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Wednesday, January 21, 2026

Examples Of Children's Recreational Rhymes That Include The Name "Frankenstein" (Titles: M-Z)

Edited by Azizi Powell

This is Part III of a three part pancocojams post series about the name "Frankenstein" in English language children's recreational rhymes.

Thist post presents examples of children's recreational rhymes that include the name "Frankenstein" (M-Z).

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2026/01/information-about-1818-british-novel.html for Part I of this pancocojams series. That post presents some information about 19th century author Mary Shelley's   novel entitled Frankenstein, or The Modern Prometheus.

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2026/01/the-name-frankenstein-in-examples-of.html_ for Part II of this pancocojams series. That post presents examples of children's recreational rhymes that include the name "Frankenstein" (A-L).

The content of this post is presented for historical and cultural purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to Mary Shelley for writing the Frankenstein novel and thanks to all those who are quoted in this post.
-snip-
This series replaces the now deleted November 2020 pancocojams post "
The Name "Frankenstein" In Examples Of Children's Jump Rope & Handclap Rhymes." 

Also, click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2025/09/childrens-recreational-rhymes-that.html for the related 2025 pancocojams post "More Children's Recreational Rhymes That Mention Fictional Characters (M-Z)".

****
PANCOCOJAMS EDITOR'S NOTE
As is the case with some other examples of recreational rhymes that are showcased on pancocojams, I'm sharing these rhymes because I'm interested in collecting, studying, and sharing recreational rhymes. Some of these rhymes have been composed and chanted by Black people and some have been composed and chanted by non-Black people.

****
Please add examples of children's recreational rhymes that include the name "Frankenstein" in the comment section below. Remember to include demographic information such as year or decade you chanted it and which city/state or nation if outside of the United States. Thanks in advance!

****
SOME EXAMPLES OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE CHILDREN'S RHYMES  THAT INCLUDE THE NAME "FRANKENSEIN  

These examples begin with the letter "M"- "Z")

The name "Frankenstein" is given in italics in these examples to highlight that name.

M, N

MISS SUZIE HAD A STEAMBOAT (version #1)
"Miss Suzie had a steamboat,

her steamboat had a bell (ding ding),

Miss Suzie went to heaven,

her steamboat went to...

HELL...o operator

please give me number nine,

And if you disconnect me

I'll cut off your...

Behind the refridgerator

there lay a piece of glass

Miss Suzie sat upon it and cut her big fat...

Ask me no more questions,

I'll tell you now more lies

The boys are in the bathroom

zipping up their..

Flies are in the meadow,

the bees are in the park,

Miss Suzie and her boyfriend

are kissing in the...

D-a-r-k, d-a-r-k, dark dark dark.

The dark is like the movies,

the movies' like the show,

The show is like tv

and that is all I know...

Know know,

I know I know my ma

I know I know my pa,

I know I know my sister

with the 80 meter bra.

My mother is Godzilla,

my father is King Kong.

My sister is the idiot

who made up this dumb song.

My mother gave me a nickle,

my father gave me a dime

My sister gave me a boyfriend,

his name was Frankenstein.

He made me do the dishes,

he made me wash the floor

He made we wash his underpants

and I kicked him out the door!

I kicked him over London,

I kicked him over France,

I kicked him over Hollywoood

and he lost his underpants.

Miss Suzie had a baby,

she named him Tiny Tim.

She put him in the bathtub

to see if he could swim.

He drank up all the water,

he ate up all the soap.

He tried to eat the bathtub

but it wouldn't fit down his throat.

Miss Suzie called the doctor,

Miss Suzie called the nurse

Miss Suzie called the lady

with the alligator purse.

Chicken pox said the doctor,

measles said the nurse

Nothing said the lady

with the alligator purse.

Pennicillan said the doctor,

caster oil said the nurse.

Pizzia said the lady

with the alligator purse!

Miss Suzie knocked the doctor.

Miss Suzie punched the nurse.

Miss Suzie paid the lady with the alligator purse!"
-http://www.inthe80s.com/rhymes.shtml
-snip-
This example is reformatted from the paragraph form which is found on that site.

****
MISS SUSIE HAD A STEAMBOAT (HELLO OPERATOR) [Version #2; This is a clip of longer rhyme]
"[...]

I wish I had a nickel
I wish I had a dime
I wish I had a boyfriend
Who kissed me all the time!

My Ma gave me a nickel
My Pa gave me a dime.
My Sister gave me a boyfriend,
Who'd kiss me all the time

My Ma took back the nickel,
My Pa took back the dime.
My Sister took back her boyfriend,
and gave me Frankenstein!

He made me wash the dishes,
He made me wash the floors,
He made me wash his underwear,
So I kicked him out the door

I kicked him over London,
I kicked him over France.
I kicked him to Hawaii,
where he learned to Hula dance!"...
- https://www.nurseryrhymes.org/miss-susie-had-a-steamboat-hello-operator.html

****
MS SUZIE HAD A STEAMBOAT  (version #4)
"I'm not sure that was ever a song, but I know it as a jump rope chant from long ago.

In it's entirety it goes like this:


Ms. Suzie had a steamboat,
The steamboat had a bell, (ding-ding)
Ms. Suzie went to heaven and the steamboat went to-
hello operator,
please give me number nine,
and if you disconnect me I will chop off your-

[...]


My mom gave me a nickel,
my dad gave me a dime,
my sis gave me her boyfriend,
who hit me all the time!

I gave mom back the nickel,
I gave dad back the dime,
I traded back the boyfriend,
Instead got frankenstein!

He made me wash the dishes,
he made me scrub the floor!
He made me call him “your highness”
and more and more and more!

 

Notice all the politically and socially incorrectness of the original words! You won't be hearing THAT on a schoolyard anywhere. Of course, I doubt if kids jump rope anymore, either."
-claudiacake, 2008, https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20081205222059AAgR6lR

****
 
MISS SUSIE HAD A STEAMBOAT (HELLO OPERATOR - Lyrics (version #5
"Warning: this rhyme is for the oldest kids! They love it... :)

Miss Susie had a steamboat,
The steamboat had a bell.
Miss Susie went to heaven,
The steamboat went to $&#/$&

Hello operator,
Please give me number nine.
And if you disconnect me
I’ll chop of your /&$#%$

Behind the frigerator
There was a piece of glass.
Miss Mary sat upon it.
It went right up her "%"$(=

Ask me no more questions,
Please tell me no more lies.
The boys are in the bathroom,
Zipping down their "$%$&/&

Flies are in the city,
The bees are in the park.
Boys and girls are kissing
In the D-A-R-K

D-A-R-K D-A-R-K dark dark dark

Dark is like a movie,
A movie’s like a show.
A show is like a TV screen,
And that is all I know

I know I know my mother,
I know I know my pa.
I know I know my sister
With the forty acre bra.

Brother’s like a sister,
A sister’s like an aunt.
An aunt is like a relative
Who likes to rave and rant.

I wish I had a nickel
I wish I had a dime
I wish I had a boyfriend
Who kissed me all the time!

My Ma gave me a nickel
My Pa gave me a dime
My Sister gave me a boyfriend,
Who'd kiss me all the time

My Ma took back the nickel,
My Pa took back the dime.
My Sister took back her boyfriend,
and gave me Frankenstein!

He made me wash the dishes,
He made me wash the floors,
He made me wash his underwear,
So I kicked him out the door

I kicked him over London,
I kicked him over France.
I kicked him to Hawaii,
where he learned to Hula dance!

My mothers like Godzilla,
My fathers like King Kong.
My sister is the stupid one
That taught me this dumb song.

Hello operator,
Please give me number ten.
And if you disconnect me,
I’ll sing this song again!"
-https://www.nurseryrhymes.org/miss-susie-had-a-steamboat-hello-operator.html

****
MY MOTHER GAVE ME A NICKEL
"My mother gave me a nickel

My father gave me a dime

My sister gave me a lover boy

Who loved me all the time

My mother took back her nickel

My father took back her dime

My sister took back her lover boy

And gave me Frankenstein

He made me do the dishes

He made me mop the floor

I got so sick and tired of him

I kicked him out the door."
-Simon J. Bronner (editor), American Children's Folklore, 1988, page 62

 ****
O, P

ON A MOUNTAIN STANDS A CASTLE
"
We had one which I'm struggling to remember

On a mountain stands a castle

Whose the owner? Frankenstien

And his daughter, Pansy Porter

She's his only valentine"
-Gooseyloosie, www.mumsnet.com/Talk/other_subjects/375176-skipping-rhymes , 21-Aug-07 05
-snip-
Here's information about Pansy Potter from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pansy_Potter

" "Pansy Potter The Strongman's Daughter" is a British comic strip series created in 1938 by Hugh McNeill for the magazine The Beano.[1] The series appeared first in the issue dated 17 December 1938. The protagonist is Pansy Potter, a girl who has super strength."...

****
Q, R

****
S, T

THAT'S THE WAY I LIKE IT
"ABC hit it

that's the way uh huh uh huh

I like it uh huh uh huh

that's the way uh huh uh huh

I like it uh huh uh huh.

You got the moves,

I got the grooves

so peace punch cap'n crunch.

Break the wall a water fall

girl you think you got it all,you don't. I do.

So poof with your attitude

your mother,your daddy,your bald headed granny.

She's 99 she's online,

she's going out with Frankenstein.

Go granny,go go go granny woo!
-Hannah; 10/29/2008, cocojams.com 
-snip-
"Cocojams" was the name of my cultural website that was online from January 2001 to November 2014. A lot of the examples on that website were submitted by children, preteens, and teenagers using that site's easy to submit page that didn't require contributors to give an email address. Some of those examples are included on my pancocojams blog and my cocojams2 blog.
-snip-
I placed this example under the letter "T" for the title "That's The Way. I Like It" because I believe that  "ABC Hit it" is an introductory phrase (like "One two, three, go!" and not the title of the rhyme.

Read similar examples that include the for the bald headed granny verses in "Brick Wall Waterfall" rhymes in Part I of this pancocojams series. It should be noted that a number of  examples of Brick Wall Waterfall" rhymes don't include "bald headed granny" verses or any reference to "Frankenstein".

****
U, V

U-G-L-Y [title]
"U-G-L- Y

you ain't got no aliby

you ugly,

yeah yeah you ugly


Don't be sad

don't be blue

Frankenstein was ugly too

You ugly,

yeah yeah

you ugly"
-anonymous; cocojams.com
(I neglected to retrieve the date this example was published on my cocojams cultural website.)
-snip-

This example is actually a children's/teenagers' taunting rhyme that may not have any accompanying activities. A version of this rhyme without the "Don't be sad" verse) was performed as a high school cheerleader cheer in the 1986 comedy movie entitled Wildcats.

****
W, X

****
Y, Z

YO BALD HEADED GRANNY

"[...]

My mama, my daddy, my bald headed granny

She's 99

She thinks she's fine

But she goin out with Frankenstein

Go granny, go granny, go granny.

Woo!

[...]"
-sonnym2004, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sKsMeC1X6oY&feature=emb_logo&ab_channel=sonnym2004, Yo Bald-Headed Granny, Jul 1, 2011

**
YO MAMA YO DADDY YO GREASY STANK GRANNY
"Yo mama
yo daddy
yo greasy stank granny
she got holes in her panties
she got a big behind
like Frankenstein
your mama got a big ole butt"
--CinciDiva, Yo Mama, Yo Daddy, Yo greasy stank granny!; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMtZXXIHLwY&ab_channel=CinciDiva, Feb 13, 2011

**
YO MAMA YO GREASY GREASY GRAND MAMMY
"
I am 25 now and learned this when I was in KG, i'm from North Carolina.

yo mamma

yo, mamma,

yo greasy greasy grand mammy,

she got a big behind like frankinstine,

it goes beat beat beat like sesame street."
-Erica, cocojams.com, 1/3/2008

**
YOUR MAMA, YOUR DADDY, YOUR GREASY GREASY GRANNY
"your mama,
your daddy,
your greasy greasy granny
with the hole in her panties,
with a big behind,
like frankenstein-
going beep beep beep
down sesame street!"
-AMY!, cocojams.com, 6/28/2007
-snip-
"cocojams" was the name of  my cultural website that was active from January 2001 to Nov. 2014. A lot of children and teenagers used that website's easy feature for posting examples of rhymes and cheers

****
This concludes Part III of this pancocojams series.

Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

Examples Of Children's Recreational Rhymes That Include The Name "Frankenstein" (Title A-L)

Edited by Azizi Powell

This is Part II of a three part pancocojams post series about the name "Frankenstein" in English language children's recreational rhymes.

This post presents examples of children's recreational rhymes that include the name "Frankenstein" (A-L).

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2026/01/information-about-1818-british-novel.html for Part I of this pancocojams series. T
hat post presents some information about 19th century author Mary Shelley's   novel entitled Frankenstein, or The Modern Prometheus.

That post also includes  some responses to the question "Why do so many people believe the monster's name is Frankenstein when that really was the name of the doctor who created the monster?"

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2026/01/the-name-frankenstein-in-examples-of_21.html for Part III of this pancocojams series. That post presents examples of children's recreational rhymes that include the name "Frankenstein" (M-Z)

The content of this post is presented for historical and cultural purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to Mary Shelley for writing the Frankenstein novel and thanks to all those who are quoted in this post.
-snip-
This series replaces the now deleted November 2020 pancocojams post "
The Name "Frankenstein" In Examples Of Children's Jump Rope & Handclap Rhymes." 

Also,
click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2025/09/childrens-recreational-rhymes-that.html for the related 2025 pancocojams post "More Children's Recreational Rhymes That Mention Fictional Characters (A-L)".

****
PANCOCOJAMS EDITOR'S NOTE
As is the case with some other examples of recreational rhymes that are showcased on pancocojams, I'm sharing these rhymes because I'm interested in collecting, studying, and sharing recreational rhymes. Some of these rhymes have been composed and chanted by Black people and some have been composed and chanted by non-Black people.

****
Please add examples of children's recreational rhymes that include the name "Frankenstein" in the comment section below. Remember to include demographic information such as year or decade you chanted it and which city/state or nation if outside of the United States. Thanks in advance!

****
SOME EXAMPLES OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE CHILDREN'S RHYMES  THAT INCLUDE THE NAME "FRANKENSEIN  

These examples begin with the letter "A"- "L")

The name "Frankenstein" is given in italics in these examples to highlight that name.

A, B

BRICKWALL WATERFALL (version #1)
"Who remembers Brick Wall Waterfall?

I randomly remembered this little chant from elementary school. I feel like everyone had a different version but i remember:

“That’s the way uh huh uh huh I like it uh huh uh huh You got yours, i got mine so peace punch captain crunch Brick wall waterfall. Boys think they know it all But they don’t, girls do. So poof with the attitude No wait, come back. I think you need a tictac Not one, not two, but the whole six pack Your mama your daddy your bald headed granny She 99 she think she fine. Shes goin out with Frankenstein Go granny go granny Go go Go granny"
-Old-Application2936, 2022, 
https://www.reddit.com/r/nostalgia/comments/160nmk0/who_remembers_brick_wall_waterfall/

****
BRICKWALL WATERFALL (Version #2)
"My friends and I kept the brick wall one going like this: “not the tic, not the tac, but the whole six pack! yo mama! yo daddy! yo bald-headed granny! she’s 99, she thinks she’s fine, she’s dating Frankenstein! go granny, go go!”
-taylorcorpse, 2024,
https://www.reddit.com/r/OlderGenZ/comments/1evbrji/brick_wall_waterfall_you_think_think_that_you/

****
BRICKWALL WATERFALL (Version #3)
"
brick wall waterfall girl you think you got it all you dont i do so boom with that attitude yo momma yo dadda yo bald headed grandma she 99 she think she fine she goin out with frankinstien shes hip shes fat she needs a tictac not a tic not a tac but the whole six pack sorry to be mean but she needs some listerene not a sip not a swallow but the whole dang bottle oh!!!!!!!"
-ash; 10/26/2007, https://www.reddit.com/r/AskOldPeople/comments/1am0g1d/do_you_remember_any_childhood_jump_rope_songs_so/


****
C, D

****
E, F

EENIE MEENIE (Also known as "I Woke Up Sunday Morning", "Roaches and Bedbugs" and other titles) 
"I woke up Sunday morning

And looked up on the wall

The cooties and the bedbugs

Were having a game of ball.


The score was six-to-nothing,

The cooties were ahead.

The cooties hit a home run

And knocked me out of bed!

[Chorus]

I'm singin

Eenie meenie and a-miny-mo

Boom boom boom

Catch a whifferwhaffer by the toe

Boom boom boom

And if he holler hollers let him go

Boom boom boom

Eenie-meenie and a-miny-mo


My father gave me a nickel

My mother gave me a dime

My sister has a boyfriend

Who looks like Frankenstein

[Chorus]


My father is a lawyer,

My mother is a spy

Me and my big mouth

I told thee FBI!


 [Chorus]


I went downstairs for breakfast

I ordered ham and eggs

I ate so many eggs

That the yolk ran down my leg


[Chorus]


I went into the sewer

And that is how I died

They didn't call it murder

They called it "sewer-side!"
-Submitted by Guest, https://www.allthelyrics.com/lyrics/childrens_songs/eenie_meenie-lyrics-1138582.html

****
G, H,

****
I, J

I WISH I HAD A NICKLE

"I wish I had a nickle,

I wish I had a dime,

I wish I had a boyfriend

to kiss me all the time.

 

My mom gave me a nickle,

my dad gave me a dime,

my sister gave me a boyfriend

to kiss me all the time.

 

My mom took back the nickle,

my dad took back the dime,

but no one took the boyfriend

who looked like Frankenstein."
- http://nz-home-schooling.blogspot.com/2006/05/chants-and-clapping-games.html#NICKLE
Saturday, May 13, 2006; Chants and Clapping Games (Thanks to Rifter]

****
I WOKE UP SUNDAY MORNING
"I woke up Sunday morning

I looked upon the wall

The skeeters and the bedbugs were playing a game of ball

The score was 3 to nothin

The skeeters were ahead

The bed bugs hit a home run and knocked me out of bed

Im singing eenie meanie and a minnie mo mo  mo mo

Catch a Whipper Whopper by its toe

and if it Holler Waller wallers

Don't let it go im singing

Ennie meanie and a minnie mo

I went downtown for breakfast

I ordered ham and eggs

I ate so many pickles

The juice ran down my legs

Im singing

Ennie meanie and a minnie mo mo mo mo

Catch a Whipper Whopper by its toe

And if it Holler Waller wallers don't let it go

Im singing ennie meanie and a minnie mo

My mom gave me a nickle

My dad gave me a dime

My sister gave me a boyfriend

I kiss him all the time

Im singing eenie meanie and a minnie mo mo  mo mo

Catch a Whipper Whopper by its toe

and if it Holler Waller wallers

Don't let it go im singing

Ennie meanie and a minnie mo

My mommy is a robber

My daddy is a spy

I opened up my big mouth

And told the FBI

Im singing eenie meanie and a minnie mo mo  mo mo

Catch a Whipper Whopper by its toe

and if it Holler Waller wallers

Don't let it go im singing

Ennie meanie and a minnie mo

My mom took back her nickle

My dad took back his dime

My sister took my boyfriend

And gave me Frankenstein

Im singing eenie meanie and a minnie mo mo  mo mo

Catch a Whipper Whopper by its toe

and if it Holler Waller wallers

Don't let it go im singing

Ennie meanie and a minnie mo

He made me wash the dishes

He made me wash car

He made me wash his underwear

I kicked him out the door

Im singing eenie meanie and a minnie mo mo  mo mo"
 -Lunarmy 13, 2021, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4evO3aOXGws&ab_channel=ChinookBreeze

****
K, L

KISS MY ACRABACK
"
kiss my acraback

you soda pack

you b-u-t-t butty wack

your moma, your papa, your greasy, greasy grandmomma

got holes in your pants like frankenstein

goin' join the beat on sesame street

goin' join the gang on soul train

goin' to the bunny hop

to you just can't stop, just can't stop no more

stop, blank, aaaaa.

 

aaaahhh the country south. :lol:"
-jenoy,7/24/2007, https://www.nappturality.com/forums/threads/81695-Clapping-Rhymes-hand-Games/page4 Rhymes/hand Games [This website is no longer available.]

****
This concludes Part II of this pancocojams series.

Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome. 

Information About The 1818 British Novel "Frankenstein" And Why The Monster & Not The Monster's Creator Is Called "Frankenstein"

Edited by Azizi Powell

This is Part I of a three part pancocojams post series about the name "Frankenstein" in English language children's recreational rhymes.

This post presents some information about 19th century author Mary Shelley's novel entitled Frankenstein, or The Modern Prometheus.

This post also includes  some responses to the question "Why do so many people believe the monster's name is Frankenstein when that really was the name of the doctor who created the monster?"

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2026/01/the-name-frankenstein-in-examples-of.html_ for Part II of this pancocojams series. That post presents examples of children's recreational rhymes that include the name "Frankenstein" (A-L).

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2026/01/the-name-frankenstein-in-examples-of_21.html for Part III of this pancocojams series. That post presents examples of children's recreational rhymes that include the name "Frankenstein" (M-Z)

The content of this post is presented for historical and cultural purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to Mary Shelley for writing the Frankenstein novel and thanks to all those who are quoted in this post.
-snip-
This series replaces the now deleted November 2020 pancocojams post "
The Name "Frankenstein" In Examples Of Children's Jump Rope & Handclap Rhymes." 

****
PANCOCOJAMS EDITOR'S NOTE
This post departs from the primary mission of this pancocojams blog which is to present information and examples of African American culture and other Black cultures throughout the world. 

As is the case with some other examples of recreational rhymes that are showcased on pancocojams, I'm sharing information and examples of the background of rhymes that include the name "Frankenstein" because I'm interested in collecting, studying, and sharing recreational rhymes.

****
INFORMATION ABOUT THE FRANKENSTEIN NOVEL
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frankenstein#Frankenstein_and_the_Monster
"Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus is an 1818 novel written by English author Mary Shelley (1797–1851) that tells the story of Victor Frankenstein, a young scientist who creates a sapient creature in an unorthodox scientific experiment. Shelley started writing the story when she was 18, and the first edition was published anonymously in London on 1 January 1818, when she was 20.[2] Her name first appeared in the second edition published in Paris in 1821.

[...]

It has had a considerable influence in literature and popular culture and spawned a complete genre of horror stories, films and plays.

Since the publication of the novel, the name "Frankenstein" has often been used to refer to the monster itself.[8][9][10]

[…]

Frankenstein and the Monster

Part of Frankenstein's rejection of his creation is the fact that he does not give it a name, which causes a lack of identity. Instead it is referred to by words such as "wretch", "monster", "creature", "demon", "devil", "fiend", and "it"."...
-snip-
This sentence is given in italics to highlight it.

****
WHY DO SO MANY PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT FRANKENSTEIN IS THE MONSTER;S NAME INSTEAD OF THE NAME OF THE DOCTOR WHO CREATED HIM?
Source #1
From AI Overview (retrieved January 21, 2026 in response to my question "Why is the monster in the novel "Frankenstein" called by that name and not the monster's inventor?")

The monster in Frankenstein isn't called by a specific name in Mary Shelley's novel; he's referred to as the "creature," "wretch," or "fiend," while Frankenstein is the surname of his creator, Victor Frankenstein. This common confusion stems from popular culture, especially the 1930s Universal films and subsequent adaptations, where the title and marketing often blurred the creator's name with the creation, leading the public to mistakenly believe "Frankenstein" was the monster's name.

In the Novel

Victor Frankenstein: The scientist who creates the being.

The Creature: The being himself is never given a proper name in the book, though he refers to himself as "Adam" in relation to Victor as his "God" or "Father," and others call him "creature," "monster," "wretch," or "devil".

Why the Misconception Grew

Early Adaptations: Even the first successful stage play (1823) left the monster unnamed, but later stage and film versions began to label the monster as "Frankenstein".

Film Influence: The iconic 1931 film Frankenstein, starring Boris Karloff as the creature, heavily popularized the idea, especially with titles like Bride of Frankenstein.

Cultural Shortcut: "Frankenstein" is a shorter, more memorable shorthand for "Frankenstein's monster," making it the default name in casual speech and media.

In essence, the monster's lack of a name in the novel highlights his alienation, but popular media eventually gave him a name by adopting his creator's surname, despite the original text's clear distinction."

****
Source #2
From 
https://www.quora.com/Why-do-so-many-people-believe-that-Frankenstein-is-the-monsters-name-instead-of-the-doctors 

Response #1 - Mark Stamp, 2018
“The monster was never given a name in the story. So referring to it always involved phrases like “the monster” “it” or “Frankenstein’s monster” to clarify you were talking about the book but that last one is a mouthful.

Words have power, so the gravest mockery that Victor Frankenstein could give to his creation was to not give it a name.

Beyond that, something tells me that plastering “Frankenstein” in big letters over posters with Boris Karloff’s neanderthalish makeup may have had something to do with the association.

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Response #2- 
Charlotte Graves, 2018
"Nevermind the movie posters and popular culture, the BOOK is called “FRANKENSTEIN” and to a casual observer (and many readers) is about the creation, not the creator. Thus, the name has been regularly applied in the same way.

There’s some apparent ambiguity in the subtitle, too - ‘A modern Prometheus’ - given that Prometheus stole from the gods (just as Dr. took/copied the ability to grant life from God) despite being just a lowly creation of the same (just as the ‘monster’ was merely a creation). And what did Prometheus take but fire - the fire channeled by Dr. into creation. Both the man and the monster can be aligned with Prometheus, both the man and the creation (son) therefore also have claim to the name.”…

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Source #3
From 
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1310508596300250/posts/1721425888541850/ English Literature Society- Read More Books

Admin, October 3, 2025
"Do you know The Monster In Mary Shelley’s "Frankenstein" Has No Name

A common misunderstanding is that the monster is named Frankenstein, when in fact he remains nameless throughout the novel. It is thought that during a reading of the book, Shelley referred to the monster as 'Adam,' a nod to the Garden of Eden."

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This concludes Part I of this pancocojams series.

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Tuesday, January 20, 2026

Information About Xylophones (Including Marimbas & Balafons), Vibraphones, & Steel Drums

Edited by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams post presents information about xylophones (including marimbas & balafons), vibraphones, and steel pan music instruments.

The content of this post is presented for informational, cultural, and entertainment purposes. 

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to all those who are featured in the videos that are showcased in this post. Thanks also to the videographers and publishers of these videos. 

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IS "MARIMBAS" ANOTHER NAME FOR "XYLOPHONE"?
From AI Overview [This is the result of my January 20, 2026 question "Are marimbas another name for xylophones?"

"No, a marimba is a type of xylophone, but they aren't the same; a marimba is generally larger, lower-pitched, and has resonators (pipes) that give it a warmer, richer, more blended sound, while a xylophone has a brighter, drier, more percussive tone, often without resonators or with simpler ones, and is used in higher registers. Think of a xylophone as a general term for wooden-keyed instruments, with the marimba being a specific, more resonant, lower-pitched variation, like a square is a type of rectangle.

Key Differences

Sound: Marimbas have a soft, mellow, woody sound (like woodwinds/strings); xylophones have a sharp, bright, distinct sound (like bells).

Resonators: Marimbas always have resonators (pipes) to amplify the notes; xylophones often don't, or have simpler ones, making their sound less sustained.

Pitch: Marimbas are built for lower, middle, and bass registers; xylophones are typically for higher pitches.

Bars: Marimba bars are usually hollowed out more, while xylophone bars are often wavy in the center.

In Summary

All marimbas are xylophones (wooden-keyed percussion), but not all xylophones are marimbas.

The term "marimba" often implies the presence of resonators and a specific, darker tone, originating from African traditions

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THE ORIGIN OF MARIMBAS 
From https://www.yamaha.com/en/musical_instrument_guide/marimba/structure/  The Birth Of The Marimba

"Marimbas: An instrument created by an African goddess?

According to oral history, the story of the marimba began a long, long time ago in Africa, where holes were dug in the ground, wooden bars were made to cross over this hole, and the bars were struck to produce sound. That is, a sort of xylophone arose that worked by having the sound produced by wooden bars resonate within holes. Subsequently, gourds were attached to the undersides of the wooden bars. Now it was the gourds that served as resonating chambers for the sound. Instruments like this are still familiar as traditional folk instruments. Interestingly, the Zulu tribe of South Africa is said to have legends of a goddess named Marimba who created a xylophone with gourds attached.

It became the marimba in the Americas!

The instrument that was the ancestor of the marimba crossed the sea with African people and arrived in Central and South America. The gourds were swapped with resonator pipes made of wood. Eventually, still in the Americas, the resonator pipes that were attached started to be made of metal, resulting in the modern marimba.

The captivating warm tones of the low notes

The ranges of modern marimbas vary: Typical instruments used even in elementary and middle schools cover four octaves, but the standard range of marimbas used in music colleges and the professional world is between four-and-a-half and five octaves. These instruments are extended so that notes in lower ranges can be played. The timbre of the low notes on marimbas have considerable warmth, and this is what makes the instruments attractive. The greater number of notes also increases a player's musical repertoire."

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WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN XYLOPHONES, MARIMBAS, & STEELPANS?
from AI Overview [retrieved January 20, 2026]
"Xylophones, marimbas, and pans (steelpans) are all percussion instruments with bars, but differ in material, construction, and sound, with xylophones having bright, hard wood bars and short resonators; marimbas featuring larger, softer wood bars with long resonators for a mellow tone; and steelpans (pans) being made from metal (oil drums) with unique tuned indentations, producing distinct metallic, melodic sounds.

Xylophone

Bars: Hard wood (like rosewood), often with wavy undersides or cutouts, producing a sharp, bright, "chippy" sound.

Resonators: Short tubes, often not reaching the floor, amplifying the high-pitched notes.

Mallets: Harder rubber or plastic mallets.

Sound: High, piercing, and dry, often transposing an octave higher than written.

Marimba

Bars: Larger, softer wood (like rosewood or padauk) with hollowed-out centers, creating a warm, resonant, blended sound.

Resonators: Long tubes extending to the floor, giving a full, rich tone.

Mallets: Softer, yarn-wrapped mallets.

Sound: Full, mellow, and rich, blending well with other instruments, often played with two to four mallets.

Pans (Steelpan/Steel Drum)

Bars: Made from the bottom of steel oil drums, hammered to create tuned notes.

Resonators: The drum itself acts as the resonator; no separate tubes.

The main difference between a vibraphone and a xylophone is their bar material (metal vs. wood), leading to distinct sounds, with the vibraphone offering a mellow, sustained tone (metal bars, pedal, motor) versus the xylophone's bright, sharp, staccato sound (wood bars, no pedal)

 Mallets: Usually rubber-tipped mallets.

Sound: Bright, metallic, ringing, and percussive, originating from Trinidad and Tobago.

Key Distinctions

Material: Xylophone/Marimba = Wood; Pans = Metal.

Tuning: Xylophones emphasize a fifth overtone; Marimbas emphasize an octave overtone.

Resonators: Xylophone (short), Marimba (long), Pans (none separate).

Sound: Xylophone (bright), Marimba (mellow), Pans (metallic).

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THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN A MARIMBA, XYLOPHONE, VIBRAPHONE, AND GLOCKENSPIEL by Ryan Jonker, 2020

[This is almost a complete reprint except for illustrations, captions, and sound files.]

From https://ryanjonker.com/musicblog/2020/12/23/the-difference-between-a-marimba-xylophone-vibraphone-and-glockenspiel

"Percussionists are responsible for playing so many different instruments.  A basic understanding of the differences between them is crucial.  Keyboard percussion consists of chromatic, melodic instruments with bars arranged in the same layout as a piano.  By reading this guide, you will be able to identify each of the main keyboard percussion instruments and the differences between them.

(If you find this article useful, please consider purchasing some exercises and sheet music from the store!)

Marimba
The most distinguishing features of a marimba are it’s wide, wooden bars and it’s big resonators.  The bars are usually struck with yarn or corded mallets with a rubber core.  A good rule of thumb when selecting marimba mallets is to make sure that the material of the mallet is softer than the wooden bars themselves.  One wrong strike with a hard mallet can mean a broken bar that will need to be replaced. 

Marimbas come in a variety of sizes.  The one pictured above is five octaves (C2 to C7).  Most college percussion studios have at least one five-octave marimba, as lots of marimba literature is composed for five-octaves.  High school programs generally have 4.3 octave marimbas (A2-C7), which covers most music written for band and orchestra.  Marimbas come in other sizes as well. 

Xylophone
A xylophone is similar to a marimba in that it also has wooden bars.  The primary difference would be that a xylophone is smaller in terms of range, bar width, and resonator size.  This results in a higher pitched instrument with less resonance (in other words, the bars don’t ring as long after being struck).  Xylophones are generally played with harder mallets than would be used on a marimba, but still soft enough as to not damage the wood. 

It is worth noting that both marimbas and xylophones can be built with real wooden bars or with synthetic bars.  Synthetic bars (as seen in this xylophone picture) approximate the same sound as the real thing, but are less expensive, more durable, and arguably more sustainable.

Vibraphone
The first difference you will notice that distinguishes a vibraphone is the metal bars.  The next thing you might notice would be the sustain pedal at the bottom of the instrument.  This pedal, when depressed, allows all of the bars to ring.  When the pedal is up, a felt pad presses against the bars from underneath, dampening the sound.

Vibraphones are characterized by their metallic, mellow sound.  While marimbas are often played with yarn-wrapped mallets, vibraphonists often use cord-wrapped mallets.  However, experimenting with either material on either instrument is encouraged, as long as the player is careful not to damage the equipment with mallets that are too hard.

One of the main new responsibilities for beginning vibraphonists to consider is note duration.  Marimba and xylophone players (usually) only need to think about the initiation of their notes.  Vibraphonists must also consider which notes they want to ring, which notes should be staccato (short), and everything in between.  Phrasing as developed by your pedaling can make or break your sound on a vibraphone.

Glockenspiel 
The last of the keyboard percussion instruments we will discuss is the glockenspiel.  As you can see, the metal bars are similar to the vibraphone.  The main difference is that the glockenspiel is in a much higher range than the vibraphone (in this case, F5-D8).  Most glockenspiels do not have a sustain pedal, but some do. 

It is worth noting that the glockenspiel sounds two octaves higher than written. In other words, if you see a C4 on the page, you will hear C6 when striking the instrument.

Many percussionists start out on a glockenspiel.  The skills you learn as a beginner definitely translate to the other keyboard instruments.  Spending time playing each instrument is really the best way to get to know how they operate and what makes each one unique."

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A BRIEF STATEMENT ABOUT STEEL PANS (MUSIC INSTRUMENTS)
From AI Overview (January 20, 2026)
..."The steel pan, Trinidad and Tobago's national instrument, emerged in the 1930s from the ingenuity of working-class musicians seeking cultural expression after colonial bans on traditional drumming, evolving from makeshift instruments like bamboo sticks (Tamboo Bamboo) to tuned metal objects like dustbins and eventually 55-gallon oil drums, creating the iconic instrument by hammering dents to produce specific musical notes, a process that transformed street music and fostered cultural pride."...

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