Why does the narrator keep saying "the Chinese plate told me so"?

It's the poem's ongoing joke. The narrator wasn't present, so he keeps referencing his sources — the Dutch clock and the Chinese plate — much like a reporter would cite witnesses. The humor lies in the fact that these sources are inanimate objects, making the entire account comically unreliable.

What does "gingham" and "calico" mean?

Both are types of cotton fabric. Gingham features a checked or plaid design, typically in two colors. Calico is adorned with small floral or geometric patterns on a white or off-white background. Field picked them because they look different from each other, making it easy to imagine their bits fluttering through the air.

Is there a deeper meaning, or is it just a funny kids' poem?

Both things are true at once. At first glance, it seems like a comic tall tale meant for kids. However, the ending—where two creatures that share a home end up destroying each other completely—delivers a powerful message about how unchecked conflict leads to mutual destruction. Field doesn’t preach; he simply allows the ridiculous outcome to convey its own truth.

What is the poem's rhyme scheme and meter?

Each stanza consists of nine lines and has a lively anapestic rhythm — that upbeat "da-da-DUM" cadence that adds energy to nursery rhymes. The rhyme scheme tightly connects the lines (AABBBCCB in the first stanza, with some variations), and Field includes a parenthetical couplet at the end of each stanza to share the narrator's side note on their sources.

Why does the Dutch clock "put its hands before its face"?

It's a visual pun. The clock hands act as the arms of the clock face, effectively making the clock cover its face with its hands — just like a person might do when they can't bear to watch something terrible. Field is having fun with the double meanings of "hands" and "face" on a clock.

What does "family row" mean in the second stanza?

A "row" (rhymes with "cow") is a British term from the 19th century that refers to a noisy quarrel or fight. When we call it a *family* row, it suggests that the dog and cat belong to the same household — practically relatives — which adds an ironic and somewhat sad twist to their all-out war, even amidst the comedy.

When was "The Duel" written and where was it published?

Field wrote this poem in 1894, and it appeared in his collection *Love-Songs of Childhood*, also released that same year. He passed away in 1895, making this collection one of his last works. The poem has been in continuous print ever since and is among his most frequently anthologized pieces.

The Annotated Edition

THE DUEL by Eugene Field

Summary, meaning, line-by-line analysis & FAQ.

Read aloud in ~2 minOpen reading mode →

A gingham dog and a calico cat are perched on a table, where they get into such a fierce fight that they actually devour each other, leaving no trace behind.

Poet: Eugene Field
Themes: anger, childhood, identity

The PoemFull text

THE DUEL

Eugene Field

The gingham dog and the calico cat Side by side on the table sat; 'T was half-past twelve, and (what do you think!) Nor one nor t' other had slept a wink! The old Dutch clock and the Chinese plate Appeared to know as sure as fate There was going to be a terrible spat. (I wasn't there; I simply state What was told to me by the Chinese plate!) The gingham dog went "bow-wow-wow!" And the calico cat replied "mee-ow!" The air was littered, an hour or so, With bits of gingham and calico, While the old Dutch clock in the chimney place Up with its hands before its face, For it always dreaded a family row! (Now mind: I'm only telling you What the old Dutch clock declares is true!) The Chinese plate looked very blue, And wailed, "Oh, dear! what shall we do!" But the gingham dog and the calico cat Wallowed this way and tumbled that, Employing every tooth and claw In the awfullest way you ever saw-- And, oh! how the gingham and calico flew! (Don't fancy I exaggerate-- I got my news from the Chinese plate!) Next morning, where the two had sat They found no trace of dog or cat; And some folks think unto this day That burglars stole that pair away! But the truth about the cat and pup Is this: they ate each other up! Now what do you really think of that! (The old Dutch clock it told me so, And that is how I came to know.)

§01Quick summary

What this poem is about

A gingham dog and a calico cat are perched on a table, where they get into such a fierce fight that they actually devour each other, leaving no trace behind. The story unfolds through the "eyewitness" perspectives of a Dutch clock and a Chinese plate, giving it the feel of a whimsical tall tale. It’s humorous and a bit absurd, but beneath all the silliness lies a straightforward message: some rivalries lead to mutual destruction.

§02Themes

Recurring themes

§03Line by line

Stanza by stanza, with notes

The gingham dog and the calico cat / Side by side on the table sat;
Editor's note
Field sets the scene with two household objects—a stuffed dog made of gingham and a calico cat—sitting together on a table at half-past midnight. Neither can sleep, and even the clock and plate seem to sense trouble brewing. The narrator quickly distances himself from the story by calling the Chinese plate his source, introducing the poem's ongoing joke about unreliable witnesses.
The gingham dog went "bow-wow-wow!" / And the calico cat replied "mee-ow!"
Editor's note
The fight breaks out. Within an hour, the air fills with torn fabric — bits of gingham and calico fluttering everywhere. The Dutch clock covers its face with its hands, unable to bear a "family row." That word *family* is a small but revealing detail: these two live in the same house and are treated like kin, which makes their mutual destruction feel more intense. The narrator reminds us once more that the clock is his only source.
The Chinese plate looked very blue, / And wailed, "Oh, dear! what shall we do!"
Editor's note
The plate feels distressed but powerless. Meanwhile, the dog and cat are fiercely going after each other with every tooth and claw in what Field describes as "the awfullest way you ever saw." The exclamation and the italicized *awfullest* are a clear comic exaggeration — Field is playing it up for a young audience while the plate anxiously wrings its hands. The narrator pops in again to remind us that the plate is his source, keeping the humor going.
Next morning, where the two had sat / They found no trace of dog or cat;
Editor's note
The punchline hits hard: both animals have vanished. Field briefly suggests that burglars might have taken them, but quickly chuckles at the thought—the reality is they ended up eating each other. The last couplet gives the Dutch clock its due credit, wrapping up the whole unreliable-narrator theme. The tone feels mock-serious, almost like delivering a grave verdict on an utterly ridiculous situation.

§04Tone & mood

How this poem feels

Playful and mock-serious from start to finish. Field maintains a straight face while detailing the sheer absurdity, which is what makes it so amusing. There's a subtle hint of dark comedy—mutual destruction is the end result—but the lively anapestic rhythm and humorous asides keep the tone upbeat. The poem doesn't overdo the humor; it simply relies on the deadpan delivery to carry the weight.

§05Symbols & metaphors

Symbols & metaphors

The gingham dog and calico cat: On the surface, they appear to be just fabric toys or decorative objects, but they represent any two parties whose differences escalate into overwhelming conflict. Their names, based solely on the material they're crafted from, imply that they are trapped in rigid identities that hinder any possibility of compromise.
The Dutch clock and Chinese plate: These bystander objects symbolize the witnesses observing conflict unfold but unable to intervene. They also highlight the poem's ongoing joke about how unreliable secondhand accounts can be—everything we "know" comes from these everyday household items.
Bits of gingham and calico flying through the air: The literal shredding of the combatants' own physical bodies paints a striking picture of self-destruction. When you push yourself to the brink of mutual annihilation, you don't just lose the battle — you lose a piece of yourself.
Half-past twelve (midnight): The witching hour unfolds beyond the bounds of normal, supervised time. With no adults or owners around, the conflict can escalate unchecked, reaching its extreme conclusion.

§06Historical context

Historical context

Eugene Field wrote "The Duel" in 1894, just a year before he passed away, and it was included in his collection *Love-Songs of Childhood*. As a Chicago journalist and columnist, Field became one of the most cherished American writers of children's poetry in the late 19th century—his well-known poem "Wynken, Blynken, and Nod" also features in this collection. During the Gilded Age, nurseries were filled with decorative fabric animals and painted china, so Field's readers would have easily envisioned these objects. The poem is part of a tradition of comic verse that employs talking or animated household items to tell stories for kids, a lineage that spans from folk tales to later authors like A. A. Milne. Field's background in journalism is evident in the poem's mock-reportorial style: the narrator references his sources like a journalist would, which fuels the humor throughout the piece.

§07FAQ

Questions readers ask

No. They're fabric objects—a stuffed or decorative dog made from gingham cloth and a cat made from calico cloth. Field treats them as if they're alive, which is the main comedic idea. Some readers also see them as symbols for any two rivals who just can't stop bickering.

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