Lesson 1 Jabberwocky

Learning Intention

I can interpret a nonsense poem using my knowledge of how language works

I can use word classes effectively

Key Competency

Using language

Success Criteria

I can interpret & explain the situation communicated in Jabberwocky

I can produce and illustrate my own poem in the style of Jabberwocky

Additional materials below courtesy of Holly Fairbrother.

POETRY

LI: to decipher nonsense poems

Success Criteria:

* I can use my knowledge of the eight parts of speech to make sense of some abstract poetry and nonsense words

Writing AFs:

3 Organise and present whole texts effectively, sequencing and structuring information, ideas and events.

5 Vary sentences for clarity, purpose and effect



Reading AFs:

3 Deduce, infer or interpret information, events or ideas from texts.

5 Explain and comment on writer’s use of language, including grammatical and literary features at word and sentence level.

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Abstract art

Art that does not attempt to represent external, recognisable reality but seeks to achieve its effect using shapes, forms, colors, and textures.

This means, an abstract artist who wants to paint a picture of an apple, will create a painting that has the effect of an apple without looking realistically like a apple. However, you will still know it is an apple - like this image below...

What is this abstract image?

In pairs, work on analysing the three abstract paintings in the links below. Record your answers in your notebooks.

ABSTRACT 1             ABSTRACT 2             ABSTRACT 3

Now, vote for your favourite one here. Each of you must vote for yourself and include a reason for your choice.

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Try these NONSENSE SENTENCES.

LI: I can interpret a nonsense poem using my knowledge of how language works

and I can use word classes effectively

KC: Using language

Success Criteria

I can interpret & explain the situation communicated in Jabberwocky

I can produce and illustrate my own poem in the style of Jabberwocky

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NONSENSE SENTENCES.

Give your three nonsense sentences to another learner. Ask them to identify the word types of the nonsense words. Ask them to replace each nonsense word with a sensible word.

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 Nonsense Poetry

Nonsense verse (poetry) is a form of light, often rhythmical verse, usually for children, depicting peculiar characters in amusing and fantastical situations. It is whimsical and humorous in tone and tends to employ fanciful phrases and meaningless made-up words.

Some nonsense verse uses actual words but in a nonsensical or unusal way. 

The following poem makes extreme use of word incompatibility (words that don't work together) by pairing a number of opposites such as day/night, paralayzed/walking, dry/drowned, lie/true, in conjunction with lesser incompatibilities such as swords/shot and rubber/wall.

One bright day in the middle of the night,

Two dead men got up to fight.

Back-to-back they faced one another,

Drew their swords and shot each other.

One was blind and the other couldn't see,

So they chose a dummy for a referee.

A blind man went to see fair play,

A dumb man went to shout "hooray!"

A deaf policeman heard the noise,

And came and shot the two dead boys.

A paralyzed donkey walking by,

Kicked the copper in the eye,

Sent him through a nine inch wall,

Into a dry ditch and drowned them all.

(If you don't believe this lie is true,

Ask the blind man -- he saw it too!)

Other nonsense poems are just about nonsense things.

Have a look at the following videos of a selection on nonsense poems by Dr Suess, Edward Lear and Spike Milligan.

 

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THE JABBERWOCKY

The Jabberwocky is a nonsense poem by a famous writer called Lewis Carroll. It appears in his book 'Alice in Wonderland'.

 

When Alice hears the poem 'The Jabberwocky', this is what she thinks:

"It seems very pretty," she said when she had finished it, "but it's rather hard to understand!" (You see she didn't like to confess even to herself, that she couldn't make it out at all.) "Somehow it seems to fill my head with ideas--only I don't exactly know what they are! However, somebody killed something: that's clear, at any rate---" 

Click on 'The Jabberwocky'; look at the extract of the poem and complete the activities.

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 Have a look at the following clips about the Jabberwocky.

 Write your own poem in the style of The Jabberwocky. Replace all the nonsense words with words of your own.

Then, create a storyboard that explains your poem. Here is a template to download and complete.

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 EXTRA CHALLENGE...

Have a go at writing your own nonsense poem using any of the different styles we have looked at.