses the Victorian perception of "nonsense" and contrasts it with modern interpretations, clarifying that Carroll's work, while seemingly nonsensical at first glance, is often meticulously crafted and logically structured. The author speculates on the potential influence of Carroll's sensitive nature and his reactions to childish blasphemies on his parodies, suggesting a possible outlet for his frustrations.
Author Information: Robert Southey: This section introduces Robert Southey, describing his writing style and the nature of his poetic works. It characterizes Southey as a "finder rather than a maker," highlighting his skill in collecting and arranging material, which inadvertently provided ample opportunity for parody, as his works offered a rich source of information for Carroll to work with and transform. The mention of Southey's poem being used as a template by numerous authors further reinforces the suitability of his work for parody.
Analysis: Comparing "Father William" and "The Old Man's Comforts": This section begins the in-depth analysis of both poems, initially focusing on their length and structural similarities. It notes the significant difference in length (24 lines vs. 34 lines) and speculates on the reasons behind Carroll's expansion of the original poem. This section also provides an overview of the poems' content, observing that both involve a young man questioning an older man (Father William) about his apparent contentment and longevity, contrasting the approaches and the tone of both poems. The section concludes by foreshadowing the structured analysis of the poems' pragmatical, semantical, and syntactical aspects.
Keywords
Parody, Lewis Carroll, Robert Southey, "Father William," "The Old Man's Comforts," nonsense verse, Victorian literature, comparative analysis, pragmatics, semantics, syntax, irony, sarcasm.
Frequently Asked Questions: A Comparative Analysis of Lewis Carroll's "Father William" and Robert Southey's "The Old Man's Comforts"
What is the main objective of this essay?
The essay aims to compare Lewis Carroll's parody "Father William" with Robert Southey's original poem, "The Old Man's Comforts and How He Gained Them," analyzing them pragmatically, semantically, and syntactically to determine what makes Carroll's poem a parody.
What are the key themes explored in the essay?
Key themes include defining parody and its characteristics; biographical information of Lewis Carroll and Robert Southey and their writing styles; a comparative analysis of the poems at the pragmatical, semantical, and syntactical levels; identifying elements that constitute "Father William" as a parody; and exploring Carroll's use of irony and sarcasm.
What is the structure of the essay?
The essay is structured into five chapters: an introduction outlining the objective and scope; a section defining parody; sections providing biographical information on Lewis Carroll and Robert Southey; and finally, a comparative analysis of the two poems.
How does the essay define parody?
The essay defines parody based on Vladimir Propp's work, highlighting the exaggeration of specific features and the imitation of external characteristics that overshadow or negate the inner meaning of the original work. It emphasizes that any form of text can be parodied.
What biographical information is provided about Lewis Carroll?
The essay discusses Lewis Carroll's (Charles Lutwidge Dodgson) use of parody in his nonsense verse, the puzzle-solving elements in his works, the Victorian perception of "nonsense," and contrasts it with modern interpretations. It also speculates on the potential influence of Carroll's sensitive nature and reactions to childish blasphemies on his parodies.
What biographical information is provided about Robert Southey?
The essay describes Robert Southey's writing style and the nature of his poetic works. It characterizes Southey as a "finder rather than a maker," highlighting his skill in collecting and arranging material, which provided a rich source for parody.
How does the essay compare "Father William" and "The Old Man's Comforts"?
The comparative analysis focuses on the length and structural similarities and differences between the two poems (24 lines vs. 34 lines). It analyzes the poems' content, noting that both involve a young man questioning an older man, but contrasts their approaches and tones. The analysis also foreshadows a detailed examination of the poems' pragmatical, semantical, and syntactical aspects.
What keywords are associated with this essay?
Keywords include: Parody, Lewis Carroll, Robert Southey, "Father William," "The Old Man's Comforts," nonsense verse, Victorian literature, comparative analysis, pragmatics, semantics, syntax, irony, sarcasm.
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- Suzanne Petzoldt (Autor:in), 2014, What Makes a Parody? A Comparison Between "Father William" by Lewis Carroll and "The Old Man’s Comforts and How He Gained Them" by Robert Southey, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/382955
