Little Miss Muffet
Videos
"Little Miss Muffet" is an English nursery rhyme of uncertain origin, first recorded in 1805. It has a Roud Folk Song Index number of 20605. The rhyme has for over a century attracted discussion as to
William Wallace Denslow's illustrations for one version of the rhyme, from a 1901 edition of Mother Goose
Arthur Rackham illustration, 1913
Kate Greenaway illustration, 1900
Frederick Richardson illustration, 1915
Little Jack Horner
Videos
"Little Jack Horner" is a popular English nursery rhyme with the Roud Folk Song Index number 13027. First mentioned in the 18th century, it was early associated with acts of opportunism, particularly
Little Miss Muffet
…older given its similarity to other rhymes such as "Little Polly Flinders", "Little Poll Parrot", "Little Tommy Tacket", "Little General Monk" and "Little Jack Horner" (the last known to have been current at least as early as 1720). It is possible that all of these rhymes, and others, are parodies of whichever unknown…
William Wallace Denslow's illustration of the rhyme, 1902
The game of Little Jack Horner, marketed by the McLoughlin Brothers in 1888
Bob Satterfield's cartoon adapts the rhyme to the Japanese naval victory in the Russo-Japanese War