Nonsense Alphabets explained

What happens

Themes in this chapter

• Nonsense and Absurdity

  The entire chapter is a series of nonsensical alphabets, with playful language and absurd descriptions (e.g., 'X was King Xerxes, who, more than all Turks, is renowned for his fashion of fury and passion').

• Self-Identity and Eccentricity

  Each letter introduces a character or object with distinct, often eccentric traits (e.g., 'C was a cat who ran after a rat; but his courage did fail when she seized on his tail').

Characters to notice

• King Xerxes

  Appears in the alphabets as 'X was King Xerxes,' described with fury and passion, and later wearing a large turban.

• The Ducky-Quack

  Referenced as 'D was a duck' with spots on his back, living in water and saying 'Quack!'

• The Piggy

  Appears as 'P was a pig, who was not very big,' with a curly tail making him surly.

• The Rhinoceros

  Not directly named, but 'R was a rabbit' and 'R was a rattlesnake' appear; no direct match for rhinoceros in excerpts.

• The Perpendicular Purple Polly

  Referenced as 'P was a polly, all red, blue, and green,' described as the most beautiful polly.

Key passages

• “X was King Xerxes, Who, more than all Turks, is Renowned for his fashion Of fury and passion.”

  King Xerxes is famous for his angry and passionate behavior, more so than any Turk.

  Highlights the absurd exaggeration of Xerxes' temperament.

• “P was a pig, Who was not very big; But his tail was too curly, And that made him surly.”

  A small pig becomes grumpy because of his excessively curly tail.

  Illustrates Lear's whimsical cause-and-effect logic.

• “W was a whale With a very long tail, Whose movements were frantic Across the Atlantic.”

  A whale with an extremely long tail moves wildly across the Atlantic Ocean.

  Combines a factual animal with fantastical description.