Lewis Carroll is most known for his book ‘Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland’. In his 1871 sequel, ‘Through the Looking Glass and What Alice Found There’, Alice finds a book in a strange language. She finds it very puzzling and odd and Humpty Dumpty offers to help her decipher its meaning.

In this post I have included one of my best lessons for Nonsense Poetry for children aged 8-10. It teaches portmanteaus, has a video to help children understand the poem and a fun reading comprehension activity that children will love!

“Jabberwocky” is a nonsense poem written by Lewis Carroll about the killing of a creature named “the Jabberwock”. It is a classic poem that is still enjoyed today.

Jabberwocky by Lewis Carroll

Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
      Did gyre and gimble in the wabe:
All mimsy were the borogoves,
      And the mome raths outgrabe.

“Beware the Jabberwock, my son!
      The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!
Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun
      The frumious Bandersnatch!”

He took his vorpal sword in hand;
      Long time the manxome foe he sought—
So rested he by the Tumtum tree
      And stood awhile in thought.

And, as in uffish thought he stood,
      The Jabberwock, with eyes of flame,
Came whiffling through the tulgey wood,
      And burbled as it came!

One, two! One, two! And through and through
      The vorpal blade went snicker-snack!
He left it dead, and with its head
      He went galumphing back.

“And hast thou slain the Jabberwock?
      Come to my arms, my beamish boy!
O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!”
      He chortled in his joy.

’Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
      Did gyre and gimble in the wabe:
All mimsy were the borogoves,
      And the mome raths outgrabe.

Watch the video to help children understand the poem.

Download the PowerPoint for the lesson by clicking on the image.

Download the worksheets to go with the lesson.

I hope you find them helpful! Like, share and leave a comment below.

Till next time…