Chapter 5: Advice from a Caterpillar

This chapter
Characters 32
Places 13
Alice talks with a blue Caterpillar about her identity crisis and her changes in size, after which she receives advice to eat from the sides of a mushroom to grow or shrink. After an incident where her neck grows excessively and a pigeon mistakes her for a serpent, Alice manages to control her height. Finally, she finds a small house in a clearing and decides to shrink again to be able to approach safely.

On stage

Alice Maintains a philosophical and frustrating conversation with the Caterpillar about her identity and size, then experiments with the mushroom to control her height and is mistaken for a serpent by a pigeon.
The Caterpillar Interrogates Alice about her identity, asks her to recite a poem, and finally explains to her that the sides of the mushroom serve to grow or shrink.
The Pigeon Attacks Alice when she pokes her long neck through the treetops, accusing her of being a serpent looking to steal its eggs.

Mentioned

Father William He is the protagonist of the poem 'You are old, Father William' that Alice recites incorrectly.
Father William's son He is the one who asks the questions in the poem that Alice recites.

Settings

The Caterpillar's Mushroom The place where the Caterpillar is found on its mushroom. It is a quiet spot where Alice tries to maintain a conversation.
The forest of tall trees A dense area where the trees are so tall that their tops look like a sea of green leaves from above. It is the home of the Pigeon.
The little house in the woods A small dwelling, about four feet high, situated in an open spot in the forest. Alice decides to shrink before approaching it.
Main 3

Alice

A curious, thoughtful, and polite girl who has the habit of talking to herself. In this chapter, she feels very confused by her constant changes in size and her inability to remember poems correctly. After talking to the Caterpillar, she learns to control her height by eating pieces of a magic mushroom, even reaching a very long neck that makes her look like a serpent to a pigeon. She finally manages to regain her normal size and then shrinks to nine inches to approach a little house.

Alice's Sister sisterThe White Rabbit pursued by AliceDinah owner of the catThe Mouse swimming and conversation companionAda acquaintance (possible alternative identity) +11 more
Chapters 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

The White Rabbit

A rabbit with pink eyes who wears a waistcoat and is always in a hurry. In this chapter, he mistakes Alice for his maid Mary Ann and orders her to find his gloves and fan. He is authoritative with his servants (Pat and Bill) and becomes very frightened when Alice grows in his house, even proposing to burn it down.

Alice is pursued by herThe Duchess servant or acquaintance fearful of her reactionPat boss/masterBill boss/masterMary Ann master
Chapters 1, 2, 4

The Duchess

A character with a supposedly strong temperament who could execute the White Rabbit if he is late.

The White Rabbit superior or person to whom the rabbit must answerAlice rude hostess
Chapters 2, 4
Secondary 17

Alice's Sister

Alice's sister, who reads a book without pictures or conversations on the riverbank.

Alice sister
Chapter 1

The Mouse

A mouse that falls into the pool of tears. He is very sensitive, especially regarding cats and dogs, which he hates deeply due to family tradition. He seems to be cultured or at least Alice suspects he might be French. In this chapter, he appears as an authority figure trying to dry the group by reading a boring history lesson about William the Conqueror. He is easily offended when Alice confuses his words or mentions predators.

Alice swimming companion; feels offended by her comments about petsThe Lory acquaintance
Chapters 2, 3

The Duck

A bird that falls into the pool of tears and swims to the shore. It has a very practical view of things, associating the term "it" with food like frogs or worms.

Alice shipwreck companion in the poolThe Mouse acquaintance/interlocutor
Chapters 2, 3

The Dodo

One of the curious creatures that fall into the pool of tears. He appears solemn and uses complex and pompous language. He is the one who organizes the Caucus-race.

Alice shipwreck companion in the pool
Chapters 2, 3

The Lory

A bird that is part of the group that falls into the pool. It is stubborn and hides behind its age to claim it knows more than Alice. It does not like the night air.

Alice shipwreck companion in the pool
Chapters 2, 3

The Eaglet

A small bird found in the group of animals in the water. It has no patience for long and complicated words.

Alice shipwreck companion in the poolThe Dodo acquaintance/interlocutor
Chapters 2, 3

The old Crab

An old crab who takes advantage of the situation to give moral lessons to her daughter.

The young Crab mother
Chapter 3

The young Crab

Daughter of the old Crab, with little patience for her mother's advice.

The old Crab daughter
Chapter 3

The old Magpie

A bird that leaves hurriedly after hearing about the cat Dinah, using its throat as an excuse.

Chapter 3

The Canary

A small bird that is frightened by Alice's comments about her cat.

Chapter 3

Pat

A servant of the White Rabbit who seems to be working in the garden. He speaks with a particular accent.

The White Rabbit servant/employeeBill coworker
Chapter 4

Bill

A lizard who works for the White Rabbit. He is the character everyone forces to do the dangerous tasks, such as going down the chimney. He ends up being shot through the air after a kick from Alice.

The White Rabbit servant/employeePat coworker/friendAlice victim of her kick
Chapter 4

The Guinea-pigs

Two animals that help Bill after he is shot out of the chimney, giving him something to drink from a bottle.

Bill helpers/nurses
Chapter 4

The Puppy

A large dog (from the perspective of the shrunken Alice) with round eyes that wants to play. Alice finds him in the forest.

Alice plays with her by chasing a stick
Chapter 4

The Caterpillar

A large blue caterpillar, sitting on top of a mushroom smoking a water pipe (hookah). It is indifferent, languid, severe, and constantly contradicts Alice. It is exactly three inches high. Before leaving, it reveals to Alice the secret of the mushroom for changing size.

Alice they meet at the end of the chapter
Chapters 4, 5

Brandy

A character who helps Bill after his accident, mentioned by the voices in the crowd.

Bill helper
Chapter 4

The Pigeon

A bird that lives in the forest and is very concerned about protecting its eggs from serpents. It has been without sleep for three weeks for this reason. It is very suspicious and has a particular logic about what constitutes a serpent.

Alice attacks her, mistaking her for a serpent
Chapter 5
Mentioned 12
Dinah She is mentioned by Alice in her attempt to strike up a conversation with the Mouse, which causes a conflict.
Ada Mentioned by Alice during her identity crisis.
Mabel Repeatedly mentioned by Alice as the person she fears she has transformed into.
Alice's brother Mentioned indirectly through his Latin grammar book.
Fury Appears in the poem/story that Alice visualizes while the Mouse speaks.
William the Conqueror Is the subject of the Mouse's historical reading.
Edwin and Morcar Mentioned as part of the boring historical account.
Stigand Mentioned in the historical account.
Edgar Atheling Mentioned in the historical account.
Mary Ann The name by which the Rabbit mistakenly calls Alice.
Father William He is the protagonist of the poem 'You are old, Father William' that Alice recites incorrectly.
Father William's son He is the one who asks the questions in the poem that Alice recites.
Main 9

The Riverbank

The initial place where Alice is sitting with her sister before seeing the rabbit.

  • Alice feels bored and sleepy before seeing the White Rabbit.
  • Alice wakes up from her dream on her sister's lap.
  • Alice tells her adventures to her sister.
  • Alice's sister remains daydreaming as the sun sets.
Chapter 1

The Beautiful Garden

A place with bright flower beds and cool fountains, visible through a fifteen-centimeter small door.

  • Alice watches it longingly through the small door but cannot enter due to her size.
  • Alice finally enters the garden after reducing her size to ten inches.
Chapter 1

The Hall

The large hall where Alice originally fell. In this chapter, the ceiling is within reach of her head when she grows, and the floor is flooded with her tears, forming a pond.

  • Alice grows to nine feet tall.
  • Alice cries gallons of tears, creating a deep pool.
  • The White Rabbit appears and flees, leaving his gloves and fan.
  • Alice shrinks again using the fan.
Chapter 2

The Pool of Tears

A large body of salt water formed by Alice's crying when she was a giant. It becomes large enough that she and several animals have to swim in it.

  • Alice falls into the water after slipping.
  • Alice meets the Mouse and swims with him.
  • Several birds and animals fall into the water and swim together to the shore.
Chapter 2

The shore of the pool

Place where Alice and the animals gather after coming out of the pool of tears. It is the setting for the Caucus-race.

  • The group gathers to try to get dry.
  • The Mouse reads a history lesson.
  • The Caucus-race is held.
  • Alice hands out prizes and receives her thimble.
  • The Mouse tries to tell his story and leaves.
  • All the animals abandon Alice after hearing about Dinah.
Chapter 3

The White Rabbit's House

A small, neat house with a brass plate that says 'W. RABBIT'. It has stairs, a room with a table near the window, and a narrow chimney. Around it are cucumber frames and a garden with hedges.

  • Alice enters looking for gloves and a fan.
  • Alice drinks from a bottle and grows until she is trapped in the room.
  • The Rabbit, Pat, and Bill try to enter through the window and the chimney.
  • Alice kicks Bill up the chimney.
  • The crowd throws pebbles that turn into cakes.
Chapter 4

The Forest

A place with tall trees, thistles, and flowers like buttercups. It is where Alice takes refuge after escaping from the house.

  • Alice flees from the crowd and goes into the vegetation.
  • Alice plays with the giant puppy using a stick.
  • Alice finds the giant mushroom.
  • The baby transforms into a pig and Alice sets it free.
  • Alice encounters the Cheshire Cat in a tree.
Chapter 4

The Caterpillar's Mushroom

The place where the Caterpillar is found on its mushroom. It is a quiet spot where Alice tries to maintain a conversation.

  • Alice talks to the Caterpillar and recites a poem.
  • The Caterpillar leaves by crawling away through the grass.
Chapter 5

The forest of tall trees

A dense area where the trees are so tall that their tops look like a sea of green leaves from above. It is the home of the Pigeon.

  • Alice stretches her neck above the trees.
  • The Pigeon attacks Alice.
  • Alice eats mushroom to regain her normal size.
Chapter 5
Secondary 4

The Rabbit-Hole / The Well

A tunnel that begins under a hedge and turns into a very deep well with walls full of cupboards, maps, and pictures.

The Hall of Doors

A long, low hall, lit by lamps, with many locked doors and a glass table.

The Giant Mushroom

A mushroom of the same height as the shrunken Alice, located in the forest.

The little house in the woods

A small dwelling, about four feet high, situated in an open spot in the forest. Alice decides to shrink before approaching it.

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