Humpty Dumpty

Humpty Dumpty is a nursery rhyme where in the character is portrayed to be an egg; however there is no suggestion in the rhyme itself that Humpty Dumpty is an egg. When it was first printed, the rhyme was presented as a riddle and attempts to exploit the fact that "humpty dumpty" also happened to be an eighteenth century reduplicative slang for a diminutive and clumsy person.

Though the origins of the nursery rhyme cannot be proven, the most commonly believed theory is that Humpty Dumpty was a powerful cannon used in the Siege of Colchester during the English Civil War. It was mounted on top of the St Mary's at the Wall Church in Colchester defending the city against siege in the summer of 1648. Although Colchester was a Royalist stronghold, it was besieged by the Roundheads for 11 weeks before finally falling. The church tower was hit by enemy cannon fire and the top of the tower was blown off, sending "Humpty" tumbling to the ground. Naturally all the King's horses and all the King's men (Royalist cavalry and infantry respectively) tried to mend "him" but in vain.

Riddles similar to Humpty Dumpty have been recorded by folklorists in languages other than English. For instance Boule Boule in French or Lille Trille in Norwegian and Swedish. Prior to meaning a "diminutive, clumsy person", "the humpty dumpty" meant a brandy drink boiled using ale.

Another possibility is that Humpty Dumpty was a large cannon located at the top of a church tower at the Siege of Colchester during the English Civil War. "Humpty" crashed to the ground when the church tower was hit by enemy cannon fire.

For kids this rhyme might help teach younger children the significance of reversible and irreversible changes - an egg can be smashed but thereafter you cannot put it back together again.

For any further information about the song "Humpty Dumpty" you may find Wikipedia helpful.

Other versions of the song will use the title, "Humptey Dumptey."