Meaning & Analysis
When asking for directions or the distance to London, one receives the nonsensical and completely irrelevant answer, 'A pocketful of plums'. The proverb literally depicts an absurd failure of communication where the response has no logical connection to the question.
Insights
Irrelevance and Absurdity
The proverb serves as a metaphor for any conversation where a question is met with a completely irrelevant, nonsensical, or evasive answer. The 'pokeful of plums' symbolizes information that is useless and disconnected from the original inquiry.
Evasion and Deflection
The nonsensical answer can be interpreted as a deliberate attempt to dodge a question. By offering something completely unrelated, the speaker actively deflects, misdirects, or confuses the person asking, thereby avoiding the topic at hand.
Folly and Misunderstanding
The response can symbolize a profound misunderstanding or foolishness. It suggests the person answering is so simple-minded or distracted that they cannot grasp a straightforward, practical question, highlighting a cognitive disconnect.
Critique of Poor Logic
The proverb is used to critique illogical arguments or responses. It humorously points out when someone's contribution to a discussion is entirely off-point, providing no value or clarity, much like offering plums to someone who needs directions.
Historical Context
The proverb's humor and meaning are rooted in the historical significance of London as a vital center of commerce and power. A question about reaching London was practical and serious, making the absurd, trivial answer of 'a pokeful of plums' a stark and memorable illustration of a complete communication breakdown.
Literary and Comedic Tradition
This proverb is an early example of the English fondness for non-sequitur and absurdist humor, a tradition later seen in nursery rhymes and the works of authors like Lewis Carroll. It plays on the structure of conversation itself, finding humor in the violation of expected logical responses.
Psychological Frustration
The proverb captures the universal frustration of asking a direct question and receiving a useless or evasive answer. It reflects a psychological need for clear communication and the cognitive dissonance that occurs when that expectation is nonsensically violated.
Social Function
Functioning as a form of social shorthand, the proverb allows a speaker to label an illogical or irrelevant statement without direct accusation, effectively saying, 'Your answer is as useless as a pocketful of plums to a traveler.'
Rhetorical Devices
Juxtaposition
The proverb's primary device is the stark juxtaposition of a practical, important question (the way to London) with a trivial, nonsensical answer (a pocketful of plums), creating a memorable and comedic effect.
Dialogue Format
It is structured as a miniature dialogue (question and answer), which makes it dynamic and easy to recall. This format mimics a real, albeit absurd, conversational exchange.
Imagery
The concrete, slightly comical image of 'a pokeful of plums' contrasts sharply with the abstract need for directions, making the proverb's point about irrelevance both vivid and tangible.
Transcription
Quotations
(How many miles)
When a man asking a question, answere is made quite contrarie to his demand: as thus: Which is the way to London? answere is made, A poke full of plumbes.
God geue you good euen, which is the way to Poclinton, a pokeful of plummes.
To answer absurdly, and from the purpose, as, how many miles to London, a poke full of plums.
Related Proverbs
Original Scan
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