Writer Lewis Carroll: biography, real name, creativity

Lewis Carroll, whose biography to this day leaves a lot of juicy questions, gives a multifaceted and talented person. This is both a capable mathematician and a talented writer. According to the author's works, more than 100 films in different genres have been shot.

Place of birth England

The 19th century is famous for many geniuses, one of them knows everything - Lewis Carroll. His biography begins in the picturesque village of Daresbury, which was part of the county of Cheshire. In the house of the priest Charles Dodgson, there were 11 children. The future writer was named after his father, he was born on January 27, 1832, and before the age of 12 received a home education. Then he was sent to a private school, where he studied until 1845 inclusive. The next 4 years he spent in Rugby. In this institution he was less happy, but showed brilliant successes in the disciplines of mathematics and God's word. In 1950 he entered Christ-Chert, in 1851 he transferred to Oxford.

The head of the family was engaged in the house with all the children, and the classes were like fun games. To better explain the small children the basics of bills and letters, the father used items such as chess and scores. Lessons of the rules of behavior were like cheerful feasts, where by "drinking tea on the contrary" the children's minds were packed with knowledge. When young Charles studied in a grammar school, science was given easily, he was praised, and learning was fun. But in the subsequent study of the sciences, pleasure disappeared, and there were fewer successes. To Oxford, he was considered an average student with good, but unused abilities.

New name

The first stories and poems began to write in college under the pseudonym Lewis Carroll. Biography of the birth of a new name is simple. His friend and publisher Yates advised simply to change the first letters, for better sound. There were several proposals, but Charles stopped on this short version, and most importantly, comfortable for children to pronounce. His work on mathematics, he published under the proper name: Charles Lutvij Dodgson.

Mathematician and Logic

Studying at the college was boring for the writer. But he received a bachelor's degree easily, and at the competition for lecturing mathematical bias he won the opportunity to teach a course in Christ Church. 26 years old Charles Dodgson dedicated Euclidean geometry, algebra and mat. Analysis, seriously carried away by the theory of probability and mathematical puzzles. Almost accidentally developed a method for calculating determinants (Dodgson condensation).

There are two views on his scientific activity. Some believe that he did not make an impressive contribution, but teaching brought a constant income and an opportunity to do what he liked. But there is an opinion that the achievements of Ch. L. L. Dodgson in the field of logic simply outstripped the mathematical science of that time. The development of simpler solutions to sorites is set forth in Symbolic Logic, and the second volume was already adapted for children's perception and was called Logical Game.

Dignity and travel to Russia

In college, Charles Dodgson took the deacon's spiritual rank. Thanks to this, he could read sermons, but not work in the parish. At this time, the development of contacts between the English church and Russian Orthodoxy. For the holiday dedicated to the 50th anniversary of Metropolitan Philaret's stay at the Moscow department, the writer and deacon Charles and the theologian Henry Liddon were invited to Russia. Dodgson really enjoyed the journey. Having fulfilled his duties at official meetings and events, he visited museums, recorded impressions of cities and people. Some phrases in Russian are included in the "Travel Diary". This was not a book for publication, but for personal use, which was published only after the death of the author.

Meetings of Russian and English, conversations through interpreters and informal walks around the city left a vivid impression on the young deacon. Before that (and after), he did not go anywhere else, except for rare visits to London and Bath.

Lewis Carroll. Biography of the writer

In 1856, Charles meets the family of the new dean of the college Henry Liddell (not to be confused with the deacon, they are different people). Between them, a strong friendly relationship. Frequent visits bring Dodgson closer to all family members, but especially with younger daughter Alice, who turned 4 years old. The immediacy, charm and cheerful disposition of the girl fascinate the author. Lewis Carroll, whose works are already printed in such serious magazines as "Comic Times" and "Train", acquires a new Muse.

In 1864 the first work about the fabulous Alice was published. After a trip to Russia, Carroll creates a second story of the adventures of the main character, released in 1871. The style of the writer went down in history as a "kind of Carrell". The fairy tale "Alice in Wonderland" is written for children, but enjoys steady success with 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 absurdity, the structure of narration and actions had a strong influence on the development of the art of that time. Lewis Carroll has created a new direction in literature.

Two books

The tale "Alice in Wonderland" is the first part of the adventure. The plot tells of a girl who is trying to catch up with the funny Rabbit in a hat and with a pocket watch. Through the hole, she enters the hall, where there are many small doors. To enter the garden with flowers, Alice with the help of a fan reduces its growth. In the magical world, she meets a leisurely Caterpillar, an amusing wise Cheshire Cat, as well as a harmful Duchess who likes to chop her head. Alice is present on an insane tea-party with the March Hare and the Hatter. In the garden, the Heroine gets to know the card guards who repaint the white roses in red. After playing a croquet with the Queen, Alice goes to court, where she acts as a witness. But suddenly the girl starts 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 in the World Through the Looking Glass" is a journey through a mirror into another world, which is a chessboard. Here the heroine gets acquainted with the White King, the speaking flowers, the Black Queen, with the Shtaltai-Boltai and other fairy-tale characters, the prototypes of chess.

A short analysis of the books about Alice

Lewis Carroll, whose books can be decomposed into mathematical and philosophical problems, tries to ask complex questions in his works. The flight through the burrow of Rabbit in its sluggishness resembles a theory with decreasing acceleration towards the center of the Earth. When Alice remembers the multiplication table, Taylor's theory is used, in which 4X5 is really 12. And in the girl's decreases and magnifications and in her fears (as if not to disappear altogether), one can learn E. Whittaker's research about the changes in the universe.

The smell of pepper in the house of the Duchess is an allusion to the severity and rigidity of the mistress's character. And also a reminder of the habit of the poor to pepper food to hide the taste of cheap meat. The conflict between science and ethics is clearly traced in the Cheshire Cat's remark: "If you go for a long time, you will definitely come to somewhere." In the process of tea drinking, Carroll gives the phrase that it is necessary to trim Alice's long hair, the character to the Hatter. Contemporary writer claims that this is a personal hairpin to all those who were dissatisfied with Charles's hair in life, as he wore hair longer than the fashion of that time allowed.

And these are only well-known examples. In fact, any situation in the adventures of Alice can be decomposed into a logical puzzle or philosophical problem of the concept of the world.

Quotes from Carroll

Lewis Carroll, whose quotes are used today as often as Shakespeare's, was a hidden rebel of his time. "Hidden", therefore, expressed his disagreement with the rules of behavior in a society with veiled shrews. For example, too long hair.

• It would be for a change to meet a reasonable person!
• Life is serious, but not very ...
• Time can not be spent!
• It's 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, then you will miss a miracle.
• Why does someone need morals so much ?!
• Entertainment of the intellect is necessary for the health of the spirit.

Spicy gossip of the 19th century

Lewis Carroll, whose books do not lose popularity from the English queen to the Russian schoolboy, was a lonely and unsociable member of society. The talented person was engaged in a photo and (with the permission of mothers) removed young beauties naked for the collection. In life and in college, Charles Dodgson was closed-minded, stammered and did not hear in one ear. The clergyman did not allow him to marry.

There are several refutations of rumors born during the writer's lifetime. Yes, he felt defective and that's why he avoided women of his age. All the girls he talked with were older than 14 years. For that time, these are already young ladies in search of the groom. In the memories of the girls there is no hint of sexual harassment. And many of them specifically reduced their age, not to be compromised. A child can freely communicate with a man, and a decent lady can not.