Alice in Wonderland

A detailed Summary of Alice in Wonderland

Alice in Wonderland - Critical Review

Philosophy - a subject that had driven people insane for as long as humans know their history. All the time people try to find a meaning, and later controvert it. For example, critics view a novel by Lewis Carroll Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, as a quest for maturity story, Carroll's view on Victorian Society and even existential meaning on life. All of those interpretations come from philosophical "drive" of the critics. The truth is that anyone can point a finger at the book and come up with their own "deep" meaning of the story, but if one looks at facts, well known, and obvious things - it is clear that the story is simply a children tale intended for entertainment and nothing more.

Of course there is no sure way to prove that Carroll did not intend any deeper meaning into the story, after all, he was a mathematician and a man of great knowledge of children (19th Century Literature Criticism 105), but lets take a look at the most obvious fact - the time, place and audience of the original story of Alice in Wonderland. Here are the words of Lewis Carroll as he recalls that day:

Full many a year has slipped away, since that "golden afternoon" that gave thee birth, but I can call i

Critics may argue saying that although it was written for a child, Carroll still had deeper meaning intended when he told it. Now the question that comes to mind is 'Why?'. Why would Carroll, make up a deep-meaning story over which people are still breaking their minds, while he himself was enjoying a lovely boat ride? The answer is: he would not! And he did not! This answer lies in the first pages of the book...

Critics fall into several categories: bibliographical, psychoanalytical, logical-linguistic, esthetic, Jungian, mythic, existential, sociological, philosophical, theological and literary comparatist. At this juncture in Carroll's criticism and scholarship, one would do well to be eclectic and to reread the story in the light of the various schools of criticism in so far as they clarify or enrich the story - while recognizing that there is no single meaning to the adventure (79).

With this poem by the author, the book is started. It clearly tells in Carroll's own words how, for whom and why was this story told. In the sixth stanza "Thus grew the tale..." it is told that the story was made up as the trip with the girls went on, and it ended when their trip ended - just like that. No one can argue with the author. If he himself says that the story is for a child - its for a child!

Lay it where Childhood's dreams are twined

t up almost as clearly as if it were yesterday - the cloudless blue above, the watery mirror below, the boat drifting idly on its way, the tinkle of the drops that fell from the oars, as they waved so sleepily to and fro, and (the one bright gleam of life in all the slumberous scene) the three eager faces, hungry for news of fairyland, and who would not

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Approximate Word count = 1147
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English