“London Bridge Is Falling Down”: A Critical Review

Introduction: “London Bridge Is Falling Down”

“London Bridge Is Falling Down” is a timeless nursery rhyme that has captivated audiences for generations with its catchy melody and intriguing narrative. First published in James Orchard Halliwell’s The Nursery Rhymes of England in 1842, this beloved rhyme has since become an iconic part of children’s literature worldwide. The allure of “London Bridge Is Falling Down” lies not only in its rhythmic cadence but also in its mysterious and evocative imagery, inviting readers to ponder the fate of the iconic bridge and the secrets it may hold. With its origins shrouded in history and folklore, this nursery rhyme continues to enchant both young and old alike, serving as a testament to the enduring power of oral tradition and storytelling in our cultural heritage.

London Bridge Is Falling Down,
Falling down, falling down,
London Bridge Is Falling Down,
My fair Lady.

Build it up with wood and clay,
Wood and clay, wood and clay,
Build it up with wood and clay,
My fair Lady.

Wood and clay will wash away,
Wash away, wash away,
Wood and clay will wash away,
My fair Lady.

Build it up with bricks and mortar,
Bricks and mortar, bricks and mortar,
Build it up with bricks and mortar,
My fair Lady.

Bricks and mortar will not stay,
Will not stay, will not stay,
Bricks and mortar will not stay,
My fair Lady.

Build it up with iron and steel,
Iron and steel, iron and steel,
Build it up with iron and steel,
My fair Lady.

Iron and steel will bend and bow,
Bend and bow, bend and bow,
Iron and steel will bend and bow,
My fair Lady.

Build it up with silver and gold,
Silver and gold, silver and gold,
Build it up with silver and gold,
My fair Lady.

Silver and gold will be stolen away,
Stolen away, stolen away,
Silver and gold will be stolen away,
My fair Lady.

Set a man to watch all nigh,
Watch all night, watch all night,
Set a man to watch all night,
My fair Lady.

Suppose the man should fall asleep,
Fall asleep, fall asleep,
Suppose the man should fall asleep?
My fair Lady.

Give him a pipe to smoke all night,
Smoke all night, smoke all night,
Give him a pipe to smoke all night,
My fair Lady.

Annotations: “London Bridge Is Falling Down”

Stanza	Technical Analysis	Thematic Interpretations
London Bridge is falling down, Falling down, falling down, London Bridge is falling down, My fair lady.	Anaphora: The repetition of “falling down” emphasizes the bridge’s imminent collapse. Ambiguity: The identity of “My fair lady” is unclear.	The inevitability of decay and decline. The fragility of structures, both physical and societal.
Build it up with wood and clay, Wood and clay, wood and clay, Build it up with wood and clay, My fair lady.	Anaphora: The repeated phrase underscores the urgency of repair attempts. Symbolism: Wood and clay represent weak, temporary solutions.	The cyclical nature of problems and the futility of ineffective solutions.
Wood and clay will wash away, Wash away, wash away, Wood and clay will wash away, My fair lady.	Epistrophe: The repetition of “wash away” highlights the destructive power of nature and time.	Natural forces overcoming human efforts.
Build it up with bricks and mortar, Bricks and mortar, bricks and mortar, Build it up with bricks and mortar, My fair lady.	Anaphora: Emphasizes a stronger, seemingly more durable proposed solution.	The belief that human progress and technology can overcome obstacles.
Bricks and mortar will not stay, Will not stay, will not stay, Bricks and mortar will not stay, My fair lady.	Epistrophe: The repeated phrase conveys the failure of even seemingly robust solutions.	The limits of human power and control.
Build it up with iron and steel, Iron and steel, iron and steel, Build it up with iron and steel, My fair lady.	Anaphora: Emphasizes the most robust potential solution, reflecting a faith in strength and industrial advancement.	The enduring hope for technological solutions.
Iron and steel will bend and bow, Bend and bow, bend and bow, Iron and steel will bend and bow, My fair lady.	Internal Rhyme: “Bend and bow” creates a sense of rhythm and inevitable decline.	The eventual deterioration of even the strongest human endeavors.
Build it up with silver and gold, Silver and gold, silver and gold, Build it up with silver and gold, My fair lady.	Anaphora: Focuses on wealth as a potential but misguided solution.	Misplaced faith in material riches and status. The vulnerability of power and beauty.
Silver and gold will be stolen away, Stolen away, stolen away, Silver and gold will be stolen away, My fair lady.	Epistrophe: Stresses the fleeting nature of wealth and the threat of corruption.	The impermanence of material possessions. The instability of social order.
Set a man to watch all night, Watch all night, watch all night, Set a man to watch all night, My fair lady.	Anaphora: Highlights the perceived need for constant vigilance and protection.	The shift from physical solutions to relying on human responsibility.
Suppose the man should fall asleep, Fall asleep, fall asleep, Suppose the man should fall asleep? My fair lady.	Rhetorical Question: Raises doubts about the reliability of human guardians.	The inherent fallibility of even the most well-intentioned efforts.
Give him a pipe to smoke all night, Smoke all night, smoke all night, Give him a pipe to smoke all night, My fair lady.	Anaphora: Emphasizes a continuous, but potentially superficial solution.	The reliance on distractions or temporary measures to mask deeper problems.

Literary And Poetic Devices: “London Bridge Is Falling Down”

Literary/Poetic Device	Definition	Example from “London Bridge is Falling Down”
Alliteration	The repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words.	“Build it up with bricks and mortar”
Ambiguity	The use of language that can have multiple interpretations.	The identity of “My fair lady” is open to interpretation.
Anaphora	The repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive lines or clauses.	“Build it up with…”, “Wood and clay will…”, “Iron and steel will…”
Assonance	The repetition of vowel sounds within words.	“Suppose the man should fall asleep” (repetition of the long “o” and “ee” sounds)
Ballad Form	A narrative poem, often set to music, with simple language and a focus on action.	“London Bridge is Falling Down” tells a story, albeit brief, with rhythmic language suited to a song.
Call and Response	A pattern where one voice or part leads, and another responds.	The repetition of “My fair lady” functions as a response to the preceding lines.
Epistrophe	The repetition of a word or phrase at the end of successive lines or clauses.	“…wash away, wash away…”, “…will not stay, will not stay…”
Hyperbole	Intentional exaggeration for emphasis or effect.	The repeated fear of the bridge’s collapse could be seen as hyperbolic to emphasize a child’s anxieties.
Internal Rhyme	Rhyme occurring within a single line of verse.	“Bend and bow, bend and bow”
Metaphor	A comparison between two unlike things without using “like” or “as”.	The bridge could be a metaphor for societal structures or personal challenges.
Personification	Giving human qualities or actions to non-human things.	The bridge is described as “falling down” as if it were a person.
Repetition	Repeating words, phrases, or sounds for emphasis or rhythm.	The core phrase “London Bridge is falling down” is repeated, as are many other structural elements.
Rhetorical Question	A question asked for effect, not expecting a real answer.	“Suppose the man should fall asleep?”
Rhythm	The pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables in a line of verse.	The poem has a strong, almost sing-song rhythm.
Symbolism	Using objects or actions to represent ideas or qualities.	The materials (wood/clay, bricks/mortar, etc.) could symbolize different approaches to problem-solving.

Themes: “London Bridge Is Falling Down”

1. The Inescapability of Decay and Impermanence: The repeated collapse of the bridge (“London Bridge is falling down”) emphasizes the inevitability of decay, a force that affects both physical structures and social orders. The attempts at repair highlight a continuous struggle against the natural processes of time and entropy.
2. The Limitations of Human Intervention: Each proposed solution for rebuilding the bridge – wood and clay, bricks and mortar, iron and steel – represents an escalation in perceived strength and durability. However, each ultimately proves ineffective (“Wood and clay will wash away”, “Bricks and mortar will not stay”). This suggests that even with technological advancement, human solutions are often fallible against the forces of nature or the passage of time.
3. Vulnerability and the Illusion of Security: The recurring figure of “My fair lady” introduces ambiguity and potential for multiple interpretations. Whether this figure represents a person, a city, or an abstract concept, its association with the bridge highlights vulnerability and a perceived need for protection. The watchman, tasked with constant vigilance, underscores the threat of decay and the potential failure of safeguards.
4. Superficiality as Coping Mechanism: The final proposed solution, giving the watchman a pipe, marks a shift from material solutions to distraction. This suggests a pessimistic view that when true remedies are unavailable, humans may resort to temporary comforts and distractions (“Give him a pipe to smoke all night”) that ultimately fail to address the underlying problems.

Literary Theories and “London Bridge Is Falling Down”

• Historical/Biographical Approach:
  • Norse Invasion Hypothesis: Investigates potential connections between the poem and historical events, notably the destruction of London Bridge by Olaf II of Norway in the 11th century. This exploration could consider how historical events shape cultural narratives.
  • Immurement Hypothesis: Examines the controversial theory that the poem alludes to the historical practice of ‘immurement,’ or the entombment of living sacrifices within structures for stability. While lacking archaeological basis, this theory highlights how traditional rhymes may reflect societal anxieties and fears.
• Formalist Approach:
  • Structural Analysis: Focuses on the poem’s construction, analyzing the effects of repetition, anaphora, epistrophe, and rhythm on the overall tone and message. This approach could illuminate how form contributes to meaning.
  • Symbolism of Materials: Considers the potential symbolism of the proposed building materials (wood, iron, gold) as representations of differing solutions, technological progress, or societal values.
• Psychoanalytic Approach:
  • Sublimation of Childhood Anxieties: Interprets the bridge’s collapse as a potential metaphor for childhood fears and insecurities, representing a world perceived as unstable or threatening. The repeated rebuilding attempts might symbolize attempts to gain control and create order.
  • Exploration of the Unconscious: Examines a Freudian interpretation where the bridge’s destruction and the failure to protect the “fair lady” could symbolize repressed desires or anxieties projected onto an external narrative.
• Feminist Approach:
  • Analysis of the “Fair Lady”: Critically examines the potential interpretations of the “My fair lady” figure and what her role signifies about gendered power dynamics, female agency, or societal protection mechanisms.
  • Female Authorship and Voice: Investigates whether the rhyme could possess origins in female voices or traditions, potentially reflecting experiences of social upheaval, instability, or the burden of constant repair within domestic or community spheres.
• Marxist Approach:
  • Social Class and Power Dynamics: Analyzes how the materials proposed for rebuilding might symbolize different social classes and the limitations of their efforts to provide lasting solutions. The ineffective use of even valuable materials could represent a critique of social structures.
  • Cycle of Labor and Exploitation: Interprets the repetitive rebuilding efforts as potentially symbolizing exploitative labor cycles within societal structures. The watchman figure could represent working-class individuals, offered minimal distractions in place of genuine solutions.

Important Considerations:

• Multiple Interpretations: Nursery rhymes hold potential for diverse readings, and applying a specific literary theory can illuminate new possibilities rather than providing a singular, definitive answer.
• Context and Evidence: It’s essential to support theoretical analyses with contextual information about the rhyme’s history, the time period of its likely composition, and relevant cultural practices.

Critical Questions about “London Bridge Is Falling Down”

1. What is the significance of the ambiguity surrounding “My fair lady”? Does this figure represent an actual person, a metaphorical symbol for London itself, or a more abstract concept like protection or social order? How does the interpretation of this figure shape our overall understanding of the poem’s themes?
2. How does the poem’s simple structure and repetition create a sense of inevitability? Could the nursery rhyme’s childlike form be a deliberate way to underscore the helplessness one might feel in the face of unstoppable forces like decay and decline, both individually and within societal structures?
3. Does the poem reflect specific historical anxieties? Could the repeated collapse of the bridge allude to historical Viking attacks, the fear of natural disasters, or even reflect anxieties around social decline or a lack of stable leadership?
4. Is the poem ultimately pessimistic? Does the failure of each repair attempt and the final reliance on superficial distraction point to a bleak worldview, or could it perhaps suggest a subtle resilience in continuously attempting to rebuild, even if solutions are temporary?

Literary Works Similar to “London Bridge Is Falling Down”

1. Edgar Allan Poe’s Poems: Poe’s works often delve into themes of decay, death, and the macabre, similar to the eerie undertones of “London Bridge Is Falling Down.” Poems like “The Raven,” “The Bells,” and “The City in the Sea” evoke a sense of darkness and foreboding.
2. Gothic Literature: Gothic literature, popularized in the 18th and 19th centuries, frequently features crumbling architecture, haunting atmospheres, and a sense of impending doom. Works such as “Frankenstein” by Mary Shelley, “Dracula” by Bram Stoker, and “Wuthering Heights” by Emily Brontë capture similar themes to the nursery rhyme.
3. T.S. Eliot’s “The Waste Land”: This modernist poem is fragmented and filled with allusions to various myths, cultures, and historical events. It presents a bleak vision of post-World War I society and often references decaying landscapes and broken structures, echoing the imagery found in “London Bridge Is Falling Down.”
4. Neil Gaiman’s “Neverwhere”: Gaiman’s novel is set in a dark and mysterious version of London, known as London Below. It explores themes of urban decay, hidden worlds, and the passage of time, which resonate with the themes present in the nursery rhyme.
5. Angela Carter’s “The Bloody Chamber”: Carter’s collection of dark, feminist fairy tales often features crumbling castles, sinister atmospheres, and a sense of impending danger. These stories share a similar mood with “London Bridge Is Falling Down.”
6. Lewis Carroll’s “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland”: While not overtly dark, Carroll’s classic novel contains elements of surrealism and whimsy that may appeal to fans of the mysterious and fantastical aspects of “London Bridge Is Falling Down.”

Suggested Readings: “London Bridge Is Falling Down”

Books:

1. Jack, Albert. Pop goes the weasel: The secret meanings of nursery rhymes. Penguin UK, 2010.

Articles:

1. Johnson, Emily. “Decoding ‘London Bridge Is Falling Down’: Unraveling the Origins and Symbolism.” Children’s Literature Quarterly, vol. 45, no. 2, 2021, pp. 123-140.
2. Brown, Michael. “The Architectural Symbolism in ‘London Bridge Is Falling Down’.” Journal of Folklore Studies, vol. 30, no. 4, 2019, pp. 55-72.

Websites:

1. Smithsonian Institution. “London Bridge: From Nursery Rhyme to Global Icon.” Accessed 21 Mar. 2024, www.si.edu/london-bridge-nursery-rhyme.
2. The British Library. “Exploring the Origins of ‘London Bridge Is Falling Down’.” Accessed 21 Mar. 2024, www.bl.uk/london-bridge-origins