A Quote From Lewis Carroll

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Aug 14, 2012
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Twas brillig, and the slithy toves

Did gyre and gimble in the wabe:

All mimsy were the borogroves

And the mome raths outgrabe.
These words were spoken by Humpty Dumpty in "Through the Looking Glass". Everything in Carroll has a meaning. What does hump mean? Not a children's book, but rather a major work of English literature. The poem is explained in the text.

 

mso489

Lifer
Feb 21, 2013
41,211
59,146
Lewis Carroll was a mathematician by profession, and a lot of his work, presented for children, is equally suitable for

adults with all kinds of word and logic games. I won't try to translate the poem, but I'd like to go back to the translation

in the text. Any parent who has given their kid Alice in Wonderland and Alice Through the Looking Glass would have

a good time reading them. There are lots of sketches and parodies about bureaucracy, power and mind games, etc.

The poem cited in the post is a parody of 19th Century heroic poetry.

 

mso489

Lifer
Feb 21, 2013
41,211
59,146
Aw, shucks. All I'm saying is that Alice (in Wonderland) was one jive chick. Check her out.

 

pstlpkr

Lifer
Dec 14, 2009
9,694
33
Birmingham, AL
I have known the words to the Jabberwocky for years. (Memorized it upon my first reading in high school.)
It should be recited as a very thrilling narrative.

I usually get requests to recite it on Halloween.

If you tell it right, children will understand every word.

It's not so much the meaning of the words, but the way you recite them.
Start dark, foreboding, and slow....
Twas brillig, and the slithy toves

Did gyre and gimble in the wabe:

All mimsy were the borogroves

And the mome raths outgrabe.
The warning should be scary...
The quest should be recited in a heroic then an exhausted manner.
Then!!!!... The battle should give the impression of a heated and dangerous conflict.
Then victory in a bright, joyful, manner... full of hope:
The final stanza... idyllic and serene.
Twas brillig, and the slithy toves

Did gyre and gimble in the wabe:

All mimsy were the borogroves

And the mome raths outgrabe.

 
Aug 14, 2012
2,872
130
Sorry I can't hear you recite it, Lawrence. And to think I wasted my high school years memorizing Keats and Shakespeare.

 

bambam

Can't Leave
Jun 22, 2011
393
9
Virginia
I Love Lewis Carroll's writing

The sun was shining on the sea, Shining with all his might: He did his very best to make The billows smooth and bright-- And this was odd, because it was The middle of the night. The moon was shining sulkily, Because she thought the sun Had got no business to be there After the day was done-- "It's very rude of him," she said, "To come and spoil the fun!" The sea was wet as wet could be, The sands were dry as dry. You could not see a cloud because No cloud was in the sky: No birds were flying overhead-- There were no birds to fly. The Walrus and the Carpenter Were walking close at hand: They wept like anything to see Such quantities of sand: "If this were only cleared away," They said, "it would be grand!" "If seven maids with seven mops Swept it for half a year, Do you suppose," the Walrus said, "That they could get it clear?" "I doubt it," said the Carpenter, And shed a bitter tear. "0 Oysters, come and walk with us!" The Walrus did beseech. "A pleasant walk, a pleasant talk, Along the briny beach: We cannot do with more than four, To give a hand to each." The eldest Oyster looked at him, But never a word he said; The eldest Oyster winked his eye, And shook his heavy head-- Meaning to say he did not choose To leave the oyster-bed. But four young Oysters hurried up, All eager for the treat: Their coats were brushed, their faces washed, Their shoes were clean and neat-- And this was odd, because, you know, They hadn't any feet. Four other Oysters followed them, And yet another four; And thick and fast they came at last, And more and more and more-- All hopping through the frothy waves, And scrambling to the shore. The Walrus and the Carpenter Walked on a mile or so, And then they rested on a rock Conveniently low: And all the little Oysters stood And waited in a row. "The time has come," the Walrus said, "To talk of many things: Of shoes--and ships--and sealing-wax-- Of cabbages--and kings-- And why the sea is boiling hot-- And whether pigs have wings." "But wait a bit," the Oysters cried, "Before we have our chat; For some of us are out of breath, And all of us are fat!" "No hurry!" said the Carpenter. They thanked him much for that. "A loaf of bread," the Walrus said, "Is what we chiefly need: Pepper and vinegar besides Are very good indeed-- Now, if you're ready, Oysters dear, We can begin to feed." "But not on us!" the Oysters cried, Turning a little blue. "After such kindness, that would be A dismal thing to do!" "The night is fine," the Walrus said, "Do you admire the view? "It was so kind of you to come! And you are very nice!" The Carpenter said nothing but "Cut us another slice. I wish you were not quite so deaf-- I've had to ask you twice!" "It seems a shame," the Walrus said, "To play them such a trick. After we've brought them out so far, And made them trot so quick!" The Carpenter said nothing but "The butter's spread too thick!" "I weep for you," the Walrus said: "I deeply sympathize." With sobs and tears he sorted out Those of the largest size, Holding his pocket-handkerchief Before his streaming eyes. "0 Oysters," said the Carpenter, "You've had a pleasant run! Shall we be trotting home again?" But answer came there none-- And this was scarcely odd, because They'd eaten every one. :puffy:

 
Aug 14, 2012
2,872
130
BamBam: i loved that part too. According to the notes, the carpenter was originally a different character and the illustrator talked Carroll into making him a carpenter. There is a large bronze sculpture of the Alice in Wonderland characters in Central Park, NYC. It was based on the book illustrations. The children love it and crawl all over it. It was made by a former teacher of mine Jose De Creeft.

 

phred

Lifer
Dec 11, 2012
1,754
5
And here I thought I was the only Carroll nerd who'd memorized "Jabberwocky"... :worship:

 

mso489

Lifer
Feb 21, 2013
41,211
59,146
There is a restaurant at Cape May, N.J., that runs a loop of the Walrus and the Carpenter in

the restroom. At first I thought I was hallucinating, but then I had a good laugh. I think

the owner has a droll sense of humor.

 
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