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Jabberwocky

 Jabberwocky
type
TVTItem
 Jabberwocky
label
Jabberwocky
 Jabberwocky
page
Jabberwocky
 Jabberwocky
comment
What you just read was the first stanza of a nonsense ballad by Lewis Carroll to parody overwrought and poorly-written yet seriously-intended poems. It appeared in Through the Looking-Glass, and What Alice Found There, the second of Carroll's Alice books. In it, Alice finds the poem right upon entering the Looking-Glass, and, more than confused by its words, asks for Humpty Dumpty's help to decipher it after meeting him later on.Some of the nonsense words invented by Carroll for the poem — like "vorpal" and "chortle" — have entered usage and become semi-official words.Be aware that, while "Jabberwocky" is the name of the poem, the eponymous monster is the ''Jabberwock''.It is also said to have been inspired by a tree. Make of that what you will.Carroll's The Hunting of the Snark is a Spiritual Successor to this poem, and features several of the same creatures, though not the Jabberwock itself.In 1977, Terry Gilliam made a very, very loose movie adaptation, also titled Jabberwocky.In 1999, prog rock keyboardists Clive Nolan and Oliver (son of Rick) Wakeman recorded a Concept Album based on the poem, with Wakeman Sr. reading bits of the poemnote  not always 100% accurately between the songs.
 Jabberwocky
fetched
2024-02-04T22:01:02Z
 Jabberwocky
parsed
2024-02-04T22:01:03Z
 Jabberwocky
isPartOf
DBTropes
 Jabberwocky / int_17ce80aa
type
All There in the Manual
 Jabberwocky / int_17ce80aa
comment
All There in the Manual: Carroll created definitions for his nonsense words. The first stanza is explicitly translated by Humpty Dumpty when Alice meets him later in the Through the Looking Glass.
 Jabberwocky / int_17ce80aa
featureApplicability
1.0
 Jabberwocky / int_17ce80aa
featureConfidence
1.0
 Jabberwocky
hasFeature
Jabberwocky / int_17ce80aa
 Jabberwocky / int_2ae29c0d
type
The Dreaded
 Jabberwocky / int_2ae29c0d
comment
The Dreaded: The Jabberwock, considering the fact that the whole town cheers when it's slain.
 Jabberwocky / int_2ae29c0d
featureApplicability
1.0
 Jabberwocky / int_2ae29c0d
featureConfidence
1.0
 Jabberwocky
hasFeature
Jabberwocky / int_2ae29c0d
 Jabberwocky / int_4fb60159
type
Do Not Do This Cool Thing
 Jabberwocky / int_4fb60159
comment
Do Not Do This Cool Thing: In-Universe. the boy's father tells him to beware several dangerous monsters, and his immediate response to these warnings is to grab a weapon and go out to kill one. Downplayed, in that the father is very much proud of his son after his success.
 Jabberwocky / int_4fb60159
featureApplicability
1.0
 Jabberwocky / int_4fb60159
featureConfidence
1.0
 Jabberwocky
hasFeature
Jabberwocky / int_4fb60159
 Jabberwocky / int_4fc0aaa7
type
Makes Just as Much Sense in Context
 Jabberwocky / int_4fc0aaa7
comment
Makes Just as Much Sense in Context: Unless you've read Carroll's definitions, the entire poem is an amalgamation of nonsensical words jumbled together that vaguely tell the story of a boy who slays a monster. Alice finds it more incomprehensible than she is willing to admit, and even Humpty Dumpty, who declares himself to be able to explain every poem ever written and many that haven't been written yet, thinks its words are rather difficult.
 Jabberwocky / int_4fc0aaa7
featureApplicability
1.0
 Jabberwocky / int_4fc0aaa7
featureConfidence
1.0
 Jabberwocky
hasFeature
Jabberwocky / int_4fc0aaa7
 Jabberwocky / int_5029c444
type
Audible Sharpness
 Jabberwocky / int_5029c444
comment
Audible Sharpness: "The vorpal blade went snicker-snack!"
 Jabberwocky / int_5029c444
featureApplicability
1.0
 Jabberwocky / int_5029c444
featureConfidence
1.0
 Jabberwocky
hasFeature
Jabberwocky / int_5029c444
 Jabberwocky / int_53224e46
type
Bookends
 Jabberwocky / int_53224e46
comment
Bookends: The first and last stanzas are identical.
 Jabberwocky / int_53224e46
featureApplicability
1.0
 Jabberwocky / int_53224e46
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Jabberwocky / int_53224e46
 Jabberwocky / int_55ec42d7
type
Ye Olde Butcherede Englishe
 Jabberwocky / int_55ec42d7
comment
Ye Olde Butcherede Englishe: The first stanza was originally published alone as a parody of old English verse where almost all the words have fallen out of use.
 Jabberwocky / int_55ec42d7
featureApplicability
1.0
 Jabberwocky / int_55ec42d7
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1.0
 Jabberwocky
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Jabberwocky / int_55ec42d7
 Jabberwocky / int_6d5fb1e0
type
Waistcoat of Style
 Jabberwocky / int_6d5fb1e0
comment
Waistcoat of Style: John Tenniel's illustration depicts the Jabberwock wearing one.
 Jabberwocky / int_6d5fb1e0
featureApplicability
1.0
 Jabberwocky / int_6d5fb1e0
featureConfidence
1.0
 Jabberwocky
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Jabberwocky / int_6d5fb1e0
 Jabberwocky / int_7e6c0522
type
Off with His Head!
 Jabberwocky / int_7e6c0522
comment
Off with His Head!: How the Jabberwock dies, being decapitated with the vorpal sword.
 Jabberwocky / int_7e6c0522
featureApplicability
1.0
 Jabberwocky / int_7e6c0522
featureConfidence
1.0
 Jabberwocky
hasFeature
Jabberwocky / int_7e6c0522
 Jabberwocky / int_7efe2c19
type
Portmanteau
 Jabberwocky / int_7efe2c19
comment
Portmanteau: Many of the made-up words take this form - "slithy", "mimsy", "galumphing" and "chortled". It is a little harder to trace the etymology of "frumious", "whiffling", "burbled" and "frabjous", though these may all be corrupted portmanteaux as well.
 Jabberwocky / int_7efe2c19
featureApplicability
1.0
 Jabberwocky / int_7efe2c19
featureConfidence
1.0
 Jabberwocky
hasFeature
Jabberwocky / int_7efe2c19
 Jabberwocky / int_853b7948
type
Ambiguously Evil
 Jabberwocky / int_853b7948
comment
Ambiguously Evil: It can be easily inferred from the story that the Jabberwock eats people, but we aren't given any information as to whether the creature is malevolent or simply an animalistic predator. The fact that it's for whatever reason drawn wearing a waistcoat would imply it at least has the sapience required for the former, though.
 Jabberwocky / int_853b7948
featureApplicability
1.0
 Jabberwocky / int_853b7948
featureConfidence
1.0
 Jabberwocky
hasFeature
Jabberwocky / int_853b7948
 Jabberwocky / int_863fa679
type
What Happened to the Mouse?
 Jabberwocky / int_863fa679
comment
What Happened to the Mouse?: The Jubjub bird and the Bandersnatch that the hero’s dad warns about never appear in the poem.
 Jabberwocky / int_863fa679
featureApplicability
1.0
 Jabberwocky / int_863fa679
featureConfidence
1.0
 Jabberwocky
hasFeature
Jabberwocky / int_863fa679
 Jabberwocky / int_970c790a
type
Big Bad
 Jabberwocky / int_970c790a
comment
Big Bad: The Jabberwock is one of three feral beasts mentioned by The Hero's father, and the one he sets out to slay.
 Jabberwocky / int_970c790a
featureApplicability
1.0
 Jabberwocky / int_970c790a
featureConfidence
1.0
 Jabberwocky
hasFeature
Jabberwocky / int_970c790a
 Jabberwocky / int_9744f6c8
type
24-Hour Trope Clock
 Jabberwocky / int_9744f6c8
comment
24-Hour Trope Clock: Brillig is four o'clock in the afternoon, just when you start to broil things for dinner.
 Jabberwocky / int_9744f6c8
featureApplicability
1.0
 Jabberwocky / int_9744f6c8
featureConfidence
1.0
 Jabberwocky
hasFeature
Jabberwocky / int_9744f6c8
 Jabberwocky / int_a5cfe2ac
type
And There Was Much Rejoicing
 Jabberwocky / int_a5cfe2ac
comment
And There Was Much Rejoicing: The Jabberwock's death elicits this reaction.
 Jabberwocky / int_a5cfe2ac
featureApplicability
1.0
 Jabberwocky / int_a5cfe2ac
featureConfidence
1.0
 Jabberwocky
hasFeature
Jabberwocky / int_a5cfe2ac
 Jabberwocky / int_a939a527
type
Red Eyes, Take Warning
 Jabberwocky / int_a939a527
comment
Red Eyes, Take Warning: When the Jabberwock attacks the boy, he is described as having "eyes of flame".
 Jabberwocky / int_a939a527
featureApplicability
1.0
 Jabberwocky / int_a939a527
featureConfidence
1.0
 Jabberwocky
hasFeature
Jabberwocky / int_a939a527
 Jabberwocky / int_ad8dbae4
type
Public Domain Artifact
 Jabberwocky / int_ad8dbae4
comment
Public Domain Artifact: The Vorpal Blade is in many Tabletop Games and Video Games as a sword that tends to chop heads off.
 Jabberwocky / int_ad8dbae4
featureApplicability
1.0
 Jabberwocky / int_ad8dbae4
featureConfidence
1.0
 Jabberwocky
hasFeature
Jabberwocky / int_ad8dbae4
 Jabberwocky / int_afe75982
type
Unsound Effect
 Jabberwocky / int_afe75982
comment
Unsound Effect: The vorpal sword goes "snicker-snack".
 Jabberwocky / int_afe75982
featureApplicability
1.0
 Jabberwocky / int_afe75982
featureConfidence
1.0
 Jabberwocky
hasFeature
Jabberwocky / int_afe75982
 Jabberwocky / int_b333f02e
type
Achilles in His Tent
 Jabberwocky / int_b333f02e
comment
Achilles in His Tent: Briefly. The Hero stops to rest by a tree, and then stands there for a while in "uffish thought" (basically, sulking).
 Jabberwocky / int_b333f02e
featureApplicability
1.0
 Jabberwocky / int_b333f02e
featureConfidence
1.0
 Jabberwocky
hasFeature
Jabberwocky / int_b333f02e
 Jabberwocky / int_b42e16fb
type
Feathered Fiend
 Jabberwocky / int_b42e16fb
comment
Feathered Fiend: The Jubjub bird is mentioned to be a dangerous creature.
 Jabberwocky / int_b42e16fb
featureApplicability
1.0
 Jabberwocky / int_b42e16fb
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1.0
 Jabberwocky
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Jabberwocky / int_b42e16fb
 Jabberwocky / int_bc37d80d
type
So Proud of You
 Jabberwocky / int_bc37d80d
comment
So Proud of You: "And hast thou slain the Jabberwock? Come to my arms, my beamish boy!"
 Jabberwocky / int_bc37d80d
featureApplicability
1.0
 Jabberwocky / int_bc37d80d
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1.0
 Jabberwocky
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Jabberwocky / int_bc37d80d
 Jabberwocky / int_bdbfd01c
type
Perfectly Cromulent Word
 Jabberwocky / int_bdbfd01c
comment
Perfectly Cromulent Word: Carroll filled his poem with words that did not exist at the time (vorpal, tulgey, galumphing...)
 Jabberwocky / int_bdbfd01c
featureApplicability
1.0
 Jabberwocky / int_bdbfd01c
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1.0
 Jabberwocky
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Jabberwocky / int_bdbfd01c
 Jabberwocky / int_ca87e3ec
type
No Name Given
 Jabberwocky / int_ca87e3ec
comment
No Name Given: Neither The Hero nor his father are mentioned by name.
 Jabberwocky / int_ca87e3ec
featureApplicability
1.0
 Jabberwocky / int_ca87e3ec
featureConfidence
1.0
 Jabberwocky
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Jabberwocky / int_ca87e3ec
 Jabberwocky / int_d88e125e
type
Our Dragons Are Different
 Jabberwocky / int_d88e125e
comment
Our Dragons Are Different: The Jabberwock roughly resembles a dragon in the illustration, although the prose's description of it is rather vague.
 Jabberwocky / int_d88e125e
featureApplicability
1.0
 Jabberwocky / int_d88e125e
featureConfidence
1.0
 Jabberwocky
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Jabberwocky / int_d88e125e
 Jabberwocky / int_e0c00a95
type
Absurdly Sharp Blade
 Jabberwocky / int_e0c00a95
comment
Absurdly Sharp Blade: The vorpal sword, which decapitates the Jabberwock in two slices.
 Jabberwocky / int_e0c00a95
featureApplicability
1.0
 Jabberwocky / int_e0c00a95
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1.0
 Jabberwocky
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Jabberwocky / int_e0c00a95
 Jabberwocky / int_f7cf9612
type
Neologism
 Jabberwocky / int_f7cf9612
comment
Neologism: A lot of them — 25 words in the poem are ones that Carrol just made up.
 Jabberwocky / int_f7cf9612
featureApplicability
1.0
 Jabberwocky / int_f7cf9612
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 Jabberwocky
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Jabberwocky / int_f7cf9612
 Jabberwocky / int_name
type
ItemName
 Jabberwocky / int_name
comment
 Jabberwocky / int_name
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 Jabberwocky / int_name
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 Jabberwocky
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Jabberwocky / int_name
 Jabberwocky / int_name
itemName
Jabberwocky

The following is a list of statements referring to the current page from other pages.

 Jabberwocky
hasFeature
Absurdly Sharp Blade / int_bb1a16e8
 Jabberwocky
hasFeature
Alice Allusion / int_bb1a16e8
 Jabberwocky
hasFeature
And There Was Much Rejoicing / int_bb1a16e8
 Jabberwocky
hasFeature
Call a Pegasus a "Hippogriff" / int_bb1a16e8
 Jabberwocky
hasFeature
English Literature / int_bb1a16e8
 Jabberwocky
hasFeature
Inverse Law of Complexity to Power / int_bb1a16e8
 Jabberwocky
seeAlso
Jabberwocky
 Jabberwocky
hasFeature
Mesodiplosis / int_bb1a16e8
 Jabberwocky
hasFeature
Neologizer / int_bb1a16e8