# The Two Old Bachelors explained — Nonsense Books

> Chapter companion for Nonsense Books by Edward Lear.

## What happens

Two impoverished old bachelors, with only a Muffin and a Mouse, attempt to make a stuffing for dinner but lack Sage and Onion. They climb a hill to capture an ancient Sage for stuffing, but he knocks them down with his book. Returning home, they find the Mouse has eaten the Muffin and fled. The bachelors leave their home and are never heard from again.

## Themes in this chapter

### Nonsense and Absurdity

The absurd premise of chopping a Sage into stuffing and the bachelors' ridiculous quest.

### Loneliness and Longing

The bachelors' poverty and isolation, culminating in their silent departure and disappearance.

## Character check-ins

### The Two Old Bachelors

The two protagonists who try to make stuffing from a Sage.

### The Mouse

Caught by one bachelor, later escapes after eating the Muffin.

### The Onion

Onions are borrowed but Sage is missing.

## Key lines

> Two old Bachelors were living in one house; One caught a Muffin, the other caught a Mouse.

Two elderly unmarried men share a home; one captures a muffin, the other a mouse.

_Sets up the absurd situation and the bachelors' meager resources._

> They left their home in silence by the once convivial door; And from that hour those Bachelors were never heard of more.

They quietly departed through the door that had once been cheerful, and were never seen again.

_Concludes the tale with the bachelors' mysterious disappearance._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/nonsense_books_se/chapters/the-two-old-bachelors
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- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/nonsense_books_se/chapters