Nonsense Books · Characters
Character guide
Key figures in Nonsense Books by Edward Lear.
Mr. Lear
major
Also known as Edward Lear, Lear, Mr. Edward Lear
The narrator and author, who appears as a character in his own nonsense verses.
The Jumblies
major
Also known as the cheerful Jumblies
A group of whimsical creatures who go to sea in a sieve.
The Akond of Swat
major
Also known as Akond of Swat
A mysterious figure whose habits and appearance are humorously questioned.
The Pobble Who Has No Toes
major
Also known as The Pobble, a Pobble
A creature who loses his toes while swimming in the Bristol Channel.
The Dong
major
Also known as the Dong
A lonely creature with a luminous nose who searches for his lost love.
The Yonghy-Bonghy-Bò
major
Also known as Mr. Yonghy-Bonghy-Bò, Mr. Yonghy
A small, sad creature who courts Lady Jingly Jones.
Lady Jingly Jones
major
Also known as Lady Jingly, the Lady Jingly Jones
The beloved of the Yonghy-Bonghy-Bò, who lives on the coast of Coromandel.
The Quangle Wangle
major
Also known as Quangle-Wangle, Mr. Quangle Wangle, the Quangle Wangle Quee
A creature who wears a huge hat that attracts many animals.
The Owl and the Pussycat
major
Also known as The Owl, Pussy, O lovely Pussy
A romantic pair who sail away to be married in the land where the Bong-tree grows.
The Duck and the Kangaroo
major
Also known as the Duck, the Kangaroo, dear Duck
A duck who asks a kangaroo for a ride around the world.
Mr. Daddy Long-legs
supporting
Also known as Mr. Daddy, Mr. Daddy Long-legs
A long-legged insect who argues with Mr. Floppy Fly.
Mr. Floppy Fly
supporting
Also known as the Fly, a very aged Bluebottle-Fly
A fly who has a dispute with Mr. Daddy Long-legs.
The Nutcrackers and the Sugar Tongs
supporting
Also known as the Nutcrackers, the Tongs, Mr. Tongs
Anthropomorphic kitchen utensils who go on an adventure.
Mr. and Mrs. Spikky Sparrow
supporting
Also known as Mr. Spikky Sparrow, Mrs. Spikky Sparrow, Mrs. Sparrow
A pair of sparrows who discuss fashion and family.
The Broom, Shovel, Poker, and Tongs
supporting
Also known as Mrs. Broom, the Broom, Miss Shovel, the Shovel, Mr. Poker, Mr. Tongs
A set of household tools who go for a walk together.
The Table and the Chair
supporting
Also known as the Chair
A table and chair who decide to go for a walk.
Mr. and Mrs. Discobbolos
supporting
Also known as Mr. Discobbolos, Mrs. Discobbolos, Darling Mr. Discobbolos
A couple who live on top of a wall and have many children.
The Pelican Chorus
supporting
Also known as Pelican jill, Pelican jee
A chorus of pelicans who sing about their lives by the Nile.
The Two Old Bachelors
supporting
Two elderly bachelors who go hunting for sage and onions.
The Cummerbund
supporting
A character in a poem about an Indian lady's lost cummerbund.
Papa
supporting
A father figure who appears in several nonsense rhymes.
Jobiska
minor
A friend of the Pobble who advises him about his toes.
The Bluebottle Flies
minor
Also known as the Happy Bluebottle-Flies
Happy flies who appear in various nonsense poems.
The Crabs
minor
Crabs who interact with the Pobble.
The Rhinoceros
minor
A rhinoceros mentioned in a nonsense rhyme.
The Piggy
minor
A pig who appears in a nonsense rhyme.
The Melodious Meritorious Mouse
minor
Also known as The Mouse, a squeaky Mouse
A musical mouse who appears in a nonsense poem.
The Scroobious Snake
minor
A snake who wears a hat to avoid biting anyone.
The Nutritious Newt
minor
A newt mentioned in a nonsense poem.
The Perpendicular Purple Polly
minor
Also known as Molly, Polly, Poor little Polly
A parrot who reads newspapers and eats parsnip pie.
An Old Man of the Cape
minor
Also known as Old Man of Cape Horn, Funny old Man
An old man who wishes he had never been born.
A Young Lady of Russia
minor
A young lady who screams with a scream that blisters the sea.
An Old Person of Burton
minor
Also known as Burton
An old person who buys a coffin and runs away.
A Young Lady of Dorking
minor
Also known as Dorking fowls
A young lady who buys a bonnet that bedazzles her eyes.
An Old Person of Blythe
minor
Also known as Blythe
An old person who cuts up his meat with a scythe.
King Xerxes
minor
Also known as Xerxes, Angry old Xerxes
A historical king mentioned in a nonsense rhyme about fury.
Lord Derby
minor
Also known as Earl, thirteenth Earl of Derby
A nobleman to whom Lear dedicated some works.
Handel
minor
Also known as Handel Jones
A composer mentioned in a nonsense context.
The Guinea Pigs
minor
Also known as the old Guinea Pigs
Guinea pigs who appear in a nonsense rhyme.
The Cats
minor
Also known as the old Cats
Cats who appear in a nonsense rhyme.
The Mice
minor
Also known as The little Mice
Mice who appear in a nonsense rhyme.
The Fishes
minor
Also known as the old Fishes
Fishes who appear in a nonsense rhyme.
The Geese
minor
Also known as the old Geese
Geese who appear in a nonsense rhyme.
The Storks
minor
Also known as two old Storks, seven young Storks
Storks who appear in a nonsense rhyme.
The Parrots
minor
Also known as the Seven Families The Parrots, the old Parrots, the Seven Young Parrots
Parrots who appear in a nonsense rhyme.
The Owls
minor
Also known as the old Owls, the Seven Young Owls
Owls who appear in a nonsense rhyme.
The Crows
minor
Crows who appear in a nonsense rhyme.
The Birds
minor
Birds who appear in a nonsense rhyme.
The Beetle
minor
A beetle who appears in a nonsense rhyme.
The Turtle
minor
A turtle who appears in a nonsense rhyme.
The Ducky-Quack
minor
Also known as a Ducky-Quack, the Ducky
A duck who appears in a nonsense rhyme.
The Pussycat
minor
A pussycat who appears in a nonsense rhyme.
The Little Fish
minor
Also known as Fish
A little fish who appears in a nonsense rhyme.
The Saltcellar
minor
A saltcellar who appears in a nonsense rhyme.
The Crackers
minor
Crackers who appear in a nonsense rhyme.
The Punkahs
minor
Punkahs (fans) who appear in a nonsense rhyme.
The Kamsamahs
minor
Also known as The tall Kamsamahs
Tall servants who appear in a nonsense rhyme.
The Kitmutgars
minor
Servants who appear in a nonsense rhyme.
The Goreewallahs
minor
Also known as silvery Goreewallahs
Grooms who appear in a nonsense rhyme.
The Bheesties
minor
Also known as The little Bheesties
Water-carriers who appear in a nonsense rhyme.
The Nullahs
minor
Also known as the purple Nullahs
Watercourses that appear in a nonsense rhyme.
Echo
minor
Echo who appears in a nonsense rhyme.
The Clangle-Wangle
minor
A creature who appears in a nonsense rhyme.
The Boss-Woss
minor
Also known as the Blue Boss-Woss
A creature who appears in a nonsense rhyme.
Pluffskin
minor
A character in a nonsense rhyme about a Pobble-like creature.
Plumpskin
minor
A character in a nonsense rhyme about a Pobble-like creature.
Ploffskin
minor
A character in a nonsense rhyme about a Pobble-like creature.
Ploshkin
minor
A character in a nonsense rhyme about a Pobble-like creature.
Pobbles
minor
A group of creatures related to the Pobble.
The Dilberry Ducks
minor
Also known as Ducks
Ducks who appear in a nonsense rhyme.
The Onion
minor
An onion who appears in a nonsense rhyme.
The Dell
minor
A dell that appears in a nonsense rhyme.
The Plum-pudding Flea
minor
A flea who appears in a nonsense rhyme.
The Cooperative Cauliflower
minor
A cauliflower who appears in a nonsense rhyme.
The Bee
minor
Also known as Twitchy witchy witchy bee
A bee who appears in a nonsense rhyme.
Lady Fair
minor
A lady who appears in a nonsense rhyme.
My Little Master
minor
A child addressed in a nonsense rhyme.
The Leetle Browny-Mousy
minor
A little brown mouse who appears in a nonsense rhyme.
Hoddy Doddy
minor
A character who appears in a nonsense rhyme.
Janina
minor
A character who appears in a nonsense rhyme.
Slingsby
minor
A character who appears in a nonsense rhyme.
Violet
minor
A character who appears in a nonsense rhyme.
Guy
minor
A character who appears in a nonsense rhyme.
Lionel
minor
A character who appears in a nonsense rhyme.
Mr. Jones
minor
A character who appears in a nonsense rhyme.
