Jabberwocky
Lewis Carroll wrote the first stanza of Jabberwocky in 1855 while staying at Croft-on-Tees. He published it that same year in a family periodical called Mischmasch under the title Stanza of Anglo-Saxon Poetry. The poem appeared again in modern characters after its initial presentation in faux-mediaeval lettering. A decade later, Carroll added the remaining stanzas during his stay with relatives at Whitburn near Sunderland. Local legends about the Lambton Worm and the Sockburn Worm may have inspired parts of the story. John Tenniel agreed to illustrate the book in 1871 for Through the Looking-Glass. His images became the defining visual representation of the creature known as the Jabberwock.
Carroll constructed many words by blending existing terms into single units. The word chortle combines chuckle and snort according to the Oxford English Dictionary. Frumious merges fuming and furious into one term. Slithy packs lithe and slimy together as a portmanteau. Humpty Dumpty explains these constructions to Alice within the narrative. Carroll himself noted that some words like borogove had no clear source or meaning. He stated that the i in slithy is long as in writhe. The g in gyre sounds like gold not gem based on pronunciation from his era. These invented words follow standard English syntax despite their nonsense content.
Several words created by Lewis Carroll entered standard English dictionaries over time. Chortle appears in the Oxford English Dictionary with its blended definition. Galumphing describes moving with a clumsy heavy tread according to Webster. The phrase jabberwocky now refers generally to any nonsense language. American Sign Language adopted Eric Malzkuhn's sign for chortled unintentionally. It became part of the lexicon used by deaf communities today. Writers have parodied the poem using its structure while changing the subject matter. Douglas Adams included references to Carroll in The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy published in 1979. Frank Jacobs wrote If Lewis Carroll Were A Hollywood Press Agent In The Thirties as an example of parody work.
Translators have adapted Jabberwocky into sixty-five different languages worldwide. Each version requires creating new words that mimic the original sound and feel. Frank L. Warrin translated it into French as Il brilgue to preserve the invented nature. D.G. Orlovskaya created Barmaglot for the Russian edition published in 1967. Chao Yuen Ren developed Chinese characters specifically designed to imitate slithy toves. Augusto de Campos produced a Brazilian Portuguese version called Jaguadarte. Satyajat Ray translated the work into Bengali for film audiences. Multiple Latin translations appeared within weeks of the original publication date. M.L. West published two Ancient Greek versions in 1964 showing epic styles from Homer and Nonnus.
Stan Freberg recorded Beware The Jabberwock for Disney's 1951 animated Alice in Wonderland. The song was discarded and replaced with Twas Brillig sung by the Cheshire Cat. Donovan set the poem to music on his HMS Donovan album released in 1971. Sam Pottle composed a musical setting in 1972 for American audiences. Andrew Kay wrote a stage musical titled Jabberwocky in 1973 with Malcolm Middleton and Peter Phillips. Ambrosia included the text in their song Mama Frog on their debut album from 1975. The Muppet Show presented a full version in 1980 featuring creatures based on Tenniel's illustrations. Christopher Lee voiced the creature in Tim Burton's 2010 film adaptation of Alice in Wonderland. Weezer incorporated the lyrics into L.A. Girlz on their tenth studio album released in 2016.
G.K. Chesterton argued that the original purpose was satire against pretentious verse and ignorant critics. Roger Lancelyn Green suggested it mocked contemporary Oxford scholarship specifically regarding Benjamin Jowett. The transformation from satire to serious study was predicted by Chesterton in 1932. He wrote Poor poor little Alice has been forced to inflict lessons on others. Stephen Prickett noted Victorian fascination with natural history influenced John Tenniel's illustration choices. Darwin and Mantell's publications shaped how the creature appeared with pterodactyl wings and sauropod necks. Modern scholars view it as one of the greatest nonsense poems written in English. Martin Gardner provided extended analysis in his book The Annotated Alice published in 2000.
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Common questions
When and where did Lewis Carroll write the first stanza of Jabberwocky?
Lewis Carroll wrote the first stanza of Jabberwocky in 1855 while staying at Croft-on-Tees. He published it that same year in a family periodical called Mischmasch under the title Stanza of Anglo-Saxon Poetry.
How did Lewis Carroll construct words like chortle and frumious in Jabberwocky?
Carroll constructed many words by blending existing terms into single units to create portmanteaus. The word chortle combines chuckle and snort according to the Oxford English Dictionary, while frumious merges fuming and furious into one term.
Which languages has Jabberwocky been translated into since its publication?
Translators have adapted Jabberwocky into sixty-five different languages worldwide including French, Russian, Chinese, Brazilian Portuguese, Bengali, Latin, Ancient Greek, and others. Frank L. Warrin translated it into French as Il brilgue to preserve the invented nature, and D.G. Orlovskaya created Barmaglot for the Russian edition published in 1967.
Who voiced the Jabberwock creature in Tim Burton's 2010 film adaptation of Alice in Wonderland?
Christopher Lee voiced the creature in Tim Burton's 2010 film adaptation of Alice in Wonderland. John Tenniel agreed to illustrate the book in 1871 for Through the Looking-Glass, and his images became the defining visual representation of the creature known as the Jabberwock.
What was the original purpose of Lewis Carroll writing Jabberwocky according to critics?
G.K. Chesterton argued that the original purpose was satire against pretentious verse and ignorant critics. Roger Lancelyn Green suggested it mocked contemporary Oxford scholarship specifically regarding Benjamin Jowett.