Lewis Carroll, whose biography to date leaves many piquant questions, betrays a multifaceted and talented person. This is a capable mathematician and a talented writer. Based on the works of the author, more than 100 films in various genres have been shot.
Place of Birth England
The 19th century is famous for many geniuses, one of them is known to all - Lewis Carroll. His biography begins in the picturesque village of Darsbury, which was part of the county of Cheshire. In the house of priest Charles Dodgson, there were a total of 11 children. The future writer was named in honor of his father, he was born on January 27, 1832 and until 12 years received home education. Then he was sent to a private school, where he studied until 1845 inclusive. He spent the next 4 years in Rugby. At this institution, he was less happy, but showed brilliant successes in the disciplines of mathematics and the word of God. In 1950 he entered Christ Christ, in 1851 he transferred to Oxford.
At home, the head of the family was engaged with all the children, and classes were like fun games. To better explain the basics of scoring and writing to young children, his father used items such as chess and scoring. The lessons of the rules of behavior were like fun feasts, where through "tea drinking the other way around" knowledge was packed into children's heads. When young Charles was in grammar school, science was easy, he was praised, and learning was a pleasure. But in a subsequent study of the sciences, pleasure disappeared, and there were less successes. To Oxford, he was considered an average student with good, but unused abilities.
New name
He began to write his first stories and poems back in college under the pseudonym Lewis Carroll. The biography of the birth of a new name is simple. His friend and publisher Yates advised simply changing the first letters for a better sound. There were several suggestions, but Charles settled on this short version, and most importantly, convenient for pronunciation of children. He published his work in mathematics under the real name: Charles Lutwich Dodgson.
Mathematician and Logic
Studying in college was boring for the writer. But he earned a bachelor's degree easily, and won the opportunity to teach a course in Christ-damn at a competition for lecturing mathematical bias. Charles Dodgson devoted 26 years to Euclidean geometry, algebra and mat. analysis, seriously carried away by the theory of probability and mathematical puzzles. Almost by accident, he developed a method for calculating determinants (Dodgson condensation).
There are two views on his scientific work. Some believe that he did not make an impressive contribution, but teaching brought constant income and the opportunity to do what he loved. But there is an opinion that the achievements of C. L. Dodgson in the field of logic simply ahead of the mathematical science of that time. The development of simpler solutions of sorites is described in Symbolic Logic, and the second volume has already been adapted for children's perception and was called the Logic Game.
Dignity and travel to Russia
At college, Charles Dodgson took the priesthood of a deacon. Thanks to this, he could read sermons, but did not work in the ward. At this time, the development of contacts of the English Church and Russian Orthodoxy was going on. For the holiday dedicated to the 50th anniversary of Metropolitan Filaret’s presence in the Moscow department, writer and deacon Charles and theologian Henry Liddon were invited to Russia. Dodgson really enjoyed the trip. Performing his duties at official meetings and events, he visited museums and recorded impressions of cities and people. Some phrases in Russian were made by him in the “Travel Diary”. This book was not for publication, but for personal use, which was published only after the death of the author.
Meetings of Russians and English, conversations through translators and informal walks around the city left a vivid impression on the young deacon. Before (and after) he did not go anywhere else, except for rare visits to London and Bath.
Lewis Carroll. Writer Biography
In 1856, Charles met the family of the new dean of the college, Henry Liddell (not to be confused with the
deacon, they are different people). Strong friendships are established between them. Frequent visits bring Dodgson closer to all family members, but especially to her youngest daughter Alice, who is only 4 years old. The directness, charm and cheerful disposition of the girls captivate the author. Lewis Carroll, whose works are already published in such serious magazines as Comic Times and Train, is gaining a new Muse.
In 1864, the first work about the fabulous Alice was published. After a trip to Russia, Carroll creates the second adventure story of the main character, published in 1871. The style of the writer went down in history as a kind of Carrellian. The fairy tale "Alice in Wonderland" is written for children, but enjoys steady success among all fans of the fantasy genre. The author used philosophical and mathematical jokes in the plot. The work became a classic and the best example of the absurd, the structure of the narration and actions had a strong influence on the development of art of that time. Lewis Carroll created a new direction in literature.
Two books
The fairy tale "Alice in Wonderland" is the first part of the adventure. The plot tells about a girl who is trying to catch up with a funny Rabbit in a hat and with a pocket watch. Through a hole she enters a room with many small doors. To enter the garden with flowers, Alice, with the help of a fan, reduces her height. In the wizarding world, she meets a leisurely Caterpillar, a funny wise
Cheshire Cat, as well as a noxious Duchess, who loves to chop heads. Alice attends a crazy tea party with the March Hare and Doodle. In the garden, the heroine gets acquainted with card guards who repaint white roses in red. After playing croquet with the Queen, Alice goes to court, where she acts as a witness. But suddenly the girl begins to grow, all the characters turn into cards and the dream ends.
A few years later, the author publishes the second part under the pseudonym Lewis Carroll. “Alice through the Looking Glass” is a journey through a mirror into another world, which is a chessboard. Here the heroine meets the White King, talking flowers, the Black Queen, Humpty Dumpty and other fairy-tale characters, prototypes of chess.
A brief analysis of books about Alice
Lewis Carroll, whose books can be decomposed into mathematical and philosophical problems, tries to ask complex questions in his works. Flying through the
Rabbit’s hole in its slowness resembles a theory with decreasing acceleration to the center of the Earth. When Alice recalls the multiplication table, the
Taylor theory is used
, in which 4X5 is really equal to 12. And in the reductions and enlargements of the girl and in her fear (as though not to disappear at all), one can learn from E. Whittaker's research on changes in the Universe.
The smell of pepper in the house of the Duchess is an allusion to the severity and rigidity of the character of the hostess. As well as a reminder of the poor people's habits to pepper food to hide the taste of cheap meat. The conflict of science and ethics can be clearly seen in the replica of the Cheshire Cat: "If you go for a long time, you will definitely come somewhere." In the process of tea drinking, Carroll gives the phrase about the need to cut Alice's long hair, the character of Doodle. A contemporary of the writer claims that this is a personal hairpin to all those who were dissatisfied with Charles's hairdo in life, since he wore hair longer than the fashion of the time allowed.
And these are just well-known examples. In fact, any situation in Alice’s adventures can be resolved into a logical riddle or philosophical task of the concept of peace.
Carroll quotes
Lewis Carroll, whose quotes are used as often today as the Shakespearean ones, was a hidden rebel of his time. “Hidden”, therefore, expressed his disagreement with the rules of conduct in society by veiled barbs. For example, too long hair.
- It would be for a change to meet a reasonable person!
- Life, of course, is serious, but not very ...
- Time cannot be spent!
- It is right to explain something to another - to do everything yourself.
- Morality is everywhere - you need to look!
- Everything is so different, this is normal.
- If you hurry, you will miss a miracle.
- Why does someone need morality so much ?!
- Entertainment intelligence is needed for good health of mind.
Naughty Gossip of the 19th Century
Lewis Carroll, whose books do not lose popularity from the Queen of England to a Russian schoolboy, was a lonely and unsociable member of society. A talented man was engaged in photography and (with the permission of his mothers) shot young beauties naked for his collection. In life and in college, Charles Dodgson was introverted, stuttering and did not hear with one ear. The priesthood did not allow him to marry.
There are several rebuttals to rumors born during the writer's lifetime. Yes, he felt flawed and that is why he avoided women of his age. All the girls with whom he spoke were over 14 years old. For that time, these are already young ladies in search of a groom. In the memories of the girls there is no hint of sexual harassment. And many of them deliberately reduced their age so as not to be compromised. A child can freely communicate with a man, but a decent lady cannot.