The Owl and the Pussycat by Edward Lear
A nonsensical poem about an unlikely friendship between a wise owl and a mischievous pussycat who go on a journey together aboard a pea-green boat. They get married by a turkey who lives on a tree, and their wedding feast features dishes such as "mushrooms" and "sugar". The poem is a whimsical exploration of the absurdities of life and love.
By Edward Lear · First published 1871 · Genre: Children's Literature, Poetry, Fantasy · 350 words
Editions
First lines
I / The Owl and the Pussycat went to sea / In a beautiful pea-green boat: / They took some honey, and plenty of money / Wrapped up in a five-pound note.
The Owl looked up to the stars above, / And sang to a small guitar, / "O lovely Pussy, O Pussy, my love, / What a beautiful Pussy you are, / You are, / You are!
What this Textopian page supports
The Owl and the Pussycat is listed on Textopian as a poem by Edward Lear, dated 1871 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Edward Lear
- Date: 1871 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Children's Literature, Poetry, Fantasy, Humor, Romance
- Length: 350 words
- Structure: 1 section, 10 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Owl and the Pussycat by Edward Lear
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Similar titles
- The Duck And The Kangaroo by Edward Lear
- The Elf The Dormouse by Oliver Herford
- Mr And Mrs Spikky Sparrow by Edward Lear
- The Bold Bad Butterfly by Oliver Herford
- The Forgetful Forgetmenot by Oliver Herford
- The Sausage Balloon by Oliver Herford
Genres
- Children's Literature — The work is primarily aimed at a young audience, featuring whimsical characters and simple, engaging language.
- Poetry — The text is written in verse, employing rhyme and rhythm, characteristic of poetic forms.
- Fantasy — The narrative includes anthropomorphic animals and fantastical elements, creating an imaginative world.
- Humor — The playful language and absurd situations contribute to a lighthearted, humorous tone.
Tags
Nonsense Poetry · Children's Literature · Fantasy · Adventure · Rhyming Verse · Whimsy · Imagination · Fable · Animal Characters · Marriage · Love · Travel
More by Edward Lear
- Nonsense Drolleries (1889)
- The Broom, the Shovel, the Poker and the Tongs (1888)
- The Duck and the Kangaroo (1888)
- The Cummerbund. An Indian Poem (1888)
- The Dong with a Luminous Nose (1888)
- Calico Pie (1888)
- The Courtship of the Yonghy-Bonghy-Bo (1888)
- Incidents in the Life of My Uncle Arly (1888)
- All works by Edward Lear