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"Jabberwocky": One of literature's best bits of nonsense

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    Today we have a frabjous treat for you.
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    This poem is full of seemingly
    nonsensical words
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    that somehow manage to make sense.
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    Ready to see if you can follow along?
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    Without further ado, we present:
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    "Jabberwocky" by Lewis Carroll.
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    ’Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
    Did gyre and gimble in the wabe:
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    All mimsy were the borogoves,
    And the mome raths outgrabe.
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    “Beware the Jabberwock, my son!
    The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!
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    Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun
    The frumious Bandersnatch!”
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    He took his vorpal sword in hand;
    Long time the manxome foe he sought—
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    So rested he by the Tumtum tree
    And stood awhile in thought.
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    And, as in uffish thought he stood,
    The Jabberwock, with eyes of flame,
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    Came whiffling through the tulgey wood,
    And burbled as it came!
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    One, two! One, two!
    And through and through
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    The vorpal blade went snicker-snack!
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    He left it dead, and with its head
    He went galumphing back.
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    “And hast thou slain the Jabberwock?
    Come to my arms, my beamish boy!
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    O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!”
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    He chortled in his joy.
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    ’Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
    Did gyre and gimble in the wabe:
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    All mimsy were the borogoves,
    And the mome raths outgrabe.
Title:
"Jabberwocky": One of literature's best bits of nonsense
Speaker:
Lewis Carroll
Description:

View full lesson: https://ed.ted.com/lessons/jabberwocky-one-of-literature-s-best-bits-of-nonsense

As Alice wanders through the dreamscape of Looking-Glass Land in Lewis Carroll's "Through the Looking-Glass, and What Alice Found There," she happens across a book written in an unintelligible language. Inside, she discovers an epic poem filled with nonsense, fearsome creatures, and whimsical language. Dive into Carroll's legendary poem, "Jabberwocky" and see if you can make sense of the nonsense.

Poem by Lewis Carroll, directed by Sjaak Rood.

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Video Language:
English
Team:
closed TED
Project:
TED-Ed
Duration:
02:03

English subtitles

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