Lewis Carroll – Page 2 – Interesting Literature

A Summary and Analysis of Lewis Carroll’s Through the Looking-Glass

By Dr Oliver Tearle (Loughborough University)

Through the Looking-Glass, the sequel to Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, was first published in 1871; according to Alice Liddell, the young girl who inspired Lewis Carroll to write the Alice books, Through the Looking-Glass had its origins in the tales about the game of chess that Carroll (real name Charles Lutwidge Dodgson) used to tell Alice and her sisters when they were learning to play the game. Below, we offer a brief plot summary of the novel, followed by some analysis of its meaning – or rather, possible meanings.

The Best Lewis Carroll Poems

By Dr Oliver Tearle (Loughborough University)

Lewis Carroll (1832-98) is probably best-remembered for his two novels for children, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass. The latter of these two books contained the classic nonsense poem, ‘Jabberwocky’, and Carroll’s poetry can easily match that of his fellow Victorian nonsense-maker, Edward Lear for sheer fun and zaniness.

Below we’ve picked what we think are Lewis Carroll’s five best poems, complete with some information about them.

A Short Analysis of Lewis Carroll’s ‘The Walrus and the Carpenter’

By Dr Oliver Tearle (Loughborough University)

‘The Walrus and the Carpenter’ is a poem recited by the fat twins, Tweedledum and Tweedledee, to Alice in Lewis Carroll’s Through the Looking-Glass (1871). The precise meaning of the poem remains elusive, but it remains a popular poem and a classic example of Victorian nonsense verse. It may be foolhardy to attempt an analysis or critical commentary where nonsense literature is concerned, but it’s worth delving a little deeper into this unusual poem.

A Short Analysis of ‘Jabberwocky’ by Lewis Carroll

By Dr Oliver Tearle

‘Jabberwocky’ is perhaps the most famous nonsense poem in all of English literature. Although the poem was first published in Lewis Carroll‘s novel Through the Looking Glass in 1871, the first stanza was actually written and printed by Carroll in 1855 in the little periodical Mischmasch, which Carroll (real name Charles Dodgson) compiled to entertain his family. Below is ‘Jabberwocky’ (sometimes erroneously called ‘The Jabberwocky’), followed by a brief analysis of its meaning. ‘Nonsense’ literature it may be, but let’s see if we can make some sense of the glorious nonsense.

November 26 in Literary History: Lewis Carroll Sends Alice Liddell His Book

The most significant events in the history of books on the 26th of November

1607: King Lear is entered on the Stationers’ Register. The ‘booke called Mr. William Shakespeare his historye of King Lear’ was entered on the Stationers’ Register by Nathaniel Butter and John Busby.

1607: Also on this day, 26 November 1607, John Harvard is born. Harvard University is named after him. Harvard spent only one year of his life in America, and died of tuberculosis aged just 30.