Carroll, Lewis; Alice in Wonderland (1865)

Notes on Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll

2022-04-18 ○ last updated: 2022-05-02 ○ topics: notes, lewis carroll, alice in wonderland, fantasy

Quotes


First, however, she waited for a few minutes to see if she was going to shrink any further: she felt a little nervous about this; 'for it might end, you know,' said Alice to herself, 'in my going out altogether, like a candle. I wonder what I should be like then?' And she tried to fancy what the flame of a candle looks like after the candle is blown out, for she could not remember ever having seen such a thing.

Alice upon shrinking; chapter 1 (Down the Rabbit-Hole) page 12; importance: 3

Let me think: was I the same when I got up this morning? I almost think I can remember feeling a little different. But if I'm not the same, the next question is, 'Who in the world am I? Ah, that's the great puzzle!'

Alice's reflection on the current oddities; chapter 2 (The Pool of Tears) page 18; importance: 4

A bit jarring for a children's novel, wouldn't one think? Also, reminds me of The Trial by Franz Kafka in its absurdity.

'Fury said to a mouse, That he met in the house, "Let us both go to law: I will prosecute you. - Come, I'll take no denial: We must have the trial; For really this morning I've nothing to do." Said the mouse to the cur, "Such a trial, dear sir, With no jury or judge, would be wasting our breath." "I'll be the judge, I'll be the jury," Said the cunning old Fury, "I'll try the whole cause, and condemn you to death."

The Mouse's tale - or tail?; chapter 3 (A Causcus-Race and a Long Tale) page 34; importance: 2

This makes me think of tautologies - especially since Carroll was a mathematician. See the quote on page 129.

...the Hatter went on in a mournful tone, 'he won't do a thing I ask! It's always six o'clock now.' A bright idea came into Alice's head. 'Is' that the reason so many tea-things are put out here?' she asked. 'Yes, that's it,' said the Hatter with a sigh: 'it's always tea-time, and we've no time to wash the things between whiles. 'Then you keep moving round, I suppose?' said Alice. 'Exactly so,' said the Hatter: 'as the things get used up.' 'But what happens when you come to the beginning again?' Alice ventured to ask. 'Suppose we change the subject,' the March Hare interrupted, yawning.

Dialogue between the Mad Hatter and Alice on the nature of the tea party; chapter 7 (A Mad Tea-Party) page 93; importance: 3

'You're thinking about something, my dear, and that makes you forget to talk. I can't tell you just now what the moral of that is, but I shall remember it in a bit.' 'Perhaps it hasn't one,' Alice ventured to remark. 'Tut, tut, child!' said the Duchess, 'Everything's got a moral, if only you can find it.'

Dialogue between Alice and the Duchess; chapter 8 (The Mock Turtle's Story) page 117; importance: 2

'`Tis so,' said the Duchess: 'and the moral of that is - "Oh, `tis love, `tis love, that makes the world go round!"

Dialogue between Alice and the Duchess; chapter 8 (The Mock Turtle's Story) page 117; importance: 3

See the quote on page 93.

'And how many hours a day did you do lessons?' said Alice, in a hurry to change the subject. 'Ten hours the first day,' said the Mock Turtle: 'nine the next, and so on.' 'What a curious plan!' exclaimed Alice. 'That's the reason they're called lessons,' the Gryphon remarked: 'because they lessen from day to day.' This was quite a new idea to Alice, and she thought it over a little before she made her next remark. 'Then the eleventh day must have been a holiday?' 'Of course it was,' said the Mock Turtle. 'And how did you manage on the twelfth?' Alice went on eagerly. 'That's enough about lessons,' the Gryphon interrupted in a very decided tone.

Dialogue between Alice, the Mock Turtle, and the Gryphon.; chapter 8 (The Mock Turtle's Story) page 129; importance: 3