Key Facts about Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
Full Title: Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland (but often known by the shortened Alice in Wonderland)
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When Written: 1862-63
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Where Written: Oxford, England
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When Published: 26th November 1865
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Literary Period: Victorian England, soon to become the “Golden Age” of Children’s Literature
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Genre: Children’s story, Fantasy, Literary Nonsense, Adventure
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Setting: Wonderland, a dream world that Alice finds when she falls down a rabbit hole
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Point of View: A third-person narrator follows Alice through Wonderland, but also occasionally dips into the first person, when describing her thoughts, and also follows her sister’s thoughts in the final chapter
Historical Context of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
After a boat ride in Oxford with his young friend Alice Liddell, the daughter of Henry Liddell, whom he taught and inspired with his storytelling, Carroll was inspired to write Alice in Wonderland. The large hall at the beginning of Wonderland, as well as the Queen's beautiful garden, are thought to have been inspired by Christ Church, Oxford. Alice in Wonderland is also claimed to be a response to new mathematical theories at Oxford with which Carroll disagreed.
Quotes
“But if I'm not the same, the next question is, Who in the world am I? Ah, THAT'S the great puzzle!”
Alice , Chapter 2
“If everybody minded their own business,' the Duchess said in a hoarse growl, 'the world would go round a deal faster than it does.”
The Duchess , Chapter 6
“If you knew time as well as I do,' said the Hatter, 'you wouldn't talk about wasting it.”
The Mad Hatter , Chapter 7