S24 Performance of Children's Literature

CASD 1717 – Spring 2024

Next week we’ll be moving on to read Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland but let’s look for a moment at how Alice has been visualized.

You are probably most familiar with Disney’s Alice, a blond girl in a blue dress with a pinafore (apron).

Alice in Wonderland title card for the Disney film, Alice is pulling back the curtain and we see the small door with the anthropomorphic doorknob, a table is to the right with a key and a bottle labelled "drink me" Pink title: Alice in Wonderland, Teal: An adaptation of Lewis Carrol's The Adventures of Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass" below the image "color by Technicolor"

Disney Animation’s Alice was based on the original illustrations of John Tenniel, a well-known political cartoonist who illustrated the first Alice books.

Lewis Carroll’s Drawings

Lewis Carroll illustrated a handwritten version of Alice’s Adventures Underground in 1864 before it was published with the above drawings. His Alice is somewhat similar.

two page spread of hand written Alice's Adventure's Underground, yellowish coulor. On the left hand is a pen drawing of Alice from the waist up with long dark hair, on the facing is a full image of Alice upside squished into a small frame
Illustration by Lewis Carroll, printed in 1917, Public Domain, via WikiMedia Commons
Portion of a hand written page with text on the right, a drawing of Alice in pinafore and elongated neck takes up the entire left half
Illustration by Lewis Carroll, printed in 1917, Public Domain, via WikiMedia Commons
handwritten page with a small drawing of the head and shoulders of a little girl with dark chin length hair.
Illustration by Lewis Carroll, printed in 1917, Public Domain, via WikiMedia Commons

Explore Other illustrations of the character of Alice

Colored versions of Tenniel

colored image of blond alice with arms riased wearing a yellow dress and blue tights being attacked by a pack of playing cards flying up, below assorted animals including the white rabbit
Illustration by John Tenniel, colorized for The Nursery Alice, 1889, Public Domain
Colored image of Alice in yellow dress holding a flamingo, the duchess with an oversized head and elaborate headdress
Illustration by John Tenniel, hand colored for The Nursery Alice, 1889, Public Domain.
Alice with an extended neck, colored, yellow dress, blue tights
Illustration by John Tenniel, hand colored for The Nursery Alice, 1889, Public Domain.

More Alices

Alice in blue dress with white pinafore, blond/brown hair, white tights and black Mary-Janes, to her right the Mad Hatter stands and points at her in a yellow and green checkered suit and white coat and large white hat, plain yellow background
Carrol, Lewis and Gerstenberg, Alice, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Chicago, A.C. McClurg & Co,, 1915
blue sky with clouds, trees near the bottom from which the neck of a girl with bobbed brown hair twists around. Sh looks at a flying grey bird.
Illustration by Charles Robinson, 1907, Public Domain via WikiMedia Commons
Alice with shoulder length brown hair and a blue smock with large collar leans on a tiled ground. A mouse her size is on its hind legs. In the background a large green dodo, and red beaks of two other birds. On the left bottom corner a duck
Illustration by Charles Robinson, 1907, Public Domain via WikiMedia Commons
Black and white illustration of tree branch and leaves, the head of a dark haired Alice pokes up through and looks at a startled bird
Illustration by Peter Newell for Alice in Wonderland, 1901, Public Domain via WikiMedia Commons
A drawing of a blond girl of about 10 stands wearing a white dress with pink flowers, dark tights. Muted palette
Illustration of Alice, Arthur Rackham, 1907, Public Domain
a blond Alice in a white dress looking around a tree trunk in which the chesire cat sits. To the right are the king queen mad hatter and duchess, the rabbit bows toward her in the center
Cover of the score for the stage musical ‘Alice in Wonderland’ (1906) with lyrics by H. Savile Clarke and Walter Slaughter; W, George (1906), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

The header for this class website features a painting by George Dunlap Leslie first exhibited in 1879. It features a mother reading the book to her child who is dressed in a style similar to Tenniel’s illustrated Alice.

Explore – Famous Alice Book Editions

Here, ABE BOOKS put together an article about some of the more famous Alice editions.

What do you make of these different Alices? How does the feeling of the character change depending on the illustrator?

Go Back to Lewis Carroll
Analyze Alice

Comments

22 responses to “Visualizing Alice”

  1. Badra Ahmad Avatar
    Badra Ahmad

    The different Alices portrayed by various illustrators offer unique interpretations of the character, each shaping the feel of the story in different ways. George Dunlap Leslie’s painting captures a sense of nostalgia and family bonding through storytelling. Tenniel’s illustrations give whimsy and adventure, showcasing Alice’s journey through the Wonderland’s fantastical world. Carroll’s own hand-drawn edition adds an intimate touch, reflecting the author’s personal vision of Alice. Each illustrator brings their own style and perspective, enriching the character’s portrayal and contributing to the overall charm of the story.

    Reply
  2. hannah xhani Avatar
    hannah xhani

    This has a considerable influence on how the reader perceives the character and the narrative. Alice’s image holds a feeling of reality while incorporating Wonderland aspects. I feel amazed and intrigue as Alice travels through an odd and fantastical world. Emphasize Wonderland’s surreal quality through using gentler patterns and quiet colors to evoke a feeling of magic.

    Reply
  3. Juliana Moreno Duran Avatar
    Juliana Moreno Duran

    Different artists bring their own touch to Alice from “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland,” changing how we feel about her and her adventures. The Victorian Alice, shows her curiosity and manners.Other illustrators draw Alice in ways that make her seem more modern, adventurous, or even more reflective of their own cultures. This variety means Alice can seem brave, puzzled, or just having fun, depending on who’s drawing her. So, the way Alice looks and feels can really change based on the illustrator’s style, making her adventures new and exciting in different ways.

    Reply
    1. Shiraz Biggie Avatar
      Shiraz Biggie

      Is there a specific illustration that you see that corresponds to one of these descriptions?

      Reply
  4. Ashley Arely Vila Avatar
    Ashley Arely Vila

    What do you make of these different Alices? How does the feeling of the character change depending on the illustrator?

    Even though these Alice’s are drawn by different illustrators, I see all of these Alice’s as Alice. They are all quite visually similar but at the same time each one has its own differences that sets them apart. In some illustrations, Alice doesn’t really appear to look human which is a bit ominous and in other illustrations she looks mature and older. When I think of Alice I see a young blonde girl, yet, with the other illustrations it seems too serious.

    Reply
    1. Shiraz Biggie Avatar
      Shiraz Biggie

      How old illustrators make Alice look can change our perception of the text. In Through the Looking Glass, she states that she is “exactly seven and half.” Do you think she looks that age here?

      Reply
  5. Martina Arriola Avatar
    Martina Arriola

    What do you make of these different Alices? How does the feeling of the character change depending on the illustrator?
    These different Alices represent various illustrations and adaptations of Lewis Carroll’s famous novel, “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.” The first three illustrations are by John Tenniel, a renowned artist who collaborated with Carroll on the original publication. These illustrations were hand-colored for “The Nursery Alice” in 1889, a simplified version of the story for younger readers. The next image is the cover of the score for a stage musical adaptation of “Alice in Wonderland” from 1906. It features lyrics by H. Savile Clarke and Walter Slaughter. Lastly, there is an illustration by Charles Robinson from 1907. These different Alices showcase Carroll’s work’s enduring popularity and artistic interpretations. They demonstrate how the story has been adapted and reimagined over time, appealing to different audiences and artistic styles. Each illustration offers a unique visual representation of the whimsical and imaginative world of Wonderland.

    Reply
  6. Basamat Hamdan Avatar
    Basamat Hamdan

    What do you make of these different Alices? How does the feeling of the character change depending on the illustrator?

    John Tenniel’s illustrations give off the characterization I perceived in Alice. This is because he drew emotion on her face, such as her frowning, and body language, such as putting her arms up. Charles Robinson’s illustrations make Alice look like a young girl, perhaps 6 or 7 years old. I imagined her to be at least 10. Arthur Rackham’s illustration made Alice look like an older girl, maybe twelve or thirteen. Perhaps it is her composure and posture that doesn’t make me see her as a little girl in his version. Lastly, Peter Newell’s illustrations perfectly depicted the shock and confusion Alice felt as she experienced this wonderland.

    Reply
  7. Aya Ibrahim Avatar
    Aya Ibrahim

    What I personally get from these images is the intense curiosity that Alice is pretty much famous for, and I think that although these illustrations have their differences they all encompass that feeling or emotion. However, I will say that depending on the author in some she seems to have been drawn or illustrated to intentionally look out of place, such as in Robinson’s portrayal of her dramatically long neck, and even slightly frightened or daunted in others such as Tenniel’s illustration where she is shielding herself from the cards. However, my favorite illustration was Robinson’s image of her sitting with the mouse and other bird characters as she seems to be one with the mystical and other-wordly reality. Even though you know it isn’t necessarily normal by our means or realistic, it seems to just be an average picnic out and I really feel like it encapsulates the wonder of the book

    Reply
  8. Milen Bekis Avatar
    Milen Bekis

    All of the Alice’s look quite similar. They are all little girls wearing cute dresses and have a very messy look to them. Almost, portraying her to be a little crazy but looking also very perfect. All of them also look very small, but seeing as if Alice is supposed to be seven, she is supposed to be smaller.

    Reply
  9. Renee Montperous Avatar
    Renee Montperous

    Looking at these photos of the different Alice’s just makes me like the one I know of more. The majority of the illustrators put her in a dressy dress and kept her hair neat so they all viewed her as a well-kept girl. The Illustration by Charles Robinson, 1907 is my least favorite because why did he draw her like that lol. I feel like he drew that to show that’s how she must of felt on the inside after drinking the drink maybe.

    Reply
  10. Hanan Almoflihi Avatar
    Hanan Almoflihi

    Some illustrations, mostly the Disney animation one, portray Alice as an innocent and confused little girl. The older illustrations by Lewis Carroll make Alice look more mature and less child like. The Lewis Carroll illustrations make the reader see Alice less as a child. The illustrations by the political cartoonist also makes Alice seem less childlike, and more serious.

    Reply
  11. Obeed Ahmed Avatar
    Obeed Ahmed

    I perceive all of these Alices as Alice, even if they are depicted by various illustrators. Although they all have a lot of outward similarities, they are all distinguished from one another by unique features. It’s a little concerning because in some drawings Alice doesn’t truly seem human, while in other ones she appears more experienced and mature. Although I see a young blonde girl when I think of Alice, the other drawings make it look too serious.

    Reply
  12. Cheyenne La Fritz Avatar
    Cheyenne La Fritz

    They all feel quite similar to me, to be honest. I think Alice can be recognized in all of these depictions as what you may imagine Alice looking like. Lewis Carroll’s drawings feel a bit too serious, considering how Alice is written to be witty and adventurous. John Tenniel’s drawings really highlight the fantastical world that Alice fell into. The animals became personified, from having whole human bodies to just adding hands on birds. Even without the animal characters, the humanoid characters have a stark difference from Alice’s design. Though Alice is also serious looking in this depiction. Is there a reason she doesn’t smile? In the text, there were times when she felt humous. Is her neutral facial appearance made to contrast the wildness of Wonderland?

    Reply
  13. Hasiena Madramootoo Avatar
    Hasiena Madramootoo

    With all of these different Alices I feel that they all have a similar character feel to them, that you can tell that it represent Alice. I think that the feeling change with each Alice, where they look like as if they all tell a different version of Alices in wonderland.

    Reply
  14. Quesia Cruz Avatar
    Quesia Cruz

    I was surprised to see that Alice Lewis C. was inspired to write Alice in Wonderland, I definitely did not picture her like that, and as well I can see every drawer adds its own touch to the Alices they draw but in my eyes they are somewhat similar.

    Reply
  15. vanessa alamo Avatar
    vanessa alamo

    I feel they definitely make her look older and older as they create new illustrations. I also feel they keep her attitude and facial expressions similar; she mostly looks sad or mad. She always looks very innocent too.

    Reply
  16. Natasha Marques Avatar
    Natasha Marques

    I honestly think they are all the same just painted or drawn differently in the eyes of the illustrator. The all still have similar abstributes that keep the Alice charatcer visual. Each illustrator brings their own unique style and interpretation to the character, leading to variations in the depiction of Alice. Illustrators have portrayed Alice in different ways, emphasizing different aspects of her character. Some illustrators have depicted her as more adventurous and daring, while others have emphasized her curiosity, confusion, or vulnerability. These different interpretations can evoke varying feelings in the reader, ranging from whimsy and wonder to fear and unease, depending on the illustrator’s artistic choices.

    Reply
  17. Dionisia Payamps Avatar
    Dionisia Payamps

    What do you make of these different Alices? How does the feeling of the character change depending on the illustrator?

    The different alices look the same, they all have the same characteristics like face shape, hair color, outfit, height. The only differences could be the ones with the shifted body (given that she has already had the potions), but even then those are the same as the others as well. Each story does a very good job at keeping the important details the same as the original, always keeping the spark even if the plot has been changed a little

    Reply
  18. Ekaterini Fasarakis Avatar
    Ekaterini Fasarakis

    When looking through these images of Alice, I see the same theme of curiosity throughout them. In all of these images, Alice is portrayed as a young girl who wants the answer to all her questions roaming in her head. Overall these drawings of Alice are also deemed to be more sophisticated compared to my ideal image when I think of Alice. She looks older and more mature in these images whilst my image of Alice is a young girl. It is very interesting to see how images can change our perception of a character after reading the story.

    Reply
  19. Jennifer F. Angel Avatar
    Jennifer F. Angel

    What do you make of these different Alices? How does the feeling of the character change depending on the illustrator?

    All of these Alices look different but have similar traits of depicting a surprise/shocked child. The cover of the score for the stage musical ‘Alice in Wonderland’ (1906) with lyrics by H. Savile Clarke and Walter Slaughter; W, George (1906)this cover is what I imagined all the characters to look like, Alice as a little girl with pastels since that symbolizes innocence and grace. Her dress, tights and bow indicate that she is just a child. And the Wonderland characters look crazy, their heads are out of proportion and they are wearing bold colors. Even the Cheshire cat looks crazy, his eyes are wide and he is smiling. They look wild and powerful while Alice looks small and vulnerable. Depending on the illustrator, Alice is either the main point or part of an ensemble. Meaning that her story begins with the other characters and cause a reaction. Whether she is big or small, with other characters they seem to try and shock her or put her in odd positions. By herself she is just is surprised in what is happening to her.

    Reply
  20. Katherine Abalonski Avatar
    Katherine Abalonski

    The Alices from different illustrators still give off the same idea of Alice through each one, her curiosity, blonde hair, and dress are all quite similar. The feeling of the character changes based on the illustrators artistic style. Like Peter Newells illustration gives off a bit of a darker feeling being in black and white. Charles Robinson and John Tenniel play into the distortion of Alice with the long winding neck making it feel a little more imaginative.

    Reply

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