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228 pages, Hardcover
First published November 1, 1865
“Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe;
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.”
“To ‘gyre’ is to go round and round like a gyroscope. To ‘gimble’ is to make holes like a gimblet.”
“And ‘the wabe’ is the grass-plot round a sun-dial, I suppose?” said Alice, surprised at her own ingenuity.
“Of course it is. It’s called ‘wabe,’ you know, because it goes a long way before it, and a long way behind it—”
“And a long way beyond it on each side,” Alice added.”
“Exactly so. Well then, ‘mimsy’ is ‘flimsy and miserable’ (there’s another portmanteau for you). And a ‘borogove’ is a thin shabby-looking bird with its feathers sticking out all round—something like a live mop.”
“What sort of insects do you rejoice in, where you come from?” the Gnat inquired.
“I beg your pardon?” Alice said with a puzzled air.
“I’m not offended,” said Humpty Dumpty.
“I mean, what is an un-birthday present?”
“A present given when it isn’t your birthday of course.”
Alice considered a little. “I like birthday presents best,” she said at last.
“You don’t know what you’re talking about!” cried Humpty Dumpty. “How many days are there in a year?”
“Three hundred and sixty-five,” said Alice.
“And how many birthdays have you?”
“One.”
“And if you take one from three hundred and sixty-five, what remains?”
“Three hundred and sixty-four, of course.”
Humpty Dumpty looked doubtful. “I’d rather see that done on paper,” he said.”
“In a Wonderland they lie,
Dreaming as the days go by,
Dreaming as the summers die.
Ever drifting down the stream—
Lingering in the golden gleam—
Life, what is it but a dream?”
Life, what is it but a dream?
What does it matter where my body happens to be? My mind goes on working all the same.Furthermore, I liked the allegory of mirrors and everything being in reverse: The writings in the books can only be read by holding them up to a mirror. Walking in the opposite direction will lead you to your desired destination. It takes all the running you can do, to stay in the same place. One's memory doesn't work backwards but forwards, meaning that the Red Queen can "remember" what will happen in the future, as opposed to what happened in the past. When people are "whispering", they're actually shouting from the top of their lungs. You manage Looking-Glass cakes by handing them round first, and cutting them afterwards.
The Gnat: What’s the use of their having names if they won’t answer to them?Carroll concerns himself with a lot of fundamental questions that provide great food for thought. I especially enjoyed this passage about the nature of names and naming people and objects. I found it very interesting that Alice and Fawn got along splendidly as long as they didn't remember their names (=who they are). As soon as they started to remember, their fears and prejudices came back and the fawn fled.
Alice: No use to them but it’s useful to the people that name them, I suppose. If not, why do things have names at all?