Lewis Carroll's, "The Jabberwocky," is a piece that can be approached from many different angles and can be interpreted in an endless number of ways. The language is quite complicated at first glance and many words within the poem are made up, but slowing down and determining what those words mean helps the reader comprehend the work more fully. The many layers all work together to create a captivating story that draws the reader in further and further as the poem progresses. The author uses precise and unique diction and imagery to draw the reader in and allow them to become a part of the poem.

Throughout the poem, Carroll does a fabulous job of using specific diction and imagery to create a very intimidating and frightening mood. He sets up a backdrop for the entire poem by creating an intense setting where one would not feel safe or secure. By placing the reader outside their comfort zone, it gives the author the unique opportunity to make them a part of the poem. The language he uses makes it difficult to not become enveloped in. The first stanza begins to develop the setting using diction such as "slithy toves," (Carroll 1). The words themselves seem to have negative connotations, specifically "slithy" (Carroll 1), because it is eerily similar to the word "slimy." The phrase makes one think of a wet or soggy area, such as a mire or bog. Also, the phrase, "All mimsy were the borogoves" (Carroll 3), contributes to the eerie mood, causing the reader to picture flimsy and decrepit trees swaying in the wind. This image is not very "warm and fuzzy" and gives the reader an unsettling feeling that the rest of the poem will build upon.Another contributing factor to the frightening atmosphere at the beginning of the poem is the language used to describe the Jabberwocky. The father warns his son to, "Beware the Jabberwock, my son" (Carroll 5)! Obviously, saying "beware" is the equivalent of telling someone to steer clear or watch out for something dangerous. While describing the Jabberwocky, the father also adds, "The jaws that bite, the claws that catch" (Carroll 6)! Jaws and claws both have connotations of violence, and both have sort of a sharp edge, literally and figuratively. Both words are fantastic uses of imagery because the reader can clearly visualize how terrifying and dangerous the Jabberwocky really is. The author also has a tendency to make up his own words in order to get his point across, sometimes by combining two existing words together. One example of this is when he writes, "and shun/The frumious Bandersnatch" (Carroll 8! In order to put emphasis on the viciousness of the Jabberwocky, Carroll combined the words "fuming" and "furious," which are both already strong words by themselves. When combined, they create an even more intimidating image of the "JubJub bird" (Carroll 7), Other language is used throughout the poem that makes the Jabberwocky seem enraged and intimidating. For example, "The Jabberwock, with eyes of flame" (Carroll 14). The word "flame" carries a lot of weight in this sentence because flames often represent fury and intense anger. It's also another very clear example of imagery. Everyone knows what a flame looks like, so the phrase "eyes of flame" paints a very clear picture of how the Jabberwocky looked as it flew about the forest. The author also describes how the Jabberwocky came "whiffling through the tulgey wood" (Carroll 15), which helps the reader visualize how fast it was flying. The use of the word "whiffling" is very interesting because the word itself almost sounds like the word "whistling." The use of this word almost mimics the sound of the wind whistling around the Jabberwocky as it flies toward the boy. All of the imagery used throughout the poem helps the reader understand the text and cause them to fear the mysterious monster.

After the reader has become fearful of the Jabberwocky through the mood created by the setting and the imagery describing it, the author creates a shift in the mood using more cheerful language. The boy courageously decides to slay the Jabberwocky and carries out his plan without any problems. He celebrates with his father and the mood at the end is triumphant and cheerful. The author makes up words once again in order to give a clear image of how the Jabberwocky was slain. He wrote, "The vorpal blade went snicker-snack" (Carroll 18). The phrase "snicker-snack" is used to create a sound to go along with the image of the boy slaying the bird. When one says "snicker-snack" out loud, it is very short and choppy. Similarly, the boy cut off the Jabberwocky's head in a very short and quick motion. The poem goes on to say that the boy successfully killed the Jabberwocky and took its head with him as he headed back to see his father and share the good news. It is made clear that the boy is proud of himself, especially because of the line, "He went galumphing back" (Carroll 20). The word galumph is another word whose sound mimics its meaning. The word itself sounds very clumsy and ungraceful, and it means "to leap or move about clumsily or joyfully" (dictionary.com). Usually when one moves or runs in a clumsy manner, they are in a happy or carefree mood. That is exactly the case in this poem, because the boy is rejoicing after conquering the beast that his father warned him about. Once he reaches his father, they both celebrate and the father proclaims, "O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay" (Carroll 23)! The made up exclamations in this line emphasize just how joyous the father and son were, because often when someone is extremely excited or joyful, they have trouble making sense. The father was also probably surprised by the news because he had warned his son not to go near the Jabberwocky, let alone to try to kill it. The author uses nonsensical language whose sound imitates its meaning throughout the poem to give the reader a clear idea of what is happening and to cause the reader to feel similar emotions that the characters experience.

This poem does an amazing job of drawing the reader in by creating a captivating and frightening mood, and then shifting to a more triumphant mood as soon as the Jabberwocky is slain. The author's unique use of diction provided a fantastic avenue for the reader to visualize the situation. In the end, the boy's confidence prevailed and he successfully slayed the fierce Jabberwocky. The rather odd and uncommon word choice catches the reader's eye and speaks to them through their senses rather than their minds. This allows the reader to have a raw emotional connection to the poem rather than a manufactured one. "The Jabberwocky" is an excellent and unique example of the proper uses of diction and imagery.

