Alice's Adventures in Wonderland: Difference between revisions
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The protagonist of the novel (and its sequel ''Through the Looking Glass'') is Alice, a girl who falls down a rabbit hole and experiences a marvelous world. She gets involved in plenty of adventures and meets several fantastical creatures, the most famous of which is the grinning ‘Cheshire Cat’. | The protagonist of the novel (and its sequel ''Through the Looking Glass'') is Alice, a girl who falls down a rabbit hole and experiences a marvelous world. She gets involved in plenty of adventures and meets several fantastical creatures, the most famous of which is probably the grinning ‘Cheshire Cat’. | ||
The tale was published in 1865 with illustrations by Sir [[John Tenniel]]. The commercial success of the novel was stupendous. It was admired by children, adolescents and adults alike. Among its readers were also [[Victoria|Queen Victoria]] and [[Oscar Wilde]] (Wrede). | The tale was published in 1865 with illustrations by Sir [[John Tenniel]]. The commercial success of the novel was stupendous. It was admired by children, adolescents and adults alike. Among its readers were also [[Victoria|Queen Victoria]] and [[Oscar Wilde]] (Wrede). | ||
Contemporary references are included in the novel as well , for instance the ‘Queen of Hearts’ could actually be a parody of Queen Victoria, who was known for her stout stature and bad temper. The ‘Queen of Hearts’ is a ruthless ruler in the magical world whose solution to every problem is the beheading of people. She is an aggressive woman who tries to dominate and overpower everything around her. Subjects are frightened of her. | Contemporary references are included in the novel as well , for instance the ‘Queen of Hearts’ could actually be a parody of Queen Victoria, who was known for her stout stature and bad temper. The ‘Queen of Hearts’ is a ruthless ruler in the magical world whose solution to every problem is the beheading of people. She is an aggressive woman who tries to dominate and overpower everything and everyone around her. Subjects are frightened of her. | ||
''Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland'' is considered to be one of the best examples of literary nonsense. Today tourists can see small figures of Alice and other characters which Carroll had invented in the dining room of Christ Church, Oxford, where the author also worked as a mathematician. This is an act of homage to this man and his great novel. | ''Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland'' is considered to be one of the best examples of literary nonsense. Today tourists can see small figures of Alice and other characters which Carroll had invented in the dining room of Christ Church, Oxford, where the author also worked as a mathematician. This is an act of homage to this man and his great novel. | ||
Revision as of 11:52, 13 June 2012
Novel by Charles Lutwidge Dodgson (better known under his pseudonym Lewis Carroll) first published in 1865.
The protagonist of the novel (and its sequel Through the Looking Glass) is Alice, a girl who falls down a rabbit hole and experiences a marvelous world. She gets involved in plenty of adventures and meets several fantastical creatures, the most famous of which is probably the grinning ‘Cheshire Cat’.
The tale was published in 1865 with illustrations by Sir John Tenniel. The commercial success of the novel was stupendous. It was admired by children, adolescents and adults alike. Among its readers were also Queen Victoria and Oscar Wilde (Wrede).
Contemporary references are included in the novel as well , for instance the ‘Queen of Hearts’ could actually be a parody of Queen Victoria, who was known for her stout stature and bad temper. The ‘Queen of Hearts’ is a ruthless ruler in the magical world whose solution to every problem is the beheading of people. She is an aggressive woman who tries to dominate and overpower everything and everyone around her. Subjects are frightened of her.
Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland is considered to be one of the best examples of literary nonsense. Today tourists can see small figures of Alice and other characters which Carroll had invented in the dining room of Christ Church, Oxford, where the author also worked as a mathematician. This is an act of homage to this man and his great novel.
Sources:
Carroll, Lewis (1986) Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. Ditzingen: Reclam.
Schwab, Gabriele (1996) "Chapter 2: Nonsense and Metacommunication: Alice in Wonderland" The mirror and the killer-queen: otherness in literary language. Bloomington, Indiana: Indiana University Press, 49-102.
Wrede, Jan (2010) "Wie gelangte Alice ins Wunderland?" <http://www.wasistwas.de/geschichte/alle-artikel/artikel/link//4e4bc02ace/article/wie-gelangte-alice-ins-wunderland/-7c05c71e06.html>