The Owl and the Pussy-Cat

The ring is an important motif as well as a key symbol in the poem, since it is mentioned several times and represents the perfection of true love. Across different cultures, the ring—shaped as a circle—symbolizes protection, unbreakable bonds, and union. Engagement and wedding rings further symbolize a promise as well as the closed circle of matrimony. In “The Owl and the Pussy-Cat,” the ring evokes all these meanings, and additionally functions as the object of the poem’s central quest.

The search for the ring moves the poem’s plot forward, and spurs a voyage. Symbolically, what the lovers are looking for is idyllic love. Once the ring is found, their quest for love and marriage is completed, and the owl and the pussy-cat celebrate with a feast and a dance. The importance given to the ring has a deeper meaning: that true love is the ultimate treasure worth finding. Even though the ring is purchased for a mere shilling, its value is far greater.

The word “runcible,” coined by Edward Lear, has now entered the English dictionary, and is defined as a fork curved like a spoon—in other words, a spork. Lear himself used the word in several other poems, and in contexts other than silverware.