The Abc
The Abc - meaning Summary
Alphabet as Quarrelsome Classroom
This playful poem personifies alphabet letters in a midnight schoolroom as they bicker about shapes, sounds, and identities. Each exchange treats a letter as a character defending its form or function, turning spelling and typography into comic quarrels. The tone is light and whimsical, using simple anecdotes and jokes to entertain while gently illustrating letter relationships. It closes with the letters retiring to sleep, reinforcing its bedtime-rhyme mood.
Read Complete Analyses'Twas midnight in the schoolroom And every desk was shut When suddenly from the alphabet Was heard a loud "Tut-Tut!" Said A to B, "I don't like C; His manners are a lack. For all I ever see of C Is a semi-circular back!" "I disagree," said D to B, "I've never found C so. From where I stand he seems to be An uncompleted O." C was vexed, "I'm much perplexed, You criticise my shape. I'm made like that, to help spell Cat And Cow and Cool and Cape." "He's right" said E; said F, "Whoopee!" Said G, "'Ip, 'Ip, 'ooray!" "You're dropping me," roared H to G. "Don't do it please I pray." "Out of my way," LL said to K. "I'll make poor I look ILL." To stop this stunt J stood in front, And presto! ILL was JILL. "U know," said V, "that W Is twice the age of me. For as a Roman V is five I'm half as young as he." X and Y yawned sleepily, "Look at the time!" they said. "Let's all get off to beddy byes." They did, then "Z-z-z."
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