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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.

Author
JadeRain

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
261,700

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
7 / 10

Plays
1419

Last 3 plays: Kat1982 (4/10), Guest 67 (5/10), Guest 80 (4/10).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. "'Twas brillig, and the slithy toves..."

What time of day is Brillig? Hint

Very early in the morning, when the first birds start to sing.

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

Late at night when everybody goes to bed.

The time where the Mad Hatter and March Hare enjoy their tea.

NEXT>

Question 2 of 10

2. "All mimsy were the borogoves,"

What is the meaning of the adjective, mimsy? Hint

Shiney and glittering

Hot and scalding

Wet, and damp

Flimsy and miserable

NEXT>

Question 3 of 10

3. "All mimsy were the borogoves,"

What kind of animal is a borogrove? Hint

A hookah smoking caterpillar

An elegant looking bird

A shabby looking bird

An ugly lizard

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Question 4 of 10

4. "'Twas brillig, and the slithy toves"

What two words are combined to make slithy? Hint

Little, silly

Lame, solid

Lime, savory

Lithe, slimy

NEXT>

Question 5 of 10

5. "'Twas brillig, and the slithy toves "

Can you explain to me what toves are? Hint

An alternate name for the Jabberwock

An exotic fruit bearing tree

A strange animal: something like badgers, lizards and corkscrews

An extremely greedy individual

NEXT>

Question 6 of 10

6. "Did gyre and gimble in the wabe"

What does it mean to gyre? Hint

To go round and round like a top

To go round and round like a loop

To go round and round like the earth

To go round and round like a gyroscope

NEXT>

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

To make soup like a chef

To make stakes like a gambler

To make holes like a gimlet

To make lines like a poet

NEXT>

Question 8 of 10

8. "Did gyre and gimble in the wabe"

Now, what is a wabe exactly? Hint

A gravel pit round a sundial

A grass-plot round a sundial

A grass-plot round a tree

A grass-plot used for picnics

NEXT>

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

Raths: Another shabby looking bird

Raths: A sort of green pig

Raths: A relative of the tove

Raths: A baby borogrove

NEXT>

Question 10 of 10

10. "And the mome raths outgrabe."

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

Yawning and yelling with a howl in the middle

Bellowing and whistling, with a sneeze in the middle

Crying and sniffling, whit a whimper in the middle

Yelping and screeching, with a belch in the middle

Most Recent Scores

Apr 22 2024 : Kat1982: 4/10
Mar 24 2024 : Guest 67: 5/10
Feb 26 2024 : Guest 80: 4/10

Score Distribution

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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