Tweedledee and Tweedledum: A Review of the Comic Characters
Tweedledee and Tweedledum: A Review of the Comic Characters.
Tweedledee and Tweedledum are characters in a lot of children’s animations, stories, and rhymes. Their names are originally from an epigram written by John Byrom. This and more, you will get to know as you continue reading this review.
They are mainly known to be fictional characters in Lewis Carroll’s books, “Through the Looking Glass” and “What Alice Found There”.
Origin of Tweedledee and Tweedledum
These characters are names that are traced back to an epigram written in the 18th century by John Byrom.
The words were names used to satirize the composers, George Frideric Handel and Giovanni Bononcini, who were in a feud.
Below is the epigram, written as Byrom’s satire.
Some say, compar’d to Bononcini
That Mynheer Handel’s but a Ninny
Others aver, that he to Handel
Is scarcely fit to hold a Candle
Strange all this Difference should be
‘Twixt Tweedledum and Tweedledee!
Description of Tweedledee and Tweedledum
These characters are represented in “Alice in Wonderland”, “Through the Looking Glass”, and “What Alice Found There”, as identical twins. They are two fat brothers, who are dressed as schoolboys and have on red propeller caps.
They always agree to have battles but never end up having one, because no matter what, they could not contradict themselves and will always complement each other’s words.
These amazing characters are always playful and jolly and are ever ready to recite poems. Particularly, they enjoy the company of people and are ever insistent on playing games and this always ended up being irritating to people like Alice.
In the book, Through the Looking Glass, Tweedledee is said to be the White Queen’s rook and Tweedledum, the White King’s rook.
About the Appearance
Tweedledum and Tweedledee have been found in numerous literary works; books, animations, and even poems.
Listed below are where these two characters make their appearance.
1. Through the Looking-Glass and What Alice Found There (1871) by Lewis Carroll
2. Alice in Wonderland (1951, 1999, & 2010); a movie by Walt Disney Productions
3. Betty in Blunderland 1934 by Betty Boop
4. House of Mouse; a television series by Disney
5. Final scene of Who Framed Roger Rabbit by Disney.
6. Once Upon a Time in Wonderland, as the Red Queen’s servants where they started out working for the Red King.
7. A nursery rhyme called “Tweedledum and Tweedledee”:
Tweedledum and Tweedledee
Agreed to have a battle;
For Tweedledum said Tweedledee
Had spoiled his nice new rattle.
Just then flew down a monstrous crow,
As black as a tar-barrel;
Which frightened both the heroes so,
They quite forgot their quarrel.
The comic twins will always be the humorous characters that children will always relate to.
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Daily Time Poems.
