Jabberwock
-Lewis Carrol
‘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 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
Vocabulary Check
Your knowledge of grammar, specifically the parts of speech can help you make better sense of
the poem. Look back at the unfamiliar words of the poem. Some of these are nouns, verbs, adjectives,
and adverbs. Choose five words and place them in the chart below. Try to decipher the meanings of
these words. The first one has been done for you.
Unfamiliar word from
the poem
Slithy
Part of speech
Adjective
Similar-sounding word
in English
Slimy, sly, slithery
Possible meaning
Description for a slimy
animal
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Discussion Questions
Answer the following questions.
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7.
Did you understand the poem? Why or why not?
What do you think happened in the poem? What is the poem about?
How did you make sense of the poem? Would you say it is nonsense? Why or why not?
Who is talking to the boy?
What is a Jabberwock
What weapon is used to kill the Jabberwock?
What were your impressions of the poem before reading? How about after reading? What
caused the changes?