This famous poem by Lewis Carroll talks about the nonsense of the society in a rather childish way. With some imaginary and portmanteaux words, Jabberwocky poem is fun for children while opens up some new horizons for adults too. The poet loves to play with words and came up with words like frumious – combining "fuming" and "furious”; mimsy – combining "miserable" and "flimsy”; slithy – combining “slimy” and “lithe” and so on. On one hand when the process of making portmanteaux words may be thought provoking for imaginary children, it may even quench the thirst of some writers who search thesaurus continuously for a perfect word. Interesting, isn’t it?
The poem actually takes for a ride into a neverland (a never seen land) where frumious Bandersnatch and mimsy borogoves roam around with open jaws and claws. When father bewares son from going out to avoid captivity by ‘jabberwocky’, isn’t it our very own world that peeps out? Seen from a different perspective, the neverland may actually collide with our very loved society created by ourselves only. Aren’t the portmanteaus referring to the double-standard lifestyle that we try to live up? Or just think of the savage fight between the little boy and monstrous jabberwock coming all of a sudden from the woods. The brave boy kills him and his father comes to praise him giving him a warm hug. On one side when the poem talks about the most-likable fantasy of children with a brave boy killing a monster, at the same time does the poet want to leave some hidden message in his coded scribbling? The wood like society, the monster like evil, a visionary hero and people’s love - all seem to come vivid. After a number of reading, hurdling at every second word, with nail biting into pieces, scrolling the mouse again and again for the translation of portmanteaus and appreciating each time the poet’s wit; ultimately when the poem is unveiled in its simplest form, it does not seem to be that simple. No wonder, it is one of the most interesting pieces of literature I’ve ever read.
Note :-
Bandersnatch - A swift moving creature with snapping jaws. Capable of extending its neck.
Borogoves - A thin shabby-looking bird with its feathers sticking out all round, something like a live mop.
Frumious - Combination of "fuming" and "furious”.
Mimsy - Combination of "miserable" and "flimsy."
If you are one of those people having never encountered this poem, please click below
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jabberwocky
The poem actually takes for a ride into a neverland (a never seen land) where frumious Bandersnatch and mimsy borogoves roam around with open jaws and claws. When father bewares son from going out to avoid captivity by ‘jabberwocky’, isn’t it our very own world that peeps out? Seen from a different perspective, the neverland may actually collide with our very loved society created by ourselves only. Aren’t the portmanteaus referring to the double-standard lifestyle that we try to live up? Or just think of the savage fight between the little boy and monstrous jabberwock coming all of a sudden from the woods. The brave boy kills him and his father comes to praise him giving him a warm hug. On one side when the poem talks about the most-likable fantasy of children with a brave boy killing a monster, at the same time does the poet want to leave some hidden message in his coded scribbling? The wood like society, the monster like evil, a visionary hero and people’s love - all seem to come vivid. After a number of reading, hurdling at every second word, with nail biting into pieces, scrolling the mouse again and again for the translation of portmanteaus and appreciating each time the poet’s wit; ultimately when the poem is unveiled in its simplest form, it does not seem to be that simple. No wonder, it is one of the most interesting pieces of literature I’ve ever read.
Note :-
Bandersnatch - A swift moving creature with snapping jaws. Capable of extending its neck.
Borogoves - A thin shabby-looking bird with its feathers sticking out all round, something like a live mop.
Frumious - Combination of "fuming" and "furious”.
Mimsy - Combination of "miserable" and "flimsy."
If you are one of those people having never encountered this poem, please click below
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jabberwocky
4 comments:
The idea of jabberwocky is good and most innovative way to express your ideas when you run out of words or when you don't find the exact word in the thesaurus. But at the same time it is difficult for the readers to understand what exactly the writer wants to say. It is interesting only for the avid readers and students of literature.
TM
I think the writer of this blog is an avid reader and takes lot of interest in finding new words and phrases, and at the same time is very enthusiatic about english literature. Good explaination!
I would like to start my comment with this simple poetry. This is a 'jabberwocky' translation of a very simple poem, we read when we were nascent. Try to decode it Doell..
Two individuals proceeded towards the apex of a natural geologic protuberance, the purpose of their expedition being the procurement of a sample of fluid hydride of oxygen in a large vessel, the exact size of which was unspecified. One member of the team precipitously descended, sustaining severe damage to the upper cranial portion of his anatomical structure; subsequently the second member of the team performed a self rotational translation oriented in the same direction taken by the first team member.
Remember? I bet you didn't. This is a modified version of
Jack and jill went up the hill to fetch a pail of water Jack fell down and broke his crown and jill came tumbling after!!!
Putting horricult (I believe you will not understand what does this mean)words doesn't increase the beauty of a prose nor its essence. It might be remembered as a Herculean limerick one has ever encountered, but that's it!! It should be able to communicate the intent of the writer. Otherwise, I believe, it's a waste of time for both...
well, to me creating portmanteau is like distorting words for your own use.
Though it could sound or "RHYME" good but at the end of it we are left
with contorted literature...
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