# Naught; Nautilus explained — How to Tell the Birds from the Flowers and Other Woodcuts

> Chapter companion for How to Tell the Birds from the Flowers and Other Woodcuts by Robert Williams Wood.

## What happens

The chapter introduces the Nautilus as a whimsical composite creature, blending snail, jellyfish, and paper sail, and concludes with the playful discovery that its double is 'Naught'.

## Themes in this chapter

### Wordplay and Homophones

The chapter title and final line play on the homophonic relationship between 'naught' and 'nautilus', emphasizing linguistic humor.

### Humor and Absurdity

The description of the nautilus as a combination of snail, jellyfish, and paper sail, and the punchline about finding 'Naught', exemplify absurdist comedy.

## Key lines

> The Argo‑naut or Nautilus, With habits quite adventurous, A com‑bin‑a‑tion of a snail, A jelly‑fish and paper sail.

The nautilus, also called the argonaut, is an adventurous creature that is a mix of snail, jellyfish, and a sail made of paper.

_Clarifies the playful biological description of the nautilus._

> The parts of him that did not jell, Are packed securely in his shell.

The parts of the nautilus that didn't solidify are stored safely inside its shell.

_Explains the whimsical anatomy of the nautilus._

> It is not strange that when I sought To find his double, I found Naught.

It's no surprise that when I looked for the nautilus's counterpart, I found nothing.

_Highlights the wordplay concluding the chapter._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/how_to_tell_the_birds_from_the_flowers_and_other_se/chapters/naught-nautilus
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/how_to_tell_the_birds_from_the_flowers_and_other_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/how_to_tell_the_birds_from_the_flowers_and_other_se/chapters