Jabberwocky
January 23, 2016
When I was in the sixth grade my teacher had given the class a project to memorize the poem Jabberwocky by Lewis Carroll. It took me weeks to memorize but to this day I can still recite. As an adult I’ve been reflecting on this nonsensical poem to understand its meaning and share it’s fun.
There are a few sites on the web that have began their search for the Jabberwocky:
D Shaw’s attempt at research and fact gathering is collected in the site Glorious Nonsense.
Dear Mr. Shaw, I am currently analyzing works of Lewis Carroll for my 10th grade English class. My two works of choice…www.jabberwocky.com
Aliceinwonderland.net gives an analysis of the nonsensical words used and Lewis Carroll’s possible reasons for writing.
About 'Jabberwocky'; background and meaning of the poem by Lewis Carroll from the book 'Through the Looking Glass and…www.alice-in-wonderland.net
Waxdog offers various translations of the poem.
It seems very pretty, she said when she had finished it, but its rather hard to understand! (You see she didnt like to…www.waxdog.com
Catherine Shaw in 2004 offers this essay on the meaning of Jabberwocky.
West Chester University Lewis Carroll, famous for including nonsensical poems in his beloved Alice stories, used…courses.wcupa.edu
To understand the first stanza one must read Lewis Caroll’s Humpty Dumpty.
Through the Looking Glass, by Lewis Carroll HOWEVER, the egg only got larger and larger, and more and more human: when…sabian.org
I’ve included a copy of the poem at the end. Here are my interpretations of Jabberwocky:
‘To “gyre” is to go round and round like a gyroscope.
To “gimble” is to make holes like a gimlet.’
…It’s called “wabe” you know, because it goes a long way before it, and a long way behind it —’
…Well then, “mimsy” is “flimsy and miserable” (there’s another portmanteau for you).
And a “borogove” is a thin shabby-looking bird with its feathers sticking out all round — something like a live mop.’
‘Well, a “rath” is a sort of green pig: but “mome” I’m not certain about. I think it’s short for “from home” — meaning that they’d lost their way, you know.’
Well, “outgribing” is something between bellowing and whistling, with a kind of sneeze in the middle: however, you’ll hear it done, maybe — down in the wood yonder — and, when you’ve once heard it, you’ll be quite content.
Jabberwocky
Lewis Carroll
(from Through the Looking-Glass and What Alice Found There, 1872)
.
`Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe:
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.
.
“Beware the Jabberwock, my son!
The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!
Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun
The frumious Bandersnatch!”
.
He took his vorpal sword in hand:
Long time the manxome foe he sought —
So rested he by the Tumtum tree,
And stood awhile in thought.
.
And, as in uffish thought he stood,
The Jabberwock, with eyes of flame,
Came whiffling through the tulgey wood,
And burbled as it came!
.
One, two! One, two! And through and through
The vorpal blade went snicker-snack!
He left it dead, and with its head
He went galumphing back.
.
“And, has thou slain the Jabberwock?
Come to my arms, my beamish boy!
O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!’
He chortled in his joy.
.
`Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe;
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.
.
Feel free to share your thoughts or share this fun poem.