“Tweedledum And Tweedledee” by John Byrom: A Critical Analysis

Introduction: “Tweedledum And Tweedledee” by John Byrom

“Tweedledum And Tweedledee” by John Byrom first appeared in 1725, within a collection of epigrams attributed to him. The poem, often associated with a nursery rhyme, gained popularity when it was later set to music and sung by various performers. The verse humorously depicts a petty quarrel between two indistinguishable characters, Tweedledum and Tweedledee, whose trivial dispute is mocked as being about a broken rattle. The rhyme’s simplicity belies its deeper commentary on the absurdity of human conflicts, emphasizing the frivolity and insignificance of many disagreements. Its main qualities include lighthearted satire, rhythmic cadence, and a playful tone that critiques human nature through humor and irony.

Text: “Tweedledum And Tweedledee” by John Byrom

Annotations: “Tweedledum And Tweedledee” by John Byrom

Line	Analysis
“Tweedledum and Tweedledee”	Introduces the two main characters, Tweedledum and Tweedledee, who are likely twins or close friends due to their similar names.
“Agreed to have a battle;”	Sets up the conflict of the poem, indicating that the two characters have decided to fight each other.
“For Tweedledum said Tweedledee”	Continues to develop the conflict, suggesting that Tweedledum believes Tweedledee has done something wrong.
“Had spoiled his nice new rattle.”	Reveals the specific cause of the disagreement between Tweedledum and Tweedledee: Tweedledee has damaged Tweedledum’s treasured toy.
“Just then flew down a monstrous”	Introduces a new element to the story, a large and frightening crow.
“crow,”	Continues the description of the crow, emphasizing its fearsome appearance.
“As black as a tar-barrel;”	Further describes the crow’s dark color, adding to its intimidating image.
“Which frightened both the heroes so,”	Shows how the crow’s arrival affects the two characters, causing them to become scared.
“They quite forgot their quarrel.”	Resolves the conflict, indicating that the fear of the crow has caused Tweedledum and Tweedledee to forget their argument and put aside their differences.

Literary And Poetic Devices: “Tweedledum And Tweedledee” by John Byrom

Poetic/Literary Device	Example	Explanation
1. Alliteration	“Tweedledum and Tweedledee”	Repetition of the “T” sound at the beginning of words creates a rhythmic effect, enhancing the musical quality of the verse. Alliteration makes the characters’ names more memorable and emphasizes their similarity.
2. Rhyme Scheme	“Tweedledee” / “rattle” / “crow” / “quarrel”	The poem follows a simple ABAB rhyme scheme, which contributes to its sing-song, nursery rhyme feel. The rhyming pattern ties the lines together, making it catchy and rhythmic.
3. Assonance	“Agreed to have a battle”	The repetition of the vowel sound “a” in “agreed,” “have,” and “battle” creates a musical quality, enhancing the fluidity of the poem’s sound.
4. Consonance	“crow” / “tar-barrel”	The repetition of the “r” sound in these lines creates a harsh, jarring effect, which complements the ominous imagery of the crow descending.
5. Symbolism	“monstrous crow”	The crow symbolizes doom or danger. In the context of the poem, its arrival represents a larger fear or threat that overshadows the trivial quarrel, forcing the characters to forget their petty dispute.
6. Irony	“They quite forgot their quarrel.”	The irony lies in the fact that despite agreeing to battle, the two characters are so easily frightened by an external threat that they abandon their conflict. This underlines the triviality of their disagreement.
7. Hyperbole	“monstrous crow”	The description of the crow as “monstrous” is an exaggeration, adding to the dramatic and humorous effect. It emphasizes how small the quarrel is in comparison to external forces.
8. Paradox	“heroes”	The term “heroes” is paradoxical when applied to Tweedledum and Tweedledee, as their actions—quarreling over a broken rattle and then being scared by a crow—are far from heroic. This contradiction adds to the humor and satire.
9. Personification	“crow”	The crow, though an animal, takes on a symbolic role in the poem, almost like a person capable of frightening the protagonists. It is given significance beyond its literal role as a bird.
10. Satire	The entire poem	The poem lightly mocks human nature, particularly the pettiness of arguments over trivial matters. By portraying the characters as indistinguishable and their conflict as childish, the poem satirizes the absurdity of such disputes.
11. Metaphor	“As black as a tar-barrel”	The crow’s color is described through a metaphor comparing it to a tar-barrel. This vivid comparison creates a stark image of darkness and menace, symbolizing danger.
12. Repetition	“Tweedledum” and “Tweedledee”	The repetition of these nearly identical names emphasizes their similarity, suggesting that their quarrel is pointless since they are indistinguishable from each other.
13. Imagery	“A monstrous crow, as black as a tar-barrel”	This line evokes a clear visual image of a threatening, dark figure descending upon the scene, making the fear tangible to the reader. The imagery contrasts the trivial quarrel with a more menacing presence.
14. Antithesis	Quarrel vs. fear of the crow	The contrast between the childish quarrel and the shared fear of the crow highlights the futility of the fight. It creates a shift in the poem from conflict to unity in the face of a larger threat.
15. Humor	“Had spoiled his nice new rattle”	The humor stems from the ridiculousness of two “heroes” fighting over a broken rattle, a childish and trivial object. This adds a light, playful tone to the poem, making it both amusing and satirical.

Themes: “Tweedledum And Tweedledee” by John Byrom

• Absurdity of Conflict: One of the primary themes of the poem is the absurdity of conflict over trivial matters. Tweedledum and Tweedledee, who are practically indistinguishable, engage in a quarrel over a broken rattle—a childlike and inconsequential object. The poem mocks the pointlessness of their fight, as seen in the line, “Had spoiled his nice new rattle.” The characters’ inability to recognize the insignificance of their argument reflects the broader human tendency to overreact to minor issues. This theme is reinforced by the sudden appearance of the crow, which causes them to forget their quarrel entirely, further illustrating the futility of their disagreement.
• Unity in the Face of Danger: Another theme in the poem is the idea that external threats can bring unity, even among those in conflict. The arrival of the “monstrous crow, as black as a tar-barrel” scares both Tweedledum and Tweedledee, forcing them to abandon their petty quarrel and come together. The sudden shift from antagonism to shared fear emphasizes how quickly people can set aside their differences when confronted with a larger, more significant threat. This theme reflects the idea that many human conflicts are overshadowed by more pressing challenges, which have the potential to unify rather than divide.
• Satire of Heroism: The poem also explores a satirical view of heroism. Tweedledum and Tweedledee, despite being referred to as “heroes,” engage in a childish and ridiculous quarrel, demonstrating behavior far removed from traditional heroic qualities. Their battle over a broken rattle and their subsequent fright at the sight of the crow poke fun at the notion of bravery. Byrom uses this satire to critique the sometimes exaggerated or misplaced valor that people assign to themselves in trivial disputes, highlighting the contrast between genuine heroism and childish bickering.
• The Transience of Disputes: The fleeting nature of conflict is another key theme in the poem. Tweedledum and Tweedledee’s agreement to battle is quickly forgotten once a new distraction—the crow—appears. This illustrates how easily disputes can be abandoned when attention shifts to more important matters. The poem suggests that many quarrels are temporary and lack real substance, as demonstrated by the abrupt ending: “They quite forgot their quarrel.” This theme underscores the idea that what seems urgent in the heat of the moment is often trivial in the grand scheme of things.

Literary Theories and “Tweedledum And Tweedledee” by John Byrom

Literary Theory	Explanation	Application to Poem	Reference
Psychoanalysis	Explores the unconscious mind and its influence on behavior and thought.	The poem’s focus on childhood conflicts (a damaged rattle) and the characters’ immediate fear of the crow suggests a connection to childhood trauma and defense mechanisms.	“Had spoiled his nice new rattle.”
Formalism	Analyzes the form and structure of a text, focusing on elements like language, imagery, and narrative techniques.	The poem’s use of simple language, vivid imagery, and a clear narrative structure contributes to its effectiveness.	“As black as a tar-barrel;”
Deconstruction	Challenges the idea of a fixed meaning in a text, focusing on internal contradictions and ambiguities.	The poem’s seemingly simple plot can be deconstructed to reveal underlying tensions and power dynamics between the characters.	“Agreed to have a battle;” (implication of power struggle)

Critical Questions about “Tweedledum And Tweedledee” by John Byrom

Literary Works Similar to “Tweedledum And Tweedledee” by John Byrom

• “The Walrus and the Carpenter” by Lewis Carroll: Both poems feature childlike characters engaged in a seemingly nonsensical activity, with a focus on the absurd and playful.
• “The Owl and the Pussycat” by Edward Lear: Both poems feature whimsical characters embarking on a journey, with a focus on the absurd and imaginative.
• “The Jabberwocky” by Lewis Carroll: Both poems use nonsense words and playful language to create a dreamlike and surreal atmosphere, while also hinting at deeper meanings.
• “A Dream Within a Dream” by Edgar Allan Poe: Both poems explore themes of illusion, reality, and the fleeting nature of life, using dreamlike imagery to convey these ideas.

Representative Quotations of “Tweedledum And Tweedledee” by John Byrom

Quotation	Context	Theoretical Perspective
“Tweedledum and Tweedledee”	Introduction of the main characters	Formalism: Simple language and repetitive structure
“Agreed to have a battle;”	Conflict setup	Psychoanalysis: Underlying tension and aggression
“Had spoiled his nice new rattle.”	Cause of conflict	Deconstruction: Power dynamics and possession
“Just then flew down a monstrous crow,”	Introduction of external threat	Psychoanalysis: Defense mechanism against conflict
“As black as a tar-barrel;”	Vivid imagery	Formalism: Use of sensory detail
“Which frightened both the heroes so,”	Impact of threat	Psychoanalysis: Fear as a defense mechanism
“They quite forgot their quarrel.”	Resolution of conflict	Deconstruction: Temporary resolution, underlying tensions remain
“Tweedledum said Tweedledee”	Dialogue between characters	Formalism: Use of dialogue to advance narrative
“Had spoiled his nice new rattle.”	Repetition of conflict	Psychoanalysis: Obsession with damaged object
“They quite forgot their quarrel.”	Abrupt resolution	Deconstruction: Unsatisfactory resolution, leaving questions unanswered

Suggested Readings: “Tweedledum And Tweedledee” by John Byrom

1. “Two Christmas Hymns & Tunes.” The Musical Times and Singing Class Circular, vol. 43, no. 718, 1902, pp. 794–97. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2307/3369492. Accessed 22 Oct. 2024.
2. Thomas, C. Edgar. “Some Musical Epigrams and Poems.” The Musical Times, vol. 56, no. 873, 1915, pp. 661–63. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2307/908328. Accessed 22 Oct. 2024.
3. “Tweedledum and Tweedledee.” Scientific American, vol. 6, no. 4, 1862, pp. 59–59. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/24956879. Accessed 22 Oct. 2024.
4. Anderson, Irmgard Zeyss. “FROM TWEEDLEDUM AND TWEEDLEDEE TO ZAPO AND ZÉPO.” Romance Notes, vol. 15, no. 2, 1973, pp. 217–20. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/43802564. Accessed 22 Oct. 2024.