Mother Goose
Imaginary author of fairy tales and nursery rhymes.
Mother Goose began as a fictional figure, the supposed author of a French fairy-tale collection and later of English nursery rhymes. The name first appeared in English in the early 1700s, when Charles Perrault’s *Contes de ma Mère l’Oye* was translated as *Tales of My Mother Goose*. The character also became the subject of a pantomime first performed in 1806.
The figure was already familiar to English readers through similar stock characters like Mother Hubbard and Mother Bunch. A French chronicle from 1650 casually mentions “a Mother Goose story,” showing the term was well known. Earlier French references to Mère l’Oye appear in the 1620s and 1630s.
In the 20th century, Katherine Elwes-Thomas suggested Mother Goose might be based on legends of Queen Bertha of France, known as “Goose-Footed Bertha,” who was said to spin tales for children. Other scholars point to Charlemagne’s mother, Bertrada of Laon, also called the goose-foot queen. Some even trace the figure to the Queen of Sheba. Jacob Grimm linked these stories to the German figure Perchta, associated with children, geese, and spinning. Despite these theories, Iona and Peter Opie, leading nursery-rhyme authorities, dismiss both the Bertha and Boston origin stories. It is generally accepted that the term does not refer to any real person.
Perrault’s 1695 collection *Histoires ou contes du temps passés*—better known by its subtitle *Contes de ma mère l’Oye*—is the first authenticated source for Mother Goose stories. An English translation by Robert Samber appeared in 1729 and was reprinted in America in 1786. The name was further popularized by the compilation *Mother Goose’s Melody, or, Sonnets for the Cradle*, likely first published in 1780 or 1781 by Thomas Carnan. No copy of that edition survives; the earliest confirmed edition is from 1784. Since then, “Mother Goose” has been the English-speaking world’s name for children’s poetry.
Mother Goose also appears as the title character in a pantomime. The first verse of a related poem, “Old Mother Goose and the Golden Egg,” is often printed as a nursery rhyme. The full 15-stanza poem, which includes adventures with a golden egg and Mother Goose’s son Jack, was recorded by the Opies. Earlier versions exist in an 1820s chapbook and in J. O. Halliwell’s 1842 collection. All these poems depend on a highly successful 1806 pantomime, *Harlequin and Mother G
- field
- Children's fiction, nursery rhymes, pantomime
- known_for
- Imaginary author of fairy tales and nursery rhymes; title character in pantomime
- first_appearance_in_english
- Early 18th century (translation of Perrault's collection)
- earliest_mention
- 1650 in Jean Loret's La Muse Historique
Lore & Background
Mother Goose's name was identified with English collections of stories and nursery rhymes popularised in the 17th century. An early mention appears in an aside in a versified French chronicle of weekly events, Jean Loret's La Muse Historique, collected in 1650. His remark, 'comme un conte de la Mère Oye' ('like a Mother Goose story'), shows that the term was readily understood. Additional 17th-century Mother Goose/Mère l'Oye references appear in French literature in the 1620s and 1630s.
In the 20th century, Katherine Elwes-Thomas theorised that the image and name might be based upon ancient legends of the wife of King Robert II of France, known as 'Berthe la fileuse' or 'Berthe pied d'oie', often described as spinning incredible tales. Other scholars have pointed to Charlemagne's mother, Bertrada of Laon, known as the goose-foot queen. Stories of Bertha with a strange foot exist in many languages. Jacob Grimm theorised these stories are related to the Upper German figure Perchta or Berchta, associated with children, geese, and spinning.
Despite evidence to the contrary, it has been stated in the United States that the original Mother Goose was the Bostonian wife of Isaac Goose, either named Elizabeth Foster Goose or Mary Goose. Historians believe this story was concocted by Fleet's great-grandson John Fleet Eliot in 1860. Iona and Peter Opie, leading authorities on nursery lore, give no credence to either the Elwes-Thomas or the Boston suppositions. It is generally accepted that the term does not refer to any particular person.
Reader's Guide
Mother Goose holds significance as a central figure in the history of children's literature, serving as the purported author of both French fairy tales and English nursery rhymes. Charles Perrault's 1695 collection, Histoires ou contes du temps passés, with its subtitle Contes de ma mère l'Oye, marks the first authenticated starting-point for Mother Goose stories. An English translation appeared in 1729 and was reprinted in America in 1786. The name was further perpetuated by the compilation Mother Goose's Melody, or, Sonnets for the Cradle, published in London in the 1760s or later. In pantomime, Mother Goose became the title character in a 1806 production, Harlequin and Mother Goose, or The Golden Egg, which combined commedia dell'arte with folk elements. This stage version depicted her as a witch-figure, leading to illustrations of an old lady with a strong chin, tall pointed hat, and flying astride a goose. Later pantomimes, such as the 1902 version for Dan Leno, introduced a different storyline involving temptation by the Devil. In the United States, the term 'Mother Goose songs' became synonymous with nursery rhymes, leading to numerous children's entertainments incorporating her name. A granite statue by Frederick Roth was installed in New York's Central Park in 1938.
Did You Know?
- The earliest known mention of Mother Goose appears in Jean Loret's La Muse Historique, collected in 1650, where he wrote 'comme un conte de la Mère Oye'.
- Charles Perrault's 1695 collection Contes de ma mère l'Oye is the first authenticated starting-point for Mother Goose stories.
- A pantomime titled Harlequin and Mother Goose, or The Golden Egg was first performed in London in 1806.
- A granite statue of a flying Mother Goose by Frederick Roth was installed at the entrance to Rumsey Playfield in New York's Central Park in 1938.
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