Jabberwocky

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For other uses of the name Jabberwocky, see Jabberwocky (disambiguation).

"Jabberwocky" is a poem (of nonsense verse) found in Through the Looking-Glass, and What Alice Found There (1871) by Lewis Carroll. It is generally considered to be one of the greatest nonsense poems written in the English language.

1 The poem
2 Glossary
3 Pronunciation
4 Origin and structure
5 Translations
- 5.1 Some translations of the first stanza
6 Derivative works
7 References in popular culture
8 See also
9 Notes
10 External links

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The poem

Image:Jabberwocky.jpg

'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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Glossary

Several of the words in the poem are of Carroll's own invention, many of them portmanteaux. In the book, the character of Humpty Dumpty gives definitions for the nonsense words in the first stanza. In later writings, Lewis Carroll explained several of the others. The rest of the nonsense words were never explicitly defined by Carroll (who even claimed that he did not know what some of them meant). An extended analysis of the poem is given in the book The Annotated Alice, including writings from Carroll about how he formed some of his idiosyncratic words. A few words that Carroll invented in this poem (namely "chortled", "galumphing", and "vorpal") have entered the language. The word jabberwocky itself is sometimes used to refer to nonsense language.

Image:Jabberwocky Illustration.jpg

Bandersnatch – A swift moving creature with snapping jaws. Capable of extending its neck. (From The Hunting of the Snark.)

Borogove – A thin shabby-looking bird with its feathers sticking out all round, something like a live mop. Carroll emphasized in the introduction to The Hunting of the Snark that the initial syllable of borogove is pronounced as in borrow, rather than as in boring.

Brillig – Four o'clock in the afternoon: the time when you begin broiling things for dinner. (According to Mischmasch, it is derived from the verb to bryl or broil.)

Burbled – Possibly a mixture of "bleat", "murmur", and "warble". (according to Carroll in a letter [1]). (Burble is an actual word, circa 1303, meaning to form bubbles as in boiling water.)

Chortled - Laugh in a breathy, gleeful way; cuckle (Definition from Oxford American Dictionary) A combination of "chuckle" and "snort."

Frabjous - Delightful; joyous (Definition from Oxford American Dictionary)

Frumious – Combination of "fuming" and "furious." (From the Preface to The Hunting of the Snark.)

Galumphing - Moving in a clumsy, ponderous, or noisy manner. Perhaps a blend of "gallop" and "triumph." (Definition from Oxford American Dictionary)

Gimble – To make holes like a gimlet.

Gyre – To go round and round like a gyroscope. (Gyre is an actual word, circa 1566, meaning a circular or spiral motion or form; especially a giant circular oceanic surface current.)

Jubjub – A desperate bird that lives in perpetual passion. (From The Hunting of the Snark.)

Manxome – Combination of "monstrous" and "fearsome"; possibly related to the Manx cat.

Mimsy – Combination of "flimsy" and "miserable."

Mome – Possibly short for "from home," meaning that the raths had lost their way.

Outgrabe – Something between bellowing and whistling, with a kind of sneeze in the middle. Since the verse is in past tense, this is probably a preterite form derived from a strong verb such as "outgribe".

Rath – A sort of green pig. (See Origin and Structure for further details.)

Slithy – Combination of "lithe" and "slimy."

Toves – A combination of a badger, a lizard, and a corkscrew. They are very curious looking creatures which make their nests under sundials. They live on cheese.

Uffish – A state of mind when the voice is gruffish, the manner roughish, and the temper huffish. (according to Carroll in a letter).

Wabe – The grass plot around a sundial. It is called a "wabe" because it goes a long way before it, and a long way behind it, and a long way beyond it on each side.

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Pronunciation

Image:Commons-logo.svg

Wikimedia Commons has a spoken version of Jabberwocky in United States English, read by Wiktionary contributor Dvortygirl.

In the Preface to The Hunting of the Snark, Carroll wrote:

[Let] me take this opportunity of answering a question that has often been asked me, how to pronounce "slithy toves." The "i" in "slithy" is long, as in "writhe"; and "toves" is pronounced so as to rhyme with "groves." Again, the first "o" in "borogoves" is pronounced like the "o" in "borrow." I have heard people try to give it the sound of the "o" in "worry." Such is Human Perversity.

Also, in an author's note (dated Christmas 1896) about Through the Looking-Glass, Carroll wrote:

The new words, in the poem "Jabberwocky", have given rise to some differences of opinion as to their pronunciation: so it may be well to give instructions on that point also. Pronounce "slithy" as if it were the two words, "sly, the": make the "g" hard in "gyre" and "gimble": and pronounce "rath" to rhyme with "bath."

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Origin and structure

The first stanza of the poem originally appeared in Mischmasch, a periodical that Carroll wrote and illustrated for the amusement of his family. It was entitled "Stanza of Anglo-Saxon Poetry." Carroll also gave translations of some of the words which are different from Humpty Dumpty's. For example, a "rath" is described as a species of land turtle that lived on swallows and oysters. Also, brillig is spelt with two ys rather than with two is.

Roger Lancelyn Green, in the Times Literary Supplement (March 1, 1957), and later in The Lewis Carroll Handbook (1962), suggests that the rest of the poem may have been inspired by an old German ballad, "The Shepherd of the Giant Mountains." In this epic poem "a young shepherd slays a monstrous Griffin." It was translated into English by Lewis Carroll's relative Menella Bute Smedley in 1846, many years before the appearance of the Alice books.

The inspiration for the Jabberwock allegedly came from a tree in the gardens of Christ Church, Oxford, where Carroll was a mathematician (under his real name of Charles Lutwidge Dodgson). The tree in question is large and ancient with many sprawling, twisted branches somewhat suggestive of tentacles, or the Hydra of Greek mythology.

The poem is particularly interesting because, although it contains many nonsensical words, the structure is perfectly consistent with classic English poetry. The sentence structure is accurate (another aspect that has been challenging to reproduce in other languages), the poetic forms are observed (e.g. quatrain verse, rhymed, iambic meter), and a "story" is somewhat discernible in the flow of events. According to Alice in Through the Looking Glass, "Somehow it seems to fill my head with ideas – only I don't exactly know what they are!"

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Translations

"Jabberwocky" has become famous around the world, with translations into many languages, including Portuguese, German, Spanish, French, Italian, Czech, Hungarian, Russian, Bulgarian, Japanese, Polish and Esperanto. Some example translations of the first stanza are included below.

The task of translation is the more notable and difficult because many of the principal words of the poem were simply made up by Carroll, having had no previous meaning. Translators have generally dealt with these words by inventing words of their own. Sometimes these are similar in spelling or sound to Carroll's words while respecting the morphology of the language to be translated into. For example in Frank L. Warrin's French translation below "'Twas brillig" is translated as "Il brilgue". In cases like this both the original and the invented words may echo actual words in the lexicon, but not necessarily ones with similar meanings. Translators have also invented words which draw on root words with meanings similar to the English roots used by Carroll. As Douglas Hofstadter has noted <ref>{{cite book

| first = Douglas R.
| last = Hofstadter
| year = 1980
| title = Gödel, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid
| chapter = Translations of Jabberwocky
| chapterurl = http://www76.pair.com/keithlim/jabberwocky/poem/hofstadter.html
| id = ISBN 0-39-474502-7
}}</ref>

the word "slithy" echoes English words including "slimy", "slither", "slippery", "lithe" and "sly". The same French translation uses "lubricilleux" for "slithy", evoking French words like "lubrifiaient" (lubricated) to give a similar impression of the meaning of the invented word.

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Some translations of the first stanza

French (Frank L. Warrin)	German (Robert Scott)	German (Christian Enzensberger)	Bulgarian (Lazar Goldman & Stefan Gechev)	Russian (Samuil Marshak)
Il brilgue: les tôves lubricilleux Se gyrent en vrillant dans le guave. Enmîmés sont les gougebosqueux Et le mômerade horsgrave.	Es brillig war. Die schlichten Toven Wirrten und wimmelten in Waben; Und aller-mümsige Burggoven Die mohmen Räth' ausgraben.	Verdaustig war's, und glasse Wieben Rotterten gorkicht im Gemank. Gar elump war der Pluckerwank Und die gabben Schweisel frieben.	Бе сгладне и честлинестите комбурси търляха се и сврецваха в плите; съвсем окласни бяха тук щурпите и отма равапсатваха прасурси.	Варкалось. Хливкие шорьки Пырялись по наве, И хрюкотали зелюки, Как мюмзики в мове.

There are several Polish translations of this poem, including one by a noted poet Stanisław Barańczak and well-known politician and bridge player Janusz Korwin-Mikke, it is interesting to compare how different interpreters had tackled the problem:

Stanisław Barańczak Dziaberliada	Janusz Korwin-Mikke Żabrołak	Jolanta Kozak Dziaberlak	Maciej Słomczyński Dżabbersmok	Robert Stiller Żabrołaki
Brzdęśniało już; ślimonne prztowie Wyrło i warło się w gulbieży; Zmimszałe ćwiły borogowie I rcie grdypały z mrzerzy.	Błyszniało - szlisgich hopuch świr Tęczując w kałdach świtrzem wre, Mizgłupny był borolągw hyr, Chrząszczury wlizły młe.	Bzdrężyło. Szłapy maślizgajne Bujowierciły w gargazonach Tubylerczykom spełły fajle, Humpel wyświchnął ponad.	Było smaszno, a jaszmije smukwijne Świdrokrętnie na zegwniku wężały, Peliczaple stały smutcholijne I zbłąkinie rykoświstąkały.	Był czas mrusztławy, ślibkie skrątwy Na wałzach wiercząc świrypły, A mizgłe do cna boroglątwy I zdomne świszczury zgrzypły.

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Derivative works

Between 1905 and 1907, Chapman Hall published a children's magazine called Jabberwock.
In 1943, Henry Kuttner, writing as Lewis Padgett, published a science fiction short story called Mimsy were the Borogoves in the magazine Astounding, which has since been republished in several anthologies. It posits that the poem is actually a communication with hidden meaning from intelligent extraterrestrials.
In 1949, four members of the Brown University Glee Club decided to quit the group and start their own a cappella group named the Jabberwocks, named after Carroll's work; today, they are Brown's oldest a cappella group.
In 1971, Donovan released his children's album H.M.S. Donovan, which features the poem "Jabberwocky" set to music. The melody is identical to that of "Celtic Rock", a Donovan song released on Open Road in 1970.
In 1972, Sam Pottle wrote an arrangement of the poem for SATB choir, piano, and toy orchestra.
In 1973, D. L. Covill's ARPAWOCKY was published as RFC 527. It is generally accepted as the first "joke" RFC.
In 1977, Terry Gilliam directed a movie called Jabberwocky. A poster for the movie featured a colorized version of the Jabberwocky illustration, and the first stanza of the poem is recited at the start of the film. The movie's plot very loosely resembles that of the poem.
In 1999, Clive Nolan and Oliver Wakeman made Jabberwocky, a progressive rock concept album based on the poem.
There has been a television series called Jabberwocky, and also a card game called Jabberwocky.
The Jabberwock appears in American McGee's Alice as a boss.
The Jabberwock appeared in early versions of Dungeons & Dragons' Monster Manual; later it was replaced by the Tarrasque.
In 2005 experimental musicians The Books released an album entitled Lost and Safe, track three of which is entitled "Vogt Dig for Kloppervok", which translates to "Beware the Jabberwock" and is so named for the Danish translation by Arne Herløv Petersen.
Borogovia is a species of bird-like dinosaur described in 1987 and named for Carroll's poem.
There is a play (stageable by children) of the Jabberwock by the dramatist Chris Owen.
There is a musical play entitled Jabberwock by the composer Alan Fleming-Baird.

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References in popular culture

Jabberwocky is a monster in the Project ARMS anime/manga series. Many characters of Alice in Wonderland appear in the series, but they bear no resemblance to the originals.
Jabberwocky is also the name of a boss monster in the SNES game Secret of Mana. However, the character's appearance bears little resemblance to the Tenniel illustration.
Jabberocky is the name given to a unit in the game Sacrifice. The 'w' presumably is removed because the units belongs to James, god of earth. The appearances of this unit are not like the Tenniel illustration at all.
Jabberwock is a monster in the game Final Fantasy IX (it also appears as a friendly monster that gives you Ability Points). The Vorpal Blade is a weapon in the first Final Fantasy and a sword weapon skill in Final Fantasy XI.
Jabberwocky is a rare encounter in the game Tales of the Abyss for PS2. He has boss-like stats and is a huge, horned, yeti-like creature. He is one of the few sources for the rare item "sunlight chamber". The Vorpal Sword is also present in this game, but sadly have no particular effect on the Jabberwocky.
The Jabberwocky is also the name of a monster in the Warhammer Fantasy universe, as well as in the RuneQuest role-playing game.
In the game Dragon Quest VIII there are four monsters you can encounter called Jab, Ber, and Woc, and Kee who can combine to create the monster Jabberwockee.
Several versions of Dungeons & Dragons feature the vorpal blade as a weapon. It has the ability to sever an opponent's head on a critical hit. The Jabberwock itself also appeared as a monster in the AD&D Annual Monstrous Compedium III.
In the online game Kingdom of Loathing there is a monster you encounter called a Quantum Mechanic. Part of the text for his encounter reads: "With his vorpal sword, he attempts to decapitate you." The vorpal blade is also an equipable weapon he drops and the description of the item references to the poem itself: "One two, one two, and through and through -- this is the kind of blade that you'd imagine would feel right at home going 'snicker-snack.'"
In The Simpsons, Selma Bouvier's iguana is named Jubjub. Also, Mr. Burns and Principal Skinner have been known to use Callooh! Callay! as an expression of joy.
The online virtual pets game Neopets features a species of pet called the JubJub. It is not a bird, but a comical-looking creature resembling a ball of fluff with large feet. The Wocky is another Neopets species, more like a housecat than any other real animal, but in earlier incarnations appeared to be a cat/fox blend. It's possible the appearance of the foxy Wocky influenced its name, or vice versa, but given the JubJub's name, it's unlikely the British creators of Neopets were unaware of the poem. A well known comic written by a user also clues to the similarity with the title "And the Meepits Outgrabe". Also, the Gallery of Evil on Neopets has an excerpt from Jabberwocky on its front page.
Goth-Rock band the Crüxshadows have recorded a version of Jabberwock.
One of the latest 87th Precinct police procedural novels by Ed McBain is entitled The Frumious Bandersnatch and its plot features a pop-rock version of Jabberwocky.
Outgrabe, the San Francisco alt-rock band, chose the last word of the first stanza of Jabberwocky as their name. Their record label is Boojum Productions.
A comic strip called Jabberwocky ran in Advertising Age and other publications in the early 1990s.
The Simpsons Comics once did a spoof of the poem.
In Disney's version of Alice In Wonderland, the Cheshire Cat sings the first stanza of the poem.
British band The Bluetones recorded a song called "The Jub Jub Bird" on the 1998 album Return to The Last Chance Saloon.
Menagerie (formerly Beast Boy) briefly takes on the Jabberwocky form in the climax of Kingdom Come.
The Muppets once performed the poem on an offbeat sketch of The Muppet Show, with a young Brooke Shields as Alice. Scooter proclaims it "the strangest thing we've ever done on THIS show..."
An 8-Bit Theater comic shows a flashback from Fighter in which Vargus recites Jabberwocky for him.
In a Batman comic entitled "Mimsy Were The Borogoves", Batman's enemy, The Mad Hatter, kidnaps Dr. Kirk Langstrom (A.K.A. Man-bat) in order to create a formula to transform a jewish doctor named Dr. Yorkes into a Jabberwock, having an uncanny resemblance to the Tenniel Illustration.
In the computer game 'Alice' the Jabberwocky is a mechanical monster built by the Hatter.
The classic BBS door game, The Pit, featured a "vorpal" weapon, which was useful fighting elementals and gods, as it sometimes added extra damage to them.
Frumious Bandersnatch was the name of a 1960s psychedelic rock band, which included bassist Ross Valory of Journey and the Steve Miller Band.
The Blizzard game "Warcraft III" also makes reference to Carrol's poem by allowing upgrading of Night Elf Ballistae to the use of vorpal bolts.
The roguelike game Nethack contains jabberwock as one of the monsters and an Vorpal Blade - an unique weapon that kills jabberwocks instantly.
The Vorpal Blade is included as a weapon in the Vertigo Fables comic. It can cut through anything, and it always makes the sound 'Snicker-snack'.
Jabberwock is the master of darkness in the manga series Legendz, yet his apearence apears to be that of a dragon.
Jabberwocky is a childish action of hitting pressure points near the collarbone, usually acompanied by screaming "Jabberwocky!" at the victim and attempting to force them to the ground.
The first stanza of the poem was read (in a very dramatic fashion) in an episode of the online Flash cartoon Weebl and Bob.
In the 2004 movie Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story, an announcer reads "Average Joe's hopes to drive their vorpal blade snicker-snack deep into the heart of the dodgeball jabberwocky that is the Globogym Purple Cobras."