This article is about the weapon used by Alice Kingsleigh. For other uses, see Sword (disambiguation).
The Vorpal Sword is a weapon that appears in Alice in Wonderland. It is prophesied by the Oraculum to be wielded by Alice Kingsleigh against the Jabberwocky on the Frabjous Day. It is first mentioned in the Lewis Carrol poem "Jabberwocky", as seen in his story Through the Looking-Glass and What Alice Found There.
Appearances[]
Alice in Wonderland[]
The Vorpal Sword was formerly wielded by one of the White Knights of the White Queen's court. On Horunvendush Day, the Jabberwocky attacked the town of Witzend and killed the knight, leaving the weapon vulnerable. It was stolen by the Knave of Hearts and locked away in the Bandersnatch's den at the Red Queen's castle in Crims.
When Alice visits the Red Queen's castle, the White Rabbit takes her to the Bandersnatch's den. To retrieve the sword, Alice obtains the Bandersnatch's eye from Mallymkun, who had earlier stabbed it and taken it as a trophy, and gives it back to the Bandersnatch, earning its trust and is able to retrieve the Vorpal Sword. She brings it to the White Queen's castle in Marmoreal, where it is reunited with its accompanying armor.
Eventually, Alice uses the Vorpal Sword to defeat the Jabberwocky and save Underland.
Once Upon a Time in Wonderland[]
In Once Upon a Time in Wonderland, the Vorpal Blade is a magical shortsword that is the only thing capable of defeating the Jabberwocky, an otherwise invincible being, and is the only thing she fears. With the strength of five-hundred men, the Vorpal Blade kept the Jabberwocky trapped in a special prison for a hundred years until the present day via impaling her through her stomach and affixing her to the ceiling. Jafar, wanting the Jabberwocky's assistance in obtaining a genie's bottle, removes the Vorpal Blade and frees her.
After freeing her, Jafar keeps the Vorpal Blade on his person at all times and uses it to threaten the Jabberwocky into obedience lest he imprison her again. Eventually, once Jafar breaks the laws of magic, he no longer fears anything and uses the Vorpal Blade to imprison the Jabberwocky once more in the dungeons of the Red Queen's castle, impaling her against a wall.
Trivia[]
- Of all the terms in the original "Jabberwocky" poem in Through the Looking-Glass, "vorpal" is the only word not defined by either Humpty Dumpty or Lewis Carroll himself.
- The Vorpal Sword is implied by various characters to be sentient. Absolem assures Alice that she simply has to hold it and let it do the work, and the Jabberwocky describes it as its ancient enemy.
- According to Tarrant Hightopp, the Vorpal Sword can only be used to defeat the Jabberwocky.[1]
- The Vorpal Sword's case is decorated with various illustrations depicting the events of, or leading to, Frabjous Day:[2][3]
- The corners depict the Jabberwocky.
- The Bandersnatch, either attacking a Red Knight or helping Alice Kingsleigh in its stables.
- A sword-wielding soldier (potentially Alice) on horseback.
- Tarrant Hightopp wielding two swords fighting a Red Knight.
- Two opposing soldiers (one potentially being Tarrant) on horseback.
- Nivins McTwisp wielding a sword battling a Red Knight.
- Tarrant wielding a sword and shield, battlingThe Jub Jub Bird.
References[]
- ↑ Tarrant Hightopp: "No no, it mustn't be used for anything but-!" (in reference to Alice Kingsleigh attempting to use it to cut his chains) (Alice in Wonderland)
- ↑ File:AiWVorpalSwordCaseProp1.jpeg
- ↑ File:AiWVorpalSwordCaseProp2.jpeg
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