Full TitleAlice’s Adventures in Wonderland
AuthorLewis Carroll
Type of WorkNovella
GenreFairy tale; children’s fiction; satire; allegory
LanguageEnglish
Time and Place Written1862–1863, Oxford
Date of First Publication1865
PublisherMacmillan & Co.
NarratorThe narrator is anonymous and does not use many wordsto describe events in the story.
Point of ViewThe narrator speaks in third person, though occasionallyin first and second person. The narrative follows Alice around onher travels, voicing her thoughts and feelings.
ToneStraightforward; avuncular
TensePast
Setting (time)Victorian era, circa publication date
Setting (place)England, Wonderland
ProtagonistAlice
Major ConflictAlice attempts to come to terms with the puzzle ofWonderland as she undergoes great individual changes while entrenchedin Wonderland.
Rising ActionAlice follows the White Rabbit down a well and pursueshim through Wonderland.
ClimaxAlice gains control over her size and enters the garden,where she participates in the trial of the Knave of Hearts.
Falling ActionAlice realizes that Wonderland is a sham and knocksover the playing card court, causing her to wake up and dispel thedream of Wonderland.
ThemesThe tragic and inevitable loss of childhood innocence;Life as a meaningless puzzle; Death as a constant and underlyingmenace
MotifsDream; subversion; language; “curious,” “nonsense,”and “confusing”
SymbolsThe garden; the mushroom
ForeshadowingThe Mouse’s history about Fury and the Mouse foreshadowsthe trial at the end of the story.
