He was known in the literary circles as one of the best writers in the genre of literary nonsense. Caroll poured literary nonsense into his works of fiction including some of the best-loved poems and novels. Here we present the best five among them:

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland

This novel was published in 1865 and is one of the most popular works of Carroll. It tells the story of a young girl called Alice. She falls through a rabbit hole and lands in a world of fantasy. This world is full of peculiar creatures. Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland is considered to be one of the best examples of literary nonsense. 

It plays well with logic. This book garnered worldwide fame and was liked by children as well as adults. The narrative, imagery, structure, and characters of this book influenced many works in the fantasy genre.

Through the Looking-Glass and What Alice Found There 

This novel is known simply as Through the Looking-Glass. It was published in 1871, although the year of publishing was mentioned as 1872. The book is the sequel to Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. In the story, Alice enters a fantastical world once again. 

This time, it is not through a rabbit-hole. She enters into the world of fantasy through a mirror. Just like a reflection that one sees in a mirror, everything in the world is reversed. For example, running makes one stationary and walking away from something brings the person towards it.

Jabberwocky

Written in the genre of literary nonsense, this poem is about the killing of a creature called The Jabberwock. It was included in Carroll’s 1871 novel Through the Looking-Glass, and What Alice Found There. This poem appears in an early scene when she encounters the characters White Queen and White King. 

She finds a book written in a language that seems unintelligent. And realizes that she is in an inverted world and the verses are written in mirror-writing. She holds a mirror and is then able to read the reflected verse, which is Jabberwocky.

The Walrus and the Carpenter

This narrative poem also appears in the book Through the Looking-Glass, and What Alice Found There. It is recited by Tweedledum and Tweedledee to Alice in the fourth chapter. This poem has 18 stanzas and 108 lines written in an alternation of iambic trimeters and iambic tetrameters. 

It has masculine rhymes throughout and has been written in the rhyme scheme ABCBDB. The rhyming and rhythmical scheme of the poem are of the traditional English ballad. In the poem, Walrus and Carpenter are eponymous characters recited to Alice by Tweedledum and Tweedledee.

Sylvie and Bruno

The first volume of this novel was published in 1889. Its second volume called Sylvie and Bruno Concluded was published in 1893. Together, they form the last novel published by Carroll during his lifetime. This novel comprises two main plots. 

One is set in the real world and the other in a fantasy world called Fairyland. In the latter plot, there are many poems and elements of literary nonsense. It can be considered as a social novel set in Victorian Britain. The characters in the book discuss many concepts and different aspects of morality, religion, philosophy, and society.

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These works came from some of the world’s greatest authors, who were immortalized through their books. Their masterpieces continue to inspire readers of all ages even today. Here, we’ll take a look at the literary giants who transformed the world of literature in the 19th century:

1. Charles Dickens

He is considered one of the most widely read English writers of all time. Born in 1812, Charles Dickens’s novels mostly cover sensitive issues like child labour, poverty and slavery. At a time when Western colonialism was rampant, he courageously spoke out against such conditions. 

His novels were semi-autobiographical, talking about his experiences of poverty and insecurity during his childhood. Some of his famous works include Oliver Twist, Hard Times, and A Christmas Carol. Many of his books have also been made into films, including the silent movie The Pickwick Papers.

2. Lewis Carroll

Lewis Carroll was born as Charles Lutwidge Dodgson in 1832. He was a renowned English author, photographer, mathematician, and inventor. Carroll was fond of children and used to take them with him during outings. He would also narrate stories to them during such trips. 

One of the daughters of his college dean, Alice Liddell, convinced him to write stories. Soon, one of his greatest works known worldwide as Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland was published. This book became a global phenomenon and was the bestseller in children’s fiction. 

He was also an excellent photographer and has written several books on mathematics. He also invented games and puzzles. Through the Looking-Glass and What Alice Found There and Curiosa Mathematica are some of his other works.

3. Ralph Waldo Emerson

Ralph Waldo Emerson was one of the founders of the idea of Transcendentalism. Born in 1803, he was a renowned American philosopher, author, and lecturer. During his lifetime, he had given over 1,500 public lectures across the United States of America. 

His collection of essays includes Self-Reliance, The Poet and Experience, and The Over-Soul Circles. Most of his topics touched upon freedom, individuality, and a human being’s ability to realize anything. His works became a source of inspiration for many other philosophers and writers, such as Friedrich Nietzsche.

4. Henry David Thoreau

Born on the 12th of July 1817, Henry David Thoreau was an American writer and a transcendentalist thinker. He had a fondness for simple living, but was a complex man. After receiving education from the Concord Academy and Harvard University, he taught at school for some time. Meanwhile, he also pursued literature and explored nature. 

He often went for walks in the woods and keenly observed the natural surroundings. The author Ralph Waldo Emerson was one of his best friends. He recorded his experiences in his masterpiece, Walden. His articles, essays, travel journals, and books continue to inspire readers across the world even today.

5. Victor Hugo

Victor Hugo was a famous writer of the Romantic Movement. Many consider him as one of the greatest French authors of all time. Born in 1802, he was also a human rights activist and political statesman. Hugo is known primarily for his poetry and novels. His works explore the issues of social and political nature, which were prevalent in 19th-century France. Some of his best works include Les Contemplations, Notre-Dame de Paris, and Les Miserables. In addition to works of literature, he has also produced over 4,000 beautiful drawings.

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