“The Pied Piper of Hamelin” begins by establishing its geographic and temporal setting: The story takes place “[a]lmost five hundred years ago” (Line 7) in “Hamelin Town’s in Brunswick, / [b]y famous Hanover city” (Lines 1-2). These elements ground the reader, cementing the world of the story and supporting the plot elements that arise in later stanzas. The first stanza also directly alludes to the speaker, using the word “my” (Line 6); the speaker will appear again at the end of the poem.

The second stanza bluntly and succinctly summarizes the town’s problem: “Rats!” (Line 10). Placing this single syllable on its own line—the only one-word line in the poem—clearly marks the pests as the key driving force of the entire story. The stanza vividly illustrates the conflict manifesting in the town: Rats nibble on babies and upset daily gossip.

The third stanza introduces the town’s governing structures, which will feature heavily in the narrative. We meet the “Mayor” and learn about the “Corporation,” or the political party in control. This abstract word gives the story a sinister, dystopian feel and foreshadows the social divides that will ultimately lead to the town’s undoing. In this section, the poem alludes to the ruling class’s wealth and privilege.