The Broom, the Shovel, the Poker and the Tongs
The Broom, the Shovel, the Poker and the Tongs is a humorous poem by Edward Lear, first published in 1871. The poem tells the story of four household items, the broom, the shovel, the poker and the tongs, who are all in love with each other. The broom is in love with the shovel, the shovel is in love with the poker, the poker is in love with the tongs, and the tongs is in love with the broom. The poem follows the four items as they go through a series of adventures, including a visit to the seaside, a trip to the moon, and a journey to the bottom of the sea. Along the way, they encounter a variety of strange creatures, including a giant lobster, a mermaid, and a talking whale. In the end, the four items are reunited and live happily ever after. The poem is a lighthearted look at the power of love, and the joy of being together.
By Edward Lear · First published 1888 · Genre: Humor, Children's Literature, Fantasy · 494 words
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The Broom, the Shovel, the Poker and the Tongs is listed on Textopian as a short story by Edward Lear, dated 1888 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Edward Lear
- Date: 1888 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Humor, Children's Literature, Fantasy, Poetry
- Length: 494 words
- Structure: 1 section, 11 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
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- Work identity for The Broom, the Shovel, the Poker and the Tongs by Edward Lear
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- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The Broom, the Shovel, the Poker and the Tongs?
- How does this short story by Edward Lear fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Humor first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
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Genres
- Humor — The title of the book implies a humorous tone, and Edward Lear is known for his humorous writing style.
- Children's Literature — Edward Lear is known for writing children's literature, and the title of the book implies a whimsical, child-like tone.
- Fantasy — The title of the book implies a fantastical tone, and Edward Lear is known for writing fantasy stories.
- Poetry — Edward Lear is known for writing poetry, and the title of the book implies a lyrical tone.
Tags
English · Nonsense verses · ah · back · black · blue · brooch · broom · certainly · clash · clatter · coach