# The Jumblies — Nonsense Books character guide

> The Jumblies in Nonsense Books by Edward Lear.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** the cheerful Jumblies

**First appearance:** 0026-the-jumblies

## Snapshot

Green-headed, blue-handed voyagers who cheerfully put to sea in a sieve, proving that impossible journeys are only impossible to the timid.

## Who they are

The Jumblies are the book's great optimists, sailing off in a sieve despite every warning that they will drown. Their heads are green, their hands are blue, and their lands are far and few, yet they sing as they go. Their departure leaves the Dong behind on a cruel shore, making their cheerful voyage the quiet engine of the book's saddest later poem.

## Relationships

### [The Dong](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nonsense_books_se/characters/the_dong)

_friendship_

The Dong is a lonely creature who longs for the Jumblies, his former companions who sailed away.

## In the story

### [Nonsense Books](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nonsense_books_se/chapters/nonsense-books)

Cheerful creatures who embark on a sea voyage in a sieve.

### [Nonsense Songs](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nonsense_books_se/chapters/nonsense-songs)

The Jumblies go to sea in a sieve despite warnings, sail through storms, and reach a land of trees, buying various items.

### [The Jumblies](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nonsense_books_se/chapters/the-jumblies)

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

### [I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nonsense_books_se/chapters/i)

The Jumblies are the central characters who go to sea in a sieve, ignoring the warnings of their friends.

### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nonsense_books_se/chapters/ii)

The Jumblies are the ones sailing away in a sieve.

### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nonsense_books_se/chapters/iii)

The Jumblies continue their absurd voyage in a sieve, wrapping their feet in paper and sleeping in a crockery-jar, cheerfully declaring their wisdom.

### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nonsense_books_se/chapters/iv)

The Jumblies sail all night, singing a moony song and expressing their happiness.

### [V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nonsense_books_se/chapters/v)

The Jumblies sail to the Western Sea and acquire various goods in a new land.

### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nonsense_books_se/chapters/vi)

Return after twenty years from their voyage in a sieve.

### [Laughable Lyrics: A Fourth Book of Nonsense Poems, Songs, Botany, Music, etc.](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nonsense_books_se/chapters/laughable-lyrics-a-fourth-book-of-nonsense-poems-songs-botany-music-etc)

The Jumblies arrive in a sieve, befriend the Dong, and later sail away, leaving the Dong heartbroken.

### [Laughable Lyrics](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nonsense_books_se/chapters/laughable-lyrics)

The Jumblies arrive in a sieve, befriend the Dong, and later sail away, leaving the Dong heartbroken.

### [The Dong with a Luminous Nose](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nonsense_books_se/chapters/the-dong-with-a-luminous-nose)

The Jumblies arrive in a sieve, stay for a time, and then sail away, leaving the Dong heartbroken.

### [List of Illustrations](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nonsense_books_se/chapters/list-of-illustrations)

Referenced indirectly through illustrations of the Dong and the Jumbly Girl, and the Jumblies sailing away.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nonsense_books_se/characters/the_jumblies
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nonsense_books_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/nonsense_books_se/characters