Madeline Marquis

Mrs. Alstot

Child Lit Per 3

15 November 2019

Alice Mini ESA #1

Reading a children’s novel such as ​Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland​ by Lewis Carroll,

as a young adult allows one to examine their life and remember how they may have acted similar

to Alice in terms of curiosity and ignorance, and how one most likely doesn’t possess those

qualities as an adult. Throughout the novel as Alice continuously changed her size, she faced a

sort of identity crisis and seemed to be unsure of who exactly she was. When a caterpillar who

Alice had just met asked her who she was, she responded “rather shyly, ‘I hardly know, Sir, just

at present- at least I know who I was when I got up this morning,’” (Carroll 55). The language

used in this passage gets the point across to readers that Alice was acting hesitant and was

uncertain how to respond to the caterpillar’s question. Alice in a way, came off as ignorant as she

didn’t seem to know who she was, and didn’t quite understand the world. I believe this is

something that a person may remember feeling as a child because children are still figuring out

who they are, but an adult is more sure of themselves and their identity, as they have a better

grasp on how the world works. In addition to ignorance, a child may feel an overwhelming sense

of curiosity as they are still learning about life. For instance, in the novel when Alice was sitting

on the bank, and first noticed the White Rabbit speak, she “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,” (Carroll 13). ​ ​In the
text, the author uses diction that illustrates to the audience how fast Alice sprung to her feet,

showing how her curiosity took over her. One may recall the childlike feeling of needing to

know more information right at that moment, and not caring where that curiosity might take

them. However, as a young adult that feeling is easier to suppress by focusing on the task at hand

and not becoming distracted by one’s impulses.​ ​The character Alice from Lewis Carroll’s ​Alice’s

Adventures in Wonderland​ brings to light many elements of childhood including ignorance and

curiosity, that people may remember from their own youth, which they have learned from or

grew out of in their adult lives.