"Jabberwocky" is a nonsense poem by Lewis Carroll, first published in the 1871 Alice book Through the Looking-Glass, and What Alice Found There. The plot itself is a humorous version of the traditional heroic ballad, in which a young man goes off to slay the dreaded monster Jabberwock. However, nearly every word in the poem is a nonsense term coined by Carroll, some of which are explained in Through the Looking-Glass as portmanteau words (combining two existing words). The concept of portmanteau words would eventually work its way into the English language in general, and one coined by Carroll, "chortle," would enter common usage.
The opening stanza of the poem was first written by Carroll in 1855 as "Stanza of Anglo-Saxon Poetry." It has often been anthologized and presented as a classic example of humorous verse.
References
- The August 26, 1959 broadcast of Sam and Friends spotlights the recurring "Poet's Corner" feature. The poems include a recitation of "Jabberwocky."[1]
- During the 1967 Ed Sullivan Show performance of "Coffee Break Machine," towards the end of the monster's destruction of the machine, the machine itself mentions, amongst its components, "hydromatic mome raths."
- On the Grin & Giggle with Big Bird album, Big Bird recites the poem to an underscore composed by Dave Conner.
- The poem was fully dramatized, unabridged, as part of the "Alice in Wonderland" themed The Muppet Show episode 506. Scooter portrayed the protagonist, with Rowlf as his father. The Jabberwock as well as the Slithy Toves, Borogoves, and Mome Raths all appear in Muppet form, based on John Tenniel's illustrations.
- The line "O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!" from the poem has been referenced in several Sesame Street episodes.
- Dr. Nobel Price proclaims "Callooh! Callay!" after his successful test run of Sherman the Hoppity-Hop in a Sesame Street News Flash sketch. (First: Episode 1965)
- In Episode 3311, Monty, having angered Prairie Dawn, wishes for her to be happy instead. He demonstrates being happy by cheerfully saying "Oh happy day! Callooh! Callay!"
- In Episode 3699, an Anything Muppet man named Georgie happily walks down Sesame Street exclaiming "Oh joyous day! Callooh! Callay!"
- In Episode 4037, Super Grover, elated at the arrival of his new cape, declares "O frabjous day!"
- During the credits of the 1998 computer game Elmo Through the Looking-Glass, Telly Monster recites the "Jabberwocky" poem.
Notes
- Frequent Muppet composer Sam Pottle composed a choral arrangement of "Jabberwocky" in 1972.