Through the Looking-Glass

by Lewis Carroll

Through the Looking-Glass: Satire 2 key examples

Definition of Satire

Satire is the use of humor, irony, sarcasm, or ridicule to criticize something or someone. Public figures, such as politicians, are often the subject of satire, but satirists can take... read full definition
Satire is the use of humor, irony, sarcasm, or ridicule to criticize something or someone. Public figures, such as politicians, are often the subject of... read full definition
Satire is the use of humor, irony, sarcasm, or ridicule to criticize something or someone. Public figures, such as politicians... read full definition
Chapter 7: The Lion and the Unicorn
Explanation and Analysis—Lion and Unicorn:

In Chapter 7, Alice, the White King, Haigha, and Hatta hear the Lion and the Unicorn fighting. This fight is a satirical allusion to the political history of England and Scotland:

“Why, the Lion and the Unicorn, of course,” said the King.

“Fighting for the crown?”

“Yes, to be sure,” said the King: “and the best of the joke is, that it’s my crown all the while! Let’s run and see them.”

And they trotted off, Alice repeating to herself, as she ran, the words of the old song:—

Chapters 11-12: Waking; Which Dreamed It?
Explanation and Analysis—Serious Question:

In Chapter 12, Alice wakes up and asks Kitty whether she thinks the dream of the Looking-Glass World was Alice's dream or the Red King's dream. This question may seem childish (wasn't it obviously Alice's dream?), but it satirizes some philosophical and religious debates that were going on around Carroll:

"[...] This is a serious question, my dear, and you should not go on licking your paw like that—as if Dinah hadn’t washed you this morning! You see, Kitty, it must have been either me or the Red King. He was part of my dream, of course—but then I was part of his dream, too! Was it the Red King, Kitty? You were his wife, my dear, so you ought to know Oh, Kitty do help to settle it! I’m sure your paw can wait!”

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