Introduction: “The Sugar Plum Tree” by Eugene Field
“The Sugar Plum Tree” by Eugene Field was first published in 1886 in his collection of poetry titled “A Little Book of Western Verse”. This whimsical and enchanting poem transports readers to a fantastical land where dreams and childhood imagination run free. Field uses vivid imagery of delectable treats and whimsical characters like a “chocolate cat” and “gingerbread dog” to create a sense of wonder and delight. The poem’s playful rhythm and simple rhyme scheme make it a beloved classic that seamlessly blends a sense of childlike joy with the boundless possibilities of the imagination.
Text: “The Sugar Plum Tree” by Eugene Field
Have you ever heard of the Sugar-Plum Tree?
‘Tis a marvel of great renown!
It blooms on the shore of the Lollypop sea
In the garden of Shut-Eye Town;
The fruit that it bears is so wondrously sweet
(As those who have tasted it say)
That good little children have only to eat
Of that fruit to be happy next day.
When you’ve got to the tree, you would have a hard time
To capture the fruit which I sing;
The tree is so tall that no person could climb
To the boughs where the sugar-plums swing!
But up in that tree sits a chocolate cat,
And a gingerbread dog prowls below –
And this is the way you contrive to get at
Those sugar-plums tempting you so:
You say but the word to that gingerbread dog
And he barks with such terrible zest
That the chocolate cat is at once all agog,
As her swelling proportions attest.
And the chocolate cat goes cavorting around
From this leafy limb unto that,
And the sugar-plums tumble, of course, to the ground –
Hurrah for that chocolate cat!
There are marshmallows, gumdrops, and peppermint canes,
With stripings of scarlet or gold,
And you carry away of the treasure that rains,
As much as your apron can hold!
So come, little child, cuddle closer to me
In your dainty white nightcap and gown,
And I’ll rock you away to that Sugar-Plum Tree
In the garden of Shut-Eye Town.
Annotations: “The Sugar Plum Tree” by Eugene Field
| Stanza | Annotation |
| Stanza 1 | * Introduction: Establishes a dreamlike setting (the Sugar-Plum Tree) and introduces its magical properties (unending sweetness). |
| Stanza 2 | * Challenge: Highlights the difficulty of reaching the tree’s fruit, creating a playful problem to solve. |
| Stanza 3 | * Solution Introduction: Introduces whimsical characters (the chocolate cat and gingerbread dog) as the key to obtaining the sugar plums. |
| Stanza 4 | * The Plan: Outlines a humorous chain reaction – barking dog scares the cat, leading to falling fruit. Emphasizes the cat’s importance. |
| Stanza 5 | * Abundance: Describes the variety of treats (marshmallows, gumdrops, etc.), emphasizing the sensory overload of this dreamlike place. |
| Stanza 6 | * Invitation: Directly addresses a child reader, offering to transport them to this magical land of limitless sweets while they sleep. |
Additional Notes:
- Childlike Perspective: The poem embraces simplicity of language and playful imagery, mirroring the way a child might imagine a world of wonder.
- Repetition: Words like “so” and phrases like “And the…” contribute to the sing-song rhythm, furthering the sense of childish delight.
- Sensory Evocation: Focuses on taste, sight (colors), and even implied sound (the dog’s bark) to make the imaginary experience feel real.
Literary And Poetic Devices: “The Sugar Plum Tree” by Eugene Field
| Literary/Poetic Device | Definition | Example from “The Sugar Plum Tree” |
| Alliteration | Repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words | “chocolate cat”, “gingerbread dog” |
| Allusion | A reference to a famous person, place, event, or work of literature | Possible Biblical allusions to the Garden of Eden |
| Apostrophe | Directly addressing an absent person or inanimate object | “So come, little child…” |
| Enjambment | A line of poetry continues without punctuation onto the next line | “It blooms on the shore of the Lollypop sea / In the garden of Shut-Eye Town” |
| Hyperbole | Exaggeration for emphasis or dramatic effect | “…terrible zest”, “…swelling proportions attest” |
| Imagery | Vivid language appealing to the senses | “The fruit that it bears is so wondrously sweet”, “With stripings of scarlet or gold” |
| Inversion | Reversal of normal word order for emphasis or rhythm | “Have you ever heard…” instead of “You have ever heard…” |
| Metaphor | Comparing two unlike things without using ‘like’ or ‘as’ | “The tree is so tall…”, implying the tree is like a giant |
| Onomatopoeia | Words that imitate sounds | “cavorting” |
| Personification | Giving human qualities to non-human things | The cat and dog have human-like reactions, the tree “blooms” |
| Repetition | Repeating words, phrases, or structures for impact | “And the…”, “That the…”, “…so wondrously sweet” |
| Rhyme | Words with similar ending sounds | “sing” / “swing”, “say” / “day” |
| Rhythm | The pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables | The poem has a bouncy, sing-song like rhythm |
| Simile | Comparing two things using ‘like’ or ‘as’ | “…terrible zest / That the chocolate cat is at once all agog, / As her swelling proportions attest” |
| Symbolism | Using objects or images to represent larger ideas | The Sugar Plum Tree could represent childhood desire or limitless imagination |
| Tone | The speaker’s attitude towards the subject | The tone is playful, whimsical, and joyful |
Themes: “The Sugar Plum Tree” by Eugene Field
- The Power of Imagination: The poem paints a fantastical world accessible only through dreams (“In the garden of Shut-Eye Town”). The Sugar-Plum Tree and its endless bounty of sweets symbolize the boundless nature of a child’s imagination, where anything is possible.
- Childlike Wonder and Joy: The poem exudes a sense of playful delight. Vivid descriptions of candy, whimsical creatures (like the “chocolate cat”), and the promise of unending sweetness create a world designed to elicit pure childhood excitement.
- The Comfort of Dreams: The poem directly addresses a child, inviting them to be transported to this magical place while they sleep (“cuddle closer to me…and I’ll rock you away “). This suggests that dreams offer a sanctuary of limitless joy and a safe space for exploration.
- Wish Fulfillment: The poem presents a world where desires are instantly gratified. The speaker emphasizes the ease of obtaining the treats, and the child can have “as much as your apron can hold.” This taps into a universal childhood longing for a world where treats are abundant and limitations don’t exist.
Literary Theories and “The Sugar Plum Tree” by Eugene Field
| Literary Theory | Approach | Examples from the Poem |
| Reader-Response | Focus on the reader’s experience and interpretation | * Child vs. Adult Readings:* A child might focus on the whimsical imagery and wish fulfillment, while an adult reader might see themes of nostalgia or the fleeting nature of childhood joy. |
| Psychoanalytic | Unconscious desires and symbolism | * Freudian Analysis:* The poem’s focus on oral pleasure (endless sweets) could be interpreted as related to early childhood desires. The tree might symbolize a nurturing figure. |
| Formalism / New Criticism | Close reading of the text itself, focusing on literary devices | * Sound and Structure:* Analyzing the poem’s use of repetition, rhyme, and rhythm to create a childlike, sing-song quality. |
| Historical/Biographical | Explores the author’s life and the poem’s social context. | * Victorian Sentimentality:* The poem’s idealized vision of childhood aligns with certain Victorian era views. Knowing about Field’s writing for children adds context. |
| Archetypal | Seeks universal patterns and symbols | * Journey Motif:* Entering “Shut-Eye Town” can be seen as a journey into the dream world, a common archetype across cultures. |
Critical Questions about “The Sugar Plum Tree” by Eugene Field
| Topic | Critical Questions | Thesis Statement Examples |
| Childhood & Imagination | How does the poem depict the power and limitlessness of a child’s imagination? To what extent is the Sugar Plum Tree a symbol of childhood desires? | “Eugene Field’s poem, “The Sugar Plum Tree,” celebrates the boundless imagination of childhood, using fantastical imagery and wish fulfillment to construct a world where anything is possible.” |
| Sensory Experience | How does Field use vivid imagery and sensory details to create an immersive experience for the reader? How do these techniques appeal specifically to a child’s perspective? | “The Sugar Plum Tree” by Eugene Field constructs a vibrant sensory wonderland, employing vivid imagery and playful language to engage the reader’s imagination on a level that deeply resonates with the childlike experience.” |
| Sound & Musicality | How do rhythm, rhyme, and other sound devices like alliteration contribute to the poem’s meaning and overall effect? | “In “The Sugar Plum Tree,” Eugene Field masterfully utilizes rhythm, rhyme, and playful sound devices to create a sense of musicality that mirrors childhood joy and wonder, making the poem particularly enjoyable to read aloud.” |
| Dreams & Escapism | How does the poem present the concept of dreams? In what ways does it suggest that dreams offer an escape from the limitations of reality? | “Eugene Field’s “The Sugar Plum Tree” explores the theme of escapism through dreams, presenting a fantastical world accessible only during sleep, suggesting the potential of the subconscious to provide solace and joy.” |
Tips for Strong Thesis Statements
- Make them Arguable: Your thesis should be specific and express an opinion that you can defend and support in your analysis.
- Relate to the Poem: Ground your thesis in specific evidence from the text.
- Consider Scope: Depending on the word count of your essay, your thesis statement may need to be narrow or broad.
Literary Works Similar to “The Sugar Plum Tree” by Eugene Field
Children’s Literature with Whimsical Worlds
- Lewis Carroll’s “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland” and “Through the Looking Glass”: Share the theme of entering a fantastical realm with nonsensical logic, playful characters, and a focus on childlike wonder.
- Dr. Seuss Works (e.g., “The Cat in the Hat”, “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!”): Feature a similar sense of playful language, disregard for realistic rules, and illustrations that often complement the fantastical elements of the text.
- Works by Roald Dahl (e.g., “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”, “James and the Giant Peach”):
- Center around children experiencing extraordinary worlds filled with a mix of sweetness and a touch of darkness, emphasizing the power of imagination.
Fairy Tales and Folklore
- Traditional Tales like “Hansel and Gretel”: Feature alluring worlds made of edible temptations, similar to the Sugar Plum Tree’s endless treats. They often deal with themes of wish fulfillment and overcoming challenges.
- Myths and Legends: Many ancient stories involve magical lands, otherworldly journeys, and fantastical creatures, mirroring the escapism and sense of impossible possibilities that Field’s poem offers.
Other Poetry
- Edward Lear’s Nonsense Verse (e.g., “The Owl and the Pussycat”): Shares a focus on playful language, whimsical imagery, and nonsensical situations designed to delight the reader.
- Poetry of William Blake (e.g., “Songs of Innocence”): Some of Blake’s poems embrace a childlike perspective and celebrate the beauty and simplicity of the natural world, though often with deeper, more complex undertones compared to Field’s poem.
Why These Connections Matter:
Examining these similarities helps us understand:
- Recurring Motifs: The idea of fantastical worlds and wish fulfillment reflects a common thread across children’s literature.
- The Power of Imagination: These works all celebrate the mind’s ability to create and indulge in extraordinary realms.
- The Child’s Perspective: They prioritize elements designed to appeal to a child’s sense of fun, wonder, and a world unbound by adult limitations.
Suggested Readings: “The Sugar Plum Tree” by Eugene Field
Scholarly Sources:
- Jacques, Wesley. Minor Subjects: Power and Inequity in Children’s and Adolescent Literature. Illinois State University, 2020. (This article likely discusses Field’s broader approach to writing for children, which would contextualize “The Sugar Plum Tree”).
Websites & Articles:
- Poetry Foundation: . Provides the text of the poem alongside a brief biography of Eugene Field.
- Interesting Literature: . Offers a basic analysis of the poem’s themes and devices.