Jabberwocky By Charles Lutwidge Dodgson

A Wonderland for All Ages From attempting to teach ants civilized warfare to creating a land characterized by talking cards, pastries with curious capabilities, and a cat with a prominently mischievous smile, Charles Dodgson was dripping with creativity. His methodical stories captivate children with nonsensical words and astonishing imagery while others use them as a window into Dodgson's thoughts concerning the lack of creativity and love surrounding him. In his Victorian novel Alice in Wonderland and poem "Jabberwocky," Charles Lutwidge Dodgson uses similar themes of conquering the conformity of society to create works classified as children's literature that can successfully entertain both the young and the old. Charles Lutwidge Dodgson,
Despite the lack of encouragement from his classmates, Dodgson did well in his studies and advanced to Christ Church College where he received a degree in mathematics, and his ordination into the life of a deacon followed soon after along with his pledge to never marry, but he never became a priest ("Charles L(utwidge)"; "Alice's Adventures," Novels 18). Although he preferred teaching mathematics and struggled with public speaking due to his ever-present stutter, Dodgson gave a few sermons and even wrote a few lines of his poem Jabberwocky to mock Anglo-Saxon poetry which often included references to pagan gods ("Charles L(utwidge)"). He always enjoyed writing to bring pleasure to others, and he never expected any of his stories to be published, but after a few started appearing in magazines, he created his pen name Lewis Carroll ("Lewis
In Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, Dodgson parodies many common Victorian poems to clearly show his disapproval of the beliefs common in the era as many of these short works reflected the emphasis on manners and good breeding forced upon children. In the beginning of the story, Alice is a perfect example of a "well-trained" Victorian child. She is often in fear of being offensive and is completely apologetic; she even scolds others for not behaving the way she has learned is acceptable. Her actions, though seemingly extreme in various situations, were not close to uncommon in the Victorian era. Dodgson, seeing the excessive importance placed on manners in children, uses hyperbole to parody the obsession. The flaws of Victorian culture and literature are also reflected in "Jabberwocky." However, in this poem, Dodgson models the language after traditional Anglo-Saxon poetry to emphasize the restrictions placed on the usual style of writing in the era. The poem begins with what Dodgson originally called "Stanza of Anglo-Saxon Poetry," but it is infused with words unheard of, alliteration, and assonance to shatter all expectations placed on Victorian literature,