The aim of the dissertation is an analysis of Lewis Carroll’s "Alice in Wonderland" and "Through the Looking-Glass" in regard to the uncanny and its relation to language. For the purpose of the study on the psychoanalytical concept of the uncanny in connection with linguistic theory, the most important theories have been evaluated in the first chapter of the dissertation, titled “The Concept of the Uncanny and its Relation to Language”.
Afterwards the chapter “The Uncanny and Language in Lewis Carroll’s "Alice in Wonderland" and "Through the Looking-Glass" applies the acquired theoretical framework to the two selected texts in order to understand the different ways in which Carroll manipulates language in order to create an uncanny atmosphere.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. The Concept of the Uncanny and its Relation to Language
3. The Uncanny and Language in Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass
4. Conclusions
Research Objectives and Core Themes
This dissertation examines the literary works of Lewis Carroll, specifically Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass, through the lens of the psychoanalytical concept of the "uncanny" as it relates to linguistic theory. The central research question explores how Carroll manipulates language to create an atmosphere of uncertainty and how these linguistic strategies contribute to the protagonist's ontological crisis and the destabilization of meaning.
- The theoretical foundation of the "uncanny" from Freud to Jentsch.
- Structuralist views on language, signifiers, and signifieds.
- Carroll’s use of silence and literal interpretation as communicative strategies.
- The relationship between names, identity, and the arbitrariness of language.
Excerpt from the Book
The Uncanny and Language in Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass
In order to analyze Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass in regard to the uncanny and language, two major objections to said examination have to be dealt with first. First of all, it has to be shown that language is a valid concern in both, Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass. A large number on criticism has been published on the topic of language in the work of Carroll (Flescher; Hubbell; Levin; Bivona; Rackin; Schwab). Amongst several critics, who even assert that language is at the centre of the two stories chosen for discussion in this paper, is Daniel Bivona. As critic Bivona notes in reference to Alice in Wonderland , ‘[...] language itself is viewed as kind of game here [...]’ (145). Yet, Carroll’s use of language in both Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass should not simply be seen as word games. Instead, Alice’s visits to Wonderland illustrate Carroll’s involvement with various issues of linguistics and underline the uncanny dimensions of language. Alice herself says that ‘[...] that for the moment she quite forgot how to speak good English’ (Carroll "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" 16), hence alluding to the novel’s preoccupation with language. Moreover, the majority of Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass are relayed to the reader via dialogue between the different characters of Carroll’s fictional worlds. This literary technique lends itself most naturally to illustrations of the various problems of language since spoken language is even more liable to misunderstandings due to homophony for example. For these reasons, the following focus on the language in the Alice stories seems justified.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: This chapter outlines the motivation for the study, focusing on the inherent strangeness of language and the aim to analyze how Carroll constructs an uncanny atmosphere in the Alice narratives.
2. The Concept of the Uncanny and its Relation to Language: This section evaluates key psychoanalytical theories—specifically those of Freud and Jentsch—and integrates Saussurean and Lacanian linguistic theory to define the "uncanny" as a product of the arbitrary nature of language.
3. The Uncanny and Language in Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass: The author applies the established theoretical framework to the novels, investigating how specific linguistic manipulations, such as silence, literalness, and naming, affect Alice’s identity and sense of reality.
4. Conclusions: The final chapter synthesizes the findings, confirming that Carroll's subversion of the signifier-signified relationship fundamentally destabilizes the reader's and the protagonist’s trust in language, revealing its inherent instability.
Keywords
Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland, Through the Looking-Glass, The Uncanny, Psychoanalysis, Structuralism, Signifier, Signified, Language, Identity, Nonsense Literature, Linguistics, Literalness, Homophony, Silence.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core subject of this research paper?
The paper explores the relationship between the psychoanalytical concept of the "uncanny" and the role of language in Lewis Carroll’s Alice narratives.
What are the primary thematic fields covered in the study?
The study covers psychoanalytic theory, structural linguistics, children’s literature, and the philosophical implications of identity as mediated through names and speech.
What is the central research question?
The research investigates how Lewis Carroll manipulates linguistic systems to evoke an "uncanny" atmosphere and how these manipulations lead to an ontological crisis for the protagonist, Alice.
Which scientific methods are employed?
The paper utilizes a literary-analytical approach, applying theoretical frameworks from Freud, Jentsch, Saussure, and Lacan to the primary texts to evaluate linguistic strategies.
What topics are discussed in the main body?
The main body examines the definition of the "uncanny," the arbitrary nature of linguistic signs, and specific narrative techniques such as silence, literal interpretation, and the significance of names.
Which keywords characterize this work?
The work is defined by terms such as The Uncanny, Structuralism, Language, Signifier/Signified, Identity, and Nonsense Literature.
How does Carroll use silence as a linguistic tool?
The author argues that Carroll uses silence as a deliberate communicative act, which, when misinterpreted or ignored by characters, reinforces the uncanny sense of uncertainty in the texts.
What is the significance of "literalness" in the Alice books?
Literalness is used to widen the gap between the signifier and the signified, forcing characters (and readers) to face the logical instability of language when words are taken out of their metaphorical context.
Why is the concept of naming crucial to this analysis?
Names are treated as representations of identity; by demonstrating that names in Wonderland often lack consistent referents, Carroll highlights the fragility of Alice’s own identity and her reliance on a faulty language system.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Anonym (Autor:in), 2011, Misreading Signs. The Uncanny and Language in Lewis Carroll’s "Alice in Wonderland" and "Through the Looking-Glass", München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/345171
