Spr 25 (04) Advice from a Caterpillar - Brittani Allen (LCSNA)

Spring 2025 Conference (Virtual): A Field Guide to Wonderland & Beyond Volume II

Title: Advice from a Caterpillar: Finding One’s Place in Nature in Gatty’s A Lesson in Faith and Carroll’s
Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland

Brittani Allen, PhD student, Cardiff University

Introduced with a medley of Heather's fave Alice and the Caterpillar images set to (what else?) The Who's "Who Are You?"

Margaret Gatty's A Lesson in Faith and Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland employ the caterpillar as a character to convey issues about growth, transformation and the importance of home and place. I will highlight the significance of the caterpillar in both works, particularly emphasizing the connection to notions of home and place and establishing one’s sense of belonging in familiar and unfamiliar spaces.
I will make clear how both Gatty and Carroll use the caterpillar characters to underscore the significance of home and place in shaping personal growth and navigating life's uncertainties. Whether as a symbol of spiritual enlightenment or as a mystical mentor, the caterpillar transcends its physical form to embody truths about the human experience and the quest for belonging in life and in
nature.

Brittani Allen is a PhD student at Cardiff University. She specialises in Victorian studies and children's literature. Focused on environmental literature for children, her thesis analyzes nineteenth century works depicting fantasy worlds. It explores how these narratives promote sustainability and cohabitation between humans and nonhumans, advocating for a harmonious future.

Hosted by Heather Simmons

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