Jabberwocky

Close Read & Nonsense Poem Activity

 Jabberwocky
Close Read & Nonsense Poem Activity
There are many different ways you could incorporate this product in your classroom.
Small group? Whole class? Individual?

For my students and I – we did a “fun” first read! Get dramatic!! I recommend you read
the poem out loud. Many of the nonsense words are challenging. Ask for reactions
and their thoughts about the poem. (some may mention word choice)
After the first read, let students complete the 2nd and 3rd reads with partners or
groups. Come together as a class and discuss the short response questions, use of
language, etc before students work on their own opinion statements.

As an extension activity, have students work in pairs to create their own

Nonsense Poem inspired by Jabberwocky. Have students brainstorm and create
their own Nonsense words, creature and poem. My students had a blast with this
Activity! (tons and tons of giggles)

Check out my blog to see student examples of our Jabberwocky poems! This
will provide some models for your students. 
Overall this took my students 2-3 class periods to complete!
Hope you and your students enjoy!
 Jabberwocky By: Lewis Carroll Name: ___________ Class:_____ Date:____
1st - Read for entertainment not meaning 2nd -What images appear in your mind after reading each stanza? 3rd – Meaning & Analysis

1.
’Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
1. Using inferences, describe the
2. Did gyre and gimble in the wabe: setting of the poem? (time/location)
3.
All mimsy were the borogoves,
4.
And the mome raths outgrabe.

2. Who is the speaker of the poem?

5.
“Beware the Jabberwock, my son!

6. The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!

3. What is the speaker telling his son to
7. Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun be fearful of?

8.
The frumious Bandersnatch!”

4. Who took the sword?

9. He took his vorpal sword in hand;
10
.
Long time the manxome foe he sought—

11 So rested he by the Tumtum tree 5. What was he seeking?

.

12 And stood awhile in thought.

 Jabberwocky By: Lewis Carroll Name: ___________ Class:_____ Date:____
1st - Read for entertainment not meaning 2nd -What images appear in your mind after reading each stanza? 3rd – Meaning & Analysis

13 And, as in uffish thought he stood, 6. Who came through the tulgey wood?
14 The Jabberwock, with eyes of flame,

15 Came whiffling through the tulgey wood,

16 And burbled as it came! 7. What did the son do to the

Jabberwock?

17 One, two! One, two! And through and through

18 The vorpal blade went snicker-snack!

He left it dead, and with its head 8. What did the son bring back to his
19
father?
20 He went galumphing back.

21
“And hast thou slain the Jabberwock?
9. What was the father’s reaction to the
22 Come to my arms, my beamish boy! son’s deed?

23 O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!”

24
He chortled in his joy.
 Jabberwocky By: Lewis Carroll Name: ___________ Class:_____ Date:____
1st - Read for entertainment not meaning 2nd -What images appear in your mind after reading each stanza? 3rd – Meaning & Analysis

25 ’Twas brillig, and the slithy toves 10. Review the poem once more and
underline/highlight all the words in the poem
26 Did gyre and gimble in the wabe: that you suspect are not proper English.

27 All mimsy were the borogoves,

And the mome raths outgrabe. 11. Fill in the chart below of nonsense words
28 from the poem and predict the meanings!

Nonsense Word Predicted Meaning

Short Response
12. What do you think is achieved in "Jabberwocky" through the use of nonsense
Brillig Brilliant
language? What might be the purpose of using invented nonsense words?

13. Do you think that the understanding of “Jabberwocky” should be different

according to the imagination of every reader? Or should there be a definite
definition for each nonsense word, so every understanding is the same?
 NONSENSE POETRY
Jabberwocky by Lewis Carroll is considered by many to be a Nonsense Poem. Nonsense Poetry consists of
made up words & phrases, a whimsical tone, and often has imaginary characters similar to those in Fantasy.
With a partner, create a nonsense poem inspired by Lewis Carroll’s Jabberwocky.
Brainstorm some nonsense words and try to tell a story of your made up creature in verse!

Take your two favorite animals and combine

them to create your nonsense Creature!
Create a picture of your Creature
 Jabberwocky By: Lewis Carroll KEY
1st - Read for entertainment not meaning 2nd -What images appear in your mind after reading each stanza? 3rd – Meaning & Analysis

1.
’Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
1. Using inferences, describe the
2. Did gyre and gimble in the wabe: Students can sketch or write in setting of the poem? (time/location)
3. what they visualize
All mimsy were the borogoves, Mid-afternoon – evening, in the past
4.
Made up world (possible forest, etc)
And the mome raths outgrabe.
2. Who is the speaker of the poem?
5.
“Beware the Jabberwock, my son!
Father
6. The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!
3. What is the speaker telling his son to
Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun be fearful of?
7.

The frumious Bandersnatch!” A creature called the Jabberwock, JubJub

8.
Bird and Bandersnatch

4. Who took the sword?

9. He took his vorpal sword in hand;
The speaker’s son
10
.
Long time the manxome foe he sought—
5. What was he seeking?
11 So rested he by the Tumtum tree
.
A foe (possibly one of the creatures his
12 And stood awhile in thought.
father warned him about)
 Jabberwocky By: Lewis Carroll KEY
1st - Read for entertainment not meaning 2nd -What images appear in your mind after reading each stanza? 3rd – Meaning & Analysis

13 And, as in uffish thought he stood, 6. Who came through the tulgey wood?
14 The Jabberwock, with eyes of flame, The Jabberwock and he was angry, made
noises, eyes of flame, etc.
15 Came whiffling through the tulgey wood,

16 And burbled as it came!

7. What did the son do to the Jabberwock?

He took his sword and killed the Jabberwock.

17 One, two! One, two! And through and through

18 The vorpal blade went snicker-snack!

8. What did the son bring back to his father?

19
He left it dead, and with its head
He brought back the head of the Jabberwock.
20 He went galumphing back.

9. What was the father’s reaction to the

son’s deed?
21
“And hast thou slain the Jabberwock?
He was proud of his son, laughing, gave his
22 Come to my arms, my beamish boy! son a hug, surprised his son managed to kill
the Jabberwock.
23 O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!”

24
He chortled in his joy.
 Jabberwocky By: Lewis Carroll KEY
1st - Read for entertainment not meaning 2nd -What images appear in your mind after reading each stanza? 3rd – Meaning & Analysis

25 ’Twas brillig, and the slithy toves 10. Review the poem once more and
underline/highlight all the words in the poem
26 Did gyre and gimble in the wabe: that you suspect are not proper English.

27 All mimsy were the borogoves,

And the mome raths outgrabe. 11. Fill in the chart below of nonsense words
28 from the poem and predict the meanings!

Short Response Nonsense Word Predicted Meaning

12. What do you think is achieved in "Jabberwocky" through the use of nonsense Brillig Brilliant
language? What might be the purpose of using invented nonsense words?
Possible Response – It engages the reader by having the reader infer the meaning of the Gyre/Gimble Spin/Turn/Dance
poem, for entertainment purposes, etc.
Mimsy Sounds like flimsy -
13. Do you think that the understanding of “Jabberwocky” should be different whimiscal
according to the imagination of every reader? Or should there be a definite
definition for each nonsense word, so every understanding is the same? Borogroves/ mome Some kind of
Student Responses will vary. raths creature
Frumious Angry

Vorpal Sharp
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