Poem 1- The Jabberwocky

The Jabberwocky is a "nonsense poem" written by Lewis Carol. The poem is found in the novel "Through the Looking Glass". As you read the poem, try to figure out why it is considered nonsense. What do you notice about the words in the poem? Do you think they are English words? How much can you understand? 


1. In your own words, say what happens in the poem.

2. How can you tell that this poem is about a young boy?

3. What is the 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


4. Which line from the poem BEST supports your answer?

a. "'Beware the Jabberwock, my son! / The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!'" (Lines 5-6)
b. "So rested he by the Tumtum tree / And stood awhile in thought." (Lines 11-12)
c. "One, two! One, two! And through and through / The vorpal blade went snicker-snack!" (Lines 17-18)
d. "All mimsy were the borogoves, / And the mome raths outgrabe." (Lines 27-28)


5. How do the father's actions set the plot of the poem in motion?

a. The father warns his son of the Jabberwock, and the son begins his journey.
b. The father scares his son, and this causes the son to hide from the Jabberwock.
c. The father tells the son that the Jabberwock has giant teeth, so the son finds a sword.
d. The father advises his son to rest up before fighting the Jabberwock, so the son sleeps.

6. PART B: Which TWO lines from the poem best support the answer to Part A?

a. "'Beware the Jabberwock, my son! / The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!'" (Lines 5-6)
b. "He took his vorpal sword in hand; / Long time the manxome foe he sought" (Lines 9-10)
c. "So rested he by the Tumtum tree / And stood awhile in thought." (Lines 11-12)
d. "And, as in uffish thought he stood, / The Jabberwock, with eyes of flame" (Lines 13-14)
e. "Came whiffling through the tulgey wood, / And burbled as it came." (Lines 15-16)
f. "He left it dead, and with its head / He went galumphing back." (Lines 19-20)

7. How do the names of the creatures in the second stanza of the poem — Jabberwock, Jubjub bird, and Bandersnatch — contribute to the mood of the poem?

a. These names are humorous and contribute to a light-hearted mood, in spite of the father's warning.
b. These words are confusing and contribute to an uncertain mood, which reflects the boy's confusion.
c. These words are mysterious and contribute to a suspenseful mood, as the reader is left wondering what happened to the Jabberwock.
d. These words are harsh and contribute to a gloomy mood, even though the father is proud.


8. 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 Jabberwocky lived.
d. The first syllable in the words "Callooh!" and "Callay!" is repeated to emphasize the father's pride.

9. Does it matter that the names of the trees and creatures are not real? Does it make it hard for you to understand the poem? Explain why or why not.

10. What is a Jabberwocky?