The tiny woman in the tiny house about to get gulped down

There Was an Old Woman

There was an old woman
Called Nothing-at-all,
Who lived in a dwelling
Exceedingly small;
A man stretched his mouth
To its utmost extent,
And down at one gulp
House and old woman went.

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Meaning

This short and quirky rhyme introduces “Nothing-at-all”—an old woman who lives in an exceptionally tiny house. The story takes a comic turn as a man opens his mouth wide and swallows both the old woman and her house in a single gulp. The rhyme is a playful example of nonsense verse, focusing on exaggeration and absurdity to elicit laughter and surprise.

Origin

Found in Victorian-era nursery rhyme collections, this verse reflects English literary traditions of whimsical and surreal nonsense rhymes. The exaggeration of smallness and sudden consumption by a man’s enormous mouth ties it to the genre that includes tales like “There Was an Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe” and “The House that Jack Built“.

Time Period

First published in the 19th century, with probable earlier oral versions circulating before its documentation.

Why It Became Popular

Its brevity, surprise ending, and silly premise make it memorable and enjoyable for children, supporting storytelling and creative play. The rhyme is included in major English and American nursery songbooks focused on absurd and whimsical tales.

Structure and Style

Meter: Regular, short lines for rhythmic recitation
Rhyme Scheme: AABB
Line Count: Four lines
Style Notes: Nonsense, humorous, abrupt conclusion

Themes

Nonsense and exaggeration
Smallness and bigness
Surprise and absurd humor
Oral storytelling

Language Notes

The rhyme plays with opposites—tiny house, giant mouth—and uses the name “Nothing-at-all” to reinforce the theme of emptiness and whimsical invention.

Moral or Lesson

No explicit moral; primarily offers laughter and astonishment through the wild possibilities of nonsense verse.

Historical or Cultural Notes

In many collections, this rhyme serves as an example of Victorian humor and the era’s fascination with wordplay and surreal stories. It often appears alongside other ultra-short, absurd verses meant for comic effect.

Notable Variants

Some versions add or modify the final line for more detail or a different comic twist but always focus on the small house and its surprising fate.

Appearances in Media or Literature

Featured in “Mother Goose” and other English nursery rhyme anthologies emphasizing nonsense and brevity.

Suggested Activities

Art Project: Draw the old woman, her tiny house, and the comically wide mouth.
Creative Play: Act out the events with props for a silly storytelling session.
Rhyme Making: Invent other short, silly verses inspired by the format.
Discussion: Talk about other rhymes or stories where characters live in unusual places.

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