In Lewis Carroll's classic novel Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, there is no prominent or identifiable "bear thing" among its cast of characters. The original story features a unique array of anthropomorphic animals and fantastical beings, none of which are bears.
No Bears in Wonderland
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (1865) introduces a menagerie of whimsical and anthropomorphic characters that Alice encounters during her surreal journey. These include the hurried White Rabbit, the grinning Cheshire Cat, the peculiar Mad Hatter and March Hare, and the formidable Queen of Hearts. While many characters are indeed animals, such as the Dormouse or the Gryphon, the specific animal of a bear does not make an appearance in the narrative.
Common Misconceptions and Related Carroll Creatures
The notion of a "bear thing" might stem from a misunderstanding, a misremembered detail, confusion with other literary works, or a conflation of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland with its sequel, Through the Looking-Glass, and What Alice Found There.
The Bandersnatch
One notable fictional creature from Lewis Carroll's wider universe is the Bandersnatch. This creature appears in the 1871 novel Through the Looking-Glass and is also featured in his 1874 poem The Hunting of the Snark. While a formidable and mysterious creature, often depicted with a long neck, sharp claws, and a menacing presence, it is not typically described or illustrated as bear-like. Its appearance is generally more akin to a fantastical, lean predator.
| Character Category | Examples from Alice's Adventures in Wonderland | Examples from Through the Looking-Glass |
|---|---|---|
| Real Animals (Anthropomorphic) | White Rabbit, Dormouse, March Hare, Gryphon (part-lion) | Lion, Unicorn, White Knight's Horse |
| Purely Fantastical Creatures | Jabberwock (mentioned only), Mock Turtle | Jabberwock, Bandersnatch, Jubjub Bird |
| Absent | Bears | Bears |
Other Fantastical Beings
Beyond the Bandersnatch, Carroll's fantastical worlds are populated by other unique creations:
- Jabberwock: A fearsome dragon-like creature from the nonsense poem "Jabberwocky," which Alice reads in Through the Looking-Glass.
- Gryphon: A mythical creature with the head and wings of an eagle and the body of a lion. This character plays a role in Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, accompanying Alice to meet the Mock Turtle. While part-lion, it is distinctly not a bear.
Why No Bears?
Lewis Carroll's selection of creatures for his Alice books often served specific literary or thematic purposes, such as embodying nonsensical logic, social satire, or even personifying playing cards. Bears, while familiar animals, were simply not part of the unique and imaginative menagerie he envisioned for Alice's extraordinary adventures in Wonderland or through the looking-glass.
