The Song of Hiawatha

The Song of Hiawatha is an epic poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow based on the legends of the Ojibway Indians. Longfellow credited as his source the work of pioneering ethnographer Henry Rowe Schoolcraft, specifically Schoolcraft's Algic Researches and History, Condition and Prospects of the Indian Tribes of the United States.

Parodies

The 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica notes that "The metre is monotonous and easily ridiculed, but it suits the subject, and the poem is very popular." During the twentieth century it diminished both in esteem and in popularity, and as of 2004 perhaps survives primarily as the subject of parodies.

Related Topics:
1911 - Encyclopædia Britannica - As of 2004

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Lewis Carroll wrote a poem, Hiawatha's Photographing, which he introduced by noting "In an age of imitation, I can claim no special merit for this slight attempt at doing what is known to be so easy. Any fairly practised writer, with the slightest ear for rhythm, could compose, for hours together, in the easy running metre of 'The Song of Hiawatha."

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In 1856, a slim book entitled The Song of Milkanwatha: Translated from the Original Feejee appeared, by "Marc Antony Henderson" (Rev. George A. Strong (1832–1912) and published by "Tickell and Grinne." It is a 94-page-long parody of Hiawatha, following it chapter by chapter. It contains the following passage:

Related Topics:
George A. Strong - 1832 - 1912

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:In one hand Peek-Week, the squirel,

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:in the other hand the blow-gun—

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:Fearful instrument, the blow-un;

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:And Marcosset and Sumpunkin,

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:Kissed him, 'cause he killed the squirrel,

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:'Cause it was a rather big one.

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:From the squirrel-skin, Marcosset

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:Made some mittens for our hero,

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:Mittens with the fur-side inside,

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:With the fur-side mext his fingers

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:So 's to keep the hand warm inside;

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:That was why she put the fur-side—

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:Why she put the fur-side, inside.

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Over time, this has been transformed into an elaborated version, sometimes attributed to Strong and sometimes (as in Carolyn Wells' A Nonsense Anthology) to "Anonymous:"

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:He killed the noble Mudjokivis.

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:Of the skin he made him mittens,

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:Made them with the fur side inside,

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:Made them with the skin side outside.

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:He, to get the warm side inside,

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:Put the inside skin side outside;

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:He to get the cold side outside

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:Put the warm side fur side inside.

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:That's why he put the fur side inside,

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:Why he put the skin side outside,

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:Why he turned them inside outside.

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As of 2004 there are probably more people who can quote these lines than can quote eleven consecutive lines of Longfellow's original. The Smothers Brothers used this as a song on one of their albums; although, they made it refer to Hiawatha.

Related Topics:
As of 2004 - The Smothers Brothers

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Another parody popular among hacker culture is The Song of Hakawatha.

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Some Disney cartoons include episodes in which inept protagonists are beset by comic calamities on camping trips. Often these are introduced by a mock-solemn intonation of the lines about the shores of Gitche Gumee. The most famous of these—perhaps the nail in the coffin of the poem's reputation?—was the 1937 Silly Symphony Little Hiawatha, whose hero is a small boy whose pants keep falling down.

Related Topics:
Disney - 1937 - Silly Symphony

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Finally, Margaret Pietsch wrote a parody skit based on "Song of Hiawatha". The skit was actually performed hundreds if not thousands of times, most famously on Saturday Night Live. As an introduction to "Song of Hiawatha" in a listing of "Programs of Inspiration and Humor", she wrote:

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"As chairman of an adult dance at my daughter's grade school on January 25, 1958, our committee chose an Indian theme. The gym was decorated with live trees cut and arranged around the room. Large halved totem poles decorated the sides of the gym. A ceremonial artificial fire with lights and red paper and sticks was placed in the center and tables around the room. Ninety-five percent of those that attended wore hand-made or rented Indian costumes.

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"This skit was prepared as the entertainment. Presidents of banks, leading realtors and business men in high positions were recruited to be a tree, the firefly or the deer, and each person was responsible for his own costume.

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"It has been repeated several times, a must at the 100th Anniversary of the founding of the school.

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"We appreciate and have a high regard for the Indian culture and this was always presented for the humor of the actions, as many of the Indian dances were performed with humor too.

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"It has always received a happy response with requests for its repeated performance."

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