Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary

High school (ages 12+)
Art & Creativity

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/mary--mary--quite-contrary

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the rhyme classification?English nursery rhyme
2. What is the roud folk song index?19626
3. What does the rhyme "Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary" talk about?It describes a garden with silver bells and cockleshells, and mentions pretty maids all in a row, mixing real and fantastical plants.
4. Why is the rhyme called "Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary"?The word "contrary" shows that Mary behaves in a surprising way, making her garden unusual and full of surprises.

Allegory: A story, poem, or picture that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning, typically a moral or political one.
Folklore: The traditions, customs, and stories of a community, passed through generations by word of mouth.
Disputed Origins: The beginnings or source of something that is not agreed upon by everyone.