Lewis Carrolls Jabberwocky: A Nonsense Poem in Through the Looking Glass

Jabberwocky is a nonsense poem authored by Lewis Carroll which is contained in his famous work Through the Looking Glass, and What Alice Found There in 1871. As many literary scholars and critics argue, Jabberwocky is normally regarded to be one of the utmost “nonsense poems” worked out in the English language.

But though it is termed as nonsense poem, it is employed in various schools to educate learners on the application of portmanteaux.

The poem is comprised of various terminologies and expressions that do not really have equivalent meanings in the English language. The words used by Carroll’s throughout the poem are mainly combinations of different words which are fused into one expression or term. As Jabberwocky revolves on a legend of a fictional monster and how it is slain in the tale, it suggests a very imaginary and unreal story and events which complements the structure of the poem with nonsensical terms.

According to literary scholars, the original purpose of the Jabberwocky and its structure is directed towards Carroll’s criticisms against pompous and “ignorant literary critics.

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” Nevertheless, after the publication of it, it became a subject for different literary interpretations and even used in schools for some literary discussions and appreciations. The Jabberwocky conveys every possible fictional characters and events which are harmonized by the inclusion of superfluous nonsense expressions and terminologies.

But no matter how unconventional it may appear, the effect of Jabberwocky impacts the society form culture to education which makes it a very popular culture since its publication.

The unintentional and unexpected outcome which the poem produces strengthens and proves the uncertainty and unpredictable character of a potential great literary work.

Reference Carroll, L. & Stewart, J. (2003). Jabberwocky. Candlewick.