# The Jumblies explained — Nonsense Books

> Chapter companion for Nonsense Books by Edward Lear.

## What happens

The Jumblies, despite warnings from friends, set sail in a sieve on a stormy day. They endure leaks by wrapping their feet in paper and spending the night in a crockery-jar, singing happily. They sail to the Western Sea, buy various items, and return after twenty years, celebrated by all who marvel at their journey.

## Themes in this chapter

### Adventure and Exploration

The Jumblies' voyage in a sieve exemplifies a bold, unconventional adventure, defying practical warnings to explore distant lands.

### Nonsense and Absurdity

The absurd premise of sailing in a sieve, along with whimsical details like a pea-green veil sail and a tobacco-pipe mast, embodies Lear's signature nonsense.

## Character check-ins

### The Jumblies

The Jumblies are the protagonists who embark on a daring sea voyage in a sieve, showing their adventurous and carefree spirit.

## Key lines

> They went to sea in a sieve, they did; In a sieve they went to sea: In spite of all their friends could say, On a winter's morn, on a stormy day, In a sieve they went to sea.

Despite everyone's warnings, the Jumblies set out on a stormy winter morning, sailing in a sieve.

_Highlights the Jumblies' defiance and the absurdity of their chosen vessel._

> And in twenty years they all came back— In twenty years or more; And everyone said, 'How tall they've grown!'

After twenty years, the Jumblies returned, and everyone remarked on how much they had grown.

_Marks the successful completion of their long voyage and the passage of time._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/nonsense_books_se/chapters/the-jumblies
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/nonsense_books_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/nonsense_books_se/chapters