ENG 231: Children's Literature
JC Clapp, North Seattle Community College
Discussion Questions for Alice's Adventures in
Wonderland
“There was nothing so very remarkable in that; nor did Alice think it so very much out of the way to hear the Rabbit say to itself, `Oh dear! Oh dear! I shall be late!' (when she thought it over afterwards, it occurred to her that she ought to have wondered at this, but at the time it all seemed quite natural); but when the Rabbit actually took a watch out of its waistcoat- pocket, and looked at it, and then hurried on, Alice started to her feet, for it flashed across her mind that she had never before seen a rabbit with either a waistcoat-pocket, or a watch to take out of it, and burning with curiosity, she ran across the field after it, and fortunately was just in time to see it pop down a large rabbit-hole under the hedge.” What does this tell us about Alice’s character? Also, notice how long and complicated this sentence is. Much of this book is composed of complicated sentences and a good deal of Alice is related to words and what they mean, especially when they mean different things to different people. Lewis Carroll seems to enjoy this and the potential it has to lead to confusion. Discuss Carroll’s use of language.
In the chapter, “The Mock Turtle's Story,” there’s a section containing lots of puns: “`Reeling and Writhing, of course, to begin with,' the Mock Turtle replied; `and then the different branches of Arithmetic-- Ambition, Distraction, Uglification, and Derision.'” What are the puns here? `That's the reason they're called lessons,' the Gryphon remarked: `because they lessen from day to day.' Perhaps the worst pun in the book. Notice that Alice doesn’t get it. How is that significant? What other puns can you find in the book? Do you think that Lewis Carroll is making fun of schools in general or just in Wonderland?
A lot of Alice contains nonsense. This is at least partially because Lewis Carroll himself was fascinated by nonsense. In Wonderland what is nonsense to some characters is sensible to others. It has been said that "nonsense" in books, like satire, depends on the writer living in a world that is very "sensible" and stable. Do you agree with this idea? In what ways was Lewis Carroll's world sensible and stable? What governs the order in the story?
Which characters would be considered the “adults” of the story? Which characters would be considered the “children”? What does this book say about what it means to be a child? An adult? Which is valued more?
In the chapter titled “The Rabbit sends in a Little Bill,” it says, “It was the White Rabbit, trotting slowly back again, and looking anxiously about as it went, as if it had lost something; and she heard it muttering to itself `The Duchess! The Duchess! Oh my dear paws! Oh my fur and whiskers! She'll get me executed, as sure as ferrets are ferrets! Where can I have dropped them, I wonder?'” What do we learn in the opening paragraphs of this chapter about positions in society? How does the White Rabbit behave towards those he thinks are above him? Towards those he thinks are below him? What commentary is Carroll making about social order?
Much of this book can be read as having to do with drugs, drug use, and drug abuse. Find parts of the book that have drug-related symbolism and motifs. What’s the message, if there is one, about drug use/abuse in this book? Will children “get it”? Should the message be pointed out to children? Why or why not?
What are some of the major themes of this story, and how does Carroll develop them? Are they ones that are relevant and clear to children? Why has this book become such a classic? What specific attributes has allowed it to stand the test of time?
What does the final paragraph tell us about what Carroll thought the point of his story was? Does what Carroll believes to be the point and what children readers believe to be the point the same thing?