1. Charles Dodgson
aka “Lewis Carroll”

2. Lewis Carroll Born Charles Dodgson Jan, 27th 1832
Author of Alice in Wonderland
Died 1898

3. Early Years Born in Daresbury, Chesire, England Third of 11 siblings
At 20, was given a scholarship to teach at Christ Church
Additionally, he was a famous photographer

4. Background Information
Stood at 6’ and walked with a limp
Hurt his knee as a child
Deaf in one ear from a fever
At 17, contracted “Whooping Cough”
Had “The Hesitation”

5. How did Alice in Wonderland begin?
Carroll suffered from a terrible stutter
Was only able to talk to children
On a boating trip with the Dean of CC, Carroll met Alice Liddell
Entertained her with stories
These stories were then collected into Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
Officially published in 1865
Sequel published in 1871 Through the Looking-Glass and What Alice Found There

6. Most Popular Book by 1932

7. Genre: Literary Nonsense
Balance of elements that make sense with elements that do not in the attempt to fool logical reasoning
Humor comes from nonsense
Nonsense comes from excessive meaning
Combination of Oral Tradition, Folk Stories and Logical Absurdities

8. Genre: Literary Nonsense (cont.)
Distinction
Gibberish but not excessive
Light Verse has a joke and meaning
Riddles
2. Audience
Began with Children Literature
Expanded to Adult Literature
Today, crosses over into Fantasy Genre

9. Last Years Continued teaching at Oxford till 1881
Died January 14th 1898
Pneumonia followed by Influenza
Video Clip
Video Clip 2