What Can be Inferred About Lewis Carroll's Readers Based on the Unanswered Riddle in Alice's Adventures in Wonderland?

The Unanswered Riddle in Alice's Adventures in Wonderland

In the article "What's Black and White and Red All Over?" the author discusses the unanswered riddle presented by the Mad Hatter in Lewis Carroll's famous novel, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. The riddle, "Why is a raven like a writing desk?" has puzzled readers for years, as Carroll himself admitted that he did not intend to provide an answer to it.

The author argues that the lack of a clear answer to this riddle serves a deeper purpose than just frustrating readers. By leaving the riddle unresolved, Carroll encourages his audience to engage in imaginative thinking and come up with their own interpretations. This open-endedness reflects the whimsical and nonsensical nature of Wonderland itself, where logic and reason often take a backseat to creativity and imagination.

Inference About Carroll's Readers

Based on the information provided in the article, we can infer the following about Lewis Carroll's readers:

A. They knew that the Hatter's riddle was one that did not have an answer.

B. They very much wanted to know the answer to the Hatter's riddle.

C. They each came up with their own answers to the Hatter's riddle.

D. They had heard the Hatter's riddle many times before reading it in Carroll's book.