"Jabberwocky"
by Lewis Carroll
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’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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amphigory - a nonsense verse; a rigmarole, with apparent meaning, which on further attention proves to be meaningless
Lewis Carroll was an English writer who is best known for his novel Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. He was known for his use of wordplay and fantasy. Some of his poems were considered "literary nonsense," a genre that balances elements that make sense with some that do not. This poem, about a young boy called upon to face a creature called the Jabberwock, appeared in the sequel to Alice in Wonderland.
portmanteau - a word blending the sounds and combining the meanings of two others
Questions1. What is the warning given to the son?
A. Avoid the animals in the forest. B. Walk past the dark forest. C. Watch out for dangerous creatures. D. Hide behind the tallest trees. 2. Which statement best describes the Jabberwock's appearance as the boy encounters him for the first time? A. The Jabberwock was angry and noisily moving about. B. The Jabberwock was calmly thinking and watching its surroundings. C. The Jabberwock was curled up in a ball and attempting to hide. D. The Jabberwock was sniffing the area around it, trying to catch a scent. 3. How does the father respond to his son when he returns? A. He cries because his son is wounded. B. He screams in anger because his son killed the Jabberwock. C. He carries his son back into the woods to ensure that the Jabberwock was killed. D. He hugs his son with pride and cries out happily. 4. Where does the son end up at the end of the poem? A. back with his father B. killed by the Jabberwock C. inside the slithy toves D. back in the forest 5. What is a theme of the poem? A. Swords are dangerous when used without training. B. Parents should always warn their children of danger. C. Acts of bravery are always rewarded in society. D. Courage is necessary to keep peace and order in the world. 6. How does the author use repetition to contribute to the poem's meaning? A. The poem's rhyme provides repetition, similar to the repeated efforts of courage. B. The poem's first stanza is repeated at the end, showing that the boy's victory over the Jabberwock has kept their world stable and calm. C. The line "And the mome raths outgrabe" is repeated to help the reader understand where the Jabberwock lived. D. The first syllable in the words "Callooh!" and "Callay!" is repeated to emphasize the father's pride. |
