Lewis Carroll :: essays research papers

&9Of all of Lewis Carrolls works, Alices Adventures in Wonderland has a unique stand up in the category of whimsical, nonsense literature. Much has been written about how this novel contrasts with the vast amount of strict, exceedingly moralistic childrens literature of the Victorian conviction Lewis Carroll lived in. Yet, as odd as this novel appears in relation to the other Victorian childrens stories, this short novel is odder because it was written by an extremely upright, extremist conservative man a Victorian gentleman. Even though the novel seems to contrast with the time of Lewis Carroll, many experiences of Lewis Carroll and his unique character have a ample influence in the creation of Alices Adventures in Wonderland.&9Lewis Carroll, the pseudonym of Charles Lutwidge Dodgson was born on January 27, 1832, in Daresbury England. He was the oldest boy in a family of 11 children of high-minded Charles Dodgson and his wife, Francis Jane Lutwidge. The childhood of Lewis Ca rroll was relatively pleasant, full of ideas and hobbies that contributed to his future creative works. Carrolls life at Daresbury was rather secluded, and his playmates were mostly his brothers and sisters (Green 18). Interacting with mostly his sisters, he was the "master of their ceremonies, armourer of games, magician, marionette theater manager, and editor of family journals" (DLB v. 163 45). A great deal of Carrolls childhood was spent taking care of his little sisters, and his imagination was constantly macrocosm exercised in order to entertain them (Green 18). A childhood trouble that Carroll possessed and persisted throughout his life was stammering severely. It is suggested that his stammer may have arisen from his parents attempts to coiffe his left-handedness. This attempt early in his life may have caused Carroll to think he was not normal, therefore hurting his self-confidence (Kelly 13-14). When Carroll spoke to adults, his speech became extremely difficult to understand. Apparently, he panicked his shyness and stammering always seemed worse when he was in a world of adults (Leach 2). Partly as a result of his stammering, he felt very comfortable around children and he was able to easily form close relationships among them. While speaking with younger children, Carrolls stammering had magically disappeared. He "simply became one of them-whether or not they accepted him-and most did" (Pudney 20). As a child, Carroll had a fondness of inventing games and language puzzles (14). &9Lewis Carroll "divided himself into two names, Lewis Carroll and Reverend Charles Lutwidge Dodgson" (DLB v.