Fifth grade today we was learning about Biblical poetry in Psalms, Proverbs, Job, Ecclesiastes, etc. The lesson plans said to begin by reading a favorite poem. As a substitute teacher, I didn't have time to prepare by looking up a poem to read to the class. So I decided to recite one of my all-time favorites from my childhood, Jabberwocky.
"I learned this poem in sixth grade," I told the class, "which was a looong time ago! But I still remember it!" I could tell that a few of the students had a hard time picturing me as a sixth-grade student sitting in a classroom like they were, memorizing a poem. "One reason I like Jabberwocky," I continued, "is because of all the made-up nonsensical words Lewis Carroll uses to convey an emotion, a setting, or a mood. Listen to the words in this poem and see what it makes you think of."
"'Twas brillig," I began, "and the slithy toves did gyre and gimble in the wabe..." The normally rambunctious class was perfectly still and attentive. And though I stumbled on verse four a bit, I'm proud to say I was able to recite the whole poem by memory!
Here's this wonderfully fantastical story, from Lewis Carroll's book, Through the Looking-Glass, and What Alice Found There, published in 1871. Go ahead - read it aloud! It sounds much better that way...
Jabberwocky
'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.
from Through the Looking Glass, and What Alice Found There, 1871
by Lewis Carroll
