Reading the Classics discussion

I am so glad you shared this, Brandon. I've loved this poem since I was a child and learnt it by heart when I was about 10. Over the years,I'd forgotten one line-'Came whiffling through the tulgey wood'- which was very annoying! Very pleased to have the line back!

I love this poem! I actually first read it when (wow, really bringing out the nerdiness here) the Honors Program performed it in five part harmony and choreography for an annual college musical competition. I still have the whole thing memorized. I can't ever read or hear it without smiling. :)

Excellent, Brandon. I use this poem all the time to free students' minds (I'm a personal tutor). It's amazing how the mind fills in the blanks suggested by the placeholder nonsense words.

If you, and Others On This Thread, like Lewis Carroll, scroll down at this link for an audio recording of his brilliant absurdist poem "The Walrus and the Carpenter" -- a political satire in disguise:

http://jstevensonstories.blogspot.com...

Why is "The Walrus and the Carpenter" making me think of Fantasia? I think that was a walrus and a bunch of clams, though.... still very bizarre.

Alana wrote: "Why is "The Walrus and the Carpenter" making me think of Fantasia? I think that was a walrus and a bunch of clams, though.... still very bizarre."

Dunno, Alana. Closest I can come is the elephants in tutus; don't recall any walruses in Fantasia. Two absurdist classics though, no doubt!

I have fond memories of this poem, too. I once played one ninth of the Jabberwocky for my drama school production of Alice in Wonderland. (I started out as one tenth, but my part was enlarged when one of us was needed elsewhere.) I also played a baby elephant (not in the book, but we had the costume so we used it anyway) and a playing card.

Pauline wrote: "I have fond memories of this poem, too. I once played one ninth of the Jabberwocky for my drama school production of Alice in Wonderland. (I started out as one tenth, but my part was enlarged when ..."

I hope your one-ninth wasn't the head, with which the boy went "galumphing back"!

Pauline wrote: "I have fond memories of this poem, too. I once played one ninth of the Jabberwocky for my drama school production of Alice in Wonderland. (I started out as one tenth, but my part was enlarged when ..."

I played a playing card, too! We did Alice in Wonderland in high school, and I actually had two parts (and one line). I played the Fish Footman who delivered the croquet invitation to the Frog Footman. I said, "From the Queen, an invitation for the Duchess to play croquet", he replied, "For the Duchess, an invitation from the Queen to play croquet", I handed him the huge envelope, we bowed and hit heads, staggered back, and always got a good laugh! Then we both had to rush back, remove all our green greasepaint, change costumes, apply white greasepaint, and run back out to play card soldiers who followed the Queen of Hearts through the aisles during the croquet game, seizing unwary audience members whenever she yelled "Off with his/her head!" What a blast we had!

Denise wrote: "Pauline wrote: "I have fond memories of this poem, too. I once played one ninth of the Jabberwocky for my drama school production of Alice in Wonderland. (I started out as one tenth, but my part wa..."

That's cool, Denise. Just yesterday I was reading that scene with a fifth grader (I personally tutor 5th through college), and she loved it. I don't think kids that young can enjoy the book that much on their own, but with goofy guidance, no prob!

Now that I've read this a few times, I've come to appreciate it a whole lot more. I used to believe that the story was about the killing of the Jabberwock. Unfortunately, that explanation doesn't cover much of the poem. This poem is instead concerned with human interaction with nature, and the inability for one man to cause a significant change in a global sense. The first and last stanzas, while ominous, are arguably unintelligible. I believe that they are not meant to be understood, and simply represent the fact that even after the young man has killed the Jabberwock, the forest (and the world) is still a dangerous, dark, and scary place. Even though the poem focuses on the killing of the Jabberwock, the father also mentions "the Jubjub bird" and "The frumious Bandersnatch", which aren't taken care of by the child, and still pose a threat to the safety of this small family.

Jon wrote: "That's cool, Denise. Just yesterday I was reading that scene with a fifth grader (I personally tutor 5th through college), and she loved it. I don't think kids that young can enjoy the book that much on their own, but with goofy guidance, no prob!"

That's great, Jon, that you are helping kids appreciate and enjoy literature! We didn't have an auditorium with a stage at my high school, so we usually did plays at the junior high next door, but in the case of Alice in Wonderland, we did it at an elementary school, so we had some daytime performances for the kids at the school, in addition to evening for the public. I think they really enjoyed it! And, of course, it's always great when a kid is exposed to something like a play or movie that might inspire them to read the book.

Denise wrote: "Jon wrote: "That's cool, Denise. Just yesterday I was reading that scene with a fifth grader (I personally tutor 5th through college), and she loved it. I don't think kids that young can enjoy the ..."

It saddens me when kids jump to the conclusion that they don't like certain wonderful classics merely because they have been sent off without guidance to read them on their own. My daughter did Shakespeare camp for several years, and loved the plays because she ... played in them, long before she was expected to master the text. Peter Pan's another classic that kids can love, if they're only shown how.

And you're so right about films and plays. For kids, the Johnny Depp film (haven't seen it) might be just the hook to get them into Alice, and I'm sure many kids have read The Lord of the Rings because they saw the films.

I love this poem so much that I have been known to randomly quote a line or two while at work. I remember it as 'and while in uffish thought he stood...'. Just proves I have to reread Alice!

Jon wrote: "Excellent, Brandon. I use this poem all the time to free students' minds (I'm a personal tutor). It's amazing how the mind fills in the blanks suggested by the placeholder nonsense words.

If you, ..."

Thanks for the great link!

I got my seven-year-old little sister to read "Alice in Wonderland" and she really liked, is one of my favourite books and I only got the chance to read it as a teenager but all the imaginary behind it still seems very real to me.
I also love "Alice through the looking glass" and it just makes me mad that most people are not aware that there is another book and that the characters that they associate to Wonderland are not really from that book.
I think people from all ages ought to read these books, but children mainly so that they can develop their imagination.

G wrote: "Jon wrote: "Excellent, Brandon. I use this poem all the time to free students' minds (I'm a personal tutor). It's amazing how the mind fills in the blanks suggested by the placeholder nonsense word..."

You're welcome G! It's a pity that I can't find Bill Irwin's reading of "Jabberwocky" on the Selected Shorts website, because it's really cool.

I think we all quote "Jabberwocky" unconsciously -- "galumph" is a word invented for the poem, and I believe "chortle" was too. And I am known to shout "Oh frabjous day! Callou! Callay!" in happy moments. :o)

Jon wrote: "G wrote: "Jon wrote: "Excellent, Brandon. I use this poem all the time to free students' minds (I'm a personal tutor). It's amazing how the mind fills in the blanks suggested by the placeholder non..."

I do too! The whole semester we were practicing our performance at college any one of us could be heard around campus following any happy or joyful announcement with "O frabjous day!"

Alana wrote: "Jon wrote: "G wrote: "Jon wrote: "Excellent, Brandon. I use this poem all the time to free students' minds (I'm a personal tutor). It's amazing how the mind fills in the blanks suggested by the pla..."

That's fabulous, Alana! What joyous memories!

I've also been known to shout "Gramercy!" from The Rime of the Ancient Mariner at Giants games. Yeah, that's how I roll.

So you, and All Readers Of This Thread, might like to check out this great link to THIRTY-FOUR volunteer readers recording "Jabberwocky" for Librivox. I've only listened to two, and the second sounds pretty good. Just click this link and scroll ...
http://jstevensonstories.blogspot.com...

I looooove this poem! I'll include some part in my quotes section. "Beware the Jabberwock, my son!
The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!" :) It always set me in the right mood! Thanks! xxx

i love this poem, i have an illustrated issue
it is fantastic one of my favorites!!

I memorized this in elementary school too and still have it down. My 8-year-old just rolls his eyes at me now when I insist on a recitation. :)