![Literary Elements in "Jabberwocky"](http://cdn.storyboardthat.com/storyboard-srcsets/kristy-littlehale/literary-elements-in--jabberwocky-.png "Literary Elements in "Jabberwocky"")
Activity Overview
When teaching poetry, it is often helpful to refresh or introduce students with technical words. “Metaphor", "alliteration", "personification", "imagery", "apostrophe", and "assonance" are a few important terms.
After you have read the poem, ask your students to do a scavenger hunt using the Storyboard Creator. Give them the list again and have them create a storyboard that depicts and explains the use of each literary element in the poem. They will have an absolute blast and gain mastery of the words.
Literary Elements Example
| DESCRIPTION | EXAMPLE | |
|---|---|---|
| Alliteration | Repetition of consonant sounds at the beginnings of words in a sentence or line | “the claws that catch!” |
| Internal Rhyme | Rhyming that occurs within a single line | “He left it dead, and with its head” |
| Metaphor | An implied comparison between two things | “The Jabberwock, with eyes of flame” |
| Imagery | The use of descriptive or figurative language to create vivid mental imagery that appeals to the senses | “One, two! One, two! And through and through / The vorpal blade went snicker-snack!” |
| Consonance | The repetition of consonant sounds within a line | “Come to my arms, my beamish boy!” |
| Portmanteau | A word whose form and meaning come from a blending of two or more words | “Galumph” (gallop, jump) |
Template and Class Instructions
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Student Instructions
Create a storyboard that shows five examples of literary elements in "Jabberwocky".
- Click "Start Assignment".
- Identify use of literary elements in the text.
- Put the type of literary element in the title box.
- Give an example from the text in the description box.
- Illustrate the example using using a combination of scenes, characters, and items.
Lesson Plan Reference
Rubric
(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)
| Proficient | Emerging | Beginning | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Identification of Literary Elements | All literary elements are correctly identified. | Most literary elements are correctly identified. | Few literary elements are correctly identified. |
| Illustration | Illustrations show attention to the details of the story and demonstrate connection to the literary elements. | Illustrations demonstrate connection to the literary elements. | Illustrations show little connection to the literary elements. |
| Description of Literary Elements | Descriptions clearly explain what the literary elements do to enhance the story. | Most descriptions tell what the literary elements do to enhance the story. | Descriptions are unrelated to the literary elements. |
| Spelling and Grammar | Spelling and grammar is mostly accurate. Mistakes do not get in the way of understanding. | Spelling is very inaccurate and hinders full understanding. | Text is very difficult to understand. |
Activity Overview
When teaching poetry, it is often helpful to refresh or introduce students with technical words. “Metaphor", "alliteration", "personification", "imagery", "apostrophe", and "assonance" are a few important terms.
After you have read the poem, ask your students to do a scavenger hunt using the Storyboard Creator. Give them the list again and have them create a storyboard that depicts and explains the use of each literary element in the poem. They will have an absolute blast and gain mastery of the words.
Literary Elements Example
| DESCRIPTION | EXAMPLE | |
|---|---|---|
| Alliteration | Repetition of consonant sounds at the beginnings of words in a sentence or line | “the claws that catch!” |
| Internal Rhyme | Rhyming that occurs within a single line | “He left it dead, and with its head” |
| Metaphor | An implied comparison between two things | “The Jabberwock, with eyes of flame” |
| Imagery | The use of descriptive or figurative language to create vivid mental imagery that appeals to the senses | “One, two! One, two! And through and through / The vorpal blade went snicker-snack!” |
| Consonance | The repetition of consonant sounds within a line | “Come to my arms, my beamish boy!” |
| Portmanteau | A word whose form and meaning come from a blending of two or more words | “Galumph” (gallop, jump) |
Template and Class Instructions
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Student Instructions
Create a storyboard that shows five examples of literary elements in "Jabberwocky".
- Click "Start Assignment".
- Identify use of literary elements in the text.
- Put the type of literary element in the title box.
- Give an example from the text in the description box.
- Illustrate the example using using a combination of scenes, characters, and items.
Lesson Plan Reference
Rubric
(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)
| Proficient | Emerging | Beginning | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Identification of Literary Elements | All literary elements are correctly identified. | Most literary elements are correctly identified. | Few literary elements are correctly identified. |
| Illustration | Illustrations show attention to the details of the story and demonstrate connection to the literary elements. | Illustrations demonstrate connection to the literary elements. | Illustrations show little connection to the literary elements. |
| Description of Literary Elements | Descriptions clearly explain what the literary elements do to enhance the story. | Most descriptions tell what the literary elements do to enhance the story. | Descriptions are unrelated to the literary elements. |
| Spelling and Grammar | Spelling and grammar is mostly accurate. Mistakes do not get in the way of understanding. | Spelling is very inaccurate and hinders full understanding. | Text is very difficult to understand. |
How Tos about Literary Elements in "The Jabberwocky"
Organize a Literary Elements Gallery Walk
Set up student storyboards around the classroom and have students move in small groups to view each other's work. Encourage discussion and ask students to give specific feedback on the examples used. This collaborative approach helps students learn from their peers and reinforces understanding of literary elements.
Assign student roles for peer feedback
Give each student a specific role, such as “Literary Element Expert” or “Illustration Analyst”, when reviewing classmates' storyboards. This fosters active engagement and ensures constructive, focused feedback that deepens learning.
Provide sentence starters for peer reviews
Share sentence stems like “I noticed you used…” or “Your example of alliteration made me think of…” to help students give meaningful, respectful feedback. Clear prompts make the process accessible and supportive for all learners.
Reflect on feedback to improve storyboards
Invite students to revise their storyboards after the gallery walk, using peer comments to strengthen explanations or visuals. This step encourages a growth mindset and reinforces mastery of literary elements.
Frequently Asked Questions about Literary Elements in \"The Jabberwocky\"
What are the main literary elements used in 'Jabberwocky'?
'Jabberwocky' by Lewis Carroll features key literary elements such as alliteration, metaphor, imagery, internal rhyme, consonance, and portmanteau. These techniques help create the poem’s whimsical and vivid style.
How can I teach literary elements in 'Jabberwocky' to middle school students?
Use a scavenger hunt activity with the Storyboard Creator. Give students a list of literary elements and have them find, explain, and illustrate examples from the poem, making learning interactive and fun.
What is a portmanteau in 'Jabberwocky' and can you give an example?
A portmanteau is a word made by blending two words and their meanings. In 'Jabberwocky', an example is "galumph" (gallop + jump).
Why is 'Jabberwocky' often used to teach figurative language?
'Jabberwocky' is rich in figurative language and invented words, making it ideal for teaching concepts like metaphor and alliteration in an engaging, memorable way for students.
What is a simple classroom activity for exploring literary elements in 'Jabberwocky'?
Have students create a storyboard showing examples of five literary elements from the poem, labeling each type and illustrating examples using scenes and characters.
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