What is the symbolism of the rabbit ducking into a hole in the ground?
Probably none. Carroll had told personal stories to the Liddell children numerous times. On the famous July 4, 1862 rowing expedition, he was searching around for some new way to start the story machine going. This time, Carroll began by sending his heroine straight down a rabbit hole “without the least idea of what was to happen afterwards.” Dodgson, as usual, rowed bow facing the children in the stern. Reverend Duckworth rowed stroke, so he was between Dodgson and the Liddells. Duckworth remembers the story being spoken over his sholder. This time, there was something very different. It was now so composed and so polished that Duckworth turned around to ask “Dodgson, in this an extempore romance of yours?” “Yes” said Dodgson. “I’m inventing as we go.
