Down The Rabbit Hole Broad Questions Answers 4th Semester Class 12 -WBCHSE

Down The Rabbit Hole – Lewis Carroll Questions Answers(6 marks)

In the 4th Semester English exam 2026 under the new syllabus with the semester system, there are 2-mark and 6-mark questions. Answers to 2-mark questions should be within 30 words, and 6-mark questions within 120 words.

1. Describe what happens when Alice falls down the rabbit-hole.

Alice follows the White Rabbit into a deep hole. She falls very slowly. The hole first goes straight, then drops down. She sees cupboards, bookshelves, maps, and pictures on the walls. She picks up an empty jar labelled “ORANGE MARMALADE” and puts it back. She thinks about reaching the centre of the earth. She imagines people walking with their heads downward. She talks about her cat Dinah. She wonders if cats eat bats. Finally, she lands safely on dry leaves and sticks. She is completely unhurt.

2. What was special about the White Rabbit? Why did Alice follow the White Rabbit?

The White Rabbit is not ordinary. He wears a waistcoat, carries a pocket watch, and speaks like a human. He seems hurried and worried about being late. Alice follows him because she has never seen such a rabbit before. Her curiosity is awakened by his strange appearance. She wants to know where he is going. Without thinking of consequences, she runs after him and jumps into the rabbit-hole. This decision leads her into the magical world of Wonderland.

3. Describe Alice’s experiences in the hall of locked doors.

Alice lands in a long, low hall lit by lamps. All around her are locked doors. She tries every door but none opens. She feels puzzled. Then she notices a three-legged glass table with a tiny golden key. The key is too small for the doors. She finds a low curtain hiding a little door about fifteen inches high. The golden key fits perfectly. Through it, she sees a beautiful garden. She longs to enter but is too large. Then she finds a bottle labelled “DRINK ME” and a cake labelled “EAT ME.”

4. What did Alice say about Dinah? How does her imagination show her childlike nature?

While falling, Alice thinks about her pet cat Dinah. She says Dinah will miss her that night. She hopes her family will give Dinah her milk at tea-time. She wishes Dinah were with her to catch bats. She wonders if cats eat bats or bats eat cats. She repeats this dreamily until she falls asleep. These thoughts show her childlike nature. Her imagination turns a frightening fall into a playful daydream. Her love for her pet and her innocent questions reveal her tender and curious mind.

5. Who makes the remark “Oh my ears and whiskers, how late it’s getting!” and in what situation? What does this line tell us about the White Rabbit?

The White Rabbit makes this remark. He is in a great hurry and looking at his watch. He turns a corner and hurries down the passage. Alice hears him saying this as she follows him. She is surprised to see a rabbit talking and checking the time. The line shows the White Rabbit is worried about being late. He is not a normal rabbit. He has human-like qualities. He can talk, wear a waistcoat, and carry a watch. His anxious nature makes Alice curious.

6. Why does Alice decide to eat the cake? What does this show about her way of thinking?

Alice is eager to enter the beautiful garden. She has the golden key but is too large for the little door. Eating the cake may make her bigger or smaller. She thinks either way she will get into the garden. So she decides to eat the cake. This shows her brave and curious nature. She likes adventures and faces challenges fearlessly. She can find simple solutions to problems. She knows strange things may happen and is ready to accept new experiences. Her open mind and strong desire to explore the unknown are clear.

7. Bring out the significance of the title “Down the Rabbit-Hole.”

The title has both literal and symbolic meaning. Literally, it describes Alice following the White Rabbit and falling down a deep hole into a strange world. Symbolically, it represents entering a new stage of awareness and imagination. The rabbit-hole marks the boundary between the ordinary world and the fantastic world of Wonderland. It shows the beginning of Alice’s journey from reality to fantasy. In this new world, logic and reality are turned upside down. The title captures the spirit of adventure, curiosity, and transformation. It also suggests a journey into the unknown where anything is possible.

8. Make a short character sketch of Alice.

Alice is the young protagonist. She is curious, imaginative, and brave. At first, she is bored sitting beside her sister. She dislikes books without pictures or conversations. When she sees the White Rabbit, she follows him without hesitation. While falling, she stays calm and observant. She thinks about many things and talks to herself. She is thoughtful and uses her logical mind. She checks the bottle before drinking. She scolds herself when she cries. She is affectionate and thinks about her cat Dinah. Alice is a lively, adventurous girl who loves to explore new things.

9. Make a short character sketch of the White Rabbit.

The White Rabbit is a fictional character. He plays an important role in starting Alice’s adventure. He wears a waistcoat and carries a pocket watch. He talks to himself and seems always in a hurry. He mutters, “Oh dear! Oh dear! I shall be too late!” His unusual behaviour makes Alice curious. He jumps into the rabbit-hole and Alice follows him. Without him, Alice’s adventure would not begin. He does not speak directly to Alice. He appears briefly but leaves a strong impression. He represents the anxiety and stress of adult life.

10. Why does Alice feel it is dull for life to go on in the usual way?

Alice feels life is dull when it continues in the usual way because she has experienced many strange things in Wonderland. She has eaten a piece of cake and expected something unusual to happen. She holds her head to see if she is growing or shrinking. But nothing happens. She feels tired and disappointed. In the past, she was happy with normal things. Now she desires exciting and unusual experiences. Wonderland has changed her mindset. Odd and magical things happen there regularly. So ordinary life seems boring to her.

11. Describe Alice’s experience when she tried to enter the garden.

Alice was eager to enter the lovely garden. She had the golden key and opened the little door. But she forgot to take the key with her. She returned to the table to get it. But she had shrunk and could not reach the key on the high table. She tried to climb one of the table legs but it was too slippery. She tried again and again but failed each time. She felt tired and hopeless. The poor girl sat down on the floor and cried bitterly. Her journey to Wonderland was a mix of magic and struggle.

12. What does Alice’s decision to drink the “Drink Me” bottle say about her bravery and impulsiveness?

Alice’s decision to drink from the “Drink Me” bottle shows both bravery and impulsiveness. She first checks if the bottle is marked “poison.” She remembers stories where children got hurt by not being careful. She knows poison can make her sick. She makes sure the drink is safe before tasting it. This shows her courage to face the unknown. Her impulsiveness is also clear. She drinks the liquid quickly without much thought. She does not worry too much about the result. She is curious and ready for adventure. Alice is bold and acts on impulse.

13. How does Alice’s reaction to the Rabbit wearing a waistcoat reflect her sense of wonder and curiosity?

Alice shows her sense of wonder and curiosity when she sees the White Rabbit wearing a waistcoat. The Rabbit has pink eyes and carries a pocket watch. He mutters about being late. Alice has never seen an animal do such things before. This strange sight makes her very curious. She follows the Rabbit without thinking about the consequences. She does not even consider how she will get out again. These actions show how Alice is full of curiosity and ready for adventure. Her impulsive pursuit of the Rabbit proves that she loves to explore strange and magical events.

14. What happens when Alice jumps down the rabbit-hole in both physical and psychological aspects?

Physically, Alice falls down a very deep hole. The fall is slow and gives her time to look around. She sees cupboards, bookshelves, maps, and pictures on the walls. She picks up a jar of orange marmalade but it is empty. She puts it back carefully so it does not hurt anyone below. She lands on a heap of sticks and dry leaves, unhurt. Psychologically, Alice is curious and excited. She wonders what will happen next. She thinks about the distance she has fallen. She imagines meeting people who walk upside down. She feels a mix of wonder, anxiety, and childlike curiosity.

15. How did Alice feel when she saw the beautiful garden through the little door?

When Alice looked through the little door and saw the beautiful garden, she felt great joy and wonder. The bright flower beds and cool fountains seemed charming and magical. After sitting in the dull hall, the garden appeared fresh and full of life. Alice felt strongly attracted to it. She wished she could walk among the flowers and enjoy its beauty. At the same time, she felt sad and disappointed because she was too big to pass through the door. Her happiness turned into frustration and longing. She even hoped she might shrink in size to reach the garden.

16. Comment on the elements of curiosity and confusion in “Down the Rabbit-Hole.”

Curiosity and confusion play an important role in Alice’s experiences. Her curiosity is awakened when she sees the White Rabbit talking and checking his watch. This strange sight makes her eager to know more. She follows the Rabbit without thinking of the consequences. Her curiosity continues as she explores the hall, drinks from mysterious bottles, and eats the cake. At the same time, Alice feels confused because everything in Wonderland behaves illogically. Her repeated changes in size make her unsure of herself. She becomes puzzled when she cannot remember her lessons correctly. The locked doors and the golden key add to her frustration.

17. How did the drink of the bottle affect Alice?

When Alice tasted the content of the bottle, she found it very nice and tasty. She finished it quickly. The drink made her experience a strange feeling. She felt she was shutting up like a telescope. Indeed, she found herself shrunk to ten inches tall. She was overjoyed because now she could pass through the fifteen-inch door and go to the garden she longed to see. She waited a few minutes to see if she would shrink further. She grew nervous thinking she might disappear completely like a candle flame.

18. Why did the poor little thing sit down and cry?

Alice found a bottle marked “DRINK ME” on the three-legged glass table. She drank the content after checking it was not poison. After consuming the tasty liquid, she shrank to ten inches high. It was the right size for going through the little door into the lovely garden. As she got to the little door, she realized she had forgotten the key. She returned to the table to take the key but could not reach it because she was so small. She tried to climb one of the table legs but it was too slippery. She fell down. After trying a few more times, she grew tired. She sat down and started crying.

19. Who is the speaker of “I advise you to leave off this minute” and whom did she advise?

Alice is the speaker of this statement. She gave advice to herself. Alice advised herself quite bitterly. After drinking the potion from the bottle marked “DRINK ME,” Alice had shrunk enough to go through the little door to the lovely garden. When she got to the door, she realized she had forgotten the key on the table. She went back to the table and tried many times to climb it but failed. Finding no other means to obtain the key, she felt helpless. She sat down and started crying. Then her other self gave her the advice to stop crying.

20. Did Alice ever follow the advice given to herself? How did Alice scold herself?

Alice hardly followed the advice she used to give herself. Sometimes, Alice used to scold herself so severely that it would bring tears to her eyes. One day when Alice was playing croquet against herself, she cheated herself. As punishment, she tried to hit her own ears. After drinking the potion, Alice had been reduced to such a small size that she doubted if she had the stature of even one respectable person. So she thought there was no point pretending to be two people with only a size of ten inches. This behaviour shows her self-critical and imaginative nature.

21. Who is “this curious child”? What examples of pretending to be two people are given? What psychological state can be derived?

This curious child refers to Alice. Alice had a strange tendency to pretend to be two personalities. One would give advice to the other. One Alice would scold the other Alice so much that it made the real Alice cry. One day Alice tried to hit her own ears as punishment for cheating herself while playing croquet against herself. The quoted statement reveals Alice’s self-examining and self-critical nature. She pretends to play multiple roles, which shows she is imaginative and creative. Though she has a rational mind when giving advice to herself, she often disobeys it. This highlights a psychological contradiction. Her self-awareness suggests she has a potential for growth.

22. Where was the little glass box? What was inside? What did Alice decide to do with it and why?

The little glass box was lying under the three-legged table, which was made of solid glass. There was a small cake inside the box. On the cake, the words “EAT ME” were beautifully marked in currants. When Alice found the cake, she decided to eat it. She thought that if it made her grow larger, she would be able to reach the golden key and open the door to the beautiful garden. If it made her smaller, she would be able to creep under the door. So either way, she would be able to get into the garden. This shows her practical reasoning.

23. What did Alice think while eating the cake and what happened afterwards?

When Alice found the small cake inside the box, she decided to eat it. She thought that if it made her grow larger, she would reach the key on the table and open the door to the garden. If it made her smaller, she would creep under the door. At first, she ate a little bit and anxiously waited for the change. She held her hand on top of her head to feel which way her body was growing. Unlike previous occasions, no magical change occurred. She remained the same. Alice had got used to expecting only unusual things to happen. Therefore, it appeared quite dull and stupid that life went on in the common way. Considering no change to occur, she very soon finished off the cake.

24. Who said “Which way? Which way?” What made her say so? Why did she expect something to happen?

Alice said this. She found a little glass box lying under the three-legged table. There was a small cake inside the box. On the cake, the words “EAT ME” were beautifully marked in currants. Alice decided to take a chance and eat the cake, thinking either she would shrink further or grow taller. She knew either way she would get into the garden. So she took a little bite of the cake and placed her hand on top of her head to feel the transformation. She said the above-mentioned line. Alice had experienced several unusual things before. Previously, she got a bottle marked “DRINK ME” which made her shrink. So seeing the cake marked “EAT ME,” she expected something strange to happen.

25. Draw a character sketch of Alice as seen in this prose piece.

Alice is a child who loves the world of fantasy. She dislikes the realistic world of adults. She considers the book her sister was reading useless because it has no pictures or conversations. She is very curious and strong-willed. This is obvious from the way she chases the White Rabbit and explores the rabbit-hole. Her rebellious nature enables her to experience the fall fearlessly. She is a sensitive child who loves animals. She is worried about her pet cat Dinah and misses her. She is independent and self-reliant. Her ability to be a self-critic is shown when she scolds herself for forgetting the key. She has self-respect and does not want any stranger to think she is ignorant. She loves freedom and wants to get out of the dark hall into the beautiful garden. She is lively, adventurous, and brave.

26. Comment on the use of symbols in “Down the Rabbit-Hole.”

The purpose of using symbols is to represent ideas or themes more effectively through objects, characters, or situations. In “Down the Rabbit-Hole,” the White Rabbit symbolizes anxiety and stress associated with the Victorian obsession with punctuality. The rabbit-hole suggests the entrance to a fantasy land that offers an escape from the struggle and monotony of daily life. Alice’s fall down the rabbit-hole suggests entering the fantastical world of Wonderland. It symbolizes the shift from the conscious to the subconscious mind. The bottle with the label “DRINK ME” and the cake with “EAT ME” symbolise the temptations that come in our path. The lovely garden symbolizes the innocence of childhood that Alice starts losing as she matures. The tiny golden key symbolizes an opportunity to escape from reality into the world of fantasy.

27. What does the rabbit-hole represent in the story?

The rabbit-hole in the story represents an escape from the world of reality. It is a representation of the id in Freudian psychology. The id is the basic, instinctive, and entirely unconscious part of the personality that drives basic desires and needs. It seeks immediate satisfaction and aims to reduce tension and increase pleasure. Alice encounters several temptations inside the rabbit-hole. The bottle with the label “DRINK ME” and the cake with “EAT ME” are instances of the Freudian id. The rabbit-hole also presents the spirit of adventure and the desire to explore the unknown. It signifies the constant changes in our physical and mental world due to the passage of time.

28. How do the world of dreams and the world of reality merge together in “Down the Rabbit-Hole”?

“Down the Rabbit-Hole” is the story of Alice getting transported from the world of reality to a world of dream and fantasy. These two worlds merge together in the story. We see a rabbit wearing a waistcoat, carrying a watch, and speaking in human language. While going down the hole, Alice is transported to a world of the impossible where cupboards, bookshelves, maps, and pictures are found hanging at the sides of the well. In such a dreamlike setup, a totally real thing like an empty bottle of orange marmalade causes Alice great disappointment. A small golden key opens a door that can lead Alice to a garden like a lovely dream. Something as real as having a delicious drink produces a result that is possible only in dreams. The dream world also brings out the problems of the real world. The White Rabbit’s constant anxiety about getting late reflects the rush and absurdity of modern life.

29. How does Alice try to use her logical mind during her experiences in the rabbit-hole?

Alice jumps into a strange and absurd world which she tries to deal with using her logical mind. Seeing a Rabbit taking out a watch from its waistcoat-pocket, she finds it odd and rushes after it. While falling down the rabbit-hole, she lifts a jar labelled “ORANGE MARMALADE” from one of the cupboards. Finding it empty, she uses her logic and does not throw it down as it may kill somebody underneath. Instead, she puts it back in one of the cupboards. It is also logical for Alice to think that the unending fall underground may take her to the centre of the earth. When she realizes she cannot go out to the garden because the door is too small, she does not waste time waiting by the door. Instead, she comes back to the table thinking she may find something necessary there. On seeing the bottle marked “DRINK ME,” she drinks it but not before making sure it is not poison. Again, she advises herself not to become disappointed. The way Alice judges that with a size of just ten inches it is useless to pretend to be two people also indicates the logical side of her mind.

30. Discuss the main theme represented in “Down the Rabbit-Hole.”

In Lewis Carroll’s “Down the Rabbit-Hole,” the main theme is reality versus unreality or the real world versus the fantasy world. Alice’s real world is different from the fantasy world. She enters that world and right from that moment it becomes Alice’s world where elements from the two worlds merge together. It seems that logic and reason have no place in this world. But that is because the fantasy world has its own logic and reason which we know nothing about. Ever since Alice enters the rabbit-hole, she discovers that anything is possible in the fantasy world. In the physical world, no drink can make anybody shorter instantly. But in the fantasy world, it is quite a normal thing to happen. When no out-of-the-way things happen after eating the cake, she gets surprised. The monotony of a life that goes in the common way and our hidden desire to escape it may also be considered as a theme of “Down the Rabbit-Hole.”

31. How does the author bring out a child’s mindset in “Down the Rabbit-Hole”?

The author celebrates a child’s love for fantasy and imagination in “Down the Rabbit-Hole.” Alice finds her sister’s book useless because it has no pictures or conversations. That is how she rejects the world of reality and adults. Alice is curious, so she follows the White Rabbit down its hole. Curiosity and love for adventure are characteristic qualities of children. The author wants to convey that these qualities should be encouraged among children. Like a typical child, Alice is fond of things like orange marmalade, cherry-tart, custard, pineapple, toffee, and hot buttered toast. She likes to show off the knowledge she gathered in school, yet sometimes she forgets whatever she has learnt. Her reduction in size conveys the child’s helplessness. Her belief in change on having the cake conveys how children can be convinced to be hopeful. A child goes through mental struggles as the transition from childhood to adolescence comes. Alice slowly matures during her journey through the adventures to Wonderland.

32. How is humour used in the text “Down the Rabbit-Hole”?

Lewis Carroll uses humour very subtly and with utmost intelligence to make the text funny and enjoyable. Firstly, he uses nonsense humour. For example, Alice falls slowly down a rabbit-hole and has time to look around, pick things up, and wonder how far she is falling. This situation is silly and not possible in real life, which makes it funny. Secondly, wordplay and logic jokes add humour. Alice asks strange questions like whether she will fall through the earth and come out on the bottom-side of the surface. She mentions the Antipathies, people who walk with their heads downward. She mixes up geography with imagination which adds to the humour. Thirdly, the White Rabbit acts like a human. He talks, wears a waistcoat, and takes out a watch from his pocket. This is both unusual and amusing. Alice’s confused thoughts and the way she talks to herself also create humour. She tries to behave properly even when everything around her is odd. Overall, the story is full of clever, light-hearted moments that make readers smile.

33. What did Alice talk to herself about her school learning while falling through the rabbit-hole?

Alice wondered if she was near the centre of the earth. She thought she had fallen four thousand miles down. She had learnt this in school. She knew it was not the right time to show off her knowledge as no one was listening. She uttered grand words like “Latitude” and “Longitude” without knowing their meaning. She wondered if she would come out among people who walk with their heads downwards. She meant “Antipodes” but said “Antipathies.” She decided to find out if the place was New Zealand or Australia.

34. Who are Antipathies according to Alice? Why are they mentioned? Do they really exist?

According to Alice, Antipathies are people who live on the earth’s bottom-side surface. She imagines them to walk with their heads downwards. Alice mentions them as she keeps falling through the rabbit-hole. She wonders if she would come out on the bottom side of the earth among the people whom she names Antipathies. It is not clearly stated in the given text if Antipathies really exist. Even the name did not sound right to Alice. The Antipathies may be the outcome of Alice’s fertile imagination. It perhaps means the Antipodes, a way of referring to Australia and New Zealand, often used in a humorous way, especially by the British.

35. What did Alice talk to herself about Dinah while falling through the rabbit-hole?

Alice expressed her concern for her pet cat Dinah when she was falling through the rabbit-hole. She thought Dinah would miss her very much that night. She hoped her family would give her pet milk at tea-time. Alice wished that Dinah were down there with her. Next moment she realized that the cat would not get mice in the air, so she might catch bats. Then in a dreamy sort of way, she asked herself if cats ate bats or if bats ate cats. She could not answer both questions. She felt she was dozing off and had just begun to dream that she was walking hand in hand with Dinah. In her dream, she was asking Dinah earnestly if she had ever eaten a bat. These are the things Alice talked to herself about Dinah before the fall was over.

36. What did Alice do immediately after her fall was over?

After falling through the rabbit-hole for quite some time, Alice landed on a heap of sticks and dry leaves. She was not hurt at all and jumped up on to her feet at once. She looked up but there was only darkness overhead. There was a long passage before her and she could see the White Rabbit hurrying down it. She realized that even a moment must not be lost. She rushed behind it like wind and heard the Rabbit exclaim as it turned a corner that it was getting late. She was close behind it while turning the corner but soon she could no longer see the Rabbit. Then she found herself in a low, long hall that was lit up by a row of lamps hanging from the roof.

37. What did Alice see in the hall after landing?

After landing, Alice saw the White Rabbit hurrying down a long passage. She followed it and reached a long, low hall lit up by a row of lamps hanging from the roof. She could not see the White Rabbit anywhere but there were many locked doors all around the hall. Suddenly, Alice found a small golden key on a three-legged glass table. She tried to open the doors with the key but none of those opened. Then she spotted a small door about fifteen inches high behind a curtain. The door opened with the key and outside there was the loveliest garden Alice had ever seen. She longed to wander among the bright flowers and cool fountains but the door was too small for her and her head got stuck. Alice wondered if she could somehow fold herself up like a telescope and go out of the dark hall.

38. Where was the key kept? Who found the key? What was the use of this golden key?

The key was kept on a three-legged table, which was made of solid glass, in the long, low hall. Alice, the protagonist of the story, found the key. First, Alice thought that the key belonged to one of the doors in the hall. Unfortunately, it did not fit any of those doors. Either the locks were too large or the key was too small. Then on the second time round, Alice found a low curtain and behind it was a fifteen-inch high little door. She tried the golden key in the lock and to her great delight it fitted and opened the door. The key allowed her to discover a small passage leading to the loveliest garden she had ever seen. This key symbolised opportunity and the chance to explore the fantastical world beyond the hall.

39. When had Alice begun to think that very few things indeed were really impossible?

After finding the fifteen-inch high small door behind a curtain, Alice opened it with the golden key. Then she could see a small passage which was not much larger than a rat-hole. She knelt down and looked along the passage into the loveliest garden. She wanted to get out of the dark hall and roam around the beds of bright flowers and cool fountains. Soon she realized even if her head would pass through the doorway, her shoulders would not. She wished she was like a telescope that could be folded up to become small so that she could pass the doorway. After having experienced many strange things, Alice had begun to think that very few things were really impossible and there was a chance she might actually fold up like a telescope.

40. Why was the conclusion drawn that there seemed to be no use in waiting by the little door? What did Alice do then?

After finding the fifteen-inch high small door behind a curtain, Alice opened it with the golden key. Then she could see a small passage which was not much larger than a rat-hole. She knelt down and looked along the passage into the loveliest garden. She wanted to get out of the dark hall and roam around the beds of bright flowers and cool fountains. Soon she realized even if her head would pass through the doorway, her shoulders would not. She wished she was like a telescope that could be folded up to become small so that she could pass the doorway. After having experienced many strange things, Alice had begun to think that very few things were really impossible. But then she realized that there was no point in waiting by the door. Then Alice went back to the table. She hoped that she might find another key on it or a book of rules on how to shut people like telescopes. This time she found a little bottle on the table which was for sure not there before. A paper label was tied round the neck of the bottle with the words “DRINK ME” beautifully printed on it in large letters.

41. Who said “which certainly was not here before”? Which thing does it refer to? When was it said?

Alice, the protagonist of the story, said this. It refers to a bottle with a paper label tied around its neck with the beautifully printed words “DRINK ME” in large letters. Alice wanted to wander among the beds of bright flowers and cool fountains of the beautiful garden, which was on the other side of the small door. She soon realized it was not possible as her shoulders would not go through the doorway. Not wanting to waste time standing by the little door, Alice returned to the table hoping to find another key or a rule book on how to fold people like telescopes. Instead, there she found a bottle marked “DRINK ME.” Then Alice commented that she saw no bottle on the table before.

42. Why did Alice not drink from the bottle at first? What made her finally drink the liquid?

Though “DRINK ME” was written on the paper label tied around the neck of the bottle, wise Alice decided not to drink it in a hurry. She wanted to check whether it was marked poison or not. She had read stories about children who had got burnt, eaten up by wild beasts, and faced many such troubles because they did not follow simple rules. The children had been taught by their friends that a red hot poker would burn one if they held it for too long. If one cut one’s finger very deeply with a knife, it usually bled. Alice had never forgotten that if one drank much from a bottle marked “poison,” it would certainly harm or kill them sooner or later. Thus Alice thought if she should drink it or not before drinking the content of the bottle. However, the bottle was not marked “poison,” so Alice drank the potion quickly, finding it very nice and tasty.

43. What was she considering in her own mind? What did she do before that? What happened then?

Alice was feeling bored during the dull hours of the day. So she started thinking to herself whether it would be worth the effort to get up and pick some daisies and whether making a daisy-chain would bring her more joy than the trouble of doing it. She wondered if such a small thing could make her feel happy. Before considering picking out daisies to make a daisy-chain, Alice got very tired of sitting by her sister on the bank of a river and of having nothing to do on a hot day. Once or twice she peeped into the book her sister was reading. As the book had no pictures or conversation in it, she concluded that the book was of no use. The heat of the day also made her feel very sleepy and stupid. When Alice was engrossed in her thought, suddenly a White Rabbit with pink eyes ran by her.

44. Describe Alice’s first meeting with the White Rabbit.

One day Alice was feeling bored and tired by sitting on the riverbank with her sister as she had nothing to do. She peeped into the book her sister was reading but she found it useless as there were no pictures or conversations in it. She then thought of collecting daisies to make a daisy chain but the hot day made her feel lazy. Suddenly a White Rabbit with pink eyes ran past her saying, “Oh dear! Oh dear! I shall be too late!” Though at first it seemed quite natural, later she thought it was quite unusual for a rabbit to talk. Then the Rabbit took a watch out of its waistcoat-pocket and looking at the time hurriedly went on. Alice became curious as she had never seen a rabbit with a waistcoat-pocket or a watch in it. So she ran after it across the field and without a second thought entered into a large rabbit-hole under the hedge.

45. What was special about the White Rabbit? Why did Alice follow the White Rabbit?

The White Rabbit mirrored the peculiarity of Wonderland. It spoke in human language and behaved like a human being. The Rabbit took a watch out of its waistcoat-pocket, looked at it, and then hurried on as if it had an important task to do. These were the special things about the White Rabbit which made it different from an ordinary one. Alice had never before seen a rabbit with either a waistcoat-pocket or a watch to take out of it like a human being. It sparked Alice’s curiosity, prompting her to follow the White Rabbit in the hope of finding something interesting and out of the ordinary.

46. Who are referred to as “she” and “it” here? What motivates her to follow it? What does the action reveal about her character?

Here “she” refers to Alice, the protagonist of the story, and “it” refers to the White Rabbit. Alice is motivated by curiosity after seeing the Rabbit take a watch from its waistcoat-pocket and express worry about being late, which is unusual for a rabbit. Her curiosity is strong enough to overcome caution or fear. This action reveals that Alice is a curious and adventurous person. She is not afraid to take risks and explore new things even if they seem strange or unfamiliar. It also shows that she is determined and independent, willing to make her own decisions and follow her own path.

47. How is Alice portrayed at the introductory part of the story?

Right from the beginning of the story, Lewis Carroll shows that Alice is not like other children of her age. He wants to give a hint that she is a bit different and special. While her sister is busy reading a book, she is not interested as it does not have any pictures or conversation in it. Suddenly she sees a White Rabbit with pink eyes, dressed in a waistcoat and carrying a pocket watch. Being curious, she starts chasing it with full of wonder at how a rabbit can have all these. Following the rabbit, Alice falls down the rabbit-hole. Thus begins her journey. The introductory part begins her journey from the normal human world to Wonderland where logic takes a backseat. Thus Carroll prepares the readers from the very beginning for a journey to the world of fantasy and imagination.

48. Describe Alice’s experience in the rabbit-hole just before she put the jar into one of the cupboards.

Alice found the rabbit-hole went horizontally like a tunnel, then suddenly dipped down like a deep well. She fell so slowly that she had ample time to look around. It was too dark below to see what she would fall onto. She looked at the sides of the well. They were filled with cupboards and bookshelves. Maps and pictures hung upon pegs. She lifted a jar labelled “ORANGE MARMALADE.” It was empty. She feared dropping it might kill someone underneath. So she put it into another cupboard as she fell past it.