Medieval Period

London Bridges is Falling Down

A. Verbal Elements

Writer’s Purpose

The primary purpose is to entertain and engage young children through its catchy tune and
repetitive lyrics. It is often used in educational settings to teach children about rhyming and
music.

The traditional English nursery rhyme is also a singing game (more on that below). It’s also
been known as “London Bridge” or even “My Fair Lady” (more on whoever this lady is below).
As far as the content, the rhyme deals with the deterioration of the famous and large London
Bridge, along with attempts to fix the ailing construction with things like mortar and metals.
Some say the song may date back to the Late Middle Ages, but the earliest records of the song
come from the 17th century. The lyrics for the rhyme were first printed as they are generally
known today in the mid-18th century. They became popular in the U.K. and the U.S. in the 19th
century, which is also when the melody for the rhyme was recorded.

The meaning of the rhyme is not certain. It may simply relate to the many difficulties experienced in
bridging the River Thames, but a number of alternative explanations have been put forward
Several attempts have been made to identify the fair lady, lady gay, or lady lee/lea of the rhyme.
They include:
Virgin Mary: The nursery rhyme could allude to the Virgin Mary as the fair lady. The Viking
attack was on 8 September 1009 (or 1014), the traditional birthday of the Virgin Mary; they
burned the bridge but could not take the city, it was protected by the 'fair lady'.
Matilda of Scotland (c. 1080–1118): Henry I's consort, who between 1110 and 1118 was
responsible for the building of the series of bridges that carried the London–Colchester road
across the River Lea and its side streams between Bow and Stratford.

Eleanor of Provence (c. 1223–1291): Consort of Henry III, who had custody of the bridge
revenues from 1269 to about 1281. Eleanor of Provence was also attacked with eggs and
stones at London bridge by the discontented citizens as her barge tried passing beneath the
bridge. This was in response to the political discontent that had been created not only by King
Henry III's vast unpopularity at the time but was also sparked by his son King Edward I's raiding
of the Temple.

A member of the Leigh family of Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire, who have a family story that a
human sacrifice lies under the building.

The River Lea, which is a tributary of the Thames.

Plot

It is a repetitive and cumulative rhyme that focuses on the concept of the bridge falling down
and different ways or materials that can be used to repair or rebuild it.
The rhyme begins with the line "London Bridge is falling down" and then goes on to explore
various theories or actions that can be taken to repair or rebuild the bridge, such as using iron,
timber, or gold and silver.

Characters

Does not have a specific character like a protagonist or main character.

Instead, it is a song that describes the deterioration and collapse of the London Bridge.

Setting

The city of London itself, particularly the location of London Bridge. London Bridge is a real
historical landmark that has existed since ancient times,
It envisioned as the bustling city of London, surrounded by the River Thames, with the iconic
London Bridge stretching across it

Themes

The historical significance, construction, preservation, and resilience of a renowned landmark,

reflecting the importance of cultural heritage and the ongoing efforts to maintain it throughout
time.
London Bridge is primarily architectural and historical. The bridge itself is a symbol of London
and has played a significant role in the city's development and history. London Bridge has been
a crucial river crossing point since Roman times, and it has been rebuilt multiple times
throughout history. The current bridge, completed in 1973, is a modern concrete structure that
replaced the previous 19th-century bridge. Aside from its architectural importance, the London
Bridge also holds cultural and historical significance. It has been depicted and referenced in
various works of literature, such as the nursery rhyme "London Bridge is Falling Down." The
bridge and its surrounding area have also been the site of historical events and landmarks,
including the Tower of London and the Southwark Cathedral. Overall, the theme of the London
Bridge encompasses its architectural, historical, and cultural significance to the city of London.

Style

Simplicity, repetition, and accessibility, making it a beloved and widely recognized nursery
rhyme.
The rhyme itself is simple and repetitive, typically sung or recited by children during play. The
focus is on the narrative of the bridge collapsing and the subsequent attempts to repair it. While
the rhyme's origins can be traced back centuries, its style remains rooted in popular folklore and
children's songs.

B. Visual Elements

LINE
It is the most basic visual element. Lines can be used to define shapes and figures, but also to
indicate motion, emotion, and other elements.

COLOR
Artists can use colors for many reasons other than to simply duplicate reality including setting
moods and highlighting importance.

SHAPE
Representational Shapes - refers to something that already exists in real-life.

TEXTURE
Visual texture - the illusion/representation of physical texture. It is created by the manipulation of
light and shadow to mimic the visual experience of physical texture.

STYLE
Cartoon Art - consist of exaggerated caricatures that emphasize emotion and movement.

C. Other Stylistic Elements

Music Quality:

Music Quality of London Bridge may vary depending on the listener, this is because it is opinion
based and more likely to be a subjective matter to discuss. Here are 3 things to assess the
music quality of London bridge:

Production and Mixing: The production of London Bridge showcases an ominous and eerie
feeling with the layering of voices in the background.

Melody and Harmony: It gives a joyful melody yet something sinister behind the harmony.

Lyrics and Vocals: the lyrics itself encompasses how the London bridge would need better
material to prevent it from falling. The Vocals is the main highlight of this song, it was delivered
really well that the use of instruments and other musicality element is no longer needed.

Action:
There is a game relating to this nursery rhyme that also focuses on how the bridge collapses
and entraps players, preventing them from playing again. There will be 2 persons that will act as
the bridge or arc and are tasked to collapse by slowly bringing their hands down when the song
ends and while the other players will be singing and traveling inside the arch, the bridge
collapses and traps one person whenever the song ends. The remaining player will win and will
be labeled as the fair lady.

Story Interest:

London bridge's lyrics delivered a sequence of events that required the need of preventing the
bridge from collapsing again. The usage of words also piqued the interest of young minds,
making it developed and passed down up until to this day.

Group 3
Perez, Arc Jeff
Baguio, Sherryl P.
Estenzo, Lilian