Stepping into the whimsical world of Dr. Seuss often brings a smile, but when that world collides with the grids of a crossword puzzle, it can also bring a delightful challenge. Today’s spotlight falls on a particularly charming, yet potentially head-scratching, crossword clue: “One of 500 for Dr. Seuss’s Bartholomew Cubbins.” Ah, a classic!
This isn’t just any ordinary crossword clue; it’s a doorway back to childhood, to a land of absurd yet perfectly logical occurrences that only Seuss could conjure. Dr. Seuss, whose real name was Theodor Seuss Geisel, had an unparalleled knack for storytelling, creating characters and scenarios that stick with us long after we’ve turned the final page. From the Grinch to the Lorax, his creations are a testament to imagination, and naturally, they make for fantastic material for tricky crossword clues.
Bartholomew Cubbins, for those who might need a gentle jog of memory, is the unassuming hero of
The 500 Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins
. Published way back in 1938, this tale predates many of Seuss’s more famous rhyming works. It’s a beautifully illustrated story, known for its repetitive, escalating absurdity. Bartholomew, an ordinary boy, finds himself in an extraordinary predicament. Every time he takes off his headwear to bow to the king, another one miraculously appears on his head. The situation becomes increasingly desperate, with the items growing ever more elaborate, until he has, indeed, gone through five hundred of them.
This specific crossword clue leverages that iconic count – “One of 500.” The genius of the clue lies in its specificity and its reliance on a cultural touchstone. It asks solvers to recall not just the story, but the very object that causes all of Bartholomew’s distress and, ultimately, his triumph. For seasoned solvers tackling a daily crossword clue, this might be a delightful moment of recognition. For newcomers, or those who haven’t revisited Seuss in a while, it could be a truly perplexing challenge to solve this crossword clue.
When you encounter a literary crossword clue like this in the New York Times crossword, the L.A. Times crossword, or any universal crossword puzzle, the key is often to recall the central conflict or the most memorable item from the story. What is Bartholomew trying to get rid of? What keeps reappearing? The answer isn’t a complex abstract concept; it’s a tangible item, something that is explicitly counted as 500 of them. Understanding the narrative arc of Bartholomew’s struggle with these items is paramount to figuring out this challenging crossword clue.
These types of clues remind us why we love crosswords. They’re not just about vocabulary; they’re about general knowledge, pop culture, history, and yes, children’s literature. A well-crafted clue like this can be a difficult crossword clue for some, requiring a dive into memory lanes, while for others, it’s an easy crossword clue – a true ‘aha!’ moment. If you’re struggling to solve crossword clues that dip into literature, a good strategy is to think about the most defining visual or recurring element of the story. For Bartholomew, it’s clear what the recurring, multiplied item is.
So, as you ponder “One of 500 for Dr. Seuss’s Bartholomew Cubbins,” let your mind wander back to the land of Didd, the grumpy King Derwin, and the boy who just couldn’t take off his head covering. The answer to this crossword clue is waiting there, an essential piece of Bartholomew’s very unique problem. It’s a word that encapsulates the entire magical, maddening, and ultimately marvelous premise of one of Dr. Seuss’s earliest and most charming tales. Happy puzzling!
Available Answers:
HAT.
Last seen on the crossword puzzle: Washington Post Crossword -Sunday’s Daily By Jim Quinlan / Ed. Patti Varol