Alice's Adventures in Wonderland - Chapter 11

Summary

Stories Podcast: A Bedtime Show for Kids of All Ages Episode Summary: "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland - Chapter 11: Who Stole the Tarts?"

Introduction to the Courtroom

At the beginning of Chapter 11, listeners are transported to the whimsical and chaotic court of the King and Queen of Hearts. The courtroom is abuzz with a diverse assembly of birds, beasts, and a myriad of playing cards serving as the jury. The scene is vividly set with [03:28] Alice describing the grandeur of the courtroom:

"The King and Queen of Hearts were seated on their throne when they arrived, with a great crowd assembled about them, all sorts of little birds and beasts, as well as the whole pack of cards." [03:28]

The Accusation Against the Knave of Hearts

The central conflict revolves around the accusation that the Knave of Hearts has stolen the Queen's tarts. A large dish of tantalizing tarts sits prominently on the table, igniting Alice's hunger and curiosity about the impending trial. The White Rabbit takes on the role of the herald, initiating the proceedings by declaring the accusation:

"The Queen of Hearts, she made some tarts, all on a summer's day. The Knave of Hearts, he stole those tarts and took them quite away." [06:44]

Jury Dynamics and Alice's Observations

Alice keenly observes the jury's behavior, noting their distracted writing habits. Her interaction with the Gryphon reveals that the jurors are merely jotting down their names to avoid forgetfulness:

"They're putting down their names, the Gryphon whispered in reply, for fear they should forget them before the end of the trial." [05:00]

Frustrated by the apparent lack of seriousness, Alice attempts to address the murmurings:

"Stupid things," [05:30]

However, her outburst is swiftly silenced by the White Rabbit, who insists on "silence in the court." The King, showing his authoritative demeanor, scrutinizes Alice with his spectacles:

"Silence in the court," [05:30]

First Witness: The Hatter's Testimony

The trial proceeds with the first witness, the Hatter, brought forth to testify. Clutching a teacup and bread with butter, the Hatter nervously addresses the court:

"I beg pardon, your majesty," [07:21]

When questioned about when he began making tarts, discrepancies arise as the Hatter, the March Hare, and the Dormouse provide conflicting dates:

"14th of March, I think it was," [07:35]
"15th," [07:45] – March Hare
"16th," [07:51] – Dormouse

The King demands accuracy, admonishing the Hatter:

"You must remember," [13:01]

Alice observes the Hatter's increasing distress, culminating in him dropping his teacup and begging for mercy:

"I'm a poor man, your majesty," [13:12]

Courtroom Tensions and Magical Mishaps

The Queen of Hearts exhibits her tyrannical nature, threatening swift and severe punishment:

"Behead that dormouse." [12:54]

Amidst the chaos, Alice experiences a magical moment of growth, adding to the surreal atmosphere of the courtroom. The Dormouse complains about suffocating due to Alice's growth:

"I can't help it, said Alice, very meekly. I'm growing." [10:48]

This escalation highlights the unpredictability and absurdity characteristic of Wonderland's legal proceedings.

Conclusion and Anticipation for Future Testimonies

As the trial progresses, the Queen becomes increasingly impatient with the lack of substantial evidence. The court's operations remain disorganized, with witnesses like the Duchess's Cook and ongoing interruptions from various characters adding to the disorder:

"Your Majesty must cross examine this witness." [15:08]

The chapter concludes with the anticipation of more witnesses, leaving listeners eager to discover how Alice's involvement in the trial will unfold further.

Notable Quotes with Attribution and Timestamps:

• Alice:
  "I wish they'd get the trial done, and hand round the refreshments." [03:28]
  "Stupid things," [05:30]
  "I can't help it... I'm growing." [10:48]

• King of Hearts:
  "Silence in the court." [05:30]
  "Give your evidence." [10:02]
  "You must remember." [13:01]

• Queen of Hearts:
  "Behead that dormouse." [12:54]

• White Rabbit:
  "Silence in the court." [05:30]

• Hatter:
  "I beg pardon, your majesty." [07:21]
  "I'm a poor man, your majesty." [13:12]

Final Thoughts

In this chapter, "Who Stole the Tarts?" from Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, listeners witness a satirical and chaotic portrayal of a courtroom trial. The interplay between characters, the illogical proceedings, and Alice's active observations create a rich and engaging narrative that not only entertains but also subtly critiques the absurdities of legal systems.

This episode masterfully brings to life the fantastical elements of Wonderland, ensuring that both children and parents are captivated by Alice's adventures and the peculiar characters she encounters. Through vivid storytelling and dynamic character interactions, the podcast episode offers a delightful retelling of this classic tale, perfect for imaginative families seeking quality, screen-free entertainment.

Transcript

[Andrew Martin]

Hello.

[Amanda Weldon]

Welcome to Stories Podcast. I'm your host, Amanda Weldon.

[Narrator]

Today's story is a chapter from Alice's.

[Amanda Weldon]

Adventures in Wonderland, a classic novel written.

[Narrator]

For you by Lewis Carroll.

[Andrew Martin]

We have Stories Podcast merch, [e-mail] shop. We're also on Cameo for all of your personalized video message needs. And don't forget to follow us on Instagram Stories Podcast. If you send us a drawing of your favorite scene or character, we'll share it on our feed. Now, here's a word from our sponsors.

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[Amanda Weldon]

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[Amanda Weldon]

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[Narrator]

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[Amanda Weldon]

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[Narrator]

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[Narrator]

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[Narrator]

Thanks Enjoy the episode.

[Amanda Weldon]

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland chapter 11 who stole the Tarts?

[Alice]

The King and Queen of Hearts were seated on their throne when they arrived, with a great crowd assembled about them, all sorts of little birds and beasts, as well as the whole pack of cards. The knave was standing before them in chains, with a soldier on each side to guard him, and near the King was the White Rabbit, with a trumpet in one hand and a scroll of parchment in the other. In the very middle of the court was a table with a large dish of tarts upon it. They looked so good that it made Alice quite hungry to look at them. I wish they'd get the trial done, she thought, and hand round the refreshments. But there seemed to be no chance of this, so she began looking at everything about her to pass away the time. Alice had never been in a court of justice before, but she had read about them in books, and she was quite pleased to find she knew the name of nearly everything there. That is the judge, she said to herself, because of his great wig. The judge, by the way, was the King, and as he wore his crown over the wig, he did not look at all comfortable, and it was certainly not becoming. And that's the jury box, thought Alice. And those 12 creatures, she was obliged.

[Amanda Weldon]

To say creatures, you see, because some.

[Alice]

Of them were animals and some were birds. I suppose they are the jurors.

[Amanda Weldon]

She said this last word two or.

[Alice]

Three times over, to herself, being rather.

[Andrew Martin]

Proud of it, for she thought, and.

[Alice]

Rightly so, that very few little girls of her age knew the meaning of it at all. However, jurymen would have done just as well. The 12 jurors were all writing very busily on slates. What are they doing? Alice whispered to the Gryphon. They can't have anything to put down yet before the trial's begun. They're putting down their names, the Gryphon whispered in reply, for fear they should forget them before the end of the trial. Stupid things. Alice began in a loud, indignant voice, but she stopped herself hastily, for the White Rabbit cried out, silence in the court. And the King put on his spectacles, and looked anxiously round to make out who was talking. Alice could see, as well as if she were looking over their shoulders, that all the jurors were writing down stupid things on their slates, and she could even make out that one of them didn't know how to spell stupid, and that he had to ask his neighbor to tell him, a nice muddle their slates will be in before the trial's over, thought Alice.

[Andrew Martin]

One of the jurors had a pencil that squeaked this.

[Alice]

Of course, Alice could not stand, and she went round the court and got behind him, and very soon found an opportunity of taking it away. She did it so quickly that the poor little juror, it was Bill the Lizard, could not make out at all what had become of it. So after hunting all about for it, he was obliged to write with one finger for the rest of the day.

[Amanda Weldon]

And this was of very little use.

[Alice]

As it left no mark on the slate.

[King]

Herald read the accusation, said the king.

[Alice]

On this the White rabbit blew three blasts on the trumpet, and then unrolled the parchment scroll and read as follows.

[Queen]

The Queen of Hearts, she made some tarts, all on a summer's day. The Knave of Hearts, he stole those tarts and took them quite away.

[King]

Consider your verdict, the king said to the jury.

[Alice]

Not yet, not yet, the rabbit hastily interrupted.

[Queen]

There's a great deal to come before.

[King]

That Call the first witness, said the.

[Alice]

King, and the White rabbit blew three blasts on the trumpet and called out, first witness. The first witness was the Hatter. He came in with a teacup in one hand and a piece of bread and butter in the other.

[King]

I beg pardon, your majesty, he began.

[Hatter]

For bringing these in, but I hadn't quite finished my tea when I was sent for.

[King]

You ought to have finished, said the king. When did you begin?

[Alice]

The Hatter looked at the March hare who had followed him into the court arm in arm with the dormouse.

[Hatter]

14Th of March, I think it was, he said.

[Alice]

15Th, said the March Hare. 16th, said the dormouse.

[King]

Write that down, the king said to.

[Alice]

The jury, and the jury eagerly wrote down all three dates on their slates, and then added them up and reduced the answer to shillings and pence.

[Amanda Weldon]

Now for a quick ad break.

[Andrew Martin]

We'll be back with the rest of the story after this. If you'd like Stories Podcast and other.

[Alice]

Favorite kid podcasts ad free subscribe to.

[Narrator]

Wondery Kids on Apple Podcasts. This episode of Stories podcast is sponsored by Squarespace. Squarespace is the all in one website platform for entrepreneurs to stand out and succeed online. Whether you're just launching a new venture or managing a successful business, Squarespace makes it possible to create a beautiful website and engage with your audience. And Squarespace makes it so easy to sell anything from products to content to time, all in one place, all on your terms. With Squarespace payments onboarding is fast and simple. Get started in just a few clicks and start receiving payments right away. It's even easy to invoice clients and.

[Sponsor Voice]

Create proposals, estimates and contracts, simplify your.

[Narrator]

Workflow and manage your business on one platform. Also, Squarespace has integrated SEO tools. Every Squarespace website is optimized to be indexed with meta descriptions, an auto generated sitemap, and more, so you show up more often to more people in global search engine results.

[Sponsor Voice]

Head to squarespace.com for a free trial and when you're ready to launch squarespace.com dragon to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain. That's squarespace.com dragon for 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain.

[King]

Take off your hat, the King said to the Hatter.

[Hatter]

It isn't mine.

[Alice]

Said the Hatter.

[King]

Stolen.

[Alice]

The King exclaimed, turning to the jury, who instantly made a memorandum of the fact.

[King]

I keep them to sell, the Hatter.

[Alice]

Added as an explanation.

[Hatter]

I've none of my own. I'm a hatter.

[Andrew Martin]

Here.

[Alice]

The Queen put on her spectacles and began staring hard at the Hatter, who turned pale and fidgeted.

[King]

Give your evidence, said the King, and don't be nervous, or I'll have you executed on the spot.

[Alice]

This did not seem to encourage the witness at all. He kept shifting from one foot to the other, looking uneasily at the Queen, and in his confusion he bit a large piece out of his teacup instead of the bread and butter. Just at this moment Alice felt a very curious sensation, which puzzled her a great deal until she made out what it was. She was beginning to grow larger again, and she thought at first she would get up and leave the court, but but on second thoughts, she decided to remain where she was as long as there was room for her.

[Queen]

I wish you wouldn't squeeze so, said.

[Alice]

The Dormouse, who was sitting next to her.

[Queen]

I can hardly breathe.

[Alice]

I can't help it, said Alice, very meekly. I'm growing. You've no right to grow here, said the Dormouse. Don't talk nonsense, said Alice, more boldly. You know you're growing too.

[Queen]

Yes, but I grow at a reasonable.

[Alice]

Pace, said the Dormouse.

[Queen]

Not in that ridiculous fashion.

[Alice]

And he got up very sulkily and crossed over to the other side of the court. All this time the queen had never left off staring at the hatter. And just as the dormouse crossed the court, she said to one of the officers of the court, bring me a.

[King]

List of the singers in the last concert.

[Alice]

On which the wretched hatter trembled so that he shook off both his shoes.

[King]

Give your evidence, the king repeated angrily, or I'll have you executed, whether you're nervous or not. I'm a poor man, your majesty, the.

[Alice]

Hatter began in a trembling voice, and.

[Hatter]

I hadn't begun my tea, not above a week or so.

[Alice]

And what with the bread and butter.

[King]

Getting so thin, and the twinkling of the tea. The twinkling of what?

[Alice]

Said the king.

[King]

It began with the T, the hatter replied. Of course, twinkling begins with a t.

[Alice]

Said the king sharply.

[King]

Do you take me for a dunce? Go on, I'm a poor man, the.

[Alice]

Hatter went on, and most things twinkled after that.

[King]

Only the March Hare said, I didn't.

[Alice]

The March hare interrupted in a great hurry.

[King]

You did, said the hatter.

[Alice]

I deny it, said the March hare.

[King]

He denies it, said the king. Leave out that pot.

[Hatter]

Well, at any rate, the dormouse said.

[Alice]

The hatter, went on looking anxiously round to see if he would deny it too. But the dormouse denied nothing, being fast asleep after that, continued the hatter, I.

[Hatter]

Cut some more bread and butter.

[Queen]

But what did the door mal say?

[Alice]

One of the jury asked. That I can't remember, said the hatter.

[King]

You must remember, remarked the king, or I'll have you executed.

[Alice]

The miserable hatter dropped his teacup and bread and butter and went down on one knee.

[King]

I'm a poor man, your majesty, he began. You're a very poor speaker, said the king.

[Alice]

Here one of the guinea pigs cheered and was immediately suppressed by the officers of the court, as that is rather a hard word. I will just explain to you how it was done. There was a large canvas bag which tied up at the mouth with strings. Into this they slipped the guinea pig head first, and then sat upon it. I'm glad I've seen that done, thought Alice. I've so often read newspapers. At the end of trials there was some attempt at applause, which was immediately suppressed by the officers of the court, and I never understood what it meant till now.

[King]

If that's all you know about it, you may step down, continued the king.

[Alice]

I can't go no lower, said the hatter.

[Hatter]

I'm on the floor as it is.

[King]

Then you may sit down.

[Alice]

The king replied here. The other guinea pig cheered and was suppressed. Come, that finishes the guinea pigs, thought Alice. Now we shall get on better.

[King]

I'd rather finish my tea, said the.

[Alice]

Hatter, with an anxious look at the Queen, who was reading the list of singers.

[King]

You may go, said the King, and.

[Alice]

The hatter hurriedly left the court without even waiting to put his shoes on and just take his head off. Outside, the Queen added to one of.

[Amanda Weldon]

The officers, but the Hatter was out.

[Alice]

Of sight before the officer could get to the door.

[King]

Call the next witness, said the king.

[Alice]

The next witness was the Duchess's cook. She carried the pepper box in her hand, and Alice guessed who it was even before she got into the court. By the way, the people near the door began sneezing all at once.

[King]

Give your evidence, said the King.

[Alice]

Shan't, said the cook. The King looked anxiously at the white rabbit, who said in a low voice.

[Queen]

Your Majesty must cross examine this witness.

[King]

Well, if I must, I must, the.

[Alice]

King said with a melancholy air, and after folding his arms and frowning at the cook till his eyes were nearly out of sight, he said in a.

[King]

Deep voice, what are tarts made of?

[Queen]

Peppermostly, Said the cook. Trickle.

[Alice]

Said a sleepy voice behind her collar.

[King]

That dormouse.

[Alice]

The Queen shrieked out, behead that dormouse.

[King]

Turn that dormouse out of court. Suppress him. Pinch him off with his whiskers. Never mind, said the King with an.

[Alice]

Air of great relief.

[King]

Call the next witness.

[Alice]

And he added in an undertone to.

[King]

The Queen, really, my dear, you must cross examine the next witness. It quite makes my forehead ache.

[Alice]

Alice watched the white Rabbit as he fumbled over the list, feeling very curious to see what the next witness would be like, for they haven't got much evidence yet, she said to herself. Imagine her surprise when the White Rabbit read out at the top of his shrill little voice the name Alice.

[Amanda Weldon]

Today's story was Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, a classic novel written for you by Lewis Carroll.

[Andrew Martin]

It was edited and produced for you.

[Amanda Weldon]

By Andrew Martin and performed for you by me, Amanda Walden.

[Andrew Martin]

If you would like to support Stories podcast, you can leave us a five star review on itunes. Check out all of our merch [e-mail] Shop Commission a special video on Cameo. Follow us on Instagram oriespodcast or simply tell your friends about us. In case you missed it, Dan and I have a new show on Stories rpg. We play games just like Starsworn with all your Max Goodname friends and Gigacity Guardians featuring the brilliant Firefly. Click the link in the episode Description or go to patreon.com storiesrpg to get ad free episodes.

[Alice]

Play along games and coloring books.

[Andrew Martin]

We've already got a bunch of episodes over there, so check them out now.

[Amanda Weldon]

Thanks for listening.