Literary Response & Analysis Name Class Date Poems Score

Jabberwocky By Lewis Caroll

’Twas brillig, and the slithy toves Did gyre and gimble in the wabe; All mimsy were the borogoves, And the mome raths outgrabe. 5 ’Beware the Jabberwock, my son! The jaws that bite, the claws that catch! Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun The frumious Bandersnatch!’ He took his vorpal sword in hand: 10 Long time the manxome foe he sought– So rested he by the Tumtum tree, And stood awhile in thought. And as in uffish thought he stood, The Jabberwock, with eyes of flame, 15 Came whiffling through the tulgey wood, And burbled as it came! One, two! One, two! And through and through The vorpal blade went snicker‐snack! He left it dead, and with its head 20 He went galumphing back. ’And has thou slain the Jabberwock? Come to my arms, my beamish boy! O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!’ He chortled in his joy. 25 ’Twas brillig, and the slithy toves Did gyre and gimble in the wabe; All mimsy were the borogoves, And the mome raths outgrabe.

1) What does the word “slain” mean in line 21? 7) Which phrase from the poem shows that the Jabberwocky is dangerous? A. embraced B. killed A. the mome raths outgrabe C. warned B. the jaws that bite, the claws that catch D. confronted C. in uffish thought he stood D. the vorpal blade went sicker‐snack

2) What does the word “shun” mean in line 7? 8) Which phrase from the poem is an example of figurative A. avoid language? B. take C. invent A. The Jabberock, with eyes of flame D. stop B. And stood a while in thought C. And has thou slain the Jabberwock? D. He left it dead 3) The word “frabjous” in line 23 most likely means –

A. awful 9) The repetition of “One, two!” in line 17 most likely B. happy represents – C. boring D. scary A. the steps of the approaching Jabberwocky. B. the Jabberwocky’s claws. C. the fight between the Jabberwocky and the man 4) The word “foe” in line 10 refers to – who kills him. D. the Tumtum tree. A. the Bandersnatch B. the Jubjub bird C. the Jabberwocky 10) Which BEST describes how the tone changes from the D. the beamish boy first half of the poem to the second half?

A. From pessimistic to tragic 5) This passage would MOST likely be found in which of B. From absurd to accusatory these sources? C. From diplomatic to forceful D. From cautionary to celebratory A. an almanac B. an autobiography C. an anthology of poetry 11) After reading this poem, what can the reader infer D. a newspaper about the poet?

A. He survived an attack by a deadly monster. 6) Which statement BEST describes what happens in the B. He believed all poetry should rhyme. poem? C. He had a passion for creating new words. D. He was an expert in antique swords. A. The Jubjub bird bites a boy. B. The Jaberwocky destroys the borogroves. C. An old man praises a young man. 12) What word BEST describes the mood created by the D. A young man kills the Jabberwocky. poet’s use of invented words?

A. whimsical B. serious C. confused D. frightening