So rested he by the Tumtum tree
And stood awhile in thought.

from Lewis Carroll – Jabberwocky on Rap Genius

Gardner in The Annotated Alice: “Tum-tum was a common colloquialism in Carroll’s day, referring to the sound of a stringed instrument, especially when monotonously strummed.” The derivation may suggest a repetitive or monotonous quality to the hero’s thoughts.

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