British Culture - User contributions [en]

Edward Lear

2011-01-23T10:12:53Z

Elli: /* Life */

1812-1888. British Author.

== Life ==

Edward Lear was born in London in 1812 and died in San Remo (Italy) in 1888.
He was the youngest son of Ann Skerrett and Jeremiah Lear, a middle-class family. When his father, a stockbroker, got into financial trouble his mother charged her eldest daughter Ann to take care of her younger brother Edward. From then on the young woman took on the mother's role and even after financial stability had returned Edward's mother didn't resume her mother's role.
Lear early showed a talent for painting and drawing. Therefore he dedicated himself to draw illustrations for natural history books. In 1832 the ''Illustrations of the Family of Psittacidae'' was published. A collection of coloured lithographies of parrots.
Due to his paintings Edward Stanley, the later 13th Earl of Derby, engaged him as an animal painter at his estate. Later on, when his eyesight got worse, Lear traveled to Rome to do a painting course and to achieve reputation as a landscape painter.
However, with his paintings he never had the success he hoped for.

Although he published a collection of some of his [[Limerick|Limericks]] which he originally wrote to entertain the children and later also the adults at Edward Stanley's estate. He published his nonsense verses with his own illustrations in ''A Book of Nonsense''(1846), one of his most important works.
Apart from his poems he wrote some travel books on Italy (1846-75) and other countries he visited as a lonely traveler, e.g ''Journals of a Landscape Painter in Albania'' (1851). Although having loyal friendships, amongst others with [[Alfred Tennyson]], Edward Lear often felt isolated and unhappy since he was rejected by the ones he really loved. He developed homosexual feelings for his good friend and travel companion Franklin Lushington. However, these feelings weren't mutual. Another failed intent to gain someone's love was with a young women named Augusta Bethell of London. Lear wanted to propose to his long-term friend and consulted her sister about his idea. Augusta's sister advised him against proposing. Thus, Lear did never marry although, according to her, Augusta would have agreed to his proposal. His emotions are reflected in some of his poems, in which the characters also suffer from loss and isolation from society.

== Nonsense poetry ==

Although Edward Lear wished to become famous for his paintings rather than for his nonsense poetry, he is still today associated with a special type of poetry: the Limerick.
This special verse form is characterized by its close structure. The final word of the first line was repeated at the end of the last line. The typical rhyme scheme is aabba. The characters of limericks are individuals who can be young or old, male or female. But they always show some peculiar idiosyncrasy(concerning their behaviour or appearance) which distinguishes them from the rest of the society."In its most typical form it announces the existence of the eccentric, notes his dwelling place, and describes his distinctive features; then it explains the consequences of his peculiarity and concludes with an apostrophe."(http://www.poetryfoundation.org/bio/edward-lear)

There was an Old Man with a gong,
Who bumped at it all the day long,
But they calles out, "O law!
You're a horrid old bore!"
So they smashed that Old Man with a gong.
[http://www.gutenberg.org/files/982/982-h/982-h.htm]

There was an Old Person whose habits,
Induced him to feed upon Rabbits;
When he'd eaten eighteen,
He turned perfectly green,
Upon which he relinquished those habits.[ebd.]

There was a Young Person of Smyrna,
Whose Grandmother threatened to burn her;
But she seized on the Cat,
And said, "Granny, burn that!
"You incongrous Old Woman of Smyrna!"(ebd.)

In his Limericks Lear often broaches the issue of bad eating habits which finally lead to the punishment of the character.
In his later career as a writer Lear wrote longer poems, published in ''Nonsense Songs'' (1870). One of the most familiar poems is "The Owl and the Pussy-cat". In these poems there are no human protagonists and Lear usually invented nonsense creatures or unreal places with funny names.
Other representatives of nonsense literature in a similar manner were [[Lewis Carroll]] and Thomas Hood. Today one can find a collection of Edward Lear's verses and tales in ''The Complete Verse and Other Nonsense''(Penguin,2002).

== Sources ==

http://www.gutenberg.org/files/982/982-h/982-h.htm

http://www.poetryfoundation.org/bio/edward-lear

Coote, Stephen: ''The Penguin Short History of English Literature''. Harmondsworth: Penguin, 1993.

Nowak, Helge: ''Literature in Britain and Ireland.A History''. Tübingen: Francke, 2010.

''The Cambridge History of English Poetry''. Cambridge: Cambridge Univ. Press, 2010.

Edward Lear

2011-01-23T10:09:19Z

Elli: /* Nonsense poetry */

1812-1888. British Author.

== Life ==

Edward Lear was born in London in 1812 and died in San Remo (Italy) in 1888.
He was the youngest son of Ann Skerrett and Jeremiah Lear, a middle-class family. When his father, a stockbroker, got into financial trouble his mother charged her eldest daughter Ann to take care of her younger brother Edward. From then on the young woman took on the mother's role and even after financial stability had returned Edward's mother didn't resume her mother's role.
Lear early showed a talent for painting and drawing. Therefore he dedicated himself to draw illustrations for natural history books. In 1832 the ''Illustrations of the Family of Psittacidae'' was published. A collection of coloured lithographies of parrots.
Due to his paintings Edward Stanley, the later 13th Earl of Derby, engaged him as an animal painter at his estate. Later on, when his eyesight got worse, Lear traveled to Rome to do a painting course and to achieve reputation as a landscape painter.
However, with his paintings he never had the success he hoped for.

Although he published a collection of some of his [[Limerick|Limericks]] which he originally wrote to entertain the children and later also the adults at Edward Stanley's estate. He published his nonsense verses with his own illustrations in ''A Book of Nonsense''(1846), one of his most important works.
Apart from his poems he wrote some travel books on Italy (1846-75) and other countries he visited as a lonely traveler, e.g ''Journals of a Landscape Painter in Albania'' (1851). Although having loyal friendships, amongst others with [[Alfred Tennyson]], Edward Lear often felt isolated and unhappy since he was rejected by the ones he really loved. He developed homosexual feelings for his good friend and travel companion Franklin Lushington. However, these feelings weren't mutual. Another failed intent to gain someone's love was with a young women named Augusta Bethell of London. Lear wanted to propose to his long-term friend and consulted her sister about his idea. Augusta's sister advised him against proposing. Thus, Lear did never marry although Augusta would have agreed to his proposal [how do we know that?]. His emotions are reflected in some of his poems, in which the characters also suffer from loss and isolation from society.

== Nonsense poetry ==

Although Edward Lear wished to become famous for his paintings rather than for his nonsense poetry, he is still today associated with a special type of poetry: the Limerick.
This special verse form is characterized by its close structure. The final word of the first line was repeated at the end of the last line. The typical rhyme scheme is aabba. The characters of limericks are individuals who can be young or old, male or female. But they always show some peculiar idiosyncrasy(concerning their behaviour or appearance) which distinguishes them from the rest of the society."In its most typical form it announces the existence of the eccentric, notes his dwelling place, and describes his distinctive features; then it explains the consequences of his peculiarity and concludes with an apostrophe."(http://www.poetryfoundation.org/bio/edward-lear)

There was an Old Man with a gong,
Who bumped at it all the day long,
But they calles out, "O law!
You're a horrid old bore!"
So they smashed that Old Man with a gong.
[http://www.gutenberg.org/files/982/982-h/982-h.htm]

There was an Old Person whose habits,
Induced him to feed upon Rabbits;
When he'd eaten eighteen,
He turned perfectly green,
Upon which he relinquished those habits.[ebd.]

There was a Young Person of Smyrna,
Whose Grandmother threatened to burn her;
But she seized on the Cat,
And said, "Granny, burn that!
"You incongrous Old Woman of Smyrna!"(ebd.)

In his Limericks Lear often broaches the issue of bad eating habits which finally lead to the punishment of the character.
In his later career as a writer Lear wrote longer poems, published in ''Nonsense Songs'' (1870). One of the most familiar poems is "The Owl and the Pussy-cat". In these poems there are no human protagonists and Lear usually invented nonsense creatures or unreal places with funny names.
Other representatives of nonsense literature in a similar manner were [[Lewis Carroll]] and Thomas Hood. Today one can find a collection of Edward Lear's verses and tales in ''The Complete Verse and Other Nonsense''(Penguin,2002).

== Sources ==

http://www.gutenberg.org/files/982/982-h/982-h.htm

http://www.poetryfoundation.org/bio/edward-lear

Coote, Stephen: ''The Penguin Short History of English Literature''. Harmondsworth: Penguin, 1993.

Nowak, Helge: ''Literature in Britain and Ireland.A History''. Tübingen: Francke, 2010.

''The Cambridge History of English Poetry''. Cambridge: Cambridge Univ. Press, 2010.

Edward Lear

2011-01-17T20:34:49Z

Elli: /* Sources */

1812-1888. British Author.

== Life ==

Edward Lear was born in London in 1812 and died in San Remo (Italy) in 1888.
He was the youngest son of Ann Skerrett and Jeremiah Lear, a middle-class family. When his father, a stockbroker, got into financial trouble his mother charged her eldest daughter Ann to take care of her younger brother Edward. From then on the young woman took on the mother's role and even after financial stability had returned Edward's mother didn't resume her mother's role.
Lear early showed a talent for painting and drawing. Therefore he dedicated himself to draw illustrations for natural history books. In 1832 the ''Illustrations of the Family of Psittacidae'' was published. A collection of coloured lithographies of parrots.
Due to his paintings Edward Stanley, the later 13th Earl of Derby, engaged him as an animal painter at his estate. Later on, when his eyesight got worse, Lear traveled to Rome to do a painting course and to achieve reputation as a landscape painter.
However, with his paintings he never had the success he hoped for.

Although he published a collection of some of his [[Limerick|limericks]] which he originally wrote to entertain the children and later also the adults at Edward Stanley's estate. He published his nonsense verses with his own illustrations in ''A Book of Nonsense''(1846),one of his most important works.
Apart from his poems he wrote some travel books on Italy (1846-75) and other countries he visited as a lonely traveler, e.g ''Journals of a Landscape Painter in Albania'' (1851). Although having loyal friendships, amongst others with [[Alfred Tennyson]], Edward Lear often felt isolated and unhappy since he was rejected by the ones he really loved. He developed homosexual feelings for his good friend and travel companion Franklin Lushington. However, these feelings weren't mutual. Another failed intent to gain someone's love was with a young women named Augusta Bethell of London. Lear wanted to propose to his long-term friend and consulted her sister about his idea. Augusta's sister advised him against proposing. Thus, Lear did never marry although Augusta would have agreed to his proposal. His emotions are reflected in some of his poems, in which the characters also suffer from loss and isolation from society.

== Nonsense poetry ==

Although Edward Lear wished to become famous for his paintings rather than for his nonsense poetry, he is still today associated with a special type of poetry: the Limerick.

There was an Old Man with a gong,
Who bumped at it all the day long,
But they calles out, "O law!
You're a horrid old bore!"
So they smashed that Old Man with a gong.
[http://www.gutenberg.org/files/982/982-h/982-h.htm]

There was an Old Person whose habits,
Induced him to feed upon Rabbits;
When he'd eaten eighteen,
He turned perfectly green,
Upon which he relinquished those habits.[ebd.]

In his Limericks Lear often broaches the issue of bad eating habits which finally lead to the punishment of the character.
In his later career as a writer Lear wrote longer poems, published in ''Nonsense Songs'' (1870). One of the most familiar poems is "The Owl and the Pussy-cat". In these poems there are no human protagonists and Lear usually invented nonsense creatures or unreal places with funny names.
Other representatives of nonsense literature in a similar manner were [[Lewis Carroll]] and Thomas Hood.

Today one can find a collection of Edward Lear's verses and tales in ''The Complete Verse and Other Nonsense''(Penguin,2002).

== Sources ==

http://www.gutenberg.org/files/982/982-h/982-h.htm

http://www.poetryfoundation.org/bio/edward-lear

Coote, Stephen: ''The Penguin Short History of English Literature''. Harmondsworth: Penguin, 1993.

Nowak, Helge: ''Literature in Britain and Ireland.A History''. Tübingen: Francke, 2010.

''The Cambridge History of English Poetry''. Cambridge: Cambridge Univ. Press, 2010.

Edward Lear

2011-01-17T20:34:25Z

Elli: /* Sources */

1812-1888. British Author.

== Life ==

Edward Lear was born in London in 1812 and died in San Remo (Italy) in 1888.
He was the youngest son of Ann Skerrett and Jeremiah Lear, a middle-class family. When his father, a stockbroker, got into financial trouble his mother charged her eldest daughter Ann to take care of her younger brother Edward. From then on the young woman took on the mother's role and even after financial stability had returned Edward's mother didn't resume her mother's role.
Lear early showed a talent for painting and drawing. Therefore he dedicated himself to draw illustrations for natural history books. In 1832 the ''Illustrations of the Family of Psittacidae'' was published. A collection of coloured lithographies of parrots.
Due to his paintings Edward Stanley, the later 13th Earl of Derby, engaged him as an animal painter at his estate. Later on, when his eyesight got worse, Lear traveled to Rome to do a painting course and to achieve reputation as a landscape painter.
However, with his paintings he never had the success he hoped for.

Although he published a collection of some of his [[Limerick|limericks]] which he originally wrote to entertain the children and later also the adults at Edward Stanley's estate. He published his nonsense verses with his own illustrations in ''A Book of Nonsense''(1846),one of his most important works.
Apart from his poems he wrote some travel books on Italy (1846-75) and other countries he visited as a lonely traveler, e.g ''Journals of a Landscape Painter in Albania'' (1851). Although having loyal friendships, amongst others with [[Alfred Tennyson]], Edward Lear often felt isolated and unhappy since he was rejected by the ones he really loved. He developed homosexual feelings for his good friend and travel companion Franklin Lushington. However, these feelings weren't mutual. Another failed intent to gain someone's love was with a young women named Augusta Bethell of London. Lear wanted to propose to his long-term friend and consulted her sister about his idea. Augusta's sister advised him against proposing. Thus, Lear did never marry although Augusta would have agreed to his proposal. His emotions are reflected in some of his poems, in which the characters also suffer from loss and isolation from society.

== Nonsense poetry ==

Although Edward Lear wished to become famous for his paintings rather than for his nonsense poetry, he is still today associated with a special type of poetry: the Limerick.

There was an Old Man with a gong,
Who bumped at it all the day long,
But they calles out, "O law!
You're a horrid old bore!"
So they smashed that Old Man with a gong.
[http://www.gutenberg.org/files/982/982-h/982-h.htm]

There was an Old Person whose habits,
Induced him to feed upon Rabbits;
When he'd eaten eighteen,
He turned perfectly green,
Upon which he relinquished those habits.[ebd.]

In his Limericks Lear often broaches the issue of bad eating habits which finally lead to the punishment of the character.
In his later career as a writer Lear wrote longer poems, published in ''Nonsense Songs'' (1870). One of the most familiar poems is "The Owl and the Pussy-cat". In these poems there are no human protagonists and Lear usually invented nonsense creatures or unreal places with funny names.
Other representatives of nonsense literature in a similar manner were [[Lewis Carroll]] and Thomas Hood.

Today one can find a collection of Edward Lear's verses and tales in ''The Complete Verse and Other Nonsense''(Penguin,2002).

== Sources ==

http://www.gutenberg.org/files/982/982-h/982-h.htm
http://www.poetryfoundation.org/bio/edward-lear

Coote, Stephen: ''The Penguin Short History of English Literature''. Harmondsworth: Penguin, 1993.

Nowak, Helge: ''Literature in Britain and Ireland.A History''. Tübingen: Francke, 2010.

''The Cambridge History of English Poetry''. Cambridge: Cambridge Univ. Press, 2010.

Edward Lear

2011-01-17T20:33:31Z

Elli: /* Life */

1812-1888. British Author.

== Life ==

Edward Lear was born in London in 1812 and died in San Remo (Italy) in 1888.
He was the youngest son of Ann Skerrett and Jeremiah Lear, a middle-class family. When his father, a stockbroker, got into financial trouble his mother charged her eldest daughter Ann to take care of her younger brother Edward. From then on the young woman took on the mother's role and even after financial stability had returned Edward's mother didn't resume her mother's role.
Lear early showed a talent for painting and drawing. Therefore he dedicated himself to draw illustrations for natural history books. In 1832 the ''Illustrations of the Family of Psittacidae'' was published. A collection of coloured lithographies of parrots.
Due to his paintings Edward Stanley, the later 13th Earl of Derby, engaged him as an animal painter at his estate. Later on, when his eyesight got worse, Lear traveled to Rome to do a painting course and to achieve reputation as a landscape painter.
However, with his paintings he never had the success he hoped for.

Although he published a collection of some of his [[Limerick|limericks]] which he originally wrote to entertain the children and later also the adults at Edward Stanley's estate. He published his nonsense verses with his own illustrations in ''A Book of Nonsense''(1846),one of his most important works.
Apart from his poems he wrote some travel books on Italy (1846-75) and other countries he visited as a lonely traveler, e.g ''Journals of a Landscape Painter in Albania'' (1851). Although having loyal friendships, amongst others with [[Alfred Tennyson]], Edward Lear often felt isolated and unhappy since he was rejected by the ones he really loved. He developed homosexual feelings for his good friend and travel companion Franklin Lushington. However, these feelings weren't mutual. Another failed intent to gain someone's love was with a young women named Augusta Bethell of London. Lear wanted to propose to his long-term friend and consulted her sister about his idea. Augusta's sister advised him against proposing. Thus, Lear did never marry although Augusta would have agreed to his proposal. His emotions are reflected in some of his poems, in which the characters also suffer from loss and isolation from society.

== Nonsense poetry ==

Although Edward Lear wished to become famous for his paintings rather than for his nonsense poetry, he is still today associated with a special type of poetry: the Limerick.

There was an Old Man with a gong,
Who bumped at it all the day long,
But they calles out, "O law!
You're a horrid old bore!"
So they smashed that Old Man with a gong.
[http://www.gutenberg.org/files/982/982-h/982-h.htm]

There was an Old Person whose habits,
Induced him to feed upon Rabbits;
When he'd eaten eighteen,
He turned perfectly green,
Upon which he relinquished those habits.[ebd.]

In his Limericks Lear often broaches the issue of bad eating habits which finally lead to the punishment of the character.
In his later career as a writer Lear wrote longer poems, published in ''Nonsense Songs'' (1870). One of the most familiar poems is "The Owl and the Pussy-cat". In these poems there are no human protagonists and Lear usually invented nonsense creatures or unreal places with funny names.
Other representatives of nonsense literature in a similar manner were [[Lewis Carroll]] and Thomas Hood.

Today one can find a collection of Edward Lear's verses and tales in ''The Complete Verse and Other Nonsense''(Penguin,2002).

== Sources ==

http://www.gutenberg.org/files/982/982-h/982-h.htm
http://www.poetryfoundation.org/bio/edward-lear

Coote, Stephen: ''The Penguin Short History of English Literature''. Harmondsworth: Penguin, 1993.
Nowak, Helge: ''Literature in Britain and Ireland.A History''. Tübingen: Francke, 2010.
''The Cambridge History of English Poetry''. Cambridge: Cambridge Univ. Press, 2010.

Edward Lear

2011-01-13T21:51:31Z

Elli:

== Life ==

Edward Lear was born in London in 1812 and died in San Remo (Italy) in 1888.
He was the youngest son of Ann Skerrett and Jeremiah Lear, a middle-class family. When his father, a stockbroker, got into financial trouble his older sister Ann took on the mother's role and raised him.
Lear early showed a talent for painting and drawing. Therefore he dedicated himself to draw illustrations for natural history books.In 1832 the ''Illustrations of the Family of Psittacidae''was published. A collection of coloured lithographies of parrots.
Due to his paintings Edward Stanley, the later 13th Earl of Derby, engaged him as an animal painter at his estate. Later on, when his eyesight got worse, Lear traveled to Rome to do a painting course and to achieve reputation as a landscape painter.
However, with his paintings he never had the success he hoped for.
Though, he published a collection of some of his limericks(poems with a certain rhyme scheme and humorous intent in which the characters always behave according to the rules of "nonsense")which he originally wrote to entertain the children and later also the adults at Edward Stanley's estate. He published his nonsense verses with his own illustrations in ''A Book of Nonsense''(1846),one of his most important works.
Besides his poems he wrote some travel books on Italy (1846-75) and other countries he visited as a lonely traveler, e.g ''Journals of a Landscape Painter in Albania'' (1851). Although having loyal friendships, amongst others with Alfred Tennyson, Edward Lear often felt isolated and unhappy since he was rejected by the ones he really loved. His emotions are reflected in some of his poems, in which the characters also suffer from loss and isolation from society.

== Nonsense poetry ==

Although Edward Lear wished to become famous for his paintings rather than for his nonsense poetry, he is still today associated with a special type of poetry: the limericks.
This special verse form is characterized by its close structure. The final word of the first line was repeated at the end of the last line. The typical rhyme scheme is aabba.
The characters of limericks are individuals who can be young or old, male or female. But they always show some peculiar idiosyncrasy(concerning their behaviour or appearance) which distinguishes them from the rest of the society."In its most typical form it announces the existence of the eccentric, notes his dwelling place, and describes his distinctive features; then it explains the consequences of his peculiarity and concludes with an apostrophe."(http://www.poetryfoundation.org/bio/edward-lear

There was an Old Man with a gong,
Who bumped at it all the day long,
But they calles out, "O law!
You're a horrid old bore!"
So they smashed that Old Man with a gong.
[http://www.gutenberg.org/files/982/982-h/982-h.htm]

There was an Old Person whose habits,
Induced him to feed upon Rabbits;
When he'd eaten eighteen,
He turned perfectly green,
Upon which he relinquished those habits.[ebd.]

In his limericks Lear often broaches the issue of bad eating habits which finally lead to the punishment of the character. He also parodies himself in a certain manner by writing limericks about people with huge noses and long legs which he certainly had.
In his later career as a writer Lear wrote longer poems, published in ''Nonsense Songs'' (1870). One of the most familiar poems is ''The Owl and the Pussy-cat''. In these poems there are no human protagonists and Lear usually invented nonsense creatures or unreal places with funny names.
Other representatives of nonsense literature in a similar manner were Lewis Carroll and Thomas Hood.

Today one can find a collection of Edward Lear's verses and tales in ''The Complete Verse and Other Nonsense''(Penguin,2002).

== Sources ==

http://www.gutenberg.org/files/982/982-h/982-h.htm
http://www.poetryfoundation.org/bio/edward-lear

Coote, Stephen: ''The Penguin Short History of English Literature''.Harmondsworth:Penguin Books,1993.
Nowak, Helge: ''Literature in Britain and Ireland.A History''.Tübingen:Francke,2010.
''The Cambridge History of English Poetry''.Cambridge:Cambridge Univ. Press,2010.

Edward Lear

2011-01-13T21:43:04Z

Elli:

== Life ==

Edward Lear was born in London in 1812 and died in San Remo (Italy) in 1888.
He was the youngest son of Ann Skerrett and Jeremiah Lear, a middle-class family. When his father, a stockbroker, got into financial trouble his older sister Ann took on the mother's role and raised him.
Lear early showed a talent for painting and drawing. Therefore he dedicated himself to draw illustrations for natural history books.In 1832 the ''Illustrations of the Family of Psittacidae''was published. A collection of coloured lithographies of parrots.
Due to his paintings Edward Stanley, the later 13th Earl of Derby, engaged him as an animal painter at his estate. Later on, when his eyesight got worse, Lear traveled to Rome to do a painting course and to achieve reputation as a landscape painter.
However, with his paintings he never had the success he hoped for.
Though, he published a collection of some of his limericks(poems with a certain rhyme scheme and humorous intent in which the characters always behave according to the rules of "nonsense")which he originally wrote to entertain the children and later also the adults at Edward Stanley's estate. He published his nonsense verses with his own illustrations in ''A Book of Nonsense''(1846),one of his most important works.
Besides his poems he wrote some travel books on Italy (1846-75) and other countries he visited as a lonely traveler, e.g ''Journals of a Landscape Painter in Albania'' (1851). Although having loyal friendships, amongst others with Alfred Tennyson, Edward Lear often felt isolated and unhappy since he was rejected by the ones he really loved. His emotions are reflected in some of his poems, in which the characters also suffer from loss and isolation from society.

== Nonsense poetry ==

Although Edward Lear wished to become famous for his paintings rather than for his nonsense poetry, he is still today associated with a special type of poetry: the limericks.
This special verse form is characterized by its close structure. The final word of the first line was repeated at the end of the last line. The typical rhyme scheme is aabba.
The characters of limericks are individuals who can be young or old, male or female. But they always show some peculiar idiosyncrasy(concerning their behaviour or appearance) which distinguishes them from the rest of the society."In its most typical form it announces the existence of the eccentric, notes his dwelling place, and describes his distinctive features; then it explains the consequences of his peculiarity and concludes with an apostrophe."(http://www.poetryfoundation.org/bio/edward-lear

There was an Old Man with a gong,
Who bumped at it all the day long;
But they called out, "O law!
You're a horrid old bore!"
So they smashed that Old Man with a gong.
[http://www.gutenberg.org/files/982/982-h/982-h.htm]

There was an Old Person whose habits,
Induced him to feed upon Rabbits;
When he'd eaten eighteen,
He turned perfectly green,
Upon which he relinquished those habits.[ebd.]

In his limericks Lear often broaches the issue of bad eating habits which finally lead to the punishment of the character. He also parodies himself in a certain manner by writing limericks about people with huge noses and long legs which he certainly had.
In his later career as a writer Lear wrote longer poems, published in ''Nonsense Songs'' (1870). One of the most familiar poems is ''The Owl and the Pussy-cat''. In these poems there are no human protagonists and Lear usually invented nonsense creatures or unreal places with funny names.
Other representatives of nonsense literature in a similar manner were Lewis Carroll and Thomas Hood.

Today one can find a collection of Edward Lear's verses and tales in ''The Complete Verse and Other Nonsense''(Penguin,2002).

== Sources ==

http://www.gutenberg.org/files/982/982-h/982-h.htm
http://www.poetryfoundation.org/bio/edward-lear

Coote, Stephen: ''The Penguin Short History of English Literature''.Harmondsworth:Penguin Books,1993.
Nowak, Helge: ''Literature in Britain and Ireland.A History''.Tübingen:Francke,2010.
''The Cambridge History of English Poetry''.Cambridge:Cambridge Univ. Press,2010.

Edward Lear

2011-01-13T12:49:45Z

Elli:

----
Edward Lear was born in London in 1812 and died in San Remo (Italy) in 1888.
He was a landscape painter and animal illustrator. He also wrote travel books during his numerous journeys to foreign countries. Like Lewis Carroll he was also known for his nonsense poetry. He became famous especially for his limericks (poems with a certain rhyme scheme and humorous intent in which the characters always behave according to the rules of "nonsense")which were published in ''A Book of Nonsense'' (1846).
Today one can find a collection of his verses and tales in ''The Complete Verse and Other Nonsense''(Penguin,2001).

Edward Lear

2011-01-13T12:49:13Z

Elli: Created page with 'Edward Lear ---- Edward Lear was born in London in 1812 and died in San Remo (Italy) in 1888. He was a landscape painter and animal illustrator. He also wrote travel books during…'

Edward Lear
----
Edward Lear was born in London in 1812 and died in San Remo (Italy) in 1888.
He was a landscape painter and animal illustrator. He also wrote travel books during his numerous journeys to foreign countries. Like Lewis Carroll he was also known for his nonsense poetry. He became famous especially for his limericks (poems with a certain rhyme scheme and humorous intent in which the characters always behave according to the rules of "nonsense")which were published in ''A Book of Nonsense'' (1846).
Today one can find a collection of his verses and tales in ''The Complete Verse and Other Nonsense''(Penguin,2001).

Battle of Trafalgar

2010-11-30T15:05:26Z

Elli: /* Sources */

21st October 1805. Sea battle between the English fleet which fought against the French and Spanish fleet during the War of the Third Coalition.(During the Napoleonic Wars) It took place on October 21st in 1805 west of Cape Trafalgar. The British fleet headed by [[Lord Nelson]] won the decisive sea battle and could thus maintain the naval supremacy for one more century.

== The British and Napoleon ==

In the 19th Century the British were the greatest naval power. This was mainly due to the fact that the French under Napoleon who crowned himself emperor in 1804 attacked British colonies and aspired hegemonic power.
The British intended to maintain power over the seas since trade with their colonies was important for the material and financial supply of the country.
In 1796 Spain joined the alliance of the French and the Dutch and helped to attack British military bases. The British on the other hand could, due to their elaborated fighting tactics on the sea and the ingenious officer of the Royal Navy, Horatio Nelson, win some battles, like the battle of the Nile in 1798. This battle showed again the superiority of the British Royal Navy.
Furthermore,in the 1790s the British Naval power attacked French colonies, above all important bases in the West Indies. It seemed to be the only way to prevent French attacks on British colonies and to strike the French. However, they could not hold the new gained colonies for a longer time.
Yet, the British fleet blockaded some of the ships of the Napoleonic fleets, preventing them from leaving the ports, because that would leave the coast unprotected and vulnerable for enemies.
Despite the intent to end hostilities with France by the Peace of Amiens of 1802, war began anew in 1803.

== The Battle of Trafalgar ==

In 1805 Napoleon prepared an invasion of England. In order to be succesful in gaining control over the Channel he sent some of his squadrons to the West Indies to join with other French and Spanish fleets. However, only two squadrons, those from Rochefort and Toulon managed to evade the British blockade and sailed to the West Indies. When they came back the squadron from Toulon under the command of Admiral Villeneuve was checked by Vice Admiral Sir Robert Calder and his fleet west of Cape Finisterre. They had to return to Cádiz. Meanwhile, Napoleon had abandoned his plan of invading Britain and turned to Italy in order to fight there against Austria and its allies.
Villeneuve then sailed towards the Mediterranean where Nelson was already waiting for him near Cádiz. The French and Spanish fleets consisting of 33 ships had to flee north. Nelson's fleet with 27 ships attacked them on October 21st from the west in two lines.
The admiral's chosen tactic, splitting the line of the Franco-Spanish ships in smaller groups was proved as successful. Villeneuve's fleet did not have the chance to regroup and was beaten by the superior British fleet. Nelson's naval army destroyed or captured nineteen French and Spanish ships whereas the British fleet did not lose any ship. However, Vice-Admiral Horatio Nelson lost his live in the battle.

== Sources ==

Black, Jeremy: ''The British Seaborne Empire''.New Haven, Conn.(u.a.):Yale University Press, 2004.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/flash/0,5860,1504015,00.html

Battle of Trafalgar

2010-11-30T15:05:02Z

Elli: /* The British and Napoleon */

21st October 1805. Sea battle between the English fleet which fought against the French and Spanish fleet during the War of the Third Coalition.(During the Napoleonic Wars) It took place on October 21st in 1805 west of Cape Trafalgar. The British fleet headed by [[Lord Nelson]] won the decisive sea battle and could thus maintain the naval supremacy for one more century.

== The British and Napoleon ==

In the 19th Century the British were the greatest naval power. This was mainly due to the fact that the French under Napoleon who crowned himself emperor in 1804 attacked British colonies and aspired hegemonic power.
The British intended to maintain power over the seas since trade with their colonies was important for the material and financial supply of the country.
In 1796 Spain joined the alliance of the French and the Dutch and helped to attack British military bases. The British on the other hand could, due to their elaborated fighting tactics on the sea and the ingenious officer of the Royal Navy, Horatio Nelson, win some battles, like the battle of the Nile in 1798. This battle showed again the superiority of the British Royal Navy.
Furthermore,in the 1790s the British Naval power attacked French colonies, above all important bases in the West Indies. It seemed to be the only way to prevent French attacks on British colonies and to strike the French. However, they could not hold the new gained colonies for a longer time.
Yet, the British fleet blockaded some of the ships of the Napoleonic fleets, preventing them from leaving the ports, because that would leave the coast unprotected and vulnerable for enemies.
Despite the intent to end hostilities with France by the Peace of Amiens of 1802, war began anew in 1803.

== The Battle of Trafalgar ==

In 1805 Napoleon prepared an invasion of England. In order to be succesful in gaining control over the Channel he sent some of his squadrons to the West Indies to join with other French and Spanish fleets. However, only two squadrons, those from Rochefort and Toulon managed to evade the British blockade and sailed to the West Indies. When they came back the squadron from Toulon under the command of Admiral Villeneuve was checked by Vice Admiral Sir Robert Calder and his fleet west of Cape Finisterre. They had to return to Cádiz. Meanwhile, Napoleon had abandoned his plan of invading Britain and turned to Italy in order to fight there against Austria and its allies.
Villeneuve then sailed towards the Mediterranean where Nelson was already waiting for him near Cádiz. The French and Spanish fleets consisting of 33 ships had to flee north. Nelson's fleet with 27 ships attacked them on October 21st from the west in two lines.
The admiral's chosen tactic, splitting the line of the Franco-Spanish ships in smaller groups was proved as successful. Villeneuve's fleet did not have the chance to regroup and was beaten by the superior British fleet. Nelson's naval army destroyed or captured nineteen French and Spanish ships whereas the British fleet did not lose any ship. However, Vice-Admiral Horatio Nelson lost his live in the battle.

== Sources ==

----

Black, Jeremy: ''The British Seaborne Empire''.New Haven, Conn.(u.a.):Yale University Press, 2004.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/flash/0,5860,1504015,00.html

Battle of Trafalgar

2010-11-30T15:04:42Z

Elli: /* The Battle of Trafalgar */

21st October 1805. Sea battle between the English fleet which fought against the French and Spanish fleet during the War of the Third Coalition.(During the Napoleonic Wars) It took place on October 21st in 1805 west of Cape Trafalgar. The British fleet headed by [[Lord Nelson]] won the decisive sea battle and could thus maintain the naval supremacy for one more century.

== The British and Napoleon ==

----

In the 19th Century the British were the greatest naval power. This was mainly due to the fact that the French under Napoleon who crowned himself emperor in 1804 attacked British colonies and aspired hegemonic power.
The British intended to maintain power over the seas since trade with their colonies was important for the material and financial supply of the country.
In 1796 Spain joined the alliance of the French and the Dutch and helped to attack British military bases. The British on the other hand could, due to their elaborated fighting tactics on the sea and the ingenious officer of the Royal Navy, Horatio Nelson, win some battles, like the battle of the Nile in 1798. This battle showed again the superiority of the British Royal Navy.
Furthermore,in the 1790s the British Naval power attacked French colonies, above all important bases in the West Indies. It seemed to be the only way to prevent French attacks on British colonies and to strike the French. However, they could not hold the new gained colonies for a longer time.
Yet, the British fleet blockaded some of the ships of the Napoleonic fleets, preventing them from leaving the ports, because that would leave the coast unprotected and vulnerable for enemies.
Despite the intent to end hostilities with France by the Peace of Amiens of 1802, war began anew in 1803.

== The Battle of Trafalgar ==

In 1805 Napoleon prepared an invasion of England. In order to be succesful in gaining control over the Channel he sent some of his squadrons to the West Indies to join with other French and Spanish fleets. However, only two squadrons, those from Rochefort and Toulon managed to evade the British blockade and sailed to the West Indies. When they came back the squadron from Toulon under the command of Admiral Villeneuve was checked by Vice Admiral Sir Robert Calder and his fleet west of Cape Finisterre. They had to return to Cádiz. Meanwhile, Napoleon had abandoned his plan of invading Britain and turned to Italy in order to fight there against Austria and its allies.
Villeneuve then sailed towards the Mediterranean where Nelson was already waiting for him near Cádiz. The French and Spanish fleets consisting of 33 ships had to flee north. Nelson's fleet with 27 ships attacked them on October 21st from the west in two lines.
The admiral's chosen tactic, splitting the line of the Franco-Spanish ships in smaller groups was proved as successful. Villeneuve's fleet did not have the chance to regroup and was beaten by the superior British fleet. Nelson's naval army destroyed or captured nineteen French and Spanish ships whereas the British fleet did not lose any ship. However, Vice-Admiral Horatio Nelson lost his live in the battle.

== Sources ==

----

Black, Jeremy: ''The British Seaborne Empire''.New Haven, Conn.(u.a.):Yale University Press, 2004.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/flash/0,5860,1504015,00.html

Battle of Trafalgar

2010-11-30T15:01:32Z

Elli:

21st October 1805. Sea battle between the English fleet which fought against the French and Spanish fleet during the War of the Third Coalition.(During the Napoleonic Wars) It took place on October 21st in 1805 west of Cape Trafalgar. The British fleet headed by [[Lord Nelson]] won the decisive sea battle and could thus maintain the naval supremacy for one more century.

== The British and Napoleon ==

----

In the 19th Century the British were the greatest naval power. This was mainly due to the fact that the French under Napoleon who crowned himself emperor in 1804 attacked British colonies and aspired hegemonic power.
The British intended to maintain power over the seas since trade with their colonies was important for the material and financial supply of the country.
In 1796 Spain joined the alliance of the French and the Dutch and helped to attack British military bases. The British on the other hand could, due to their elaborated fighting tactics on the sea and the ingenious officer of the Royal Navy, Horatio Nelson, win some battles, like the battle of the Nile in 1798. This battle showed again the superiority of the British Royal Navy.
Furthermore,in the 1790s the British Naval power attacked French colonies, above all important bases in the West Indies. It seemed to be the only way to prevent French attacks on British colonies and to strike the French. However, they could not hold the new gained colonies for a longer time.
Yet, the British fleet blockaded some of the ships of the Napoleonic fleets, preventing them from leaving the ports, because that would leave the coast unprotected and vulnerable for enemies.
Despite the intent to end hostilities with France by the Peace of Amiens of 1802, war began anew in 1803.

== The Battle of Trafalgar ==

----

In 1805 Napoleon prepared an invasion of England. In order to be succesful in gaining control over the Channel he sent some of his squadrons to the West Indies to join with other French and Spanish fleets. However, only two squadrons, those from Rochefort and Toulon managed to evade the British blockade and sailed to the West Indies. When they came back the squadron from Toulon under the command of Admiral Villeneuve was checked by Vice Admiral Sir Robert Calder and his fleet west of Cape Finisterre. They had to return to Cádiz. Meanwhile, Napoleon had abandoned his plan of invading Britain and turned to Italy in order to fight there against Austria and its allies.
Villeneuve then sailed towards the Mediterranean where Nelson was already waiting for him near Cádiz. The French and Spanish fleets consisting of 33 ships had to flee north. Nelson's fleet with 27 ships attacked them on October 21st from the west in two lines.
The admiral's chosen tactic, splitting the line of the Franco-Spanish ships in smaller groups was proved as successful. Villeneuve's fleet did not have the chance to regroup and was beaten by the superior British fleet. Nelson's naval army destroyed or captured nineteen French and Spanish ships whereas the British fleet did not lose any ship. However, Vice-Admiral Horatio Nelson lost his live in the battle.

== Sources ==

----

Black, Jeremy: ''The British Seaborne Empire''.New Haven, Conn.(u.a.):Yale University Press, 2004.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/flash/0,5860,1504015,00.html

Battle of Trafalgar

2010-11-29T14:53:18Z

Elli: Created page with ' == The Battle of Trafalgar (21st October 1805) == The Battle of Trafalgar was a seabattle between the English fleet which faught against the French and Spanish fleet during th…'

== The Battle of Trafalgar (21st October 1805) ==

The Battle of Trafalgar was a seabattle between the English fleet which faught against the French and Spanish fleet during the War of the Third Coalition. It took place on October 21st in 1805 west of Cape Trafalgar. The British fleet headed by Lord Nelson won the decisive sea battle and could thus maintain the naval supremacy for one more century.