"Snickersnee?"

Jim McDougall · 19th September 2010, 03:02 AM

Fearn, ya rascal! I knew there was more to this

You are truly a man of eclectic esoterica, and what fun it is to hear these tidbits in literature.
You're right, there is far so much more to Carroll, and for that matter most of these Victorian writers. Its like art, there is so much more than seen or read.

"...whilst part of what we perceive comes from our senses from the object before us, another part (and it may the larger part) always comes out of our own mind".
-William James

I think it is why it is so timeless.

Stephen, a great example of what another parlance might be? I always love it when these unusual topics bring out so much from us all.

All the best,
Jim

fearn · 19th September 2010, 04:37 AM

Why thank you sir!

Beside that, it's fun to come across the name of an unknown weapon, and try to figure out if the thing really existed or not. If a snickersnee is a literary prop and not a real weapon, then it's fitting that the vorpal sword is a snickersnee, isn't it?

Best,

F

Jim McDougall · 19th September 2010, 04:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fearn

Why thank you sir!

Beside that, it's fun to come across the name of an unknown weapon, and try to figure out if the thing really existed or not. If a snickersnee is a literary prop and not a real weapon, then it's fitting that the vorpal sword is a snickersnee, isn't it?

Best,

F

Absotively!!! and very well deduced!!! Curiouser and Curiouser!!!!

Great stuff Fearn,

All the best,
Jim

M ELEY · 19th September 2010, 06:53 AM

"No one knows what 'vorpal' really means..."

Gary Gygax did! It was a sword that could behead with a certain roll of the dice. -

Sorry, my inner nerd came out. But a vorpal sword in that esteemed gaming system was simply a beheading sword. Interesting topic!

fearn · 19th September 2010, 06:10 PM

Weeellll...that's where I came from too. Ahh, misspent youth!

But notice what the vorpal sword "actually" does:

"One, two! One, two! and through and through
The vorpal blade went snicker-snack!
He left it dead, and with its head
He went galumphing back."

Without Gary Gygax to interpret for us, it sure looks like the our hero is using the vorpal blade like a rapier or cut-and-thrust sword: he could easily have dealt the jabberwock four stabs. THEN he cuts off the jabberwock's head, but it doesn't even say what he did it with. For all we know, the dude used his pigsticker to decapitate the jabberwock.

But ever since Gygax (and probably before), the vorpal sword has been a beheading sword. Gotta read the original source.

Anyway, that's when I got curious about what a snickersnee was, if it ever existed.

Best,

F

Berkley · 19th September 2010, 10:42 PM

From Life Magazine, May 2 & 28, 1960, yet another take on the G&S snickersnee:

fearn · 20th September 2010, 06:01 AM

Excellent! We finally have a picture!

F

19th September 2010, 03:02 AM	#1
Jim McDougall Arms Historian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Route 66 Posts: 10,192	Fearn, ya rascal! I knew there was more to this You are truly a man of eclectic esoterica, and what fun it is to hear these tidbits in literature. You're right, there is far so much more to Carroll, and for that matter most of these Victorian writers. Its like art, there is so much more than seen or read. "...whilst part of what we perceive comes from our senses from the object before us, another part (and it may the larger part) always comes out of our own mind". -William James I think it is why it is so timeless. Stephen, a great example of what another parlance might be? I always love it when these unusual topics bring out so much from us all. All the best, Jim

19th September 2010, 04:37 AM	#2
fearn Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,247	Why thank you sir! Beside that, it's fun to come across the name of an unknown weapon, and try to figure out if the thing really existed or not. If a snickersnee is a literary prop and not a real weapon, then it's fitting that the vorpal sword is a snickersnee, isn't it? Best, F

19th September 2010, 06:53 AM	#4
M ELEY Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NC, U.S.A. Posts: 2,141	"No one knows what 'vorpal' really means..." Gary Gygax did! It was a sword that could behead with a certain roll of the dice. - Sorry, my inner nerd came out. But a vorpal sword in that esteemed gaming system was simply a beheading sword. Interesting topic!

19th September 2010, 06:10 PM	#5
fearn Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,247	Weeellll...that's where I came from too. Ahh, misspent youth! But notice what the vorpal sword "actually" does: "One, two! One, two! and through and through The vorpal blade went snicker-snack! He left it dead, and with its head He went galumphing back." Without Gary Gygax to interpret for us, it sure looks like the our hero is using the vorpal blade like a rapier or cut-and-thrust sword: he could easily have dealt the jabberwock four stabs. THEN he cuts off the jabberwock's head, but it doesn't even say what he did it with. For all we know, the dude used his pigsticker to decapitate the jabberwock. But ever since Gygax (and probably before), the vorpal sword has been a beheading sword. Gotta read the original source. Anyway, that's when I got curious about what a snickersnee was, if it ever existed. Best, F

19th September 2010, 10:42 PM	#6
Berkley Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Austin, Texas USA Posts: 257	From Life Magazine, May 2 & 28, 1960, yet another take on the G&S snickersnee:

20th September 2010, 06:01 AM	#7
fearn Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 1,247	Excellent! We finally have a picture! F