Alice in Wonderland STUDY GUIDE Designed and developed by: Lexi Barnett : Meet the Author Lewis Carrol
Lewis Carroll was the pseudonym of Reverend Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, a lecturer in mathematics at Christ Church, Oxford, who lived from 1832 to 1898. Carroll’s physical deformities, partial deafness, and irrepressible stammer made him an unlikely candidate for producing one of the most popular and enduring children’s fantasies in the English language. Carroll’s unusual appearance caused him to behave awkwardly around other adults, and his students at Oxford saw him as a stuffy and boring teacher.
Underneath Carroll’s awkward exterior, however, lay a brilliant and imaginative artist. Carroll’s keen grasp of mathematics and logic inspired the linguistic humor and witty wordplay in his stories. Additionally, his unique understanding of children’s minds allowed him to compose imaginative fiction that appealed to young people. In 1856, Carroll and met the Liddell family. During their frequent afternoon boat trips on the river, Carroll told the Liddells fanciful tales. Alice quickly became Carroll’s favorite of the three girls, and he made her the subject of the stories that would later became Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass. Almost ten years after first meeting the Liddells, Carroll compiled the stories and .1 submitted the completed manuscript for publication. pg If you lived all by yourself,Translating what would your housethe lookJabberwocky! like? Draw your ideal house below:
There are many poems recited in Alice in Wonderland- one of the most bizarre is the Jabberwocky! What do you think it means? Write your translation of the words to the right of the poem ’Twas brillig, and the slithy toves Did gyre and gimble in the wabe: All mimsy were the borogoves, And the mome raths outgrabe. “Beware the Jabberwock, my son! The jaws that bite, the claws that catch! Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun The frumious Bandersnatch!” He took his vorpal sword in hand; Long time the manxome foe he sought— So rested he by the Tumtum tree And stood awhile in thought. And, as in uffish thought he stood, The Jabberwock, with eyes of flame, Came whiffling through the tulgey wood, And burbled as it came!
pg.3 One, two! One, two! And through and through The vorpal blade went snicker-snack! He left it dead, and with its head He went galumphing back. “And hast thou slain the Jabberwock? Come to my arms, my beamish boy! O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!” He chortled in his joy. ’Twas brillig, and the slithy toves Did gyre and gimble in the wabe: All mimsy were the borogoves, And the mome raths outgrabe.
What does a Jabberwocky look like? Draw your Jabberwocky below!
pg.4 Questions to Consider 1. Why does no one seem to understand Alice
when she is in wonderland? 2. Which Character is your Favorite- why? 3. What do you think Alice learned from her journey down the rabbit hole? 4. Why is the Mad Hatter so mad? 5. Alice changes a lot over the course of the play, in what ways did you see this? 6. What would you do if you saw a White Rabbit run by you with a pocket watch? 7. What do you think the moral of the story is? 8. Is there a hero in this play? Who is it?
pg.5 ADAPTATION Alice in Wonderland started as a book and has been made into several different movies and plays. Each interpretation is slightly different, including the musical version- these different versions are called ADAPTATIONS.
* Have you seen or read any versions of Alice in Wonderland? How were they the same or different from the musical? * How did the costumes help you know which character was which? * How did the sets help you understand the setting of each scene? * Did the actors portray the characters like how you imagined them in the books? * How did the music and dancing help tell the story? * How is reading a story in a book different than experiencing the story through a play on the stage? * What choices might you have made differently if you were putting on a play of Alice in Wonderland? pg.6 WHO IS WHO IN THE THEATER Cast/Actors - the people who perform in a show Choreographer - the person who creates dances and arranges movements for a musical Costume Designer - the person in charge of the costumes for a show Director - the person who provides the vision of how a show should be presented, who works with the actors on their roles, develops the blocking, and is in charge of the rehearsals Playwright - a person who writes plays Composer- a person who writes the music in a musical Lighting Designer - the person who designs the lighting for a show and works with the director to get desired effects Musical Director - the person who works with the director, actors and orchestra to get the desired musical effects for a show Prop Mistress/Master - the person in charge of all the props and who usually works with them during a show Set Designer - the person who designs the sets for a show...in smaller theaters this person also builds the sets Sound Designer - the person who designs the sound direction for the show Stage Manager - the person who runs the show from opening curtain to closing curtain and is in charge of everything on the stage and in the back of the stage
What to expect when you come to the theater: You will enter into the lobby and go down the lobby to the theater doors. You will look to find your seat before the show begins. When the show begins you can laugh or clap if you enjoy something the actors do or think something is funny. Half way through there will be a short intermission so you can use the restroom, stretch your legs, or get a snack at the concessions booth. After the show, you can meet the cast in the lobby and say hello to your favorite characters! pg.7 Write the Wonderland Characters a letter! The characters in Wonderland LOVE getting mail! Choose your favorite character from the play and write them a letter! Print this letter out and mail it to: C/O TMP Family Theater 7116 Sixth Avenue, Tacoma WA 98406