Questions About Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland / Through the Looking-Glass

by Lewis Carroll

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Answered Questions (12)

How do you read this book?

Anna Meffert out loud in a british accent

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Is this written in really tricky old-English, like Shakespeare?

Debra Petersen (Queen of Historical Fiction) No, it's not. It's fairly Modern English. In fact, Shakespeare is Modern English because you can read it and still understand most if not all the mean…moreNo, it's not. It's fairly Modern English. In fact, Shakespeare is Modern English because you can read it and still understand most if not all the meaning. Middle English would be considered not modern because you have to study it to really comprehend it (before the great vowel movement and modern spelling), but Alice in Wonderland is more Modern English. Shakespeare (Elizabethan time period) and Alice in Wonderland (Victorian Children’s Literature) were written a few hundred years a part and therefore aren’t really comparable as far as modern dialect is concerned.(less)

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Do you like it?

Jill Well, I thought that the book itself was well written, but the plot line was fairly confusing if your heart was not full into the story. I also though…moreWell, I thought that the book itself was well written, but the plot line was fairly confusing if your heart was not full into the story. I also thought that Mr Carroll could have added more character development, for we do not know what Alice looks like, or where she lives. (Obviously England, but where?) Overall, I'd say this book is a good read, if you have the patience for it.(less)

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Can anyone tell me where they see the following quote: "She who saves a single soul, save the universe." ? It's listed as a popular quote from the books, often associated with the Cheshire Cat, and yet I have never read those words in the books...

Cam Goodreads community, I finally have an answer to this question. It has been bothering me for months and I am now posting it because it is a fairly int…moreGoodreads community, I finally have an answer to this question. It has been bothering me for months and I am now posting it because it is a fairly interesting answer. The credit goes to the Lewis Carroll Society of North America (LCSNA). I emailed them last week out of desperation as I was unable to find the answer anywhere else. If anyone else is an Alice fan, I seriously recommend that you check out their website (www.lewiscarroll.org) and consider joining. They were incredibly nice and helpful. Sandra Parker, the Secretary of the society emailed me back with this answer:

"This quote is most definitely not from either of the Alice books. I did a quick Google search, and layers down in the search results,found an attribution of this quote to American McGee's 2nd Alice game, Alice: the Madness Returns (http://www.ea.com/alice). I contacted American McGee to ask him if this quote is from his game, and he responded, "I believe this is a line spoken by the Cheshire Cat in Alice: Madness Returns." "

I first heard of the quote "She who saves a single soul, saves the universe" from a friend who knew I appreciated all things Alice. I was sure I had never read this sentence before, and another reading only convinced me that these words did not come from Lewis Carroll. However, quite a few sources online (including the same quote listed on Goodreads!!!) attributed this quote to the Cheshire Cat from Alice in Wonderland. As is now made clear, these words ARE NOT from the Alice books! It is instead, from a game inspired by the Alice books. (less)

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I why can't I read the hole book it only is a sample?

Maryam You meant "whole." Anyways, like the person said before me you cannot read books on this website you can only preview a sample on Goodreads.com.…moreYou meant "whole." Anyways, like the person said before me you cannot read books on this website you can only preview a sample on Goodreads.com.(less)

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