“Why is a raven like a writing desk?”

     The riddle, “Why is a raven like a writing desk?” is quoted from Lewis Carroll’s “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.” The story was first published in 1865. It tells the tale of a young girl who follows a rabbit down

into a hole, which opens up into a world of fantasy. The story gained popularity from its nonsensical style. Many of the events, characters and dialog have led to much debate from differing interpretations. Little equals the depth of intrigue that has stemmed from the question posed to Alice, “Why is a raven like a writing desk?”

     As Alice roams through wonderland she seeks advice on where she should travel next. She decides to follow directions to the March Hare’s house. Upon arriving at the home she encounters a tea party which is attended by the March Hare, the Hatter and a Dormouse. Alice takes a seat at the table and begins conversing with the March Hare and the Hatter as the Dormouse drifts in and out of consciousness. The Hatter asks Alice his riddle of the raven and writing desk. Alice enjoys riddles so tries to think of an answer to this question. She is unable to solve the Hatter’s riddle so she then asks him for the answer. The Hatter admits that he also does not know what the answer could be. This riddle is left unanswered and never again addressed within the rest of the story. This riddle without an answer gave rise to speculation from readers.

     In a later edition to the book of “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland”, the author Lewis Carroll tries to give readers an answer to the Hatter’s riddle. This came as a response to many questions asked by readers and

fans of his work. Carroll confirmed that there was never supposed to be an answer. The riddle itself, with no answer was purposeful to the direction of the story. The book questioned things that didn’t seem to make sense and couldn’t be answered in life or society. He did however concede to his audience by giving an answer that he felt most fitting with the story. Within the preface to the 1896 edition, Lewis Carroll wrote that a raven is like a writing desk, “because it can produce a few notes, though they are very flat and it is nevar put with the wrong end in front.” He intentionally spelled never with an “a” which became the word raven backwards, or with its wrong end in front.

     As many other have since tried to answer the Hatter’s riddle some to the most creative ideas include:

Because Poe wrote on both (Sam Loyd)

Because the notes for which they are noted are not for being musical notes (Sam Loyd)

Because they both slope with a flap (Cyril Pearson)

Both have quills dipped in ink (Unknown Author)