Alice's adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll- page 19

Last came a little feeble, squeaking voice, ('That's Bill,' thought Alice,) 'Well, I hardly know—No more, thank ye; I'm better now—but I'm a deal too flustered to tell you—all I know is, something comes at me like a Jack-in-the-box, and up I goes like a sky-rocket!'

• Last came: Finally arrived or appeared [læst keɪm]
• a little feeble: small and weak [ə ˈlɪtəl ˈfibəl]
• squeaking voice: a high-pitched, shrill sound [skˈwikɪŋ vɔɪs]
• That's Bill: identifying the voice as belonging to Bill [ðæts bɪl]
• thought Alice: Alice's internal monologue [θɔt ˈælɪs]
• Well: an interjection used to express surprise, hesitation, or mild agreement [wɛl]
• I hardly know: I barely or scarcely know [aɪ ˈhɑrdli noʊ]
• No more: no additional amount [noʊ mɔr]
• thank ye: thank you [θæŋk jɛ]
• I'm better now: I am in improved health or condition at the present time [əm ˈbɛtər naʊ]
• but: a conjunction introducing a contrast [bət]
• I'm a deal: I am considerably or significantly [əm ə dil]
• too flustered: excessively agitated or confused [tu ˈfləstərd]
• to tell you: in order to narrate or recount to you [tɪ tɛl ju]
• all I know: everything that I am aware of [ɔl aɪ noʊ]
• is: linking verb [ɪz]
• something comes: an unspecified thing approaches [ˈsəmθɪŋ kəmz]
• at me: towards me [æt mi]
• like a Jack-in-the-box: resembling a toy that pops up suddenly from a box [laɪk ə jack-in-the-box]
• and: conjunction [ənd]
• up I goes: I ascend or rise upwards [əp aɪ goʊz]
• like a sky-rocket: resembling a firework that shoots high into the sky [laɪk ə sky-rocket]

'So you did, old fellow!' said the others.

• So you did, old fellow: An exclamation indicating agreement or acknowledgement of something the 'old fellow' has done. 'Old fellow' is a term of endearment or familiar address. [soʊ ju dɪd oʊld ˈfɛloʊ]
• said: past tense of 'say', indicating who spoke the words [sɛd]
• the others: referring to a group of people besides the speaker and the person being addressed [ðə ˈəðərz]

'We must burn the house down!' said the Rabbit's voice; and Alice called out as loud as she could, 'If you do.

• We must burn the house down: An exclamation indicating a decision to destroy the house by fire. [wi məst bərn ðə haʊs daʊn]
• said: past tense of 'say', indicating who spoke the words [sɛd]
• the Rabbit's voice: identifying the speaker as the Rabbit [ðə rabbits vɔɪs]
• and: connecting the Rabbit's statement to Alice's response [ənd]
• Alice called out: Alice spoke loudly [ˈælɪs kɔld aʊt]
• as loud as she could: indicating the maximum volume of Alice's voice [ɛz laʊd ɛz ʃi kʊd]
• If you do: conditional clause, meaning 'if you burn the house down' [ɪf ju du]

There was a dead silence instantly, and Alice thought to herself, 'I wonder what they WILL do next!

• There was: indicates the existence of something [ðɛr wɑz]
• a dead silence: complete absence of sound [ə dɛd ˈsaɪləns]
• instantly: immediately; without delay [ˈɪnstəntli]
• and: connecting the silence to Alice's thoughts [ənd]
• Alice thought to herself: Alice was thinking silently [ˈælɪs θɔt tɪ hərˈsɛlf]
• I wonder: expressing curiosity or doubt [aɪ ˈwəndər]
• what they WILL do next: expressing curiosity about their future actions. 'Will' indicates future tense [wət ðeɪ wɪl du nɛkst]

'A barrowful of WHAT?' thought Alice; but she had not long to doubt, for the next moment a shower of little pebbles came rattling in at the window, and some of them hit her in the face. 'I'll put a stop to this,' she said to herself, and shouted out, 'You'd better not do that again!' which produced another dead silence.

• A barrowful of WHAT: Alice is wondering what a wheelbarrow full of something refers to. [ə barrowful əv wət]
• thought: past tense of 'think', indicating Alice's internal monologue [θɔt]
• Alice: identifies who is thinking [ˈælɪs]
• but: introduces a contrast [bət]
• she had not long to doubt: she didn't have much time to wonder [ʃi hæd nɑt lɔŋ tɪ daʊt]
• for: because [fər]
• the next moment: very soon after [ðə nɛkst ˈmoʊmənt]
• a shower of little pebbles: a large number of small stones falling at once [ə ʃaʊər əv ˈlɪtəl ˈpɛbəlz]
• came rattling in: entered noisily [keɪm ˈrætəlɪŋ ɪn]
• at the window: through the window opening [æt ðə ˈwɪndoʊ]
• and: connecting the pebbles entering to them hitting Alice [ənd]
• some of them: a portion of the pebbles [səm əv ðɛm]
• hit her: struck her [hɪt hər]
• in the face: on her face [ɪn ðə feɪs]
• I'll put a stop to this: I will end this. 'I'll' is a contraction of 'I will' [aɪl pʊt ə stɑp tɪ ðɪs]
• she said to herself: she said silently [ʃi sɛd tɪ hərˈsɛlf]
• and: connecting her internal statement to her shouted statement [ənd]
• shouted out: spoke very loudly [ˈʃaʊtɪd aʊt]
• You'd better not do that again: a warning not to repeat the action. 'You'd' is a contraction of 'you had' [jʊd ˈbɛtər nɑt du ðət əˈgɛn]
• which produced: which resulted in [wɪʧ prəˈdust]
• another dead silence: another complete absence of sound [əˈnəðər dɛd ˈsaɪləns]

Alice noticed with some surprise that the pebbles were all turning into little cakes as they lay on the floor, and a bright idea came into her head. 'If I eat one of these cakes,' she thought, 'it's sure to make SOME change in my size; and as it can't possibly make me larger, it must make me smaller, I suppose.'

• Alice: a proper noun, likely the name of the character [ˈælɪs]
• noticed: became aware of or observed [ˈnoʊtɪst]
• with some surprise: experiencing a degree of astonishment or unexpectedness [wɪθ səm səˈpraɪz]
• that: introduces a subordinate clause [ðət]
• the pebbles: small, smooth stones [ðə ˈpɛbəlz]
• were all turning: were in the process of changing [wər ɔl ˈtərnɪŋ]
• into: changing to [ˈɪntu]
• little cakes: small, baked goods [ˈlɪtəl keɪks]
• as: while [ɛz]
• they: referring to the pebbles [ðeɪ]
• lay: were positioned or resting [leɪ]
• on the floor: on the ground or surface of the room [ɔn ðə flɔr]
• and: connects two related ideas [ənd]
• a bright idea: a clever or intelligent thought [ə braɪt aɪˈdiə]
• came into: entered [keɪm ˈɪntu]
• her head: her mind [hər hɛd]
• If: expressing a condition [ɪf]
• I: the speaker, Alice [aɪ]
• eat: consume food [it]
• one of these cakes: a single cake from the group of cakes [wən əv ðiz keɪks]
• she thought: she considered [ʃi θɔt]
• it's: contraction of 'it is' [ɪts]
• sure: certain [ʃʊr]
• to make: to cause [tɪ meɪk]
• SOME: an unspecified amount of [səm]
• change: alteration [ʧeɪnʤ]
• in my size: in her physical dimensions [ɪn maɪ saɪz]
• and: connects two related ideas [ənd]
• as: since [ɛz]
• it: referring to eating the cake [ɪt]
• can't possibly: is definitely not able to [kænt ˈpɑsəbli]
• make me larger: increase her size [meɪk mi ˈlɑrʤər]
• it must: it is logically necessary [ɪt məst]
• make me smaller: decrease her size [meɪk mi sˈmɔlər]
• I suppose: I assume or guess [aɪ səˈpoʊz]

So she swallowed one of the cakes, and was delighted to find that she began shrinking directly.

• So: therefore; as a result [soʊ]
• she: referring to Alice [ʃi]
• swallowed: ingested; ate quickly [sˈwɑloʊd]
• one of the cakes: a single cake from the group [wən əv ðə keɪks]
• and: connects two related ideas [ənd]
• was delighted: felt great pleasure [wɑz dɪˈlaɪtɪd]
• to find: upon discovering [tɪ faɪnd]
• that: introduces a subordinate clause [ðət]
• she: referring to Alice [ʃi]
• began shrinking: started to become smaller [bɪˈgæn ʃˈrɪŋkɪŋ]
• directly: immediately; without delay [dɪˈrɛkli]

As soon as she was small enough to get through the door, she ran out of the house, and found quite a crowd of little animals and birds waiting outside.

• As soon as: immediately after [ɛz sun ɛz]
• she: referring to Alice [ʃi]
• was small enough: had reached a sufficiently small size [wɑz smɔl ɪˈnəf]
• to get through: to pass through [tɪ gɪt θru]
• the door: the entrance to the house [ðə dɔr]
• she: referring to Alice [ʃi]
• ran out: exited quickly [ræn aʊt]
• of the house: from the building [əv ðə haʊs]
• and: connects two related ideas [ənd]
• found: discovered [faʊnd]
• quite a crowd: a considerable number of people or animals [kwaɪt ə kraʊd]
• of little animals: small creatures [əv ˈlɪtəl ˈænəməlz]
• and: connects two related ideas [ənd]
• birds: avian creatures [bərdz]
• waiting: staying in place until something happens [ˈweɪtɪŋ]
• outside: external to the house [ˈaʊtˈsaɪd]

The poor little Lizard, Bill, was in the middle, being held up by two guinea-pigs, who were giving it something out of a bottle.

• The poor: unfortunate [ðə pur]
• little Lizard: small reptile [ˈlɪtəl ˈlɪzərd]
• Bill: the lizard's name [bɪl]
• was: past tense of 'is' [wɑz]
• in the middle: at the center [ɪn ðə ˈmɪdəl]
• being held up: being supported in an upright position [biɪŋ hɛld əp]
• by: by means of [baɪ]
• two guinea-pigs: two small, domesticated rodents [tu guinea-pigs]
• who: relative pronoun referring to the guinea-pigs [hu]
• were giving: were providing [wər ˈgɪvɪŋ]
• it: referring to the lizard, Bill [ɪt]
• something: an unspecified item [ˈsəmθɪŋ]
• out of a bottle: from a container [aʊt əv ə ˈbɑtəl]

They all made a rush at Alice the moment she appeared; but she ran off as hard as she could, and soon found herself safe in a thick wood.

• They: referring to the animals and birds [ðeɪ]
• all: every one of them [ɔl]
• made a rush: moved quickly and suddenly [meɪd ə rəʃ]
• at Alice: towards Alice [æt ˈælɪs]
• the moment: as soon as [ðə ˈmoʊmənt]
• she: referring to Alice [ʃi]
• appeared: became visible [əˈpɪrd]
• but: introduces a contrast [bət]
• she: referring to Alice [ʃi]
• ran off: fled; ran away [ræn ɔf]
• as hard as she could: with maximum effort [ɛz hɑrd ɛz ʃi kʊd]
• and: connects two related ideas [ənd]
• soon: quickly; in a short time [sun]
• found herself: discovered that she was [faʊnd hərˈsɛlf]
• safe: protected from danger [seɪf]
• in a thick wood: in a dense forest [ɪn ə θɪk wʊd]

'The first thing I've got to do,' said Alice to herself, as she wandered about in the wood, 'is to grow to my right size again; and the second thing is to find my way into that lovely garden.

• The: Used to introduce a specific or known subject [ðə]
• first thing: The initial or most important action or consideration [fərst θɪŋ]
• I've: Contraction of 'I have' [aɪv]
• got to do: need to do; must do [gɑt tɪ du]
• said: past tense of 'say', indicating speech [sɛd]
• Alice: A proper noun, the name of a person [ˈælɪs]
• to herself: speaking quietly so only she can hear [tɪ hərˈsɛlf]
• as: while; during the time that [ɛz]
• she: referring to Alice [ʃi]
• wandered: moved without a specific direction or purpose [ˈwɑndərd]
• about: around; in various places [əˈbaʊt]
• in the wood: in the forest [ɪn ðə wʊd]
• is: present tense of 'to be', linking the subject to the predicate [ɪz]
• to grow: to increase in size or develop [tɪ groʊ]
• to my right size: to the correct or desired size [tɪ maɪ raɪt saɪz]
• again: once more; returning to a previous state [əˈgɛn]
• and: connecting two related ideas [ənd]
• the second thing: the next important action or consideration [ðə ˈsɛkənd θɪŋ]
• is: present tense of 'to be', linking the subject to the predicate [ɪz]
• to find: to discover or locate [tɪ faɪnd]
• my way: the path or route I need to take [maɪ weɪ]
• into: to the inside of [ˈɪntu]
• that lovely garden: a beautiful and pleasing garden [ðət ˈləvli ˈgɑrdən]