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Lewis Carroll, Through the Looking-Glass

As the book where “Jabberwocky” first appeared in full, Through the Looking-Glass should be the first point of reference for readers seeking more context for the poem.

Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland

Since Through the Looking-Glass is technically a sequel, it’s also worth linking to the original book, which introduced Alice and Wonderland. This book also features some of best and most amusing examples of Carroll’s wordplay. The famous scene at the Mad Hatter’s tea party is quintessential.

Alexander Pope, The Rape of the Lock

It could be worth pointing readers to Pope’s parodic poem from 1712. Although very different from Carroll, and not exactly “light” in the sense meant by the phrase “light verse,” The Rape of the Lock provides a landmark example of mock-heroic poetry in English.

Beowulf

Carroll first published the opening stanza of “Jabberwocky” under the title “Stanza of Anglo-Saxon Poetry.” This fact, combined with the slant references to Beowulf (e.g., the trio of monsters, the legendary sword), makes it beneficial to link “Jabberwocky” to this foundational epic of English literature.

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