Research
The Story Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, or more commonly known as Alice in Wonderland was first an oral story told by a lecturer at Christ Church named Charles Lutwidge Dodgson under the pseudonym Lewis Carroll. Dodgson worked under the Dean Dr. Henry Liddell. Dr. Liddell had three daughters who Dodgson spent a lot of time with. Mr. Duckworth, Reverend at Fellow of Trinity College was a good friend of Mr. Dodgson’s. On July 4th, 1862 Dodgson, Duckworth, and Liddell’s three daughters, Alice, Lorina, and Edith took a boat trip out on the river. It was on this trip that Alice asked Dodgson to tell a story (Richardson 110). From this day on the story of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland began to unfold (Richardson111). The story of Alice in Wonderland is a strange one to say the least. Whether it is children, or adults who read this book, many believe that the strange characters and the random events are all just part of Dodgson’s imagination. However, many of the characters and events are from Dodgson’s real life. This will be talked about more in the analysis section of the website.
The word didactic means to teach, or instruct (Russell 48). Many stories in the 19th Century were written to teach kids morals or how to act. Alice in Wonderland is different though. It was not told so that Alice Liddell and her sister’s would learn something out of it. The story was merely told to entertain. The story of Alice in Wonderland was not written to be full of didactics, morals, or help a child develop. In fact it is just a bizarre story that a reverend/math lecturer told to his 3 favorite young girls.
While this story was not intended to teach kids didactics that does not mean it has no effect on the development of children. Reading aloud to kids is considered to be one of the most fulfilling human experiences (Russell 55). This leads right into the act of storytelling. Many adults grew up with the story of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and have since come to know the story by memory. This story is great to tell kids because it was only meant to be a story. Dodgson had no intention of writing down the story and publishing it. He only was going to tell the story to the Liddell children but then Alice wanted him to write it down for her. Because this was first told as an oral story, it is an easy transition from reading this story aloud to children, to captivating their imaginations by reciting the story from memory.
The word didactic means to teach, or instruct (Russell 48). Many stories in the 19th Century were written to teach kids morals or how to act. Alice in Wonderland is different though. It was not told so that Alice Liddell and her sister’s would learn something out of it. The story was merely told to entertain. The story of Alice in Wonderland was not written to be full of didactics, morals, or help a child develop. In fact it is just a bizarre story that a reverend/math lecturer told to his 3 favorite young girls.
While this story was not intended to teach kids didactics that does not mean it has no effect on the development of children. Reading aloud to kids is considered to be one of the most fulfilling human experiences (Russell 55). This leads right into the act of storytelling. Many adults grew up with the story of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and have since come to know the story by memory. This story is great to tell kids because it was only meant to be a story. Dodgson had no intention of writing down the story and publishing it. He only was going to tell the story to the Liddell children but then Alice wanted him to write it down for her. Because this was first told as an oral story, it is an easy transition from reading this story aloud to children, to captivating their imaginations by reciting the story from memory.