bukary on 3/9/2006 at 08:27
Here's the whole text from "Casing the Joint":
Quote:
Hunting of the Frumious Bandersnatch
By Captain Rufus T. Spaulding
And there I was in the darkest wilds, preparing to search for that most dangerous and elusive of adversaries, the frumious bandersnatch. This, of course, is not to be confused with the striped fromane bandersnatch, an exceedingly docile relative. No, the frumious bandersnatch, filthy beast, is a creature I have spent my whole life preparing to hunt.
But where was I? Ah yes, it was an early morning on the veldt. We were on the trail of a particular bandersnatch and this one was even more frumious than most. I sat by my tent sipping tea and munching on buttered scones. A few scouts had gone out the previous night to see where the creature lurked. Such creatures always lurk … unless they were skulking from one lurking spot to another.
As I finished my tea and prepared for a second cup, two scouts trotted in. Funny thing, I swore I sent out five the night before. The leader walked up to me and announced that they had found the spot where the bandersnatch was lurking. Unfortunately, it found the spot from which they observed. Now there are only two. Poor buggers. I must remind them not to interrupt me during my morning cup of tea.
Well, we had a starting point for the hunt. Now on to the chase…
I am, of course, aware that "the frumious bandersnatch" comes from Carroll's "Jabberwocky". I also know that each neologism in this poem is (
http://www.home.ix.netcom.com/~kyamazak/myth/alice/jabglossary-e.htm) based on real English word.
But what does "fromane" mean? I know it is an English surname, but it seems that it was used by Thief writers in opposition to "frumious". Does "fromane" resemble some other word?
theBlackman on 3/9/2006 at 08:36
The word you've entered isn't in the dictionary. Click on a spelling suggestion below or try again using the search box to the right.
Suggestions for fromane:
1. Frohman
2. foramen
3. foreman
4. foremen
5. forewoman
6. freemen
7. forewomen
8. Freeman
9. Farman
10. formant
Take your choice. The only meaning for Frohman is this: Function: biographical name
Charles 1860-1915 American theater manager:
Charles Frohman
born June 17, 1860, Sandusky, Ohio, U.S.
died May 7, 1915, at sea.
bukary on 3/9/2006 at 08:55
Thanks! But what would be your guess? What might that mean?
theBlackman on 3/9/2006 at 10:00
I suspect it was made up like "Frumious" to be an alliterative word to describe the "other" more mild Bandersnatch. :)
GlasWolf on 3/9/2006 at 12:58
Frumious = fuming/furious, fromane = humane perhaps?
Dia on 3/9/2006 at 14:08
Haven't found anything on 'fromane', but did find this on 'frumious' (which I found interesting, so sorry if I digress):
... take the two words "fuming" and "furious." Make up your mind that you will say both words, but leave it unsettled which you will say first. Now open your mouth and speak. If your thoughts incline ever so little towards "fuming," you will say "fuming-furious"; if they turn, by even a hair's breadth, towards "furious," you will say "furious-fuming"; but if you have the rarest of gifts, a perfectly balanced mind, you will say "frumious" (Gardner The Annotated Alice 195). (
http://home.earthlink.net/~lfdean/carroll/jabberwock.html)
themetalian on 3/9/2006 at 20:02
I think the guys the dude sent to search for the Bandersnatches should know more on the meaning. Sadly, they all perished, abeit in a comical way. So we may never know! Frumious idneed. :cheeky:
jtr7 on 3/9/2006 at 20:38
Romaine (lettuce) and Fromage (French for "Cheese"). It's lettuce and cheese! Maybe...:p
Fromage Domain.
If Carroll himself never explained it, or if it was never found in his notes, we can never know, but we can have fun speculating!
themetalian on 4/9/2006 at 17:42
I always imagined the Frumious Bandersnatch being rather smelly, like gone- off cheese. :p