Phantasmagoria and Other Poems

by Lewis Carroll

"Phantasmagoria and Other Poems" by Lewis Carroll is a poetry collection first published in 1869. The title poem presents a whimsical dialogue between a man named Tibbets and a ghost who has invaded his home. Through seven cantos, Carroll reveals an elaborate ghost society complete with hierarchies, etiquette rules, and bureaucratic protocols. The Phantom explains his job of haunting, his fear of light, and his noble lineage while requesting beer and complaining about his host's hospitality. This playful narrative explores how the supernatural world mirrors human society's absurdities.