ALICE NO PAÍS DAS MARAVILHAS 3 (Lewis Carroll) Capítulo 3/12: "Uma Corrida Eleitoral..."

Summary

In this whimsical and surreal adventure, Alice finds herself among a group of soaked animals, including a quarrelsome parrot and an authoritative rat, as they search for a way to dry off. The rat proposes an absurd race to help them dry, but its outcome leaves everyone confused and still damp. Amid the chaos, Alice is tasked with handing out prizes, only to face further confusion as the bizarre gathering continues. The tale takes an emotional turn when Alice wistfully mentions her cat, Diná, prompting the animals to scatter. Alone and melancholic, Alice yearns for her companion, highlighting her loneliness in this strange world.

Takeaways

• 😀 Alice and a group of animals find themselves soaked and uncomfortable, questioning how to dry off.
• 😀 Alice has a humorous and familiar conversation with a parrot who insists he’s older and wiser, though he refuses to reveal his age.
• 😀 The rat, who seems to hold some authority in the group, suggests drying off through an absurd story about William the Conqueror.
• 😀 Alice expresses frustration as the rat's story does not help her dry off, prompting a proposal for a more energetic solution: a race.
• 😀 The animals take part in a nonsensical race where the start and finish are unclear, and everyone runs at their own pace.
• 😀 The race ends with no clear winner, but the Dodô declares everyone a winner and insists that Alice should hand out prizes.
• 😀 Alice, unsure of what to do, hands out candies as prizes but later has to award a thimble to herself as a prize too.
• 😀 Despite Alice’s confusion, the group accepts the prizes seriously, with everyone cheering and applauding her.
• 😀 The rat begins telling another long story, but Alice interrupts with a question about why he dislikes the letter 'C' and 'G'.
• 😀 The rat, offended by Alice’s interruption, storms off, and the group comments on Alice’s tendency to annoy others, leaving Alice feeling more isolated.
• 😀 Alice reminisces about her cat, Diná, and wishes she could bring her to catch the rats, only for the group to react negatively, leading to Alice feeling even more alone.

Q & A

Why was Alice concerned about drying off in the beginning of the story?

Alice was concerned because she was wet and uncomfortable after being in the water with the birds and other animals. She worried she might catch a cold if she didn't dry off quickly.

What was the dispute between Alice and the parrot about?

The parrot claimed to be older than Alice and insisted on knowing better, which Alice questioned, but the parrot refused to reveal his age, causing the argument to end without resolution.

What was the rat's role in the story, and what solution did it propose for drying off the group?

The rat seemed to have some authority in the group and suggested telling a very dry and tedious story to help the group dry off. However, this did not work, and the group remained wet.

What was the purpose of the 'election race' that the Dodo proposed?

The Dodo proposed an 'election race' as a method to dry everyone off. The race was meant to be a fun and energetic activity to help the group get dry, but the nature of the race was intentionally vague and chaotic.

How did the election race work, and what was the result?

The race involved participants running in a circle, with no clear rules about when to start or stop. After running for a while, the Dodo declared that the race had ended, and everyone had won, which led to confusion and the distribution of 'prizes' by Alice.

What did Alice give as prizes to the participants, and why was it significant?

Alice gave out confectionery as prizes, though the amount was limited. The distribution caused some discomfort and confusion, as the larger birds complained they didn't get enough, and the smaller ones had trouble eating them.

What was the significance of the 'dedal' (thimble) given to Alice by the Dodo?

The thimble was a symbolic 'prize' offered to Alice after the race, in recognition of her participation. It added to the absurdity of the situation, highlighting the playful and illogical nature of the events.

How did Alice react to the Dodo's behavior and the events during the race?

Alice found the entire situation absurd but didn't laugh or question the seriousness of the group, as everyone else seemed so earnest. She reluctantly played along, even though she found it nonsensical.

What role did Dinah, Alice's cat, play in the story, and how did the other animals react to her mention?

Dinah was Alice's cat, known for her skill at catching mice and birds. When Alice mentioned Dinah, the group of animals reacted negatively, with some fleeing, showing that they were afraid of her, which made Alice feel even more isolated.

Why did Alice feel isolated and upset by the end of the story?

Alice felt isolated because mentioning Dinah caused the other animals to leave, and she realized that no one in the group liked her cat. She was left alone, which made her feel sad and even more depressed about the situation.