Alice's Adventures in Wonderland Q&A

The action that surprises Alice is when the Rabbit takes out a pocket watch and mutters to himself, "Oh dear! Oh dear! I shall be late!" This surprises Alice because it is the first indication that the rabbit is not just an ordinary rabbit, nor is he a mere talking rabbit like those that had been popular in other children's books. This description was perhaps a deliberate means by which the author hoped to elevate his story above the common stories of talking animals. He wished to emphasize that the creatures in the book talk like human beings but they also dress like humans and have human concerns such as being late for an appointment.

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland begins with Alice commenting on how dull her sister's book is due to its lack of conversations and pictures. This immediately indicates that Alice's Adventure in Wonderland is bound to contain several conversations and illustrations. The phrase also sets up the theme of the story, which is the contrast between the real world and the much more engaging world of fantasy. Additionally, it also serves as a device to show Alice's restlessness and longing for something more exciting and adventurous, which is what leads her to follow the White Rabbit and fall into the rabbit hole.

Several literature experts have put forward the theory that the Dodo was a character that represented Lewis Carroll in the world of Wonderland. This is believed to be true because of the stammer, that the author suffered from throughout his life. His real name Dodgson, would have been transformed by the stammer and become Do-Do-Dodgson. It is interesting to note that Dodgson seemed to be far more conscious of his stammering than the people around him, and he often referred to it as his "hesitation." Some have claimed that Dodgson did not speak with a stammer when conversing with children, but these claims have not been substantiated with any evidence.

The scene with the baby and the Duchess seems to suggest that Victorian society viewed a baby as an uncontrollable nuisance. In Victorian times, babies along with animals were primarily referred to as 'it' which indicates that society did not perceive them as people until they had crossed a certain threshold. It could be argued that this was perhaps due to the nature of infant mortality at the time, which was severely high and thus people interacted less closely with newborns.

In the book, the Duchess is depicted as neglectful and cruel towards the baby, treating it roughly and throwing it away when it causes her inconvenience. This could be a reflection of the Victorian attitude towards children as something to be managed and controlled, rather than as individuals with their own needs and personalities. The Duchess giving up the baby to Alice for care mirrors the use of nannies and boarding schools by the upper-class women of the time. Dodgson was sent to boarding school at a young age, and he suffered terribly due to bullying.

The Cheshire Cat is significantly different from the other animals that Alice encounters during her Adventures in Wonderland. The first and most obvious difference is that the Cat seems to have the ability to appear and disappear at will. It acts as a guide and a mentor for Alice and helps her navigate the strange world of Wonderland. The Cat does not seek to confuse and mislead Alice. It describes itself as mad like all the other inhabitants of Wonderland, but yet it behaves in the sanest manner. It offers her advice, helps her understand the rules of the world, and introduces her to other characters. Unlike other characters who are more focused on their own agendas, the Cheshire Cat seems genuinely interested in Alice's journey and her well-being. This is evidenced by the Cheshire Cat coming back to ask her about the Duchess' baby, and asking her about her opinion of the Queen. The Cheshire Cat may also have been a nod to the real-life cat that was owned by the Liddells, and it was named Dinah, just like the cat Alice has in the book.