Alice's Adventures In Wonderland And Through The Looking Glass - Lewis Carroll

Coursera Science Fiction and Fantasy Week 2

I didn't complete the second book, so concentrated on the former. The supporting points may have been a little murky, but I was very happy with the conclusion.

Alice's Adventures In Wonderland And Through The Looking Glass - Lewis Carroll

"Alice's Adventures In Wonderland" portrays the subconscious fears of a young girl facing puberty and the prospect of entering an unknown adult world.

On coming of age, the protagonists of Grimm's Tales are often called to leave home and venture into the world to “seek their fortune”. Alice, by contrast, is still a child when she is thrust headlong into an unfamiliar dream-world of odd creatures and strange customs. Unlike Grimm's children, who face threat and danger when leaving their own world, Alice is confronted by incomprehensible rules and absurdity.

Initially unsure of herself, Alice is shocked when her polite attempts to communicate are misunderstood and cause offence. Her childish conviction is soon replaced by doubt and confusion. Her hesitancy grows, but she remains aware of her lack of knowledge, testing her multiplication and geography as she questions her identity: “Who in the world am I?”

Alice's body changes too. She shrinks and grows under the influence of magical food and potions, becoming tiny, helpless and nearly drowning in her own tears, then growing large and powerful. Repeatedly rebuking herself for crying, she gradually learns control, until finally, in the courtroom scene, she asserts her power, ultimately overcoming the absurdity of the law.

As Alice wakes from her dream, we see her through her older sister’s eyes: "Little Alice", returned to normal size once again. We are touched by nostalgia as the older sister considers what she herself has lost in accepting "dull reality", imagining "how this same little sister of hers would... be herself a grown woman; and... keep, through all her riper years, the simple and loving heart of her childhood." This reassures us that although traumatic, the onset of puberty is a natural development and Alice's character will see her prevail.

Responses

 

Form: 2/3

 

peer 1 → Very well formed. Grammatically correct and good use of words.I don't find anything wrong, but if I have to make a suggestion, maybe it would on using linking words for the paragraphs (ex. Last paragraph could have a "finally" or "in the end").
peer 2 → Good flow, good language, I don't find any obvious grammatical errors. It does not try to be overly complicated which is good. Can't really find anything to complain about.
peer 3 → No grammar and spelling errors spotted. Thesis is present and asserted from the outset, which is a great start. There is a great flow of ideas within the body of the essay, but it seems to suffer from a chronological perspective. You could have extracted your key points like "rules and absurdity", "who am I", and "asserts her power" and branched off from there instead of branching off from the chronology of events. The first method allows you more freedom to talk about various points in the story while a chronological approach does lure one into the trap of descriptive writing, which you have done here to a small extent. There is a clear thesis, a point to each paragraph though it could use more tightening, and a conclusion; making this a solid essay structurally. However, the chronological approach does derail the essay from its argument. It sometimes does work and I used it for my last essay on The Death of the Hen, but in my opinion, it worked then only because The Death of the Hen is only two pages long while a chronological analysis of two books is trickier and have reduced your essay's clarity. Score given: 2
peer 4 → Good structure. Everything flows perfectly.
peer 5 → A Straightforward, concise thesis for the essay. several paragraphs elaborating on the thesis follow, with the last paragraph concluding the point made in the thesis paragraph. No overt issues of structure or grammar,

Content: 2/3

 

peer 1 → I liked the point of view. I also found very interesting the comparison with the Grimms. I don't know though if maybe it could be avoided, maybe mentioned just once could be enough.
peer 2 → Nice work. I especially, in the context of this course, like the reference back to the Grimm tales. If I should say anything "negative" about the content it is that the topic is not very unique when it comes to analyzing the Alice-books. To see how your argument stretches to Through the Looking-Glass would be interesting too, but it was probably good to only do the first book, and do it well.
peer 3 → This is the first essay I have evaluated that really sets out an argument, which I have to give you props for! I like how you concluded on how it is a natural development and how Alice will prevail. However, your body would have benefited with some significant cutting down of descriptions and by focusing on your points, which are there! Some ways to economise your word limit is to cut down on quotes too, like the one you used from Alice's sister. When it is that long, it could be simpler just to use the words 'keep... heart of her childhood' within a different syntax, or paraphrase it altogether. I can see that you have tried to cut it down though. I suppose a little more editing would really make this essay. In terms of your ideas, I think you focused well on the aspects of your thesis, especially on the 'adult world'. However, I think it should still be fleshed out a little more, and that could maybe be done by focusing on an aspect of Alice's coming of age. Some examples could be: adulthood in Wonderland, Peter Pan syndrome/fear of growing up, overcoming authority as part of growing up, etc. These are much more specific and would allow you more freedom to range about in the text. Score given: 2
peer 4 → I think the theme you chose is quite done, as it is something most people know and understand about this story. On the other hand, I really like how you ended in that nostalgic note, analyzing Alice through her sister's eyes instead of just considering the symbolism in the events of the story. Nicely done.
peer 5 → Mist if the essay authors arguments make sense, The essay author correlates many of the elements in Alice to the struggle of a young woman growing up. The Essay author would benefit from not including the paragraph on Grimm as it does not fit in the flow of the essay.

Total: 4/6

 

Comments

peer 2 → Good essay which I enjoyed reading.
peer 3 → Very nearly 3s for both parts. The best essay I've evaluated out of the 6 I have done so far, though! I think I might have ranted a little in my evaluation. Sorry if I did! Too many evaluations in one sitting.