’Twas Brillig: Two Children and Alice Cover Image

’Twas Brillig: Two Children and Alice
’Twas Brillig: Two Children and Alice

Author(s): Virginia Lowe
Subject(s): Philosophy, Other Language Literature
Published by: Hrvatska udruga istraživača dječje književnosti
Keywords: children and philosophy; Alice books; Lewis Carroll; John Tenniel; children’s humour; children’s fear;

Summary/Abstract: This paper is a case study of two children’s responses to Lewis Carroll’s and John Tenniel’s Alice books. Their encounters with the stories were recorded for a period of eleven years. The thoughts and concerns inspired by the books demonstrate the children’s interpretive abilities as they sometimes raise serious philosophical issues. Based on the collected data it is argued that the children’s understanding and philosophical ability can be revealed in their response to literature. The findings support the notion that children’s capacity for abstract thinking should not be underestimated.

  • Issue Year: 4/2015
  • Issue No: 02
  • Page Range: 415-430
  • Page Count: 16
  • Language: English