How doth the little busy bee
How doth the little busy bee
Improve each shining hour,
And gather honey all the day
From every opening flower.
How skilfully she builds her cell;
How neat she spreads her wax,
And labors hard to store it well
With the sweet food she makes.
                                 – Isaac Watts
Summary
The first poem, “How doth the little busy bee” by Isaac Watts, praises the hard work of a bee. It describes how diligently the bee uses its time to collect honey from flowers, skillfully builds its hive, and stores the sweet food it creates.
AÂ Parody
How doth the little crocodile
Improve his shining tail;
And pour the waters of the Nile
On every golden scale !
How cheerfully he seems to grin,
How neatly spreads his claws,
And welcomes little fishes in,
With gently smiling jaws !
                   – Lewis Carroll
Summary
The second poem, “A Parody” by Lewis Carroll, humorously imitates the structure of the first poem but with a twist. Instead of praising a bee, it playfully talks about a crocodile improving its shiny tail, pouring water on its scales, grinning cheerfully, spreading claws neatly, and welcoming little fishes with smiling jaws. It’s a witty parody that adds a humorous touch to the original poem.
Line-by-Line Summary “How doth the little busy bee” by Isaac Watts:
1. *How doth the little busy bee:*
– This line wonders about the activities of the small, hardworking bee.
2. *Improve each shining hour:*
– It suggests that the bee makes the most of its time, using every hour wisely.
3. *And gather honey all the day:*
– The bee spends the entire day collecting honey from flowers.
4. *From every opening flower:*
– It gathers honey from every flower it can find.
5. *How skilfully she builds her cell;*
– The bee is skilled in constructing its hive.
6. *How neat she spreads her wax,*
– It describes the bee’s precise and neat work in using wax to build.
7. *And labors hard to store it well*
– The bee works diligently to store the honey it has collected.
8. *With the sweet food she makes.*
– The result of the bee’s hard work is the sweet honey it produces.
Line-by-Line Summary of “A Parody” by Lewis Carroll:
1. *How doth the little crocodile:*
– Similar to the first poem, this line introduces the little crocodile.
2. *Improve his shining tail;*
– Instead of working like the bee, the crocodile comically “improves” its tail.
3. *And pour the waters of the Nile:*
– The crocodile pours water on itself, a playful exaggeration.
4. *On every golden scale!*
– It adds a humorous touch, imagining the crocodile with golden scales.
5. *How cheerfully he seems to grin,*
– The crocodile is described as grinning cheerfully, creating a funny image.
6. *How neatly spreads his claws,*
– The claws of the crocodile are humorously emphasized.
7. *And welcomes little fishes in,*
– The crocodile is depicted as friendly, but in a comical way.
8. *With gently smiling jaws!*
– The poem ends with a playful description of the crocodile’s jaws, creating humor through exaggeration.
In essence, the first poem praises the hardworking nature of a bee, while the second poem, a parody, humorously exaggerates the actions of a crocodile in a whimsical manner.
Explanation of the Poems
“How doth the little busy bee” by Isaac Watts is a poem that praises the diligence and hard work of a little bee. Let’s break it down:
1. Busy Bee Imagery:
– The poem begins by admiring how the tiny bee spends its time. The bee is portrayed as “busy,” emphasizing its constant activity.
2. Productivity of the Bee:
– The bee is described as making the most of every hour, gathering honey from flowers all day long. This showcases the bee’s dedication and productivity.
3. Skillful Construction:
– The poet talks about the bee’s ability to build its hive skillfully. It creates cells with precision and spreads wax neatly, highlighting the bee’s craftsmanship.
4. Hard Work and Storage:
– The bee is portrayed as a hard worker, labouring to store the honey it collects. This emphasizes not only the bee’s industry but also its ability to plan for the future.
5. Sweet Rewards:
– The ultimate goal of the bee’s hard work is the sweet food it produces – honey. The poem appreciates the bee’s role in nature and the sweetness it contributes to the world.
Now, for “A Parody” by Lewis Carroll:
1. Crocodile Transformation:
– This poem playfully mimics the structure of the first poem but replaces the bee with a crocodile. It turns the serious tone of the original into a humorous one.
2. Absurd Improvements:
– Instead of the practical activities of the bee, the crocodile comically improves its tail by pouring water on its scales. The absurdity of these actions adds humor to the poem.
3. Cheerful Grinning:
– The crocodile is described as grinning cheerfully and welcoming little fishes with its smiling jaws. This contrasts with the bee’s serious work, creating a comical effect.
4. Parodic Elements:
– The parody exaggerates and mocks the seriousness of the original poem. It’s a playful imitation that highlights the whimsical nature of Lewis Carroll’s writing.
In short, both poems celebrate different creatures – one earnestly praises the hardworking bee, while the other humorously exaggerates the antics of a crocodile in a playful parody.
English Workshop
- Write the meaning of:
- doth: In the context of the poem, “doth” is an old-fashioned way of saying “does” or “performs.”
- opening (in the context of the poem): “Opening” refers to the blossoming or unfolding of flowers, where the bee gathers honey.
- cell: In the context of the poem, “cell” refers to the small compartments in the hive where the bee stores honey.
- Compare the original poem and its parody:
- Choice of subject (an animal): The original poem features a bee, while the parody substitutes it with a crocodile.
- Number of lines and stanzas: Both poems have a similar structure with four stanzas and consistent line lengths.
- Same or similar constructions: The parody mimics the structure and rhyme scheme of the original, creating a playful imitation.
- Tone of the poem: The original has a positive and praising tone, while the parody introduces a humorous and satirical tone.
- Answer the following questions:
(a) What does the bee stand for ?
(b) What does the crocodile stand for ?
(c) Why does the bee work hour after hour ?
(d) Why does the crocodile work ?
(e) Is the bee a gentle creature ? Is the crocodile gentle ?
- (a) The bee stands for diligence and hard work.
- (b) The crocodile stands for a cunning and potentially dangerous creature.
- (c) The bee works hour after hour to gather honey and store it in the hive.
- (d) The crocodile’s work is portrayed humorously and exaggeratedly, focusing on pouring water on its scales and welcoming fishes with smiling jaws.
- (e) The bee is portrayed as a hardworking and diligent creature, while the crocodile’s portrayal is comically exaggerated and not gentle.
- Describe a crocodile in your own words:
A crocodile is a reptile with a shiny tail, golden scales, and sharp claws. It may appear cheerful but is known for its jaws that can open gently yet are powerful. Words and phrases for a realistic description:
- shining tail
- golden scale
- claws
- jaws
- Note on parodies:
Parodies often target well-known works as people can better appreciate the humor when they are familiar with the original. - Preference between the original poem and the parody:
Personal preference may vary. Some might prefer the original for its sincere praise, while others might enjoy the parody for its humor and clever imitation. The choice depends on individual taste and appreciation for satire.