By Lewis CarrollChapter 1

Before you read the chapter:The title of Lewis Carroll's famous novel may remind readers of the many theme parks which have sprung up with that name: Canada's Wonderland; Dutch Wonderland Theme Park; Dubai's Wonderland Theme and Water Park, and many more. How do you think Alice's Wonderland and these theme park wonderlands will differ?

Describe what you already know about this novel before you begin reading it.

Questions1. Alice is of the opinion that a book without pictures and conversation is

not one she would be interested in. In your opinion, what are two other things which make a book interesting?

2. Personification is a literary device in which animals or inanimate objects are portrayed in a story as people, such as by walking and talking or being given human-like facial features. In what three ways is the rabbit with pink eyes an example of this in Chapter One?

3. Describe the setting of the story as Chapter One begins.

4. Sometimes English expressions make little sense to a person learning the language. An example of such an expression is found in this chapter: burning with curiosity. In actual fact we know that Alice is not really on fire. What is the author really saying?

b. Give another example of an expression which might be quite confusing to someone learning the language.

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5. When Alice falls into the rabbit hole she finds she has plenty of time to look about her and decides that the hole is either very deep or she is falling very slowly. What clue do we have in the story which supports one of these two possibilities?

6. What is the rabbit-hole and Alice falling down the rabbit-hole a metaphor for?

7. What could the rabbit-hole also symbolize?

8. After arriving safely at the bottom of the hole, Alice found a golden key sitting on a table made of glass. When she opened the tiny door with this key, what unusual sight did she see on the other side of the door?

9. What happened to Alice when she drank from the bottle?

a. Why might drinking from this bottle have been a rather unwise thing to do?

b. What still prevented her from going through the tiny door?

c. What do the large doors that are locked symbolize?

ActivityA simile is a comparison using the words “like” or “as”. An example from Chapter One is “I must be shutting up like a telescope."What two things are being compared in this example?

Invent your own similes comparing the following items with something from yourimagination:

a) the frightened cry of a child

b) the slamming of a car door

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Chapter 2

Before you read the chapterChapter Two finds Alice in a great state of confusion and frustration. Why might being in a strange place with unusual characters cause one to feel like this?

Questions1. When Alice makes drastic changes in size by growing extremely large,

what is foreshadowed?

2. Which of the following motifs is most evident when Alice fluctuates in size?

3. What event made Alice think about sending a present to one's own feet?

4. What resulted from Alice shedding gallons of tears?

5. Who was the White Rabbit worried about being kept waiting?

b. Why do you suppose he was worried about this?

6. When Alice began thinking confused thoughts, what two girls did she consider she may have been changed into?

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7. Why does Alice attempt to recite her multiplication time tables when she’s falling?

8. What did holding the fan cause Alice to do?

9. What subject did Alice bring up with the mouse that the rodent found offensive?

10. Other than the mouse, what four animals had fallen into the pool with Alice?

11. Chapter 2 contains an important literary device called a cliffhanger. A cliffhanger usually occurs at the end of a chapter when the author leaves the reader in suspense. How is this true in Chapter 2? Why do you think the author ended the chapter like this?

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Chapter 3

Before you read the chapter:In Chapter Three Alice continues to meet some rather interesting and unusual characters. Think about the most unusual adult you have ever met. Who was it and what was there about this person that made him/her fascinating?

QuestionsCloze CallComplete the following exercise filling in the correct words from the Word Box. Death Dodo Dinah Judge ThimbleOffended Duck Comfit Lorry JuryDry Conqueror Eaglet Race Circle

At the end of Chapter Three we learn that at least four animals are in the pool with Alice. They are a ____________, a ___________, a ____________ and an ____________. After climbing from the pool the first question was, how to get _______ again. Mouse then began a very dry and boring speech about, among other things, William the ______________. The Dodo decided that the best way to get dry would be to have a Caucus-_________. The course was set out in the shape of a __________. For prizes Alice awarded everyone a _________, except herself. She received a ___________ for her efforts. In the mouse's

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poem the Fury offered to be both __________ and __________ and condemn the mouse to __________. After discussing the poem, Alice accused the mouse of being easily __________________. Alice's cat was named _______________.

More Questions1. How does Alice feel about her conversation with adults based on her

conversation with the Mouse?

2. What is Lewis Carroll satirizing with the Caucus-Race?

3. What is the pun of “dry” that the Mouse says?

4. How does Alice’s abandonment from the animals affect her?

Language ActivitiesA. Shape Poems A Shape Poem is a poem that describes an object and is written in the shape of its subject. In Chapter 3 we see an example of a Shape Poem describing the conversation of the mouse. A shape can be in the form of a pyramid, a hand or foot, a flower, snowflake or any interesting topic.Create your own Shape Poem on a topic of your choice. You may wish to consider a topic featured in this novel, such as rabbits, mice, a key, or a hole in the ground.

B. HomonymsThe author has some fun in this chapter with the two words - tail and tale. When the mouse says,"Mine is a long and a sad tale!" Alice thinks he is actually referring to his tail. These two words are examples of homonyms - two words are homonyms if they are pronounced or spelled the same way but have different meanings.

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Think of two more examples of homonyms and use each in a sentence showing the meaning of each word quite clearly.Example 1Homonyms Sentence

1. ________________________________________________________________2. ________________________________________________________________

Example 2Homonyms Sentence1. ________________________________________________________________2. ________________________________________________________________

C. The author loves to use unusual expressions in this novel. Several examples of this are used in the first three chapters. Put them in your own words.

the patience of an oyster

shedding gallons of tears

I must be shutting up like a telescope

Chapter 4Before you read the chapters: Think of one advantage to being a giant and one disadvantage.

QuestionsIndicate whether the following statements are True or False.1. The White Rabbit was afraid that Dinah would execute him for losing the fan and pair of white gloves.

True or False

2. The White Rabbit thought Alice was Mary Ann, his housemaid.

True or False

3. Shortly after finding the fan and white gloves, Alice spotted a bottle with the words "Don't Drink Me" on it.

True or False

4. After drinking half the bottle Alice grew so big her head reached the ceiling.

True or False

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5. Alice said that when she grew up she would get her sister to write a book about her.

True or False

6. The White Rabbit couldn't get into the room because Alice's elbow was pressed against the door.

True or False

7. Pat was the one who informed the White Rabbit that it was an arm he saw in the window.

True or False

8. The White Rabbit told Pat that he must go down the chimney.

True or False

9. When the White Rabbit threatened to burn the house down Alice suggested she would set Dinah on to them.

True or False

10. After eating the cakes Alice grew even larger still. True or FalseMore questions:

1. What is ironic about how the White Rabbit treats Alice in Chapter 4?

2. Could the garden that Alice attempts to get to but can never enter symbolize innocence? If so, how?

Your ThoughtsDescribe the one scene or event in the novel which you have enjoyed the most thus far.Chapter 5

Before you read the chapters:Chapter Five has a very intriguing title – “Advice From a Caterpillar". Predict what this advice might be.

Questions1. Investigate: The caterpillar is sitting on a mushroom smoking a

hookah. Look up hookah – and explain what it is.

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2. Alice suggests that the caterpillar would one day be more understanding about the changes she had experienced that day. When did she think this might happen?

3. The poem "You are old, Father William" which Alice quotes to the caterpillar was a nonsense verse by Lewis Carroll which was a parody of Robert Southey's poem "The Old Man's Comforts and How He Gained Them", which was written about 70 years before Alice's adventures were penned by Carroll. Find out what a parody is, and suggest why the author might have included this in the novel.

b. What is the rhyming scheme of this poem?

4. How did Alice discover what to eat in order to change her size once again?

5. Why was the Pigeon forever on the lookout for serpents?

6. At the end of this chapter why does Alice eat herself down to nine inches in height?

7. Why does Alice not know who she is when she meets the Caterpillar in Chapter 5?

8. How is Alice most like a caterpillar?

9. How is the puppy in Chapter 4 different or similar to other animals in Wonderland?

10. Who does the Caterpillar likely represent from Alice’s real life?

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11. When the Pigeon mistakes Alice for a serpent, Alice says she is a little girl, but little girls eat eggs quite as much as serpents. The Pigeon says if that’s true, she’s a kind of serpent. What does she mean?

Language ActivitiesA. The author seems to enjoy using alliteration – a literary device where the author repeats the same sound at the beginning of several words. An example from this chapter is: “'Serpent!' screamed the Pigeon” and "so she set to work"..Using your imagination, create your own examples of alliteration from the following topics.Each example must contain a minimum of three words.

The sound of a young boy sobbingThe noise of angry beesFrom your imagination

B. As Chapter 5 concludes, poor Alice must be quite confused and feeling very badly about her situation. Describe a similar emotional experience in your own life. What happened and how did you feel?

Chapter 6

Before you read the chapters: In this chapter we meet a very famous character, the Cheshire Cat. By the time Lewis Carroll wrote this novel, almost 150 years ago, there were already a couple of popular expressions regarding the grin of the Cheshire Cat. One was by Francis Grose (The Second Edition, Corrected and Enlarged, London 1788): "CHESHIRE CAT. He grins like a Cheshire cat; said of any one who shows his teeth and gums in laughing." With a partner, consider two or three more expressions involving the characteristics of animals (i.e. "strong as an ox").

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Questions1. The word "livery" has many possible meanings. Read how the word is

used in the first paragraph of this chapter and using a dictionary determines its proper meaning.

Livery

2. Investigate: The Duchess receives an invitation in this chapter to a game of croquet with the Queen. Look up Croquet and find out at least two facts about this very British game. 1.2.

3. What was there about Footman's attitude toward Alice which caused her to remark about him, "he's perfectly idiotic"?

4. Describe the scene which greeted Alice in the kitchen.

5. Describe what happened to the baby while Alice was holding it.

6. A Duchess is a member of the aristocracy, the upper class. What is ironic about the Duchess’ behavior?

7. How is the cook’s behavior ironic?

8. Why did the Cheshire Cat assume that Alice must be mad?

b. What proof did the Cat offer to Alice that she (the Cat) was indeed mad?9. Is it significant that the Cheshire Cat says “We’re all mad here”? If so, why?

10.What is ironic about the Cheshire Cat?

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11. How is the Cheshire Cat different from the other animals that Alice has encountered in Wonderland?

12. At the end of the chapter why did Alice assume she had reached the house of the March Hare?

A. Foreshadowing is a literary device used by authors to provide clues for the reader so that they are able to predict what might occur later in the story. How might the conclusion to this chapter prove to be an example of foreshadowing?

B. In this chapter the Duchess sings a lullaby to the baby: Speak roughly to your little boy,And beat him when he sneezes:He only does it to annoy,Because he knows it teases.1. What is the rhyming scheme of this little poem?_____ _____ _____ _____

2. How many syllables are in each line?_____ _____ _____ _____

3. Now write your own verse with the same rhyming scheme and number of syllables in each line as the verse from the novel. Use the guide below to help you. The last word in each line has been given for you.

cat, sunshine: sat, mine.

Chapters 7

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Before you read the chapters:In this chapter Alice attends a rather unusual tea party hosted by the March Hare and attended by a couple of other unusual characters. Describe below a rather memorable social event that you once attended (i.e. a birthday party or a visit to the home of a relative.) What was there about the event that made it so memorable?

Questions1. "Why is a raven like a writing desk?" The Hatter asks Alice this riddle

but never gives her the answer. With a partner come up with at least one plausible response to this riddle.

2. Besides Alice, who were the three characters attending the Hatter's Tea Party?

3. The March Hare's watch is most unusual. How so? Record one advantage and one disadvantage to such a watch.

4. Why does the Hatter suggest that Alice is not on the best of terms with time?

a. What literary term does the Hatter use when he says, “‘If you knew Time as well as I do, … you wouldn’t talk about wasting it. It’s him’”?

5. What is ironic about the Tea Party?

6. Why had the Queen threatened the Hatter with, "Off with his head!" and what was the result?

7. In the Dormouse's story he claims that the three little sisters lived on treacle. What is treacle?

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8. Why did all the members of the tea party move into each other's places at the table?

9. Describe where Alice finds herself as the chapter ends.

Language ActivitiesA. One of the characters introduced in this chapter is a dormouse. Using resources in your school library or on the Internet, investigate this fascinating creature. Below record three interesting facts about the dormouse.

The Dormouse1.2.3.

B. A Letter HomeIt had been a most difficult and confusing time for poor Alice to this point in our story. Imagine that you are Alice and write a letter home to your parents or to your best friend describing your adventures during these first seven chapters. Be sure to describe your feelings as well as some of the things you have been going through. Your letter should be at least a half-page in length and follow the proper format of a friendly letter.

C. The Five W’s ChartChoose a major event from the novel, then complete the following chart with the important details.

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What happened?Who was there?Why did it happen?When did it happen?Where did it happen?Chapter 8Before you read the chapters:In this chapter we meet a most unpleasant character – the Queen. Every good book usually has at least one character who is very hard to warm up to. Why do you think such characters are important to a good story?

BONUS QUESTION: The author enjoys using unusual and creative expressions in his novels. Rewrite the following three expressions in your own words: Leave off that!We've no time to wash the things between whiles.If everybody minded their own business the world would go round a deal faster than it does.QuestionsIndicate whether the following statements are True or False.

1. As the chapter opens Alice discovers three gardeners painting white roses red.

T or F

2. Last of all in the procession came the King and Queen of Diamonds.

T or F

3. Alice felt that she needn't be afraid of them because they were only a pack of cards.

T or F

4. Alice was much too intimidated by the Queen to speak rudely to her.

T or F

5. Alice prevented the three gardeners from being beheaded by hiding them behind the water fountain.

T or F

6. The Duchess was to be executed for boxing the Queen's ears.

T or F

7. For the game of croquet hedgehogs were used as mallets and flamingos as balls.

T or F

8. The reappearance of the Cheshire Cat made Alice happy because she would have someone to talk to.

T or F

9. The Queen had only one way of settling all difficulties. T or F15

10. The Duchess was brought from prison to ask her if it was possible for the

T or F

What does Alice learn as soon as she enters the garden she’s long desired to enter for the novel?

How is the croquet game like the Caucus-Race from Chapter 3?

What is Carroll satirizing about the monarchy in Chapter 8?

How does the Queen rule Wonderland?Why is the Queen the voice of authority?

All of the following events showcase how the Cheshire Cat in Chapter 8 is wise except which?

Language ActivitiesA. Interview at least three other students for their views of this novel.

(Try to get both positive and negative comments.) Write a brief report putting these views together.

B.Observation ChartAlice's Adventures in Wonderland is a novel filled with sights and sounds.Look back over the novel and get as many examples of the five senses, listing them in the chart below with a brief description about where each was found. You may wish to choose your examples from one particular scene, or include a number of different scenes.

Sight Sound Touch Taste Smell

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Chapter 9Before you read the chapters: One of the most popular features of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland is the fascinating array of characters we get to meet. Chapter 9 introduces us to a couple more of these memorable figures. Other than Alice, who has been your favorite character to this point - and why did you find him/her/it so intriguing?

Questions1. How did Alice attempt to justify the crankiness of the Duchess when she was in the kitchen?

2. Alice associates different foods with the moods of people. Below are listed her examples. Complete the chart with additional examples.

Food The Mood it Creates Another Food That Would Create This Mood

Pepper Hot-temperedChamomile Bitter

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Vinegar Sour

Barely-sugar Sweet-tempered

3. The Duchess seems obsessed with every story or incident having a moral. What does it mean for a story to have a moral? Give an example.

4. Investigate: The Duchess and Alice have a small disagreement as to where mustard comes from. Using resources in your school library or on the Internet, find out how the mustard we put on our hot dogs comes into being.

5. What was Alice's opinion of the present offered to her by the Duchess?

6. The Gryphon is an important character in Chapter 9. Using resources in your school library or on the Internet, find out two facts about this legendary creature.

7. The Mock Turtle enjoys word plays (puns). At one point he says, "We called him Tortoise because he taught us." Find another example of word play in a remark made by the Gryphon in the Chapter's last five paragraphs.

a. Why does Carroll include so many puns in Chapter 9? What was their likely purpose?

8. How is Alice showing that she’s a dynamic character in Chapter 9?

9. What is Carroll satirizing in Victorian literature with the Duchess and her incessant need to point out the moral in each remark that Alice says?

Language ActivitiesA. Try to reassemble the word parts listed below into ten compound words found in Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.

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Thunder be some them other mush every footstorm under her body headed stand selves thing wise steps room self

1. _________________

2. _________________

3. _________________

4. _________________

5. _________________

6. _________________

7. _________________

8. _________________

9. _________________

10. _________________

B. The author, Lewis Carroll, is famous for using the word play as a literary technique in his novels. Chapter 9 features some of the best examples of this in Alice's conversation with the Mock Turtle. Complete the chart below by identifying the "real" subject in each case. The first one is done for you. [The last two may be a challenge. Hint: they are languages].

Mock Turtle's Subject The "Real" SubjectReeling Reading

WrithingAmbition

Distraction

UglificationDerisionMystery

Seaography

Drawling

Stretching

Fainting in Coils

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Laughing

Grief

Extension ActivityMock Turtle Soup is the basis for the character of the Mock Turtle in this novel, the joke being that Mock Turtle Soup is supposedly made from Mock Turtles. Mock turtle soup is an English soup that was created in the mid-18th century as a cheaper imitation of green turtle soup. It often used the brains and organ meats such as calf's head, or a calf's foot to duplicate the texture and flavor of the original's turtle meat. Create your own unusual ingredients for the following two "mock" soups.

Mock Soup Ingredients

Mock Spider Soup

Mock Octopus Soup

Chapter 10Before you read the chapters:The Quadrille is an historic dance performed by four couples in a square formation. It is believed that the traditional square dancing came from the Quadrille. What are three other dance forms which are popular in the 21st Century?

Questions1. What were thrown out into the sea as far as they could be thrown during the Lobster Quadrille?

2. Investigate: The fish called the whiting is introduced to the reader in this chapter. Using resources in your school library or on the Internet, research two facts about this fish.

3. Describe Alice's feeling when the Mock Turtle and Gryphon finished their song and dance routine.

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4. What word play does the Mock Turtle make with the word porpoise?

5. What does the expression, "turns out his toes" refer to (as explained by Alice)?

6. What event interrupts things as the Chapter ends?

7. What type of irony is evident when the Mock Turtle sings about turtle soup?

8. What type of character is Alice in Chapter 10?

9. Why is the Mock Turtle complaining that Alice’s poem is “uncommon nonsense” ironic?

Language ActivitiesA. Copy out any three sentences from this chapter and underline the nouns.1. _______________________________________________________________________________

2. _______________________________________________________________________________

3. _______________________________________________________________________________

B. The word “stand” can be used as a noun or a verb, depending on the sentence. Use your imagination and write sentences to illustrate how this word can be used as both a noun and verb.

STAND

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NounVerb

C. We have already read about a number of important conflicts in this novel. Conflict is an important element in a novel. There are generally three types of conflict: person against person; person against self; and person against nature. Find two examples of conflict inAlice's Adventures in Wonderland, and tell which type of conflict each is.

1.

2.

D. A News ReportImagine you are a newspaper reporter at the time and place of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. You are asked by your editor

Chapter 11

Before you read the chapters:In Chapter 11 Alice attends a very unusual court session in Wonderland. What do you think would be one exciting thing about attending a session of a normal trial? How do you think the session described in this chapter might be different?

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Cloze CallComplete the following exercise filling in the correct words from the Word Box. suppressed grow hat treacle butter slates canvas cook pencil

tea birds Alice wig teacup Lizard tarts Knave court King

At the trial, a large dish of _____________ sat on a table in the middle of the

_____________. The judge at the trial was really the ____________, and Alice knew who he was right away because of his large _________. Some of the jurors were animals and some were _________. These creatures spent much of the trial writing furiously on their ____________. Alice stole the pencil from Bill the __________ because his____________ squeaked. The ____________ of Hearts was accused of stealing tarts from the Queen. The Hatter came to the trial with a ___________ in one hand and a piece of bread-and-_____________ in the other because he hadn't finished his __________. When asked by the king to remove his _________ the Hatter replied that it wasn't his to remove. In the midst of the trial Alice realized she was beginning to ____________ again. The guinea pig was _______________ by being slipped into a ______________ bag and then being sat upon. When called upon to give evidence, the ___________ refused. The Dormouse caused quite a stir by calling out "____________" in a sleepy voice. The last witness to be called in this chapter was ___________________.More Questions

Why is Alice pleased that she recognizes so much at the trial in Chapter 11?

How do we know that the trail is going to have no order?

How is Alice aware that Wonderland is a dream and that the dream will likely soon end?

By standing up to the Queen, what has Alice accomplished?

Extension ActivitiesA. A Book CoverCreate a book cover for Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. Be sure to include the title, author, and a picture that will make other students want to read the novel.

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Chapter 12Before you read the chapters:Briefly predict how you think the novel will end.

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Questions1. What might the title of Chapter 12, Alice’s Evidence, suggest beyond Alice being called to give evidence at the trial? What piece of evidence does Alice realize?

2. The climax of a story occurs when the main problem of the story is solved. When does the climax of this novel occur?

3. Describe your feelings about this novel. What was one thing you really enjoyed, and something you think that the author might have improved?

4. Describe the accident caused by Alice at the beginning of this chapter.

5. According to the King, what was the oldest rule in the book?

6. What objection did Alice make regarding the oldest rule in the book?

7. Who did the King accuse of writing the poem?

8. How did the King account for the poem not being written in the accused's handwriting?

9. In a nutshell, what was the poem about?

10. When the King suggested they consider the verdict, what unusual suggestion did the Queen make to this?

11. What real life origins does Carroll suggest influenced Alice’s dream that her sister hears?

12. What comfort does Alice’s sister offer us about when Alice grows up?

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13. Has Alice matured by the end of the novel?

14. Which of the following statements would Carroll agree with based on the resolution?

15. Applying Joseph Campbell’s The Hero with a Thousand Faces theory to Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, what is the inner journey that Alice experiences on this external journey in her dream?

16. Describe your feelings about the way the author ended the novel. Was it satisfying to you? Why or why not?

Language & Extension ActivitiesA. A Book ReviewNow is your chance to share the novel with others. Write a review of Alice'sAdventures in Wonderland, describing in no more than one paragraph an outline of the plot, and then in another paragraph how you enjoyed the novel (or didn’t) and why. (Please don’t give away the ending!) This review can be posted to a website like www.amazon.com.

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B. Lights, Camera, Action!You are the casting director for a project designed to put together a movie version of Alice'sAdventures in Wonderland. Who would you cast for the principal roles:1. Alice –2. Queen of Hearts –3. King of Hearts –4. Hatter –5. March Hare –6. Dormouse –7. Duchess –8. Cheshire Cat –

You may wish to choose Hollywood actors for this task, or for some fun, limit your choices to people in your school (teachers and students). Beside each selection write a brief explanation for your choice.Sequence ChartList the main events of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland in the order in which they occurred.

Alice's Adventures in WonderlandFirst

Next

Next

Next

Next

Next

Next

Next

Last

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