Why does everyone think humpty dumpty was an egg? it never says so in rhyme?

Question

Humpty dumpty sat on a wall

humpty dumpty had a great fall

all the kings horses and all the kings men

could not put humpty together again

Answer 1

Because it's more realistic and less gruesome if it's an egg. If it happened to a human it wouldn't be so nice if they were dismembered and had to be reattached. What I'm wondering is why were the King's horses and men sent, was Humpty of royal importance? :)

Answer 2

Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall

Humpty Dumpty had a great fall

all the kings horses and all the kings men

said scrambled egg for breakfast again

Answer 3

Humpty Dumpty Rhyme

Nursery Rhyme & History

The imagery of Humpty Dumpty

Humpty Dumpty was a colloquial term used in fifteenth century England describing someone who was obese. This has given rise to various, but inaccurate, theories surrounding the identity of Humpty Dumpty. The image of Humpty Dumpty was made famous by the illustrations included in the 'Alice through the looking glass' novel by Lewis Carroll. However, Humpty Dumpty was not a person pilloried in the famous rhyme!

The History and Origins of the Rhyme

Humpty Dumpty was in fact believed to be a large cannon!  It was used during the English Civil War ( 1642 - 1649) in the Siege of Colchester (13 Jun 1648 - 27 Aug 1648). Colchester was strongly fortified by the Royalists and was laid to siege by the Parliamentarians (Roundheads). In 1648 the town of Colchester  was a walled town with a castle and several churches and was protected by the city wall. Standing immediately adjacent the city wall, was St Mary's Church. A huge cannon, colloquially called Humpty Dumpty, was strategically placed on the wall next to St Mary's Church. The historical events detailing the siege of Colchester are well documented - references to the cannon ( Humpty Dumpty) are as follows:

June 15th 1648 - St Mary's Church is fortified and a large cannon is placed on the roof which was fired by ‘One-Eyed Jack Thompson'

July 14th / July 15th 1648 - The Royalist fort within the walls at St Mary's church is blown to pieces and their main cannon battery  ( Humpty Dumpty) is destroyed.

August 28th 1648 - The Royalists lay down their arms, open the gates of Colchester and surrender to the Parliamentarians

A shot from a Parliamentary cannon succeeded in damaging the wall beneath Humpty Dumpty which caused the cannon to tumble to the ground. The Royalists, or Cavaliers, 'all the King's men' attempted to raise Humpty Dumpty on to another part of the wall. However, because the cannon , or Humpty Dumpty, was so heavy ' All the King's horses and all the King's men couldn't put Humpty together again!' This had a drastic consequence for the Royalists as the strategically important town of Colchester fell to the Parliamentarians after a siege lasting eleven weeks. Earliest traceable publication 1810.

Answer 4

Yeah, who puts an egg on top off a wall anyway?  And only an idiot would send his whole army to try and fix a broken egg.

Hmm, this requires investigation of a deeper kind... I'll edit if I find anything.

Edit - Okay, I found out it what it was originally!

http://www.famousquotes.me.uk/nursery_rh...

There's more theories here, but it is Wikipedia...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humpty_Dump...

Answer 5

good question!

i wonder why because in every book it shown him as an egg but never states why and how he looks in the rhyme.

i wonder why ?_?

Answer 6

well.. cuz nothing else could crack and because ... IT HUMPTY DUMPTY!!!

Answer 7

beacuse it couldnt be a carrot ha i have  no idea

Answer 8

Humpty dumpty is a riddle!  and the answer is humpty dumpty is an egg!

Answer 9

I think it may have come from the fact that you can't put a broken egg back together.

But GREAT question!

Answer 10

thats a good questionnnnnn ! =]

It could be a person!!!!!

But i think they didn't want to make it too gory for little children

but why should kings horses & men put an egg back together, that doesnt make sense. it would make more sense if it was a guy. but shouldnt it be a doctor then? and how could horses put anything back together??

huh. this makes me think. =/

Answer 11

Thats what he looks like in the movie=D like an egg.

Answer 12

THAT IS WHAT THE AUTHOR CREATED.ARE YOU SURE IT IS AN EGG?. JUST CURIOUS.

Answer 13

WHY DO WE ALL THINK YOURE AN EGG!!!!111one

Answer 14

been wondering about it too.. :(

Answer 15

the song never says so but he definitely looks like an egg!!! so i assume he is an egg!