Alice In Wonderland

Alice in Wonderland is a children's book written by english author Lewis Carroll. The book presented in this entry is illustrated by Rene Cloke. It is the story of a little girl named Alice who, out of boredom, decides to follow a rabbit down a hole. She then enters a fantasy world, full of talking animals and objects with magical attributes. Throughout her odyssey in Wonderland, the peculiar characters that Alice meets tell her stories or give her valuable advice. After Alice has gone through numerous encounters and adventures, towards the end of the book she is summoned to a trial, in order to confess against the Knave of Hearts, one of the characters in the book. Alice refuses and proceeds to leave, so the rest of the cards rise up to attack her. At this critical moment, Alice wakes up and it appears that all her adventures were only a dream.

 

 



 

 

 

Alice in Wonderland is a fantasy picture book. It narrates events that could not take place in real life, and includes imaginary characters such as talking animals and insects. The setting, Wonderland, is also fictitious.It  is a book filled with unusual imagery, which would definitely make the imagination of any young reader run wild. But even though Wonderland seems like an outrageous place, within the context of the specific story, it becomes entirely believable. Alice's character is equally interesting and we witness how she grows through her encounters and experiences. The book also has an educative, instructive value, as it indirectly tries to pass on knowledge, for instance, through Alice's meditations on her changing dimensions.

Rene Cloke's illustrations are very vibrant and colourful and have a surrealistic feel which is in complete accordance with the bizarre storyline.

 

                                                           

 

 

After having them read this book I would have a discussion with my students concerning the elements of fantasy literature. Then I would ask them if they have vivid dreams or daydreams like Alice and ask them to describe one of these. Another activity would be to ask the students to draw a picture of their favorite character in the story.

 

I would ask my students the following questions:

• Would you have followed the rabbit down the hole? Why or why not?
• Which character in the book appealed to you the most and why?
• In what ways did Alice change through her trip in Wonderland?

 

 Alice in Wonderland is a wonderful, imaginative book which can

also provide food for thought through its metaphorical images, its complex dialogues and sophisticated wordplay.

 

 



 

 

 

 

Lewis Carroll (1832-1898), whose real name was Charles Lutwidge Dodgson was an English writer, mathematician, logician, Anglican deacon and photographer. He was noted for his talent for wordplay as well as for his logic and fantasy.

 

Other works include:

Through the Looking-Glass, and What Alice Found There (1871)

The Hunting of the Snark (An Agony in 8 Fits) (1874-1876)

 

 

 

 Rene Cloke (1905-1995) was born in Plymouth, UK on October 4, 1905. A good deal of her career consisted in  illustrating postcards and greeting cards. Her very playful Alice is drawn in classic '40s children's book style.("Curiouser and Curiouser. The Evolution of Wonderland").

 

 

References:

 

Rene Cloke. Curiouser and Curiouser. The Evolution of Wonderland. Retrieved from http://www.carleton.edu /departme nts/ENGL/Alice/Artistcloke.html

Carroll, Lewis(2004). Alice in Wonderland. Gramercy.(First published in 1865).

 

 

Galda, C. &. (2011). Literature and the Child Seventh Edition . Belmont: Wadsworth Publishing