The tone of "Jabberwocky" is ironically tense even though the creatures and situations described in the poem are nonsensical. The tone of "How Doth the Little Crocodile" is ironically tense because of the juxtaposition of danger and naivety: the "gently smiling jaws" of a truly dangerous animal and not just a "Bandersnatch" or "Jabberwocky."

Speak Roughly" is another Wonderland poem that relies on irony and tension by juxtaposing the innocence of youth with the harsh realities of the adult world. In "Speak Roughly," the speaker claims that little boys sneeze only to annoy and tease his parents. The speaker urges beating the child because of his disrespectful behavior. "Speak Roughly" is even darker in tone than "Jabberwocky" because of the reality of child abuse. Many parents do beat their children for reasons that make no more sense than sneezing. Any reader will know that a Jabberwocky is a fictitious creature,...
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