The Owl and the Pussycat - Lesson 1 - Worksheet

The classic nonsense poem "The Owl and the Pussycat" by Edward Lear is a whimsical tale of love and adventure, presented here as part of an English teaching resource. The poem narrates the story of an owl and a pussycat who set off to sea in a charming pea-green boat. They carry with them some honey and plenty of money, which is wrapped up in a five-pound note. As they gaze at the stars, the Owl serenades the Pussycat with his guitar, leading to a proposal of marriage. However, they find themselves in a conundrum over the absence of a wedding ring.

Their voyage continues for a year and a day until they reach the land where the Bong-tree grows. Here they encounter a Piggy-wig with a ring at the end of his nose, which they purchase for one shilling. The next day, they are joyfully married by a Turkey and celebrate with a feast of mince and quince, eaten with a runcible spoon. The celebration culminates with a dance by the light of the moon, hand in hand on the sandy shore. Accompanying worksheets for this resource encourage students to engage with the narrative by filling in missing words, sequencing the story, and creatively rendering the poem into a comic strip format.