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Quiz about Jabberwocky The Meaning Behind the Nonsense
Quiz about Jabberwocky The Meaning Behind the Nonsense

Jabberwocky: The Meaning Behind the Nonsense Quiz


If you are is familiar with Carroll's "Jabberwocky", then you know it is filled with many silly words. Humpty-Dumpty tries to explain these to Alice in "Through the Looking Glass". Do you know what these strange words from the first stanza mean?

A multiple-choice quiz by JadeRain. Estimated time: 4 mins.
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Author
JadeRain
Time
4 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
261,700
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Average
Avg Score
7 / 10
Plays
1424
- -
Question 1 of 10
1. "'Twas brillig, and the slithy toves..."

What time of day is Brillig?
Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. "All mimsy were the borogoves,"

What is the meaning of the adjective, mimsy?
Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. "All mimsy were the borogoves,"

What kind of animal is a borogrove?
Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. "'Twas brillig, and the slithy toves"

What two words are combined to make slithy?
Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. "'Twas brillig, and the slithy toves "

Can you explain to me what toves are?
Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. "Did gyre and gimble in the wabe"

What does it mean to gyre?
Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. "Did gyre and gimble in the wabe"

If one is about to gimble, what is he about to do?
Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. "Did gyre and gimble in the wabe"


Now, what is a wabe exactly?
Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. "And the mome raths outgrabe."

Humpty-Dumpty says that mome is short for "from home"; what kind of creatures have lost their way?
Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. "And the mome raths outgrabe."

How does Humpty-Dumpty explain the word outgrabe to Alice?
Hint





Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. "'Twas brillig, and the slithy toves..." What time of day is Brillig?

Answer: Four o'clock in the afternoon: the time when you begin broiling things for dinner.

"You seem very clever at explaining words Sir," said Alice. "would you kindly tell me the meaning of the poem 'Jabberwocky'?"
2. "All mimsy were the borogoves," What is the meaning of the adjective, mimsy?

Answer: Flimsy and miserable

"When I make a word do a lot of the work like that," said Humpty-Dumpty, "I always pay it extra."
3. "All mimsy were the borogoves," What kind of animal is a borogrove?

Answer: A shabby looking bird

"...And a borogrove is a thin, shabby looking bird with its feathers sticking out all around- something like a live mop."
4. "'Twas brillig, and the slithy toves" What two words are combined to make slithy?

Answer: Lithe, slimy

"...you see it's like a portmanteau- there are two meanings packed up into one word."
5. "'Twas brillig, and the slithy toves " Can you explain to me what toves are?

Answer: A strange animal: something like badgers, lizards and corkscrews

Alice" "they must be very curious-looking creatures."
Humpty-Dumpty: "They are that."
6. "Did gyre and gimble in the wabe" What does it mean to gyre?

Answer: To go round and round like a gyroscope

"When I use a word" Said Humpty-Dumpty, "It means just what I want it to mean- neither more nor less."
7. "Did gyre and gimble in the wabe" If one is about to gimble, what is he about to do?

Answer: To make holes like a gimlet

"The Question is" Said Alice, "whether you can make words mean so many different things."
8. "Did gyre and gimble in the wabe" Now, what is a wabe exactly?

Answer: A grass-plot round a sundial

Note: Toves build their nests under sundials

"It's called 'wabe' you know, because it goes a long way before it, and a long way behind it."
9. "And the mome raths outgrabe." Humpty-Dumpty says that mome is short for "from home"; what kind of creatures have lost their way?

Answer: Raths: A sort of green pig

"My name means the shape I am- an a good handsome shape it is too. With a name like yours, you might be any shape, almost."
10. "And the mome raths outgrabe." How does Humpty-Dumpty explain the word outgrabe to Alice?

Answer: Bellowing and whistling, with a sneeze in the middle

"Your face is the same as everybody has-the two eyes, nose in the middle, mouth under. It's always the same. Now if you had the two eyes on the same side of the nose, for instance- or the mouth on top- that would be a help."
Source: Author JadeRain

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