Parodies of Ballad Criticism (1711-1787) A Comment Upon the History of Tom Thumb, 1711, by William Wagstaffe; The Knave of Hearts, 1787, by George Canning

"Parodies of Ballad Criticism (1711-1787)" by William Wagstaffe and George Canning includes satirical writings that make fun of literary analysis during the shift from classic to Romantic styles and shows the discussions about ballad poetry at the time. The book has Wagstaffe’s funny take on "Tom Thumb," in which he makes the children’s story seem like an important piece of literature while teasing the serious literary critics of the time. Canning then provides a funny, epic-style review of "The Knave of Hearts," making the simple ballad seem like high art, and highlighting the cultural arguments about literary forms; the reader witnesses debates surrounding taste, and the interactions between old-style ballads and newer, more complex poetry.