Genre
Nonsensical poem
Setting and Context
A fantasy setting, depicted as being pastoral.
Narrator and Point of View
The speaker is an objective narrator who is telling a story about the killing of the Jabberwocky.
Tone and Mood
The poem has a similar tone to classic Anglo-Saxon tales, beginning as threatening and uncertain, but ending victorious.
Protagonist and Antagonist
The protagonist is the boy, and the antagonist is the Jabberwocky.
Major Conflict
The major conflict in this poem is between the boy and the Jabberwocky.
Climax
The climax of the poem is the defeat of the Jabberwocky.
Foreshadowing
The threat and danger of the Jabberwocky is foreshadowed when the father tells the boy to "beware" the Jabberwocky.
Understatement
The word "burbled" seems to understate the Jabberwocky and makes him seem less harmful.
Allusions
The use of the Jabberwocky's head is an allusion to hunting traditions where the head is taken as a "trophy."
Imagery
Evil and sinister imagery is used to describe the Jabberwocky, such as his "eyes of flame".
Paradox
N/A
Parallelism
Parallelism is created between the boy, and traditional heroes of Anglo-Saxon literature, who must defeat the villain in order to earn respect.
Metonymy and Synecdoche
N/A
Personification
The vorpal sword is personified in the fight scene.
