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Ring-a-Ring o’ Roses
Legacy of the Plague? Perhaps Not
Even though most experts agree the origins of this rhyme do not stem
from the plague, many illustrations carry elements of the myth. These
children are dark silhouettes, possibly alluding to the fire of the burning
dead. Those who persist in supporting the plague theory point to illustrations
like this to support their argument. Other images that are referenced
for this purpose include: children with rosy cheeks might represent the
fever, children falling represent the falling dead, flowers are present
to hide the smell of the dead or to represent the blisters and sores.
On the other hand, the tree and the rabbit in this illustration are symbols
of springtime, and the dance positions of the silhouetted children seem
to indicate happiness.
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