Guys, we put our soul into the site. Thank you for that
that you are discovering this beauty. Thanks for the inspiration and goosebumps.
Join us on Facebook And VKontakte
In our rational world, sometimes a little bit of madness and fairy tales are so lacking. And there is no one who knows this better than the Cheshire Cat.
website collected 25 of the wisest and at the same time craziest thoughts of this “guide” to magical worlds. Quotes are collected from the book “Alice in Wonderland” by L. Carroll, the film of the same name by Tim Burton and the computer game American McGee’s Alice.
- - Serious attitude to do anything in this world is a fatal mistake.
- Is life serious?
- Oh yes, life is serious! But not very... - I'm not crazy, my reality is just different from yours.
- No matter how you look, you must look in the right direction.
- - But I don’t really want to end up with crazy people.
- Well, you can’t change anything here - we’re all crazy here: both you and me. - The fact is that while you are small, you can see what is invisible to you when you are big.
- - In our world, everything is possible.
- Correction: in yours. In mine, everything is according to my rules.
- When someone's head is in the clouds, someone's heart gets wet.
- I love psychos: only they understand the world around us, only with them I can find a common language.
- When the road is a mystery, try walking at random. Ride with the wind.
- Those who choose the difficult path are called fools.
- Confidence and recklessness are two sides of the same coin.
- Watch, learn, act.
- Sometimes the reflection in the mirror is more real than the object itself.
- At times, in her madness, I see glimpses of real talent.
- Unintelligent doesn't mean ignorant.
- When miracles become delirium, reason turns into madness.
- - How should I understand you?
- You don't need to understand me. Be sure to love and feed on time. - It doesn't matter why the significant became insignificant. It has become, and that’s it.
- Guess the riddle: when does a croquet mallet look like a stun gun? The answer is obvious: whenever you want.
- - What are those sounds over there? - asked Alice.
“Oh, these are miracles,” explained the Cheshire Cat indifferently.
- And what are they doing there? - the girl asked.
“As it should be,” the cat yawned. - They happen. - Threats, promises and good intentions - none of these are actions.
- You have two choices: one will lead you to happiness, the other will lead you to madness. My advice to you is don’t stumble.
- - Tell me, please, where should I go from here?
-Where do you want to go? - answered the Cat.
“I don’t care...” said Alice.
“Then it doesn’t matter where you go,” said the Cat.
“If only I could get somewhere,” Alice explained.
“You’ll definitely end up somewhere,” said the Cat. - You just need to walk long enough. - Some people don't see a way out even if they find one. Others simply don't look.
- Talking about bloodshed at the table spoils my appetite.
- Collect everything you find useful. Except indifference and ignorance. And then maybe you will survive.
- Those who say that there is nothing better to calm the nerves than a cup of tea have not actually tried real tea. It's like an injection of adrenaline straight to the heart.
- If the Cheshire Cat smiles, it means someone needs it.
- -Where can I find someone normal?
“Nowhere,” answered the Cat, “there are no normal people.” After all, everyone is so different and dissimilar. And this, in my opinion, is normal.
Probably the most interesting and curious character in world literature is the Cheshire Cat. This hero amazes with his ability to appear and disappear at the most unpredictable moments, leaving behind only a smile. No less interesting are the quotes from the Cheshire Cat, which amaze with their unusual logic and make you think about many questions. But this character appeared much earlier than the author wrote him into the book. And it’s quite interesting where the author got the idea for it.
Why is the cat smiling?
The Cheshire Cat was created by Lewis Carroll for the book Alice in Wonderland. It is noteworthy that in the first version of the story this character was absent and appeared only in 1865. Most likely, its appearance is due to the expression “the smile of the Cheshire Cat”, popular at that time. And this saying has two common versions of its origin. The author of the book himself was born and raised in Cheshire, and it was there that it was fashionable to paint lions above the entrance to taverns. But since no one saw these predators, they were given the appearance of toothy and smiling cats.
The second version is as follows: cheese wheels in the shape of smiling cats were produced in Cheshire and were popular throughout England. But what does the smile of the Cheshire Cat mean? There is still ongoing debate on this issue. Some philologists believe that this is still connected with cheese. Others dispute, saying that at that time even cats laughed at the “high” title that the county of Cheshire, which was a provincial province with a small size, ascribed to itself.
The Endangered Cat (Cheshire)
In addition to the smile, there is another equally interesting skill of this character - to dissolve and materialize in the air at will, but where did the author get this idea? At one time there was a legend about the Congleton cat: one fine day the abbess's favorite disappeared, but a few days later the nun heard a familiar scratching sound.
Opening the door, she saw her beloved cat, who at that very moment disappeared into thin air. Since then, this ghost has been seen by many visitors to the abbey. Lewis Carroll himself was known for his penchant for mysticism and was probably impressed by this story, which he embodied in his character.
Cheshire Cat Country
Surely it would not be a lie to call Wonderland the kingdom of the Cheshire Cat. After all, from the first meeting in the Duchess’s kitchen, this character accompanied Alice. Moreover, he was her mentor and helped her get out of difficult and absurd situations, despite the fact that his dialogues with Alice did not always bring her pleasure, and sometimes were quite annoying. The philosophical questions that the Cheshire Cat loved to ask confused Alice, but, after thinking a little, she found a way out of situations thanks to them. His expressions have long been disassembled into quotes, which are used to emphasize the absurdity of situations.
Character character
When reading the book, most readers got the impression that this character is quite friendly and nice. And this is true. The Cheshire Cat has some inexplicable charm despite the fact that he prefers a solitary life. He is optimistic, cheerful and will always come to the rescue in difficult times.
But at the same time, the cat is selfish and never admits his guilt due to stubbornness. He is extremely irritable and impulsive, due to which he can commit unseemly acts that he will regret in his soul, but will not admit to it. He is vain and a little crafty, although he himself cannot stand lies. His attitude towards himself is especially interesting, because the Cat considers himself crazy only because he is surrounded by crazy people. In general, this is the most contrasting and inimitable character in world literature.
Culture and the Cheshire Cat
This hero has long acquired a cult reputation, and his image is used by many authors in their works, for example, Jeff Noona, Andrzej Sapkowski, Jasper Fforde, Frank Beddor. The Cheshire Cat has gained enormous popularity in such an art form as anime. There is also large number comics with his participation. IN lately Tattoos depicting the Cheshire cat have gained popularity.
But still the most interesting images characters were embodied in the adventures of Alice. The popular Disney cartoon, released in 1951, introduces this cat as an intellectual with a mischievous temperament, who is sometimes classified as one of the Disney villains. IN computer game about the adventures of Alice in a Wonderland spoiled by nightmares called Alice Madness Returns, this hero appeared before us in the form of a thin cat with tattoos, but continues to act as a travel guide and, with his quotes, makes the main character think about the events.
We saw another remarkable Cheshire Cat in the film adaptation of Alice's adventures from Tim Burton. Although it was computer character, still he is remembered for his half-screen smile and tireless zeal to give useful tips. This hero had elegance, calmness and impressiveness, as well as the ability to hide cowardice under a seductive smile. His ability to get out of ridiculous situations was demonstrated at the moment when the Hatter accused the cat of running away when the Red Queen seized the throne. But thanks to his talents and skills, Cheshire was rehabilitated among his friends and made amends.
Date: 11.04.2016
If we are asked if we know an English mathematician, logician, philosopher, deacon Church of England, photographer Charles Lutwidge Dodgson (1832–1898), we find it difficult to answer right away. The name is Lewis Carroll ( literary pseudonym Dodgson), a bright, talented writer, is familiar to many. His most famous works are “Alice in Wonderland”, “Alice Through the Looking Glass” and the poem “The Hunting of the Snark”. Lewis Carroll is still very dear to all cat lovers and readers of our magazine because he came up with the image of the wonderful Cat.
Cheshire catLast year, the amazing ageless Cat celebrated his 150th birthday. It was in 1865 that Lewis Carroll's book Alice in Wonderland was published.
The first edition of the work of the Cheshire Cat did not yet appear. The mysterious Cat, who appeared later on the pages of “Alice...”, greatly embellished and enlivened the story. This Cat was loved by both children and adults all over the world.
I really want to remember Alice’s first meeting with this extraordinary beast and “overhear” their dialogue:
“Alice raised her head. A few steps away from her, the Cheshire Cat sat on a branch. Seeing Alice, the Cat just smiled. He looked good-natured, but his claws were long and he had so many teeth that Alice immediately realized that he was not to be trifled with.
- Kitty! Cheshik! - Alice began timidly. She didn't know if he would like the name, but he only smiled wider in response.
“Nothing,” thought Alice, “he seems happy.”
She asked out loud:
- Tell me, please, where should I go from here?
-Where do you want to go? - answered the Cat.
“I don’t care...” said Alice.
“Then it doesn’t matter where you go,” said the Cat.
“...just to get somewhere,” Alice explained.
“You’ll definitely end up somewhere,” said the Cat...
- What kind of people live here? - she asked.
“Over there,” said the Cat and waved right paw, - lives the Hatter. And there,” and he waved his left, “the March Hare.” It doesn't matter who you go to. Both are out of their minds.
- What do I need madmen for? - said Alice.
“There’s nothing you can do,” the Cat objected. - We are all out of our minds here - both you and me.
- How do you know that I'm out of my mind? - asked Alice.
“Of course, not in his own way,” answered the Cat. - Otherwise, how would you end up here?
... - Can you disappear and appear less suddenly? Otherwise I have head goes all around.
“Okay,” said the Cat and disappeared - this time very slowly. The tip of his tail disappeared first, and his smile last; she hovered in the air for a long time, when everything else had already disappeared.
- Y-yes! - thought Alice. - I’ve seen cats without a smile, but smiles without a cat! I’ve never seen anything like this in my life.”
Lewis Carroll. "Alice in Wonderland." Translation by Nina Demirova.
Of course, this is a very original cat. He is smart, wise, independent, friendly, brave, unpredictable. With great sympathy and humor the writer describes his literary hero. We remember his appearance, character, famous cat smile.
The Cheshire Cat can talk, conduct a dialogue, maybe at will be transported from one place to another, instantly disappear and suddenly appear again, or, conversely, gradually dissolve into thin air, leaving only your smile for a while.
The smiles we see on the faces of loved ones, friends or enemies are different. It can be a smile of joy or embarrassment, humility, a desire to cheer up, or show friendliness. It is possible and vice versa - a smile expressing sarcasm, gloating, contempt, triumph...
I think the smile of the Cheshire Cat says that this Cat... knows the Secret. There is another explanation because this cat is a Cheshire cat.
Carroll could not help but love cats; of course, he communicated with cats, observed them, and understood these animals. Perhaps he was familiar with the prototype of his Cheshire Cat and painted it from life. This cat could have been taken from real life writer, like Carroll's other heroes, first of all main character fairy tales Alice, one of the little daughters of the dean of the college where the writer taught. But, most likely, this Carroll cat is a collective character.
There are many cat breeds in the world. Many peoples of the world have national cat breeds: Siberian, Turkish Van, Turkish Angora, Canadian Sphynx, Ragdoll, Scottish Fold, British Blue...
Let's think about what breed the Cheshire Cat is, what does it look like? Of course we have wonderful illustrations, made by a contemporary of the author of “Alice...”.
Perhaps this cat, whose image we consider " business card» English literature, - a cat of the British breed, since we undertake to assert that the cat is a “national” one, in which the features of an English gentleman cat can be discerned. (The cat often leaves in English, without saying goodbye...)
It is believed that the breed of British blue cats, popular today all over the world - animals of a dense build, with a round head, with bright orange eyes, small ears, velvet fur, strong short legs - has been known in the English county of Cornwall since time immemorial. These cats also appeared in the county of Cheshire, which was famous for its dairy farms, where the oldest English cheese was produced for more than nine centuries. Near the pier of the port city of Chester, the capital of the county, there was a cheese warehouse. With the arrival of the ship for the next batch of cheese, hordes of mice and rats rushed to the pier in order to get hold of a piece tasty treat. But here they were waylaid by numerous port cats, who also loved dairy products, but also willingly engaged in mouse-catching, saving the wonderful cheese from the encroachment of unwanted competitors. Having finished the hunt, the well-fed, satisfied cats rested, purring and... smiling.
Let's remember a well-known interesting fact: in the old days, the heads of Cheshire cheese were shaped like smiling cat heads.
Another interesting piece of evidence that should not be forgotten is the numerous smiling cat images in Cheshire. There is mention of a remarkable sculpture of a smiling cat on a stone panel in St. Peter's Church on Croft. Carroll's father served as the priest of this parish church. This image is interesting because it can disappear when you look at it from a certain angle, leaving only the characteristic grin.
The previously well-known saying - “smiles like a Cheshire cat” - became very popular precisely thanks to the book “Alice in Wonderland”. Other writers cite it already according to Carroll.
There are different versions of the origin of this saying. Here's another one. Jorge Luis Borges published The Book of Fictional Creatures in 1954. In the section “The Cheshire Cat and the Cats of Kilkenny” he writes that, in addition to the already mentioned cheese in the shape of a cat’s head, “even the cats laughed at the high rank of the small county of Cheshire.”
And the Cheshire cat could have learned his other ability - to disappear - from a ghost white cat from the town of Congleton, located near Cheshire. During his lifetime, this cat was the favorite of the abbey caretaker, but one fine day he did not return home after another walk. A little later, the ghost of a white cat began to appear in the city, hundreds of people saw it over the years. Naturally, the writer might have heard about this mystical cat. Or maybe the ghost himself met him?
Let us remember one intriguing detail. The way in which this cat disappeared, as some eyewitnesses say, is reminiscent of the disappearance of the Cheshire Cat in the book "Alice in Wonderland." The ghost of the Congleton cat disappeared very slowly, starting with the tip of its tail and ending with a smile that remained for some time, although the cat himself was no longer there. We can easily believe in the existence of a ghost cat. The last one - the statement about the remaining cat's smile - will be attributed to the writer's cheerful speculation. Although who knows, miracles happen...
The writer spent about fifty years in Oxford. He lived at Christ Church College. The windows of his office looked out onto the garden, where among numerous trees grew a huge chestnut tree (preserved to this day) with a branch, which, according to the magazine "England", is very suitable for the appearance of the Cheshire Cat on it. This tree was clearly visible from the window of Carroll's office.
Dinah the cat
In Lewis Carroll's book, from time to time we meet another feline character - Alice's cat Dina.
This cat is a completely earthly creature, and also has real prototype, like the main character of the writer’s work, Alice Liddell. The real-life cat Dina was a special favorite of the real girl Alice. Two more feline creatures - Dinah's cat kittens, Snowflake and Kitty - are mentioned in this fairy tale story. In real life, Snowflake was the name of the kitten of Mary MacDonald, one of Carroll's young acquaintances.
Alice
Incredible story, narrated by Carroll, is dedicated to the little girl Alice Liddell.
Lewis Carroll recalls:
“...How did I see you, Alice, in my imagination? What are you like? Loving is, first of all: loving and tender; tender as a doe and loving as a dog (forgive me for the prosaic comparison, but I do not know purer and more perfect love on earth); and also - polite: polite and friendly with everyone, with great and small, with the mighty and funny, with kings and worms, as if you yourself were a royal daughter in an embroidered golden outfit. And yet - trusting, ready to believe in the most impossible fable and accept it with the boundless trust of a dreamer; and, finally, curious, desperately curious and cheerful with that cheerfulness that is given only in childhood, when the whole world is new and beautiful...”
The reflection of this amazing Country miracles we can find in Moscow today.
Exhibition at the Saltykov-Chertkov estate
In 1867, Lewis Carroll visited Russia. There is reason to believe that during his visit to Moscow he visited the largest private Russian library of that time, located in a magnificent old manor Saltykov-Chertkov (Myasnitskaya street, building 7), where today visitors can admire the interiors of this amazing mansion: the works of the architect Shekhtel and the artist Vrubel.
This extraordinary estate hosts an illusion exhibition dedicated to the 150th anniversary of Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland.
Here visitors are faced with a number of original discoveries by the organizers: they see the magic mirror through which Alice entered Through the Looking Glass, and everywhere they notice the smile of the Cheshire Cat, which is reflected in an incomprehensible way in this mirror.
In the lancet windows of the Gothic living room of the Saltykov-Chertkov mansion, visitors to the exhibition can admire the bright stained glass windows of Geoffrey Webb from Daresbury Chapel in Cheshire, where Lewis Carroll was born. Here, on a huge screen, throughout the day, visitors view illustrations for “Alice...” commissioned by Lewis Carroll by professional artist John Tenniel. Note that the collaboration between the author and the artist was not cloudless: each passionately defended his own vision of fairy-tale characters.
In the “Throne Room”, in addition to two royal thrones, there is a Jabberwocky skeleton on display, in which we recognize a dinosaur! On weekends, guests are greeted by august persons in this hall to the sounds of the harp...
At the exhibition we will find so many interesting things: the White Rabbit's house, the ear that Alice turned into, a giant tea cup and saucer, a giant kaleidoscope, royal thrones. And here and there the presence of the Cheshire Cat, the most famous literary English feline character, is revealed.
We can recall many wonderful national literary cats: Charles Perrault's Puss in Boots, Pushkin's Scientist Cat, Bulgakov's cat Behemoth, Hoffmann's cat Murr, Paul Gallico's Thomasina cat... And now we honor the mysterious literary national English cat.
Happy birthday, Cheshire Cat!
Comments
Irina Koroleva is a breeder and owner of the Ocicat kennel AMAGITSUNE, lives with her husband in Rostov-on-Don. Irina - very creative personality: both by virtue of her profession - she is an interior decorator by training, and by virtue of her hobbies - she is engaged in dancing, namely belly dancing. In her youth she took part in competitions, took first places at Russian championships, and later taught oriental dancing. Another purely female hobby is hand-embroidering belly dance costumes with beads and stones. She loves small, painstaking work and believes that it calms her down and puts her thoughts in order. But for five years now, her main occupation has been the nursery - for her it is both a hobby and a job.
The childhood of each of us was absolutely “spoiled” by fairy tales. We heard all sorts of stories. And how often we imagined that we would find ourselves in this very story. But did we imagine that we could move into all fairy tales at once? And that not all of their heroes and plots will be good? We've grown up and it's time to find out the truth. Quotes from Alice in Wonderland will help with this. Their magic has not faded over the years. On the contrary, it has gained strength and experience and now easily and shamelessly charms us.
What made Alice’s journey so exciting, and for us useful and interesting: the most unexpected acquaintances; the world of fairy tales surprised the girl; the rules that Alice came up with for herself; the wisdom of the Cat who knows how to smile.
And, despite the fact that Lewis Carroll presented his “non-fictional” story as a dream of his tiny niece, I really want to believe in it. And it seems that this fairy tale is more intended for older people. There are so many secrets in it that you can solve them endlessly. Many phrases have become catchphrases and accompany us throughout our lives. All Alice in Wonderland quotes are familiar and common. But their magic is still obvious, because in at different ages they are perceived in a new way.
Quotes and the most unexpected acquaintances
A little girl finds herself in a strange land inhabited by Confusion? How is this? Yes, it’s very simple, everyone whom Alice met in Through the Looking Glass has extraordinary talents to destroy the illusions of magic, creating a new charm of miracle around them.
We expect from them the minimum that is found in all children's fairy tales: little animals can talk, plants can sing songs. But here everything is different! Everything is presented with an incredible play of imagination. And that is why each character is colorful, and his words and actions amaze with accuracy and wisdom, which is why they turn into.
- Where can I find someone normal?
“Nowhere,” answered the Cat, “there are no normal people.” After all, everyone is so different and dissimilar. And this, in my opinion, is normal.
Only fools think that tea calms the nerves, they just weren’t at a real tea party... a mug of tea is like an injection of adrenaline into the heart.
Rabbit. It’s as if he “invites” the girl into an incredibly fabulous world of absurdity with his watch. Indeed, what is unusual about it for children who are accustomed from fairy tales to constantly hear rabbits talking. But his gloves, watch and concern that he will be late somewhere immediately arouses interest: where is he running like that?
Caterpillar. Winged sayings were replenished with amazing advice from the wise Caterpillar-philosopher.
Hatter. This hero, in both words and deeds, is one of the picturesque characters of the fairy tale. Quotes from the Hatter, his conclusions and riddles about time are a valuable pearl of our collection. At the same time, funny and educational.
Humpty Dumpty. It’s interesting, but it was this philosopher of the Looking Glass country who gave birth to the day of the unborn!) His statements did not lead to the fact that this holiday became official, although, probably, all the inhabitants of the Earth would not refuse to receive gifts and congratulations not 1 day a year, but 364! It is no coincidence that such a bright idea has become so popular that the authors of the film project of the same name use it. Many who watched this film remember these bright Alice in Wonderland.
Cat. Everyone knows about the smile of the Cheshire Cat. Probably, each of us, ever since we heard or read about it, has been trying to find it on our familiar pets... what if one of them turns out to be magical!
How did the world of fairy tales surprise the girl? Alice was not just caught up in a story about good and evil. Where she found herself, everything came to life and took on forms, giving a different, unusual for us, idea of itself. Animals, plants, houses, games, sayings and even traditions appeared before the girl in an unusual way. And at the same time, quotes from Alice Through the Looking Glass were born, which became popular and beloved.
The wisdom of the Cat that can smile and the Rules that Alice came up with for herself
This image is especially saddened in our minds. And it’s not just the smile, but his words make you admire the skill of the storyteller. So many expressions belong to the Cat, and they are all so beautiful that you can’t help but read them. For example, quotes about miracles that happen. Never consider yourself different what others do not consider you to be, and then others will not consider you to be not what you would like to appear to them. The best way explain- do it yourself! She'll be furious if I'm late! That's exactly where she'll come!It would be interesting to see that what will be left of me when I am gone.
Everything that is said three times becomes true. They call those fools who choose the difficult path. If your head is empty, alas, the greatest sense of humor will not save you. Does it matter what you ask? if you still don’t get an answer, right? - You have to say what you think!- I always do this! - Alice blurted out, and then, after thinking a little, she honestly added: - Well, in any case... in any case, what I say is what I think. In general, it's the same thing! I just don't know who I am now. No, of course, I know roughly who I was in the morning when I got up, but since then I’ve been this way and that all the time - in a word, something different. - I didn’t write this letter. My signature is not there.
- So much the worse! This means you are up to something bad, otherwise you would have signed up! The world is open before us but you need to act quickly.
The most remarkable thing is that the heroine was not at a loss. She immediately began to formalize everything into rules. These Alice in Wonderland shows how childish we can all be. They are paraphrased, they are thought about, they are argued about. But these simple and naive words are so sweet that they amaze with their purity and subtle, English approach to humor.
- What are those sounds over there?- Alice asked, nodding at the very secluded thickets of some pretty vegetation at the edge of the garden.
“And these are miracles,” explained the Cheshire Cat indifferently.
And.. And what are they doing there? – the girl asked, inevitably blushing.
“As it should be,” the cat yawned. – Happens...
Please tell me why your cat smiles so much? - Alice asked, slightly timid.
“It’s the Cheshire cat,” said the Duchess, “that’s why.”
Since Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland was published in 1865, the origins of the Cheshire Cat have been speculated upon by many people. But the mystery has not yet been solved - perhaps Carroll was inspired by a real cat, perhaps a coat of arms with the image of a cat, and according to one version, the prototype was a family named Catt.
It seems that only one thing is certain - that the expression “Breathed in a smile like the Cheshire Cat” does not belong to Carroll himself. Smile of the Cheshire Cat first found in Peter Pindar's Lyric Epistles, which contains the phrase "Our court will smile like the Cheshire Cat." The satirist John Walcott (Wolcot or Wolcott), who died in 1819, was hiding under the pseudonym Peter Pindar.
What was the primary source for the appearance of the Cheshire Cat?
Here are just a few more or less likely versions:
The Cheshire Cat appeared thanks to cats from Chester.
In Chester, a city located in Cheshire, which in former times had a port on the banks of the River Dee, there were warehouses in which cheese and other dairy products were stored. Harbor cats gathered on the pier, waiting for rats and mice to leave ships loaded with Cheshire cheese. The abundance of food made them the happiest cats in the Kingdom; they seemed to be smiling contentedly!
Some sources claim that on the site of the Chester cheese warehouse, there used to be a monument to the Cheshire Cat. However, no official documents about this have survived, and the existence of the monument remains a mystery, as does the origin of the Cheshire Cat.
Proper feeding of cats begins with proper selection of food https://www.acana.ru/katalog-kormov.
The Cheshire Cat is a generalized image of British Blue cats.
It is widely believed that the breed of British Blue cats, known for their "smiling" facial expression, originated from cats that had long lived in Cornwall, gradually moving to Cheshire with people. This fascinating idea was put forward by David Hayden, who suggested that Lewis Carroll was undoubtedly familiar with these cats and their “smiles” in their time.
Cheshire Cat - an image inspired by Cheshire cheeses.
Lewis Carroll (real name Charles Lutwidge Dodgson) was born and grew up until the age of 11 in the small village of Daresbury in Cheshire. No doubt he had often seen local cheeses produced in the shape of various animals, one of which was a grinning cat.
The Cheshire Cat is a heraldic symbol.
The Cheshire Cat may have been derived from early Cheshire heraldry. For example, the coat of arms of the first Earl of Chester was engraved with a lion. The lion is a common heraldic symbol, and medieval artists were often required to depict it. Naturally, in the drawings, the animal, which the artists had never even seen, turned out to look like cats. The image of an imaginary lion, at the same time, often turned out to be noticeably smiling.
The Cheshire cat came from the signs.
For reasons similar to those stated in the heraldic version, the Cheshire Cat may have come from signs depicting a lion. The signs of British pubs very often depicted a lion, which few artists actually met. Pub signs date back centuries, and the lions and leopards depicted on them were often referred to as cats.
Cheshire cat and church carvings.
Carroll may have formed the image of the Cheshire Cat under the influence of the figurine of a smiling cat that adorned the Church of St. Wilfrid (twelfth century), located in the Cheshire village of Grappenhall. Carroll's father, a vicar, often preached there, and the boy must have noticed the cat during his visits to the church.
In the east of Cheshire is the small village of Pott Shrigley, where St Christopher's Church (thirteenth century) also has a cat's head carved on one of the internal walls, next to the pulpit, very much like the illustration in the book. Perhaps young Lewis Carroll could have noticed her too?
At the age of 11, Carroll moved from Cheshire to Croft-on-Tees in the north-east of England. His father was then minister of Croft Church and archdeacon of Richmond (1843 to 1868). In the place reserved for the clergy in the church, a lion's face was carved in stone on one side. When looking at him from one of the pews of the church, it seems that the lion is smiling broadly; but if you look at him standing, the smile disappears, exactly like the Cheshire Cat.
Okay, I've often seen cats without a smile, Alice thought, but a smile without a cat? This is the most curious thing I have seen in my life!
When the floorboards of the rectory were opened around 1950, some artifacts were found victorian era, which could well have belonged to the Dodgson family. Among them was white glove, but it could belong to the White Rabbit himself!
Carroll later lived for several years in Guildford, Surrey, and often visited the nearby village of Cranleigh, where St Nicholas Church had a Gargoyle figure resembling a cat. Who knows, maybe the Cheshire Cat was born in Carroll’s imagination thanks to her?
The Cheshire cat is the court jester.
There is an assumption that at one time there was a jester at court named Cat Kaitlin, who arrived from Cheshire. Since people would like to be as happy as the images shown to them, the expression burst into a smile like the Cheshire Cat could have been born as a tribute to his art. The author of this version admits, however, that all the efforts expended to prove the existence of this jester did not yield results. Therefore, perhaps this explanation is the least likely.