# Twenty-Six Nonsense Rhymes and Pictures explained — Nonsense Books

> Chapter companion for Nonsense Books by Edward Lear.

## What happens

A collection of twenty-six whimsical and absurd character portraits, each describing a fantastical creature or person with peculiar habits and nonsensical attributes, from the abstemious Ass to the zealous Zebra.

## Themes in this chapter

### Nonsense and Absurdity

The entire chapter is a parade of absurd characters and impossible actions, such as a fish walking on stilts and an elephant ferrying himself with a poker and earrings.

### Self-Identity and Eccentricity

Each character is defined by a singular, eccentric trait or habit, celebrating individuality and peculiarity.

## Character check-ins

### The Yonghy-Bonghy-Bò

Described as having a head much bigger than his body and a rather small hat.

### King Xerxes

Mentioned as the Excellent Double-extra XX imbibing King Xerxes who lived a long while ago.

### The Melodious Meritorious Mouse

Played a merry minuet on the Pianoforte.

### The Nutritious Newt

Purchased a Round Plum-pudding for his granddaughter.

### The Scroobious Snake

Always wore a Hat on his Head for fear he should bite anybody.

## Key lines

> The Absolutely Abstemious Ass, who resided in a Barrel, and only lived on Soda Water and Pickled Cucumbers.

A completely self-denying donkey lived in a barrel and survived solely on soda water and pickled cucumbers.

_Introduces the first character with an absurdly restrictive diet and dwelling._

> The Dolomphious Duck, who caught Spotted Frogs for her dinner with a Runcible Spoon.

A duck with a peculiar name used a runcible spoon to catch spotted frogs for her meal.

_Highlights the nonsensical use of a runcible spoon, a recurring object in Lear's nonsense._

> The Fizzgiggious Fish, who always walked about upon Stilts, because he had no legs.

A fish that had no legs compensated by walking on stilts.

_Exemplifies the absurd logic of the characters._

> The Yonghy-Bonghy-Bò, whose Head was ever so much bigger than his Body, and whose Hat was rather small.

The Yonghy-Bonghy-Bò had a head much larger than his body and a hat that was too small.

_Describes a character with disproportionate features, a common theme in Lear's work._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/nonsense_books_se/chapters/twenty-six-nonsense-rhymes-and-pictures
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/nonsense_books_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/nonsense_books_se/chapters