“The Pied Piper of Hamelin”

Cultural  

1. A poem by Robert Browning, based on a German folk tale from the Middle Ages. The town of Hamelin is infested with rats, and the citizens hire a piper in multicolored (pied) clothing to lure the rats out with his charming music. The rats follow the piper into the river and drown. When the townspeople refuse to pay the piper, he lures away all the children of the town.

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Example Sentences

His friend Hart compares him to the Pied Piper of Hamelin: “People want to hear that sound. Charlie Parker had it. John Coltrane certainly had it. It’s a sound that doesn’t change the notes, it makes the notes, and that’s the sound that Billy has.”

From New York Times

“And we could not understand why our father did not approve, why he was not happy and proud....Sometimes he would compare Hitler with the Pied Piper of Hamelin, who, with his flute, led the children to destruction.”

From Literature

Folklore with roots in this period, like “The Pied Piper of Hamelin,” warns of rhythm’s seductive power.

From New York Times

To some people it looked as though the Pied Piper of Hamelin had suddenly descended upon New York.

From Literature

Not sure the hyenas would agree, but perhaps we are now ready to see the Pied Piper of Hamelin as another example of the Führerprinzip.

From Washington Post