Children's Literature vs. Adult Literature with Alice's Journey

Children's Literature vs. Adult Literature within Alice's Journey

Before this course, I had never read or viewed Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Through the Looking Glass, or any of the film adaptations. My previous disposition of the story was that it was that it was of the genre of children’s literature, and adults only would continue to read the story due to the nostalgia that came along with it. Now, after reading both of Alice’s stories and watching the 2010 Tim Burton adaptation of the novels, I can honestly say that Lewis Carrol’s novels about Alice are two of very few that I have read, that fit into opposing genres; children’s literature and adult literature. First, I believe that both of Carrol’s novels, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass, may be read in a variety of ways, depending on where the reader is within their life. As a child reads and submerses themselves within Alice’s stories, due to their young minds, they are not going to attempt to reason with or understand the logistics of the story. This process differs from the manner of an analytical reader such as myself, who consistently attempted to comprehend the story and all of its minute details. I believe that children are able to read Carrol’s literature with a more open mind, heart, and eyes, than adults such as myself, leading me to believe that Alice’s stories completely fit into the genre of children’s literature. Further, I also believe that Alice’s stories are of the adult literature genre, due to the fact that he themes and concepts discussed are engaging and comparative to an adult’s everyday life. Within the novels, an underlying theme, is participating in the process of finding out who you are, no matter how frightening or strange it may be. This theme discussed, may be overlooked by children reading the novel, for they may be distracted by the original and fantastical elements of the story. Where as an adult reading Carrol’s stories about Alice, may solely focus on this theme and relate it to their own life; also doing the same with other major topics discussed throughout the story, such as loneliness, or authority.

      I had my inhibitions about Alice’s stories as I was reading them, but after watching the Tim Burton film, which had more structure and narrative as an adaptation, I realized that I was reading the stories with too “adult” of a mind, only reading the stories as if they were written solely within the genre of adult literature. Now, I have realized that if I were to read the stories again, I would do so with a “child’s mind,” not attempting to reason or understand Carrol’s literary choices, focusing more on Alice’s journey as a character, and as she dares to find who she is.