There’s a lot of fun to be had with nonsense and one of the best ever writers of nonsense verse was Lewis Carroll. I hope you share my enjoyment of a couple of my favourites.
Jabberwocky
It might be nonsensical, but I love nonsense verse, especially the ridiculous poems written by Lewis Carroll, with made up words and absurd situations. Jabberwocky was published as part of his classic novel Through the Looking Glass, the sequel to Alice in Wonderland, and it immediately became popular. Alice doesn’t really understand it, but she thinks it is “very pretty”. The illustrations by John Tenniel have fixed in our minds his vision of the poem.
I’ll tell you my take on this poem, its possible meanings, its impact and the words it has contributed to our language. Enjoy my reading of it, and I hope it gives you a “frabjous day”.
The Walrus and the Carpenter
This poem first appeared in Through the Looking Glass, where it is recited by Tweedledum and Tweedledee. Is it a poem about Darwin’s theory of survival of the fittest, does it discuss expansionism and territorial encroachment, or does it warn the young of ‘stranger danger’? Illustrated by John Tenniel, this is another nonsense poem that has become a classic. I often find myself quoting “The time has come, the Walrus said, to talk of many things…”
It’s such a fun poem to read, and I hope you enjoy both the poem and the explanation.
Do you also find yourself repeating these lines? I’d love to hear your thoughts, so let me know by leaving a comment.
Selected links for relevant websites, books, movies, videos, and more. Some of these links lead to protected content on this website, learn more about that here.
Internet Archive Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll
Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland & Through the Looking-glass and What Alice Found There by Lewis Carroll
Susannah Fullerton: Charles Lutwidge Dodgson is born
Susannah Fullerton: Lewis Carroll first appeared
Susannah Fullerton: Sir John Tenniel is born
Susannah Fullerton: Jabberwocky by Lewis Carroll
Susannah Fullerton: Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland is published
Lewis Carroll Society of North America
Christine Stevenson
My husband and a friend once had a Flying Fifteen yacht named FFrabjous (the double’F’ for obvious reasons). Carroll’s words waft through literature and life to enrich us all.