Here's an introduction to the poe, 'The Jabberwocky', by Lewis Carroll.
Who wrote the poem 'The Jabberwocky'?
One of the best children's poems of all time, 'The Jabberwocky' was written by Lewis Carroll in around 1855 and featured in his follow up to Alice's Adventures in Wonderland - Through the Looking Glass.
The poem is particularly loved for its wildly imaginative language, which includes many new words, such as ‘chortle’ and ‘galumph’, that have since become part of our lexicon.
Among those who have set this poem to music are the madcap composer Gerald Barry. His surreal setting for voice, horn and piano uses the text twice, first in French with long legato phrases, and then, more incisively, in German.
What book is 'The Jabberwocky' from?
'The Jabberwocky' has its origins in Through the Looking Glass, the sequel to Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. In one early scene, Alice encounters the White King and White Queen - and a book written in what seems to be an entirely incomprehensible language. Alice quickly recognises that the writing is in mirror form - so can be read the right way round when seen in a mirror. One of the verses within is the nonsense poem, 'The Jabberwocky'.
What is 'The Jabberwocky' about?
The poem is a sort of nonsense epic poem, or quest story. In it, a hero leaves his home and heads off on a quest to slay the evil Jabberwocky, a creature from fairytales that most resembles a deragon - albneit a dragon with a long snake-like neck, rabbit-like teeth, spidery talons, wings like a bat's and (in John Tenniel's original illustration) soirting a waistcoat.
The Jabberwocky is not the only fantastical; creature we meet in the poem. There's also the Jubjub Bird, the Bandersnatch (a fast-moving creature with an extendable neck and snapping jaws) and the curious mome raths, who may be greenish pigs or land turtles.
'The Jabberwocky' words
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.
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