Jabberwocky

Posted by Lotg on September 19, 2004

In Reply to: Jabberwocky posted by Smokey Stover on September 19, 2004

: : : : : In the latest book I'm reading (American author this time), upon finally arriving at a destination she'd been longing for, she joyously exclaimed 'O frabjous day!'.

: : : : : Clearly that's an exclamation of joy at her achievement, but I hadn't remember ever hearing it before. Furthermore, 'frabjous' appeared to me to be a strange conglomeration.

: : : : : But when I surfed about I found the following:

: : : : : frabjous (FRAB-juhs) adjective

: : : : : Wonderful, elegant, superb, or delicious.

: : : : : [Coined by Lewis Carroll in "Through the Looking-Glass"; perhaps meant to
: : : : : suggest fabulous or joyous.]

: : : : : "Ah, my friends, rejoice. These are frabjous days."
: : : : : Ivins, Molly, Needed: one strong stomach, The Progressive, 1 Mar 1995.

: : : : :
: : : : : It must be over 35 years since I read Alice through the Looking Glass - so I don't feel too bad about forgetting this one.

: : : : : Still, it's as though it's a nice new phrase I can now use.
: : : : : O frabjous day!!!!!!!

: : : : Here is a word I discovered recently: farraginous. Having to do with farrago, a confused mixture.

: : : One of the great poems of the English language,
: : : Jabberwocky, by Lewis Carroll:

: : : `Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
: : : Did gyre and gimble in the wabe:
: : : All mimsy were the borogoves,
: : : And the mome raths outgrabe.

: : :
: : : "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:
: : : 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,
: : : 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
: : : 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.

: : : `Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
: : : Did gyre and gimble in the wabe;
: : : All mimsy were the borogoves,
: : : And the mome raths outgrabe.

: : And I would be, indeed, a frumious bandersnatch if I did not point out that few people have ever invented a better word than "galumphing." Maybe Gelette Burgess, who invented a whole book of new words, including "blurb," comes close ... but the mother lode is in Jabberwocky.

: I'm probably wrong, but I'm thinking "manxsome" and Gelett. Trivial, I know. Of course, I don't wish to accusnmje Lewis Carroll of misspelling his own words. SS

Oh Bob, what a wonderful poem. Whenever I make up words for my convenience I use the excuse that "I'm a technical writer so I can make up any words I want". It is of course a stupid excuse, but it is just as valid as the words I devise. But now - you've introduced me to my new hero. I've only ever read Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass (and like I said before, that was several light years ago), but now you've inspired to look more deeply into Carroll's work.

But SS, the 'dare to be so bold' award must go to you - for correcting the spelling of words that don't exist - haha!!!

• Oh what a farrago this has become... Lotg 19/September/04
  • Oh what a farrago this has become... Bob 19/September/04
    • Manxome foe. Smokey Stover 20/September/04