As some of you may know, the verse highlighted in the previous string is a selection from Lewis Carroll's poem, "Jabberwocky." Here is the poem in its entirety:
'Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe;
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 hast 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.
You should know that the poem is often used by teachers as an illustration of portmanteau, and to help students learn to identify the various parts of speech. A portmanteau word (portmanteau is most often used as an adjective) is a combination of two words, without the comma common to contractions. For example, "frumious" is often regarded as a combination of furious and fuming. "Galumphing" is thought to be a combination of galloping and triumphant. If this interests you then you'll find all of this information online. None of this, however, matters in the context of our discussion. We'll be looking at the nonsensical words in the poem as just that, nonsense.
What is the first question English teachers ask when you read a poem in class? I know that you know. So, tell me. What is it?
That's right. Teachers always ask, "What does the poem mean?"
Your response is usually, "How should I know?" At that point you tune out and begin drooling on yourself, while the teacher tells you what he or she thinks the poem means. This isn't how I like to do business.
Yes, I'll be asking about the meaning of the poem, but I won't be supplying an answer. I'll also be asking an equally important, and often overlooked question. Here goes ...
"How does the poem mean?"
Specifically, how does Lewis Carroll use nonsense to add meaning to his poem?
So, we have two questions that I am asking each of you to answer ...
- What does the poem mean? What is it all about?
- How do the portmanteau words - the nonsense - add to the meaning of the poem?
*** STRING IS CLOSED ***
45 comments:
I have never heard of this poem before. My best guess is through a silly story, the author is trying to say that you should be courageous and not be afraid of a seemingly impossible task. The monster is described as this awful beast, but the boy was not afraid. In the end, he killed the beast. Even though it seemed impossible to slay this monster, the boy faced it head on and won.
The nonsense actually makes it fun and understandable if you think about it. It is something different from the regular poetry I have read in the past. It grabs my attention more and makes me think about what the author is really trying to say.
This poem is difficult to analyze because there are multiple words that are unfamiliar to be. I think that the message in this poem is talking about a monster, the Jabberwock, who attacks a man or boy. This person takes his "vorpal" sword to kill the monster and return to his land. There is triumph and joy after the victory, this could mean that he had defeated a sought out creature.
The portmanteau words add to the poem by exaggerating the actions of the characters.
Thank you so much for having the courage to step into the fray on this one. I know "Jabberwocky" is likely unlike any poem you've previously seen. I know it makes you uncomfortable to put yourselves out there as you have. Your efforts are much appreciated.
Two things ...
1. Johnny Depp
2. Do you suppose it likely that a boy is running off to fight a monster as his father waits in the wings?
That is what it sounds like in the story.
Angelina,
Yes. You're right that the poem makes it appear as if a boy is going off to fight a monster.
How many boys do you know that have fought monsters ... how about girls?
I think that the poem is about a boy who goes to kill a monster. The qualities of the monster are unknown as well as many other aspect of the poem. In the end he defeats the monster without any trouble.
The nonsense adds to the meaning of the poem by further supporting the theme of the unknown. Also, the jibberish makes the poem fun.
This type of writing is new to me, but I like how crazy it is. It seems like the type of writing I would turn to.
Well it seems like a fiction story, so there could be a monster. Therefore, a boy, or girl, could fight off a monster.
It does seem like fiction, doesn't it? Hmmmm ... why?
"The nonsense adds to the meaning of the poem by further supporting the theme of the unknown." - Very nicely said Abby. Everyone take note ... this is the type of comment I hope to see repeated. Whether or not we agree with Abby's interpretation, in this single sentence she nicely supports her point of view.
And yes Abby, I agree that "the jibberish makes the poem fun."
Mr. D -
Thanks! Let's do more poems of jibberish. They make more sense!
Angelina, maybe when Carroll writes “my son” he doesn’t mean it in a literal sense. Maybe he is referring to a person to whom he finds to be less experienced in life and its trials or less wise than himself; like a priest would say to a person who attends a sermon.
Hold on! Is the monster really dead? I don’t think it is. If the monster is really dead, then why does Carroll talk about how its talons, I mean, “toves” gyred and gimbled in the wabe at the very end? Why not just stop after, “He chortled in his joy”? It sounds to me like there are a lot more factors to this than the characters (or we, as the audience) are aware of. Also, notice the quotation marks. The portion of the poem that is in quotations, I would guess, is the part that the characters are aware of. However, notice that the beginning and end stanzas aren’t included in the quotation marks. I think that there are more monsters than just that one Jabberwock that the “son” killed. Or maybe I’m just reading too much into it and over thinking.
I also don’t understand what the picture has to do with the poem. When I look at the picture, I think of knowledge. This reminds me of the first character who is introduced to the poem, the one who warns the boy of the Jabberwock. He or she seems to be wise and knowledgeable.
Overall, I think that the portmanteau makes the reader think more about the words of the poem. Thus, it leads to a greater understanding of the poem as a whole. I also agree with Angelina and Abby, the words make the poem mysteriously fun and compellingly addicting until you find its meaning. At least that's how it is for me, I've spent days just re-reading it until I decided to post something.
What of the picture? Has anyone else a thought? Why might I have juxtaposed this picture with this poem?
As always an English teacher will obviously ask what the meaning of the poem is. So what does Lewis Carroll’s poem mean? In a quick summary the poem is about a Jabberwocky, which is a monster-like creature. The Jabberwocky is killed by being beheaded by a man. This poem shows the typical hero killing the monster with a sword by beheading it. The difference is Carroll uses portmanteau words which change the whole meaning. If these words were not used, the poem would be very symptomatic and boring. The poem being a story about a typical hero would not be the same without the use of the portmanteau words. It makes the reader think more and makes the poem have a deeper meaning.
I now read the poem a second time while looking at the picture, which changes the whole meaning to me. Now I think of a man who sees this “Jabberwocky” in a tree. On impulse I believe the man then cuts the tree up into the shape of a head. Yet, I still am confused with this interpretation of mine because I feel some things don’t correlate with one another.
This goes to everyone ... what kind of games did you play when you were a child? Let's hear it ...
Tag, hide and seek, hopscotch,and duck duck goose, etc.
When I was younger I was very competitive. I loved any game I thought I had a chance at winning. I also loved/love creative games! But, I would have to say my favorites were hide and go seek and finding shapes in clouds! :)
Oh! Marissa, I used to love finding shapes in clouds too! Maybe that's why I have bad vision...(I stared towards the sun too much). =)
My favorite games were hide and go seek and jump rope. What is the connection of our favorite games with this poem?
Good question Sophie. I'm surprised you're the first to ask. Anyone want to take a stab at it? Why would I ask about your favorite childhood games?
Hmmmm ... fried noggin.
Maybe because this is a story told to children? If I was five years old and I was told this story, I can definitely see myself making it into a game and acting it out (while pretending the monster was my brother). =]
Thanks Mr. D, I'm trying to think like Mariana said it could be a story for children. Maybe to influence a creative imagination?
Creative imagination? ... Hmmmmm ... Jabberwocky, portmanteau, imagination? Where's the link?
My favorite game was what time is it Mr. Fox? It was so fun! And I think the link is a portmanteau is in a way similar to "kid" language. I mean by putting two words together, it makes it more fun. Therefore you need to have imagination.
Maybe this poem was told from an adult to child. It might be saying have fun, and play your games but be careful. It could be cautioning little children against a greater thing.
I agree with Angie. The portmanteau words influence a creative imagination with children because they still do not fully develop their words or thoughts. Putting two words together is fun for younger kids and this way they may be able to learn while playing a game or reciting this poem to think of what the possibilities are for the portmanteau words.
Okay, I think this poem is about a young boy who goes to slay a creature in order to save other, more helpless people. The boy gets advise and help from older, wiser people to slay the monster. The boy has to go through the woods and make it through difficult things, but in the end he slays the monster and saves the day. It pretty much seems like the classic story of a monster being slayed by the heroic boy.
The portmanteau words add to the meaning of the poem because it makes people look deeper into the poem in order to figure out what all the gibberish means.
Well relating to childhood games this poem reminds me of the movie 'Bridge to Terabithia.' The way childrens minds work to create their own imaginary world and games is incredible. Maybe the character in the story is creating his/her own story, like the children from the movie. He/she could of been board while sitting by a tree. Letting his/her mind wander picking up a stick using it as a sword fighting the "Jabberwocky," which could be the tree. The mind of a child is an extraordinary thing.
Yes ... (insert maniacal laugh here) ... yes!
The picture of the tree now reminds me of Marissa’s previous post. How she said that she used to find shapes in clouds, which reminded me that I used to like doing it too. Maybe someone looked at the tree and thought it was in the shape of a head. This picture though exaggerates it so that everyone else can see it too.
Marissa,
Nice connection! This makes a lot more sense now.
Mariana,
Good observation! I never noticed that the tree was in the shape of a head.
This may mean that the mind is very complex, like branches inter-twining and making connections to common things.
Sophie and Ange, I agree with your comments that it is about a boy killing a beast and being completely courageous and victorious.
Let's run with the idea of imagination. What has imagination to do with the poem (aside from the fact that writing such a poem requires one to be imaginative)?
Imagination is where the poem stems from. In order to think of any random story a person needs to use their imagination. Men, women, and children use their imagination actively.
The poem sounds like the boy goes to defeat a monster and does it without struggle. His mother is very proud of him and i think it says that everything was alright? The nonsense adds to the poem by making the reading use their own head to fill in the blanks. Maybe there isn't a specific meaning the author dedicates to the poem but he would like for the reader to decide
Mr. Daley, I think the purpose of the picture is so that we take our own view of the the tree as well as the poem. The are both "blurry" in their meanings
'Twas [bright and big], and the [slimy hooves]
Did [gyrate] and gimble[?] in the [wind];
All [weak] were the [trees],
And the [moans] raths [reached out].
"Beware the Jabberwock, my son!
The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!
Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun
The [frightening and trumendous] Bandersnatch!
"He took his vorpal sword in hand:
Long time the [maximum] foe he sought—
So rested he by the Tumtum tree,
And stood awhile in thought.
And as in [official] thought he stood,
The Jabberwock, with eyes of flame,
Came [waffling] through the [tugging] wood,
And [burped and gargled] 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 [galloping triumphantly] back."
And hast thou slain the Jabberwock?
Come to my arms, my beamish boy!
O [fabulous, joyous] day! Callooh! Callay!"
He chortled in his joy.
'Twas [bright and big], and the [slimy hooves]
Did [gyrate] and gimble[?] in the [wind];
All [weak] were the [trees],
And the [moans] raths [reached out].
Replacing the portmanteaus with words they represent I understand this originally gibberishy looking poem.
There is a terrible beast which is feared by all, and a boy, wielding a legendary sword sets of to kill it. He went out into the forest and stopped to lucubrate on how best to kill the Jabberwock when it appeared. An epic fight ensues, and the boy is ultimately victorious, decapitating the creature and bringing its head back with him. The boy is greeted like a hero and the day is celebrated.
To Mariana, I think it was the village or the hero that was chortling with joy, and that the monster really did die.
This poem is kind of like an epic poem, except its not that long. It tells the story of a hero going to fight a monster called the Jabberwocky. Everyones is proud of him when he cuts off its head. The nonsense words make the poem easy to understand in a way, at least for me they did, because I was able to choose what words where in the poem. I did like Marianna and substituted words I knew for those I didn't.
Marissa, that was a really great idea. I would never have thought of it like that.
This poem is ridiculous. I believe that this poem is the story of a son who is warned of a vicious monster, maybe some kind of dragon. His father is afraid that his son will be killed by this monster. The son then meditates by a tree and eventually is confronted with the monster, who corollary is slain. (not sure if i used that right) He then takes the head of the monster back to his father who is overjoyed and they both are celebrate. The last 4 stanzas of the poem seem now to me as a final calm in the poem where the trees are swaying in the wind and the creatures are running about in normalcy. If I had not seen the original picture I would have possibly contributed the Jabberwock and Jubjub bird as metaphors. I probably would've interpreted this poem as a boy facing a challenge and overcoming it in a brave way, which is represented by the sword. I disagree with Sarah, the portmanteau words that Lewis Carroll uses made the poem more difficult to find the original meaning of his poem. The nonsense adds to the meaning of the poem though. It makes the poem more whimsical. The poem is made more about the triumph and celebration after the boy defeats the monster than the dangerous battle between them.
Mr.D
I know this doesn't count as a post but is what deanna does when she laughs considered chortling?
P.S. I know there are typos in my post. I apologize.
Okay, so I really like this poem because, like Abby said, it makes alot of sense because it is jibberish. It lets you create your own story so no matter what, it could be correct. I believe this poem is a message about life. When a parent sends their child off to college or once they move out, they tell them to "tackle their fears" which in this case is the Jabberwocky. The sword is knowledge; how you use it is the key to success and triumph. Once the "creature" is "dead", the child is now grown and has succeeded in the real world and the parents are proud. Like many say, the real world is a jungle.
Mr. Daley, when I as a child I played Simon Says because I liked telling people what to do. I can proudly say I was BOSS at it.
Okay when I first read the poem I really wasn't sure what to think. After I re-read it though my mind went straight to the movie Alice In Wonderland with Johnny Depp in it, by Tim Burton. I went to see the movie when it first came out and the whole plot of it seems to be directly based on this poem. Except instead of a son killing the Jabberwock Alice does to save Wonderland.
I think that the poem is talking about the strength in ones self. In this case it would be the son. He finds his strength and is able to kill the Jabberwock, which has been panic and destruction.
I think the nonsense words are perfect for this poem. It gives the poem a sense of misticalness and weirdness. Which is why the poem is the perfect muse for Tim Burtons Alice In Wonderland.
Ange I think you're right! Portmanteau is like kids talk. Because if you really think about it how many times did we make up words when we were younger and they made no sense. I'm just saying this because I have a little sister who still does it and I sometimes have to ask her what she's talking about. But she understands it while others don't because she's using her imagination to make up these words.
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