Question

Excerpt from Jabberwocky

Lewis Carroll

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

5 "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: 10 Long time the manxome foe he sought, So rested he by the Tumtum tree,

And stood a while in thought. And, as in uffish thought he stood, The Jabberwock, with eyes of flame, 15 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 20 He went galumphing back.

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

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

Which characteristics BEST describe the boy in stanza 3?

A) brave and patient

B) skilled and gifted

C) cruel and cowardly

D) silly and humorous

E) fearful and foolish

Answer 1

In stanza 3 of the poem, the boy shows that he is both brave and patient. He demonstrates bravery by taking his vorpal sword in hand to hunt the creature. However, he also shows that he is patient by resting and standing a while in thought.