"Life, what is it but a dream?"
~ Lewis Carroll.
Charles Lutwidge Dodgson (27 January 1832 - 14 January 1898), better known by his pen name Lewis Carroll, was an English author, poet, mathematician, logician, Anglican clergyman and photographer.
His most notable works are Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (1865) and its sequel Through the Looking-Glass (1871).
He was noted for his facility with word play, logic, and fantasy. His poems Jabberwocky (1871) and The Hunting of the Snark (1876) are classified in the genre of literary nonsense.
Of all Lewis Carroll's major works, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland has a unique standing in the category of whimsical, nonsense literature. The story of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland was in no sense intended to be didactic; its only purpose was to entertain. The story functions as comedy, with dialogue used largely for Carroll to play on words, mixing fantasy with burlesque actions. As it was the work of a mathematician and logician who wrote as both a humorist and as a limerist.
Alice Liddell, the daughter of Christ Church's dean Henry Liddell, is widely identified as the original inspiration for Alice in Wonderland, though Carroll always denied this.
An avid puzzler, Carroll created the word ladder puzzle (which he then called "Doublets"), which he published in his weekly column for Vanity Fair magazine between 1879 and 1881.
In 1982 a memorial stone to Carroll was unveiled at Poets' Corner in Westminster Abbey. There are societies in many parts of the world dedicated to the enjoyment and promotion of his works.
A colorful writer of imaginative genius and yet a shy and pedantic man, Lewis Carroll stands pre-eminent in the pantheon of inventive literary geniuses.
Discussion Questions :
Which characters from Lewis Carroll's most celebrated work, Alice in the wonderland are your favourites?
What other works belonging to the genre of literary nonsense have you read?
Always open to additional comments and discussions on Lewis Carroll and his works.
If there is another author you would like to see a discussion on, please post your suggestion in the comments below for a chance to be featured in a future chapter!
Resources:
Wikipedia: Lewis Carroll