Upon stepping through the mirror, Alice finds herself in a reversed version of her home, where winter transforms into summer and the gardens are in full bloom.1 This alternate reality operates on peculiar rules:

• Chess pieces come to life but remain invisible to Alice

• Pictures and clocks spring into action

• Everything functions backwards

• The laws of physics and logic are turned upside down

In this topsy-turvy world, Alice embarks on a journey that unfolds like a giant chess game, where she must progress from a pawn to a queen by traversing the board and crossing multiple brooks that divide the squares.23

In this peculiar world, Alice's adventure takes the form of an enormous chess game. Starting as a pawn in the second square, she must navigate across the board to reach the eighth square and become a queen12. This journey is not without its challenges, as Alice must cross multiple brooks that divide the squares, each representing a new stage in her progression3. The Red Queen and White Queen serve as important guides throughout Alice's chess-like odyssey, though their advice often confuses her more than it helps4. The White Queen, in particular, demonstrates the backwards nature of Looking-Glass World by remembering things before they happen, adding to the surreal atmosphere of Alice's quest5.

Throughout her journey in Looking-Glass World, Alice encounters a variety of peculiar characters that challenge her perceptions and understanding. She meets Tweedledee and Tweedledum, the infamous twins known for their contradictory nature, and has a conversation with Humpty Dumpty, who sits precariously on a wall1. Alice also interacts with a talking Gnat who introduces her to the insects of Looking-Glass World, and she encounters living flowers that can speak2. One of her most memorable encounters is with the White Knight, a clumsy but well-meaning character who represents Lewis Carroll himself3.

The journey through the Looking-Glass serves as a metaphor for Alice's transition from childhood to adulthood. Her progression from pawn to queen symbolizes personal growth and maturation. Upon reaching the eighth square and becoming a queen, Alice faces challenging questions about mathematics and philosophy, suggesting that the responsibilities of adulthood may be more complex than anticipated12.

The tale concludes with Alice awakening in her armchair, holding her kitten, leaving both her and the reader to ponder whether the entire adventure was merely a dream34. This ambiguous ending adds depth to the story, blurring the lines between reality and imagination, and inviting readers to reflect on their own perceptions of the world around them.