Samuel Butler (poet) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Samuel Butler
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Portrait of Samuel Butler by Pieter Borsseler
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| Born | 1612 or 1613 Strensham, Worcestershire, England
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| Died | 25 September 1680 (aged 67) London, England
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| Nationality | English |
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Notable work
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Hudibras (1663–1678) |
Samuel Butler (born in 1612 or 1613 – died September 25, 1680) was an English poet and writer. He is best known for his long, funny poem called Hudibras. This poem made fun of different religious groups of his time.
Contents
Samuel Butler's Life Story
Samuel Butler was born in a place called Strensham in Worcestershire, England. His father was a farmer and also worked for the church. We don't know his exact birthday, but he was baptized on February 14, 1613.
Early Life and Education
When he was young, Samuel lived with Sir William Russell of Strensham and worked as his clerk. People said he was very observant even as a boy. He went to the King's School, Worcester, which was known for good teaching.
Later, he worked for the Countess of Kent. There, he met John Selden, a smart lawyer who helped shape Butler's ideas for his writing. Samuel also tried painting, but he wasn't very good at it! He studied law too, but he never became a practicing lawyer.
Working and Writing Hudibras
After the king returned to power in England (this was called the Restoration), Butler became a secretary for Richard Vaughan, 2nd Earl of Carbery. He lived in Ludlow, Shropshire, for about a year while working on repairing a castle.
He started writing Hudibras in 1658. The first part of the poem was published in 1662. The other two parts came out in 1664 and 1678. The famous diarist Samuel Pepys bought the first two parts. He said it was very popular, but he didn't quite understand why people found it so funny.
Later Years and Death
Even though Hudibras was very popular, Samuel Butler didn't get a job working for the King. Some people thought his satirical (funny and critical) writing style might have made it hard for him to make friends in high places. However, he did work for the Duke of Buckingham for a while and even went to France with him. King Charles II also gave him some money.
Samuel Butler lived in London during his later years. He died on September 25, 1680, from a lung illness called tuberculosis. He was buried in the churchyard of St Paul's, Covent Garden. Years later, a monument was put up for him in Westminster Abbey. There is also a memorial plaque in the church in his hometown of Strensham.
About Hudibras
Hudibras is a long poem that makes fun of religious groups and their arguments. It was extremely popular when it was first published. Many phrases from the poem became common sayings.
The poem is a bit like Don Quixote, which is a Spanish story about a knight who imagines things. But Hudibras also talks about real people and events from Butler's time. Butler was also inspired by other writers who used humor to criticize things, like John Skelton.
Hudibras has been printed many times over the centuries. It is still studied today as an important work of English literature.
Other Writings by Samuel Butler
Besides Hudibras, Samuel Butler wrote many other things. Most of these were not printed until after he died. He wrote short life stories, funny poems called epigrams, and other verses.
One of his well-known short poems is "The Elephant on the Moon." This poem is about a mouse that gets stuck in a telescope. It was a funny way to make fun of a scientist named Paul Neale and the Royal Society, a famous group of scientists.
He also wrote a poem called Cynarctomachy, which means "Battle between Bear and Dogs." This poem was a playful tribute to and a parody of an ancient Greek poem.
Famous Quote
A News-monger is a Retailer of Rumour, that takes up upon Trust, and sells as cheap as he buys. He deals in a perishable Commodity, that will not keep: for if it be not fresh it lies upon his Hands, and will yield nothing. True or false is all one to him; for Novelty being the Grace of bothe, a Truth grows stale as soon as a Lye...
—Samuel Butler, Characters
See also
In Spanish: Samuel Butler (poeta) para niños
