I thought of this poem again after coming across the word "galumph" on the internet. I remember my initial struggle trying to figure out this poem.. Was it really understandable? I didn't clearly recognize any words, but after further examination, I did 'see' the words and they did make sense in a wonderful way.
At first glance the words seems nonsensical. However, that was the genius of Carroll's writing. He would 'play' and combine two words into one, creating home-made words, like in his poem, "Jabberwocky." The joy we receive as a reader is understanding how the meaning of the poem is enhanced by the mixing and combining of common words. It tells a whimsical story of the beast, "Jabberwock"and his defeat at the hands of a courageous boy.
Galumph is one of the words from "Jabberwocky" that has slipped into our English dictionary (as has "chortle"-a blend of chuckle + snort). Even though it seems like a "gibberish" word it is really a combination of "gallop" and "triumph."
What I discovered is that today the word "galumph" or the present participle, "galumphing" has taken its meaning more from the sound of the word than the original meaning in the actual poem. Modern definition: a movement marked by a clumsy, ponderous, or noisy manner. In the nonsensical verse of Carroll's, it is part of the jubilant ride back home by a heroic boy who just defeated the beast.
The fascination of the works of Charles Lutwidge Dodgson (Lewis Carroll's given name) like Alice in Wonderland (1865) and Through the Looking Glass (1871) crosses lines of interest for both adults and children. You can enjoy them at different levels. Given that Dodgson was a lecturer in mathematics at Oxford and his fondness for puzzles, he combined that love with his fondness for literature and the playful nature of words; it is a literary creation for all to enjoy.
"Jabberwocky" -from chapter 1 of Through the Looking-Glass-- is a classic example of clever word use. If you remember, Humpty Dumpty gives the reader some explanation to the poem through his conversation with Alice who finds the poem in a book. Even the title "Jabberwocky" is typed backwards in the book. The wonderment is obvious in this already magical land of the looking glass, but Alice, herself, was perplexed.
Carroll didn't need to use words in a conventional sense because he understood the rules of English (syntax and parts of speech) and was able to tell a story using vivid imagery and the universal theme of good overcoming evil in a playful and memorable way.
Alice, after finishing the poem said, "It seems very pretty, but it's rather hard to understand!" I felt the same way back when I was asked to reread and analyze the poem. But also, like Alice, "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---"
Yes, galumph through the rich fields of words and chortle with glee... now that's glorious nonsense!