“The rule is, jam to-morrow and jam yesterday—but never jam to-day.”
Chapter 1: Looking-Glass House
Alice, sitting in her drawing room, wonders what the world is like on the other side of the mirror. She steps through the looking-glass and finds herself in a strange, reversed room where chess pieces come to life. She explores the garden outside, where flowers speak in riddles.
Chapter 2: The Garden of Live Flowers
Alice meets talking flowers, including a quarrelsome Tiger-lily and a haughty Rose. They mistake her for a flower and debate her nature. The Red Queen then appears, and Alice begins a surreal journey across a giant chessboard.
Chapter 3: Looking-Glass Insects
Alice encounters bizarre creatures, including the Bread-and-Butterfly and the Rocking-Horse-Fly. She meets Tweedledum and Tweedledee, who recite “The Walrus and the Carpenter” and warn her about the Red King’s dream.
Chapter 4: Tweedledum and Tweedledee
The twins engage Alice in philosophical discussions about reality and dreams. They prepare for a battle over a broken rattle but are scared off by a monstrous crow.
Chapter 5: Wool and Water
Alice meets the White Queen, who lives backward in time and struggles with impossible events like screaming before being pricked. They cross a brook, and Alice finds herself in a shop with a talking sheep.
Chapter 6: Humpty Dumpty
Alice converses with Humpty Dumpty, who boasts about his mastery of words and recites the poem “Jabberwocky.” He falls off the wall, and the King’s men fail to put him back together.
Chapter 7: The Lion and the Unicorn
Alice encounters the Lion and the Unicorn fighting for the crown. They pause for refreshments, and the White King explains the rules of their battle. Alice helps serve the cake, which magically replenishes itself.
Chapter 8: “It’s My Own Invention”
Alice meets the White Knight, who invents absurd gadgets and sings a melancholy song. He escorts her to the final brook, where she crosses and becomes a queen.
Chapter 9: Queen Alice
Alice attends a chaotic banquet with the Red and White Queens, who quiz her with nonsensical logic. The feast descends into madness as food comes to life, and Alice wakes up back in her own world.
Chapter 10: Shaking
Alice suddenly wakes up, realizing her adventure was a dream. She reflects on the strange logic of the looking-glass world and wonders who truly dreamed it—her or the Red King.
Chapter 11: Waking
Alice playfully asks her kitten if it was responsible for the dream. The story ends with her musing on the blurred line between dreams and reality.
Key Ideas
- Exploration of logic and absurdity through wordplay and paradoxes.
- Dreamlike narrative structure that challenges perceptions of reality.
- Satirical commentary on Victorian society and social norms.
- Symbolism of chess as a metaphor for life’s predetermined moves.
- The fluidity of identity and self-perception in a nonsensical world.
Notable Adaptations
| Year | Name | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1933 | Alice in Wonderland (Film) | Combines elements from both Carroll books. |
| 1951 | Alice in Wonderland (Disney) | Animated adaptation blending both stories. |
| 2016 | Alice Through the Looking Glass (Film) | Live-action sequel to Tim Burton’s 2010 film. |
Who should read this book?
- Fans of whimsical, imaginative storytelling.
- Readers who enjoy wordplay and philosophical riddles.
- Those interested in Victorian literature with a surreal twist.
- Chess enthusiasts who appreciate metaphorical narratives.