The Virtual Coffeehouse

Initially, when I thought about the question, I wondered if it was possible that that many teachers over the years had taught Alice and Wonderland and then referred to the silent movie version. After giving it more thought though, I have concluded that I think the silent version of the movie works because of the emphasis the story puts on the visually outrageous. The majority of Alice's dialogue is very superficial, usually commenting on her physical predicaments. As much as I prefer when the story has words, I think it is able to stand alone without the dialogue because of the strong physical nature of the story.

I agree and disagree at the same time.

The story itself is ridiculous, but that is what makes it so great. Visuals and the way words are played make the story so unique. The application of logic in the words ("I say what I meant therefore I mean what I say") and there literal use at certain junctions (tortoise and taught us) create many amusing situations.

Then there is the physical situation that is often just as ridiculous as the passages, I especially loved the croquet game. The idea of using animals and cards as sports equipment for some reason seemed hysterical to me, I burst out laughing with carol's description of Alice's flamingo and its refusal to bend straight.

The silent movie captured the physical element, but it lost half the story when it cut out the dialogue and carol's descriptions. It does put a much more drastic focus on the physical situation, but I think the story is generally misconceived with this use of just the physical elements.