Story Of Alice's Adventures In Wonderland example essay topic

Lewis Carroll: 1832-1898 This imaginative and humorous writer, Charles Dodgeson, was born in Daresbury, Cheshire, England in 1832. He was the eldest son of a large family, so besides having a neglected childhood, Dodgeson was often left with the responsibility of entertaining his younger sisters. That job greatly contributed to Dodgeson's love and sympathy for children; especially little girls. His education began with his father teaching him the basics at home and at Richmond Grammar School.

Later on in 1951, Dodgeson attended Christ Church College of Oxford University. The honors he received there earned him a lifetime fellowship and residency at Christ Church, if he were willing to become a clergyman of the Church of England, and vow never to marry. He accepted this offer and decided to live and work at Oxford University. During his adult life, Dodgeson had some personal issues. He was diagnosed with insomnia and neurosis; both which greatly affected him mentally.

Along with these, and a name change, Dodgeson also had a dual personality in which changed him to being less conservative and religious to more liberal and thinking things out logically. By 1857, Dodgeson had started publishing mathematical theses and essays on logic. Both of these being dry and dull subjects, he brought them to life with his "quirky sense of humor, whimsy, and fun". (Stanley, Deborah. Novels for Students.

Pages 18-19) After being published, Dodgeson came up with his more recognizable name, Lewis Carroll; his 'pen name'. Besides writing and publishing his works, he became passionate about taking photographs. It was a new invention that intrigued him. So, he combined his interests, and made a hobby out of taking pictures of little girls; the daughters of his boss, the reverend. He became friends with the three girls, Lorin a, Edith, and Alice, and enjoyed entertaining them. It was actually on a boat trip that Carroll took the girls on when he was first came up with the story of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.

Originally meant for private entertainment purposes, the imaginative story was published as a book in 1865, thirty three years before he died. This is the masterpiece that made his reputation as a writer of nonsense and children's fiction. Alice's Adventures in Wonderland is one of Carroll's most famous works. Although intended for children, with the fantasy-like characters, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland is a tale people of all ages have enjoyed. Carroll's interests and aspects of his life are clearly revealed in this book containing lines of prose with an unrealistic, yet, whimsical and humorous twist. Many references to the Victorian Era, the time period Carroll lived in, are also shown throughout the story.

Carroll's interest in young girls is mirrored through the identity of the protagonist in this book. She is a seven year old girl, Alice, who asked a lot of 'why' questions, and thought everything out logically. This character closely resembled Carroll's favorite real-life child, Alice. She too was "adept at asking challenging and disconcerting questions, and enjoyed teasing and logical argument". (Moss, Joyce and George Wilson. Literature and its Times.

Page 29) Carroll was known to have an obsessively negative association with eating which could have been because of his neurosis. This feature of his mind is reflected in the story. For example, the consequence of Alice eating and drinking is a change in her size. The Knave of Hearts is put on trial for allegedly stealing the Queen's tarts, with a penalty of beheading. Also, the consequence of the Duchess cooking with too much pepper is everyone continually sneezing. His double personality is also shown through some characters in Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.

For example, the animals have opposing identities. Alice's cat Dinah is greedy, while the Wonderland animals are "victim ous". When Alice falls down the rabbit hole, top and bottom become one, demonstrating an undecided and split up event. At one point, Alice plans to assume other's identities when she says: "I shall only look up and say, "Who am I, then? Tell me that first, and then, if I like being that person, I'll come up: if not, I'll stay down here till I'm somebody else" (Carroll, Lewis. Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.

Chapter 2.) Alice also assumes the positions of juror, jury, and witness at the trail; all containing extremely different personalities and opinions. During a croquet game, Alice undertakes the roles of a punisher and the punished. First, she accuses the Queen of cheating, and then Alice cheats herself. This directly relates with Carroll's problem with having a split personality.

Carroll's sleeping difficulties, related with his insomnia, are reflected in his literature. There is an emphasis on sleep in Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. At the mad tea party, the dormouse can't stay awake, and throughout the whole story, Alice is actually dreaming. Carroll lived during the Victorian era, which influenced his writing. In the Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, the Queen of Hearts overcomes the King both in size and power. Also, the Duchess overpowers her husband and is in control of the household.

This was also an era with a characteristic of punctuality. This is reflected in the White Rabbit's extremely paranoid reaction to his lateness, in which he repeatedly says "Oh dear! Oh dear! I shall be late!" (Carroll, Lewis. Chapter 1) The Victorian time period was also characteristic of a rigid class structure. This is displayed in his writing when Alice regularly insults the Wonderland creatures, especially the smaller ones.

Carroll had a somewhat neglected childhood, which also greatly influenced his writing. His negative experience with babies is reflected in Alice's Adventure's in Wonderland when the Duchess's baby is a nuisance because it cries so much, and then it turns into a pig and is left in the woods. Lewis Carroll was a very eccentric man, both in his life and his writing. It is apparent that his chief interests were logic and little girls, both frequently referenced to in his writing.

He is the author of one of the most popular novels, to both children and adults. Many of the unique occurrences in his literature can be attributed to similar experiences he encountered in his life..