Complete Alice in Wonderland - L. Carroll [98]
Two Castles Walking Arm in Arm: In chess, the more antiquated term “Castle” is interchangeable with “Rook.”
As If I Were Invisible: Alice cannot be seen or heard by the chessmen in Looking-Glass House. This is probably because she has “crossed over” into forbidden territory, and is not, by all physical laws, meant to be there.
A Lack of Bishops: In the background of Tenniel’s illustration, we can see the two Red Bishops having a conversation, while a White Bishop reads the papers. This will be the only time that we see the Bishops in the story. Considering Carroll’s respect for religious figures, this was likely an intentional gesture on his part.
Pawns of the White Queen: Since Pawns in chess can (with a great deal of luck and skill) eventually become Queens, it is perfectly reasonable that Lily, the youngest White Pawn, is indeed of royal blood and the daughter of the Queen. This also explains why the Red Queen treats Alice with some decorum and respect later on, as the Red Queen believes herself to be tutoring (and challenging) the Princess of a rival bloodline.
“Make a Memorandum of It”: We are here reminded of the King of Hearts, and his need to put everything in his memorandum-book, lest he forget what has transpired and what he is doing.
“He Balances Very Badly”: Knights are regarded as clumsy in Looking-Glass Land, because of the way they move in chess (first in one direction, than a 90-degree turn and a move in another direction). This inherent imbalance, or “wriggling,” makes them skilled fighters, but comically inept as well!
YKCOWREBBAJ: Unfortunately, the Kindle does not support true mirror writing. As a formatting concession, I have written the first verse of Jabberwocky backwards to best emulate the original text.
JABBERWOCKY: Carroll’s classic nonsense poem is one of the most famous rhyming works in English literature. A distinction which often remains unnoticed, however, is that of “Jabberwock” vs. “Jabberwocky.” The Jabberwock is a nonesuch monster, much like a dragon crossed between a moth, a spider and a bat. “Jabberwocky” (with a “y”) is the title of the poem, meaning “Of or pertaining to a Jabberwock.” The many other unique words in the poem (such as “brillig,” “slithy,” “toves,” etc.) are defined in the glossary at the end of this work.
“’Twas Brillig, and the Slithy Toves…”: Humpty Dumpty will explain some of this poem to Alice later, but as this piece is highly important to the mythology of Wonderland and Looking-Glass Land, it is beneficial to offer an understanding of this work before moving on. “Jabberwocky” is written in a mock Anglo-Saxon style, a period which interested Carroll greatly. We can assume then that it tells a tale from the 10th or 11th century AD. (The Mouse in Wonderland talks all about William the Conqueror, who was responsible for the end of Anglo-Saxon sovereignty in 1066.) The action takes place on Jabberwock Isle (equivalent to the Isle of Man), which we will revisit in The Hunting of the Snark. The unnamed Baron of the Isle, perhaps as a rite of ascendance, sends his son to slay the menacing Jabberwock, which lurks in the Tulgey Wood. Much like Saint George or John Lambton, the boy proves himself by taking up a sword and ridding the Isle of the horrible creature. This tale is directly relevant to Alice’s journey in Looking-Glass Land, because it involves an unlikely young heir growing up before his time, and thereby earning the mantle of nobility.
Getting Down Stairs Quickly and Easily: The staircase here is the fabled Lexicon Staircase, which Alice’s father Henry Liddell had installed in the Deanery. (It was purchased using proceeds from the publication of his Greek Lexicon, which he was well-known for.) Alice alluded in the story of Wonderland that she had tumbled down these stairs before. Here, she is saved only by her own quick thinking, changing the physical laws of Looking-Glass House without even realizing that she has done so.
Chapter II
More Like