One of the most effective ways Browning tells the
story in The Pied Piper of Hamelin is through the use of rhyme. Throughout most
of the poem (with a few exceptions), Browning uses ABAB. The use of such a rhythmic
scheme allows Browning to transform the poem into a child's poem, which is
completely different to his other poetry. Traditionally, the story of the Pied
Piper of Hamelin is used as a cautionary tale for children, and the rhythmic
scheme allows the poem to take this form.
Throughout the poem, there are clear voices: the
mayor, the Pied Piper, the lonely child and so on. There is also a clear linear
chronology. It goes from the story of the Pied Piper being told, to then the voice of the poem talking directly to a child. Both of these narrative techniques emphasise the possibility of
this poem being a cautionary tale for children as it ensures the poem has a
simple and basic flow.
Browning's descriptions of the politicians/the
"Corporation" are another effective way of telling the poem, and
highly interesting. Line 27; "vermin" and line 29; "furry civic
robe". This animalises the powerful people which makes it seem as if
its deeper than a child’s cautionary tale, and it is another way of Browning
making a dig at politicians, claiming they’re completely detached from society
and humanity on a whole.
There are many underlying issues in this poem that suggest that it is not just a child's tale, but it is actually a story about corruption and the issues with lying. As a result of the leaders of Hamelin lying to the Pied Piper about how much money they would give to him, he leads the children to their death. This mixed with the animalistic descriptions of the Corporation is yet another direct dig at politicians; that deceit ends in death and unhappiness.
Another way of telling the story is the difference
between the blandness of the citizens of the town (and the town itself) and the
Pied Piper. The way he dresses is depicted as “quaint” and he describes at
length how much he has travelled; “I eased in Asia the Nizam Of a monstrous
brood of vampyre bats”. Whereas they are described as being “monstrously fat”.
In this sense, it is Browning’s way of singling the Pied Piper out; perhaps a
foreshadowing as it suggests they are hugely different so said difference could
perhaps lead to a conflict or issue later on.
