Chapter 9: The Mock Turtle's Story

Alice

A curious, thoughtful, and polite girl. In this chapter, she shows patience with the Duchess's ramblings and compassion toward the Mock Turtle's sadness, although she feels overwhelmed by the constant orders and corrections from the inhabitants of Wonderland. She maintains her critical thinking about education and social rules.

The White Rabbit

A rabbit with pink eyes wearing a waistcoat. In this chapter, he appears as part of the royal retinue, showing himself to be extremely nervous, servile, and skittish before the Queen.

The Duchess

A character with a sharp temper and a very pointed chin. In this chapter, she is strangely affectionate and obsessed with finding a "moral" in absolutely everything that is said or happens. She deeply fears the Queen of Hearts.

The Queen of Hearts

The absolute ruler of Wonderland. She continues with her angry attitude, constantly ordering executions and shouting at everyone. She is the one who decides that Alice must meet the Mock Turtle.

The Knave of Hearts

A character from the deck of cards who carries the King's crown on a cushion. He is submissive and only responds with smiles and bows.

The King of Hearts

The sovereign consort. In this chapter, it is revealed that, behind the Queen's back, he quietly pardons everyone she has condemned to death.

The Gryphon

A mythological creature (lion's body and eagle's head/wings) who was asleep in the sun. He is somewhat rude, despises Alice's ignorance, and considers the Queen's executions to be just "fancy." He went to school in the sea but did not learn drawing.

Alice's Sister

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

The Eaglet

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

The old Crab

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

The young Crab

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

The old Magpie

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

The Canary

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

Pat

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

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 Guinea-pigs

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

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.

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.

Brandy

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

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.

The Fish-Footman

A servant with a fish face and powdered hair wearing livery.

The Frog-Footman

A servant with a round face and large frog-like eyes, with powdered hair and livery. He is quite stubborn, ignores Alice's logical questions, and prefers to look at the sky.

The Cook

The Duchess's employee. In this chapter, it is mentioned that the Duchess brought her tulip roots instead of onions.

The Baby

A small child who sneezes and howls constantly due to the smoke and pepper in the Duchess's kitchen. He has a strange shape and ends up physically transforming into a pig while Alice carries him.

The Cheshire Cat

A cat with a permanent grin and the ability to appear and disappear. He is cynical and observant. In this chapter, he appears only as a floating head.

The Hatter

A man wearing a top hat who is perpetually trapped in teatime (six o'clock) due to a quarrel with Time. He is extremely rude, makes personal remarks, and poses riddles without solutions.

The March Hare

An inhabitant of Wonderland who lives in a house with chimneys shaped like ears. He is mad and participates in an eternal tea party. He is rude, offers things he does not have (like wine), and dips his watch in the tea.

The Dormouse

A small rodent suffering from severe narcolepsy. He spends most of his time asleep and is used as a cushion by the Hare and the Hatter. When awake, he tells confusing stories about girls living in treacle wells.

Two

A royal gardener in the shape of a playing card (the two of spades). He is humble and fearful of the Queen.

Five

A royal gardener in the shape of a playing card (the five of spades). He is prone to complaining and is very alert to the Queen's arrival.

Seven

A royal gardener in the shape of a playing card (the seven of spades). He is somewhat quarrelsome with his companions.

The Executioner

An officer in charge of carrying out executions. He is logical and refuses to perform tasks he considers technically impossible.

The Soldiers (Ten)

Playing card characters who act as the Queen's military force. In this chapter, it is mentioned that they must stop forming the arches of the game to take away the prisoners.

The Courtiers (Ten)

Playing cards adorned with diamonds that form part of the court.

The Royal Children (Ten)

The children of the King and Queen of Hearts, adorned with hearts.

The Guests (Kings and Queens)

Various monarchs attending the Queen's event. Almost all are arrested during the croquet game.

The Mock Turtle

A creature who is always crying and sighing, sitting on a rock ledge. He was a real turtle in the past and received a very specific education at the bottom of the sea. He is very sensitive and takes offense when Alice questions his terms.

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.

The Beautiful Garden

A beautiful place with bright flowerbeds and cool fountains that Alice finally manages to access.

• 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The Forest

The area outside the house where Alice takes the baby.

• 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.

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.

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.

The Duchess's house

A dwelling in the forest with chimneys and a peculiar appearance where the Duchess lives.

• The Fish-Footman delivers the invitation to the Frog-Footman.
• Alice argues with the Frog-Footman at the door.

The Duchess's kitchen

A room full of smoke and pepper where the Cook prepares soup and the Duchess nurses the baby amidst noise and flying objects.

• Alice enters and sees the Duchess, the Cook, the Cat, and the Baby.
• The Cook throws plates and saucepans.
• The Duchess sings a violent lullaby.

The March Hare's tea table

An outdoor location in front of the March Hare's house, with a table set under a tree.

• Alice joins the tea party of the Hare, the Hatter, and the Dormouse.
• The Hatter explains why it is always teatime.
• The Dormouse tells his story about the treacle well.
• Alice leaves the table in indignation.

The hallway of the small door

The hallway with the glass table and the small door that Alice found at the beginning of her adventure.

• Alice returns here after leaving the tea party.
• She uses the golden key and the mushroom to adjust her size correctly.

The Queen's Croquet Ground

A royal garden with a large rose tree near the entrance and a ground full of ridges and furrows for the game.

• Alice finds the gardeners painting white roses red.
• The Queen of Hearts' procession arrives.
• A chaotic croquet match takes place using flamingos as mallets and hedgehogs as balls.
• The Cheshire Cat's head appears and a dispute ensues regarding its execution.

Croquet Ground

The place where the Queen's chaotic croquet game takes place.

• Alice and the Duchess walk around its surroundings.
• The Queen orders the arrest of almost all the players.

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.

The March Hare's house

A large house with chimneys shaped like hare ears and a thatched roof.

The Gryphon's place in the sun

An outdoor spot where the Gryphon rests.

Rock Ledge

A rocky ledge where the Mock Turtle sits lamenting.

School at Sea

Place mentioned by the Mock Turtle where he received his education.