Station 1:
S1:
“The Journey of a Modern Hero, to the Island of ELBA”
This British cartoon from May 1814 shows Napoleon seated backwards on a donkey on the way to
Elba from Fontainebleau.
Historical context:
After Napoleon’s defeat at the Battle of Nations near Leipzig in 1813, he was forced to abdicate. His
Foreign Minister Talleyrand had formed a Provisional Government and was planning to restore a
Bourbon monarch to the throne. The Treaty of Fontainebleau which Napoleon had to sign exiled him
to the island of Elba (although he was provided with two million francs a year and was allowed to keep
the title ‘Emperor’).
However, he managed to escape from Elba in 1815 and was able to restore his power in France (this
is known as his ‘100-Days-Rule’). Napoleon’s final defeat came about in the Battle of Waterloo (a
village near Brussels) in 1815, after which he had to abdicate again and was finally exiled to the island
of Saint Helena, where he died in 1821.
Tasks:
1. Describe the cartoon and its composition in detail.
2. Relate the poem to the cartoon and explain it against the backdrop of the historical context
provided above (or known from history lessons).
 In order to understand the message conveyed by the artist, you must know that it is a
custom at military funerals to have a riderless horse with boots reversed in the stirrups follow
the casket. This custom is believed to date back to Genghis Khan and is supposed to
symbolise a warrior who would ride no more.
3. Examine the attitude towards Napoleon expressed. Think of possible reasons.
[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Napoleon%27s_exile_to_Elba3.jpg; 11/1/12]
Embedded text:
Left of Napoleon’s leg: Materials for the history of my life and exploits
Right of Napoleon’s leg: A budget of Mathematical books for my study at ELBA
Above his broken sword: A throne is only made of wood and cover’d with velvet
Next to the donkey’s tail: The greatest events in human life is turned into a puff
Language support:
Wegweiser signpost  Zweispitz (Napoleonshut) bicorne  Kokarde cockade  Sporen spurs
Embedded poem:
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
S2:
Farewell my brave soldiers, my eagles adieu;
Stung with my ambition, o'er the world ye flew:
But deeds of disaster so sad to rehearse
I have lived--fatal truth for to know the reverse.
From Moscow to Lipsic; the case it is clear
I was sent back to France with a flea in my ear.
A lesson to mortals regarding my fall:
He grasps at a shadow, by grasping at all.
My course it is finish'd my race it is run,
My career it is ended just where it begun.
The Empire of France no more it is mine.
Because I can't keep it I freely resign.
ye you
Lipsic Leipzig
An English Nursery Rhyme
Tasks:
1. Describe Napoleon, according to this nursery rhyme, and compare his depiction to the one in
the cartoon. Think of reasons for differences.
2. We do not know exactly when this nursery rhyme began to spread. Propose a suitable year
and explain your choice.
1
2
3
4
Baby, baby, naughty baby,
Hush, you squalling thing, I say.
Peace this moment, peace, or maybe
Bonaparte will pass this way.
5
6
7
8
Baby, baby, he’s a giant,
Tall and black as Rouen steeple,
And he breakfasts, dines, rely on’t,
Every day on naughty people.
9
10
11
12
Baby, baby, if he hears you,
As he gallops past the house,
Limb from limb at once he’ll tear you,
Just as pussy tears a mouse.
13
14
15
16
And he’ll beat you, beat you, beat you.
And he’ll beat you all to pap,
And he’ll eat you, eat you, eat you,
Every morsel snap, snap, snap.
(Iona and Peter Opie, Oxford Dictionary of Nursery
Rhymes, 1951.)
to squall to cry loudly
steeple a tall pointed tower on a church
pap very soft food for babies
morsel a small piece of food