The Pied Piper of Hamelin

“The Pied Piper of Hamelin” by Robert Browning is a narrative retelling of a folk tale popularized by the brothers Grimm and loosely based on real historic events. It was originally published in 1842 in Browning’s collection Dramatic Lyrics, then adapted into an illustrated children’s book. Browning wrote this poem for the ill son of a friend whom he was visiting; this child is directly addressed in the poem’s closing stanza. “The Pied Piper of Hamelin” explores themes of social class and greed, honesty, and the power of music and story.

Poet Biography

Robert Browning (1812-1889) was an English poet and playwright who is intrinsically associated with the styles of the Victorian era. He was born in what is now the Borough of Southwark in south London. Browning’s grandfather was an enslaver, but his father was a dedicated abolitionist. Their household was filled with books and encouraged learning. When Browning struggled with conventional school during childhood, he was privately educated at home. He studied languages and music, but devoted himself to writing poetry. He was particularly influenced by Romantic-era poets such as Percy Shelley, and elements of Shelley’s style can be seen in much of Browning’s earlier works.

Browning’s first published work was “Pauline, a Fragment of a Confession,” a longform poem that he self-published in 1833. “Pauline” was originally intended as the first of a series, but Browning abandoned this project as he graduated to more mature styles. His next work, “Paracelsus,” is a dramatic monologue now regarded as the true launching point of his literary career; he wrote several more narrative poems, monologues, and plays to mixed reception. Browning began writing “The Pied Piper of Hamelin” in 1842 as a gift for the ill son of a friend. “The Pied Piper” was well received and became one of his most popular works; ironically, many of the issues critics found detrimental to Browning’s work, such as its simple rhymes, were positive attributes in children’s poetry.

Arguably the most memorable aspect of Robert Browning’s life is his marriage to fellow poet Elizabeth Barrett, later Elizabeth Barrett Browning. They met in 1845 after a correspondence about their work. At the time, Barrett was in poor health and living with a controlling father, so the couple married in secret. Barrett’s health improved after their marriage and move to Italy. She died in 1861, leaving Browning a widower for more than 25 years. Browning died at his son’s home in Venice in the winter of 1889 and was later buried in Poets’ Corner in Westminster Abbey.

Poem Text

Browning, Robert. “The Pied Piper of Hamelin.” 1842. Poetry Foundation.

Summary

The speaker tells a story that happened almost 500 years ago in the German town of Hamelin. It was a beautiful place, but overrun with rats. The rats caused all sorts of trouble, fighting with the dogs, bothering women, ruining all the food, and even biting babies’ toes. The townspeople all got together to try to think of a solution. A stranger appeared, dressed in yellow and red, looking like he had come from another time. He introduced himself as the Pied Piper, and explained that he had helped several communities in far-off lands rid themselves of pests. The townspeople and the mayor made a deal with the Piper—they’d pay him 1,000 guilders (about three years’ wages) to rid the town of its rat problem.

The Piper went out into the street and played music on his pipe, which made all the rats in the town follow him. He led them away from the town and into the river, where they all drowned—except for one, who lived to tell the cautionary tale to other rats. The townspeople celebrated the reclamation of their home, and the Piper went to collect his fee from the mayor. However, the mayor became nervous and refused to pay the agreed amount. Knowing that the work was already done and the rats couldn’t come back to life, the mayor offered the Piper 50 guilders instead. They argued. Then the Piper went back into the street and played a different song. This time, instead of luring rats, the Piper’s music called all the children in the town to him. The mayor and the other townspeople couldn’t move and thought the children would be drowned.

At the last minute, the Piper changed direction and led all the children to the mountain. A magical door opened and closed behind them, sealing them away—all except a boy who was injured and lagged behind. Afterwards, the boy became melancholy thinking about the adventures all his friends were having in a magical land. The mayor sent out messages offering the Piper whatever he wanted if he would bring the children back, but they never saw him again. The town commemorated the incident with a memorial and a message on a church window. The street where the children disappeared is now called “The Pied Piper’s Street,” and music is forbidden. The speaker adds that in Transylvania, there’s a town of people with unusual customs who may be descended from the Hamelin children. The speaker implores those listening to learn from Hamelin’s mistake and always keep their promises.