Little Orphant Annie: Difference between revisions
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During the 1920s, the title became the inspiration for the names of [[Little Orphan Annie]] and the [[Raggedy Ann]] doll, created by fellow [[Indiana]] native [[Johnny Gruelle]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://raggedyann-museum.org/Raggedy%20Ann.html|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20080410204454/http://www.raggedyann-museum.org/Raggedy+Ann.html|archivedate=2008-04-10|publisher= The Raggedy Ann & Andy Museum|title= Ann's Story|accessdate=2010-04-10}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.purdue.edu/wbaa/ipbs/Scripts/073.htm|title= Moment of Indiana History|publisher=[[Purdue University]]|accessdate=2010-04-10}}</ref> The rhyme's popularity led it to being reprinted many times. It was later compiled with a number of other children's poems in a illustrated book and sold.<ref>Van Allen, p. 241</ref> |
During the 1920s, the title became the inspiration for the names of [[Little Orphan Annie]] and the [[Raggedy Ann]] doll, created by fellow [[Indiana]] native [[Johnny Gruelle]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://raggedyann-museum.org/Raggedy%20Ann.html|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20080410204454/http://www.raggedyann-museum.org/Raggedy+Ann.html|archivedate=2008-04-10|publisher= The Raggedy Ann & Andy Museum|title= Ann's Story|accessdate=2010-04-10}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.purdue.edu/wbaa/ipbs/Scripts/073.htm|title= Moment of Indiana History|publisher=[[Purdue University]]|accessdate=2010-04-10}}</ref> The rhyme's popularity led it to being reprinted many times. It was later compiled with a number of other children's poems in a illustrated book and sold.<ref>Van Allen, p. 241</ref> |
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The verses of the poem detail the scary stories told by Annie when her housework was done, repeating the phrase "An' the Gobble-uns 'at gits you ef you don't watch out!."{{sic}} It was popular among children, and many of the letters Whitcomb received from children commented on the poem. It remains a favorite among children in [[Indiana]] and is often associated with [[Halloween]] celebrations. <ref name = bsu/> |
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==Poem== |
==Poem== |
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Revision as of 13:20, 13 May 2010
| Little Orphant Annie | |
|---|---|
| by James Whitcomb Riley | |
 Mary Alice "Allie" Smith, Riley's inspiration for the poem | |
| Original title | The Elf Child |
| First published in | Indianapolis Journal |
| Country | United States |
| Publication date | November 15, 1885 |
| Media type | Newspaper |
| Pages | 16 |
| Size and weight | 31.25 tons |
"Little Orphant Annie" is an 1885 poem written by James Whitcomb Riley and published by the Bowen-Merrill Company. First titled "The Elf Child", Riley changed the name to "Little Orphant Allie" at its third printing, however a typecasting error during printing renamed the poem to its current form. Known as the "Hoosier poet", Riley wrote the rhymes in nineteenth century Hoosier dialect. As one of his most well known poems, it served as the inspiration for the character Little Orphan Annie upon whom was based a comic strip, plays, radio programs, television shows, and movies.
The subject was inspired by Mary Alice "Allie" Smith, an orphan living in the the Riley home during his childhood. The poem contains four stanzas; the first introduces Annie and the following three are stories she is telling to young children. The stories each tell of a bad child who is snatched away by goblins as a result of their misbehavior. The underlying moral and warning is announced in the final stanza, telling children that they should obey their parents and be kind to the unfortunate, lest they suffer the same fate.
Background
James Whitcomb Riley was a poet who achieved national fame in the United States during late nineteenth and early twentieth century. "Little Orphant Annie" is one of Whitcomb's most well known poems.[1] Originally published in the Indianapolis Journal on November 15, 1885 under the title "The Elf Child," the poem was inspired by a girl named Mary Alice "Allie" Smith. She was orphaned at age twelve when her father was killed in the American Civil War. Smith lived near the Riley's home, and they learned of her plight through a family member. Riley's father was also a soldier in the war, leaving his wife Elizabeth to manage the household affairs in his absence. She brought Smith into their home in Greenfield, Indiana. As was customary at that time, she worked alongside the family to earn her board.[2] In the evening hours she often told stories to the younger children, including Riley. Smith did not learn she was the inspiration for the character until the 1910s when she visited with Riley.[3]
The piece kept its original title in its first two printings, but Riley decided to change its title to "Little Orphant Allie" in a 1897 printing. The printing house incorrectly cast the typeset during the printing, unintentionally renaming the poem to "Little Orphant Annie". Riley at first contacted the printing house to have the error corrected, but decided to keep the misprint because of the poem's growing popularity.[3]
During the 1920s, the title became the inspiration for the names of Little Orphan Annie and the Raggedy Ann doll, created by fellow Indiana native Johnny Gruelle.[4][5] The rhyme's popularity led it to being reprinted many times. It was later compiled with a number of other children's poems in a illustrated book and sold.[6]
Poem
Riley recorded readings of several of his poems for the phonograph during the early twentieth century. Only four of the readings were ever released to the public; one was "Little Orphant Annie". Written in nineteenth century Hoosier dialect, the words can be difficult to read in modern times, however its style helped feed its popularity at the time of its composition.[7] Riley achieved fame not just for writing poetry, but also from his readings. Like most of his poetry, "Little Orphant Annie" was written to achieve the best effect when read aloud.[1]
The poem consists of four stanzas, each with twelve lines. Riley dedicated his poem "to all the little ones," which served as a introduction to draw the attention of his audience when read aloud. The alliteration, parallels, phonetic intensifiers and onomatopoeia add effects to the rhymes that become more detectable when read aloud. The exclamatory refrain ending each stanza is spoken with more emphasis.[8] The poem is written in the first person and in a regular iambic meter. It begins by introducing Annie, and then sets a mood of excitement by describing the children eagerly gathering to hear her stories. The next three stanzas are each a story which Annie tells the children. Each story tells of a bad child who is snatched away by goblins and has an underlying moral which is announced in the final stanza, encouraging children to obey their parents and teachers, help their loved ones, and care for the poor and disadvantaged.[8][9]
- Little Orphant Annie
- Little Orphant Annie's come to our house to stay,
- An' wash the cups an' saucers up, an' brush the crumbs away,
- An' shoo the chickens off the porch, an' dust the hearth, an' sweep,
- An' make the fire, an' bake the bread, an' earn her board-an'-keep;
- An' all us other childern, when the supper-things is done,
- We set around the kitchen fire an' has the mostest fun
- A-list'nin' to the witch-tales 'at Annie tells about,
- An' the Gobble-uns 'at gits you
- Ef you
- Don't
- Watch
- Out!
- Wunst they wuz a little boy wouldn't say his prayers,--
- An' when he went to bed at night, away up-stairs,
- His Mammy heerd him holler, an' his Daddy heerd him bawl,
- An' when they turn't the kivvers down, he wuzn't there at all!
- An' they seeked him in the rafter-room, an' cubby-hole, an' press,
- An' seeked him up the chimbly-flue, an' ever'-wheres, I guess;
- But all they ever found wuz thist his pants an' roundabout:--
- An' the Gobble-uns 'll git you
- Ef you
- Don't
- Watch
- Out!
- An' one time a little girl 'ud allus laugh an' grin,
- An' make fun of ever' one, an' all her blood-an'-kin;
- An' wunst, when they was "company," an' ole folks wuz there,
- She mocked 'em an' shocked 'em, an' said she didn't care!
- An' thist as she kicked her heels, an' turn't to run an' hide,
- They wuz two great big Black Things a-standin' by her side,
- An' they snatched her through the ceilin' 'fore she knowed what she's about!
- An' the Gobble-uns 'll git you
- Ef you
- Don't
- Watch
- Out!
- An' little Orphant Annie says, when the blaze is blue,
- An' the lamp-wick sputters, an' the wind goes woo-oo!
- An' you hear the crickets quit, an' the moon is gray,
- An' the lightnin'-bugs in dew is all squenched away,--
- You better mind yer parunts, an' yer teachurs fond an' dear,
- An' churish them 'at loves you, an' dry the orphant's tear,
- An' he'p the pore an' needy ones 'at clusters all about,
- Er the Gobble-uns 'll git you
- Ef you
- Don't
- Watch
- Out!
Film adaptations
"Little Orphant Annie" was made into a silent film by the Selig Polyscope company in 1918, featuring Colleen Moore as Annie. She had previously been in "A Hoosier Romance," also based on Riley's work.[10] Riley also appeared in the film as the silent narrator.
A short animated film based on the poem was released by Soyuztelefilm studio in Russia in 1992, directed by Yulian Kalisher. The poem was translated into Russian by Oleg Yegorov.[11]
Notes
- ^ a b Pfeiler, p. 109
- ^ Van Allen, p. 33
- ^ a b "The Raggedy Man and Little Orphant Annie". Indiana University. Retrieved 2010-01-08.
- ^ "Ann's Story". The Raggedy Ann & Andy Museum. Archived from the original on 2008-04-10. Retrieved 2010-04-10.
- ^ "Moment of Indiana History". Purdue University. Retrieved 2010-04-10.
- ^ Van Allen, p. 241
- ^ Pfeiler, p. 111
- ^ a b Pfeiler, p. 110
- ^ "James Whitcomb Riley". Our Land, Our Literature. Ball State University. Retrieved 2010-04-10.
- ^ "Little Orphant Annie". American Film Institute. Retrieved 2010-04-10.
- ^ "Little Orphant Annie" (in Russian). Retrieved 2010-04-10.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
References
- Pfeiler, Martina (2003). Sounds of poetry: contemporary American performance poets. Gunter Narr Verlag. ISBN 3823346644.
- Van Allen, Elizabeth J. (1999). James Whitcomb Riley: a life. Indiana University Press. ISBN 0253335914.
External links
Texts
- "Little Orphant Annie" - Full text from the Complete Works, 1916.