Lewis Carroll in Oxford



Overview

The Oxford Experience is a residential summer programme providing one-week courses in a variety of subjects aimed at non-specialists. It offers a choice of seminars each week over a period of six weeks.

Alice in Wonderland is forever connected with Christ Church College. Lewis Carroll was a mathematics lecturer; Alice Liddell was the daughter of the Dean. On this course we will discuss the real people and places behind the story, look in detail at some of the many facets of this famous tale, and see how this work of imagination has been interpreted and reimagined over the last 150 years.

Programme details

Seminars meet each weekday morning, 09.15-10.45 and 11.15-12.45, with afternoons free for course-related field trips, individual study or exploring the many beautiful places in and around the city.

Monday
Charles Dodgson, Lewis Carroll, and Alice Liddell – Dodgson’s early life, his life at Christ Church as scholar and photographer, and his friendship with the Liddell family.

Tuesday
Walking tour following the famous boating trip to Binsey, Godstow Nunnery, and the Trout Inn, reading and discussing passages from Alice in Wonderland.

Wednesday
Alice’s Adventures – the ‘golden afternoon’ and a detailed look at passages in Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass.

Thursday
Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass – their publication, illustration, and reception. Field trip to the Trout Inn, Godstow.

Friday
After Alice – Lewis Carroll’s other works, his later life, and how Alice has been adapted and interpreted over the last 150 years.

Field Trip

Destination:     The Trout Inn; Godstow

Excursion Rating: Moderate
Up to two hours' walk on even ground or up to an hour's walk on rough and/or steep ground or up lots of stairs and steps.

Fees

Description Costs
Programme fee (no accom–incl. field trip, lunch and dinner) £1110.00
Programme fee (with single en-suite accom, field trip and meals) £1605.00
Programme fee (with single standard accom, field trip and meals) £1420.00

Tutor

Mr Darren Ormandy

Tutor

Darren Ormandy performed in many of Shakespeare’s plays for companies including the RSC, the English Shakespeare Company, and Oxford’s Creation Theatre. He now tutors for OUDCE, running courses on Shakespeare for the Oxford Summer School for Adults and for the Undergraduate Certificate in Literature, as well as tutoring online courses on Victorian fiction.

Assessment methods

There are no assessments for this course.

Application

Online registration closes on Friday, 1 May 2020 but please note that this course may be fully booked very quickly so early registration is recommended.

Accommodation

During your course, you will stay in typical Oxford student accommodation at Christ Church in buildings which range from the 18th to the 20th century.

The fee stated includes a bedroom with private bathroom facilities (shower, washbasin and toilet). Most are single but a few twins are available*.

There is also a limited number of standard rooms available, which all have their own washbasin and shaver point but shared bath and toilet facilities. Most standard rooms are single but there are a few ‘twin sets’ (two single rooms opening off a sitting room)*.

*If you wish to book a twin en-suite room or a standard twin set room each person should complete an application form and email it to us at oxfordexperience@conted.ox.ac.uk as these rooms cannot be booked online. (Forms may also be posted to us at: The Oxford Experience, OUDCE, 1 Wellington Square, Oxford, OX1 2JA, UK)

Please indicate your accommodation preferences (either online or on your application form) together with a note of any mobility problems. Students should note that bedrooms are modestly-furnished, do not have air-conditioning and are arranged on a staircase of four or five floors.

We regret that we are unable to offer you accommodation at Christ Church prior to or following your course. Additionally, family or friends who are not enrolled in the programme cannot be accommodated in college.

Non-residential

If accommodation is unavailable in a particular week, we also offer places on a non-residential basis whereby participants can take classes and have meals at the college, having arranged their own accommodation elsewhere.

If you wish to enrol on a non-residential basis please complete an application form and email it to us at oxfordexperience@conted.ox.ac.uk as this option cannot be booked online. (Forms may also be posted to us at: The Oxford Experience, OUDCE, 1 Wellington Square, Oxford, OX1 2JA, UK)

Terms & conditions for applicants and students

Information on financial support