Alice's adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll- page 57

'Soo—oop of the e—e—evening,

• Soo—oop: A playful or nonsensical pronunciation of 'soup' [soo-oop]
• of: preposition indicating belonging or association [əv]
• the: definite article, referring to a specific evening [ðə]
• e—e—evening: A drawn-out, playful pronunciation of 'evening' [e-e-evening]

Beautiful, beautiful Soup!'

• Beautiful: Pleasing the senses or mind. [ˈbjutəfəl]
• beautiful: Pleasing the senses or mind. [ˈbjutəfəl]
• Soup: A liquid dish, typically made by boiling meat, fish, or vegetables in stock or water [sup]

CHAPTER XI.

• CHAPTER: A division of a book. [ˈʧæptər]
• XI: Roman numeral for 11. [ʃi]

Who Stole the Tarts?

• Who: Which person. [hu]
• Stole: Past tense of 'steal', meaning to take something dishonestly. [stoʊl]
• the: Definite article. [ðə]
• Tarts: Small pies or open pastries [tɑrts]

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.

• The King and Queen of Hearts: Characters in the story, likely playing card figures. [ðə kɪŋ ənd kwin əv hɑrts]
• were seated: Were sitting. [wər ˈsitɪd]
• on their throne: The ceremonial chair of a monarch. [ɔn ðɛr θroʊn]
• when: At the time that. [wɪn]
• they: Referring to Alice and the Gryphon, implied from previous context. [ðeɪ]
• arrived: Past tense of 'arrive', meaning to reach a destination. [əraɪvd]
• with: Accompanied by. [wɪθ]
• a great crowd: A large gathering of people. [ə greɪt kraʊd]
• assembled: Gathered together. [əˈsɛmbəld]
• about them: Around them. [əˈbaʊt ðɛm]
• all sorts of: Various types of. [ɔl sɔrts əv]
• little birds and beasts: Small animals. [ˈlɪtəl bərdz ənd bists]
• as well as: In addition to. [ɛz wɛl ɛz]
• the whole pack of cards: All the playing cards, likely personified as characters. [ðə hoʊl pæk əv kɑrdz]
• the Knave: A playing card, also a character. [ðə neɪv]
• was standing: Was in a standing position. [wɑz ˈstændɪŋ]
• before them: In front of the King and Queen. [ˌbiˈfɔr ðɛm]
• in chains: Restrained with chains. [ɪn ʧeɪnz]
• with: Accompanied by. [wɪθ]
• a soldier: A member of the military. [ə ˈsoʊlʤər]
• on each side: One on either side. [ɔn iʧ saɪd]
• to guard him: To protect or watch over the Knave. [tɪ gɑrd ɪm]
• and: A conjunction. [ənd]
• near: Close to. [nɪr]
• the King: A character, the King of Hearts. [ðə kɪŋ]
• was: Past tense of 'be'. [wɑz]
• the White Rabbit: A character in the story. [ðə waɪt ˈræbɪt]
• with: Holding. [wɪθ]
• a trumpet: A brass instrument. [ə ˈtrəmpət]
• in one hand: In one of his hands. [ɪn wən hænd]
• and: A conjunction. [ənd]
• a scroll of parchment: A rolled-up document made of animal skin. [ə skroʊl əv ˈpɑrʧmənt]
• in the other: In his other hand. [ɪn ðə ˈəðər]

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.

• In the very middle: Right in the center. [ɪn ðə ˈvɛri ˈmɪdəl]
• of the court: The area where the trial is taking place. [əv ðə kɔrt]
• was: Past tense of 'be'. [wɑz]
• a table: A piece of furniture with a flat top. [ə ˈteɪbəl]
• with: Having. [wɪθ]
• a large dish of tarts: A big plate of small pies. [ə lɑrʤ dɪʃ əv tɑrts]
• upon it: On the table. [əˈpɑn ɪt]
• they: Referring to the tarts. [ðeɪ]
• looked: Appeared. [lʊkt]
• so good: Very appealing. [soʊ gʊd]
• that: As a result. [ðət]
• it: Referring to the sight of the tarts. [ɪt]
• made: Caused. [meɪd]
• Alice: A character in the story. [ˈælɪs]
• quite hungry: Very hungry. [kwaɪt ˈhəŋgri]
• to look at them: Just by seeing them. [tɪ lʊk æt ðɛm]
• I wish: I hope. [aɪ wɪʃ]
• they'd: Contraction of 'they would'. [ðeɪd]
• get the trial done: Finish the trial. [gɪt ðə traɪəl dən]
• she: Referring to Alice. [ʃi]
• thought: Past tense of 'think'. [θɔt]
• and: And then. [ənd]
• hand round: Distribute. [hænd raʊnd]
• the refreshments: Snacks or drinks. [ðə rəˈfrɛʃmənts]
• But: However. [bət]
• there seemed: It appeared. [ðɛr simd]
• to be: To exist. [tɪ bi]
• no chance: No possibility. [noʊ ʧæns]
• of this: Of the refreshments being served. [əv ðɪs]
• so: Therefore. [soʊ]
• she: Referring to Alice. [ʃi]
• began: Past tense of 'begin', meaning to start. [bɪˈgæn]
• looking: Present participle of 'look', meaning to direct one's gaze. [ˈlʊkɪŋ]
• at everything: At all the things. [æt ˈɛvriˌθɪŋ]
• about her: Around her. [əˈbaʊt hər]
• to pass away the time: To spend the time [tɪ pæs əˈweɪ ðə taɪm]

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 that she knew the name of nearly everything there. 'That's the judge,' she said to herself, 'because of his great wig.'

• Alice: a proper noun, referring to a specific person [ˈælɪs]
• had never been: past perfect tense of 'to be', indicating that Alice had not experienced something before [hæd ˈnɛvər bɪn]
• in a court of justice: a place where legal cases are heard and decided [ɪn ə kɔrt əv ˈʤəstɪs]
• before: previously; at an earlier time [ˌbiˈfɔr]
• but: a conjunction introducing a contrasting statement [bət]
• she had read: past perfect tense of 'to read', indicating that Alice had read something before [ʃi hæd rɛd]
• about them: referring to courts of justice [əˈbaʊt ðɛm]
• in books: referring to the source of information about courts of justice [ɪn bʊks]
• and: a conjunction connecting two clauses [ənd]
• she was quite pleased: Alice felt happy or satisfied [ʃi wɑz kwaɪt plizd]
• to find: to discover or realize [tɪ faɪnd]
• that: a conjunction introducing a subordinate clause [ðət]
• she knew: past tense of 'to know', indicating that Alice was familiar with something [ʃi nu]
• the name: the designation or title [ðə neɪm]
• of nearly everything: almost all the items or objects [əv ˈnɪrli ˈɛvriˌθɪŋ]
• there: in the court of justice [ðɛr]
• That's: contraction of 'that is', referring to something specific [ðæts]
• the judge: the official who presides over a court of justice [ðə ʤəʤ]
• she said: Alice spoke [ʃi sɛd]
• to herself: in a quiet voice, so only she could hear [tɪ hərˈsɛlf]
• because of: due to; on account of [bɪˈkəz əv]
• his great wig: a large, artificial hairpiece worn by judges as part of their official attire [hɪz greɪt wɪg]

The judge, by the way, was the King; and as he wore his crown over the wig, (look at the frontispiece if you want to see how he did it,) he did not look at all comfortable, and it was certainly not becoming.

• The judge: the official presiding over the court [ðə ʤəʤ]
• by the way: an aside or interruption in the main narrative [baɪ ðə weɪ]
• was: past tense of 'to be', linking the subject to the description [wɑz]
• the King: the monarch or ruler of the kingdom [ðə kɪŋ]
• and: a conjunction connecting two clauses [ənd]
• as: because; since [ɛz]
• he wore: past tense of 'to wear', indicating that the King was wearing something [hi wɔr]
• his crown: the ornamental headwear worn by a monarch [hɪz kraʊn]
• over: on top of [ˈoʊvər]
• the wig: the artificial hairpiece [ðə wɪg]
• look at: an imperative, instructing the reader to observe something [lʊk æt]
• the frontispiece: an illustration facing the title page of a book [ðə frontispiece]
• if: a conjunction introducing a conditional clause [ɪf]
• you want: if the reader desires [ju wɔnt]
• to see: to observe or understand [tɪ si]
• how he did it: how the King wore the crown over the wig [haʊ hi dɪd ɪt]
• he did not look: the King's appearance was not [hi dɪd nɑt lʊk]
• at all: in any way; not even slightly [æt ɔl]
• comfortable: relaxed or at ease [ˈkəmfərtəbəl]
• and: a conjunction connecting two clauses [ənd]
• it was certainly: it definitely was [ɪt wɑz ˈsərtənli]
• not becoming: not flattering or suitable [nɑt bɪˈkəmɪŋ]

'And that's the jury-box,' thought Alice, 'and those twelve creatures,' (she was obliged to say 'creatures,' you see, because some of them were animals, and some were birds,) 'I suppose they are the jurors.' She said this last word two or three times over to herself, being rather proud of it: for she thought, and rightly too, that very few little girls of her age knew the meaning of it at all.

• And: beginning a new thought or statement [ənd]
• that's: contraction of 'that is', referring to something specific [ðæts]
• the jury-box: the enclosed area where the jury sits in a courtroom [ðə jury-box]
• thought: past tense of 'to think', indicating Alice's internal monologue [θɔt]
• Alice: the name of the character [ˈælɪs]
• and: a conjunction connecting two clauses [ənd]
• those twelve creatures: referring to the members of the jury, numbering twelve [ðoʊz twɛlv ˈkriʧərz]
• she was obliged: she felt it necessary [ʃi wɑz əˈblaɪʤd]
• to say: to utter or express [tɪ seɪ]
• creatures: a general term for living beings [ˈkriʧərz]
• you see: an explanatory phrase [ju si]
• because: for the reason that [bɪˈkəz]
• some of them: a portion of the jury members [səm əv ðɛm]
• were animals: some jury members were non-human creatures [wər ˈænəməlz]
• and: a conjunction connecting two clauses [ənd]
• some were birds: some jury members were avian creatures [səm wər bərdz]
• I suppose: I assume or presume [aɪ səˈpoʊz]
• they are: referring to the jury members [ðeɪ ər]
• the jurors: the members of a jury [ðə ˈʤʊrərz]
• She said: Alice spoke [ʃi sɛd]
• this last word: referring to the word 'jurors' [ðɪs læst wərd]
• two or three times: repeatedly [tu ər θri taɪmz]
• over: again [ˈoʊvər]
• to herself: in a quiet voice, so only she could hear [tɪ hərˈsɛlf]
• being rather proud: feeling somewhat pleased or gratified [biɪŋ ˈrəðər praʊd]
• of it: referring to the word 'jurors' [əv ɪt]
• for: because; since [fər]
• she thought: Alice believed [ʃi θɔt]
• and rightly too: and she was correct in her thinking [ənd ˈraɪtli tu]
• that: a conjunction introducing a subordinate clause [ðət]
• very few little girls: only a small number of young girls [ˈvɛri fju ˈlɪtəl gərlz]
• of her age: of the same age as Alice [əv hər eɪʤ]
• knew: past tense of 'to know', indicating familiarity with something [nu]
• the meaning: the definition or significance [ðə ˈminɪŋ]
• of it: referring to the word 'jurors' [əv ɪt]
• at all: to any extent; in any way [æt ɔl]

However, 'jury-men' would have done just as well.

• However: nevertheless; in spite of that [ˌhaʊˈɛvər]
• jury-men: an alternative term for 'jurors', specifically referring to male jurors [jury-men]
• would have done: would have been [wʊd hæv dən]
• just as well: equally suitable or appropriate [ʤɪst ɛz wɛl]

The twelve 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.'

• The twelve jurors: Refers to the group of twelve people selected to serve on a jury [ðə twɛlv ˈʤʊrərz]
• were all writing: Indicates that all the jurors were in the process of writing [wər ɔl ˈraɪtɪŋ]
• very busily: Describes the manner of writing, indicating they were writing with great activity and focus [ˈvɛri ˈbɪzəli]
• on slates: Refers to small, flat pieces of slate used for writing on, especially in the past [ɔn sleɪts]
• What: Beginning of a question [wət]
• are they doing: Questioning the activity of the jurors [ər ðeɪ duɪŋ]
• Alice: Name of the character speaking [ˈælɪs]
• whispered: Spoke in a low voice [ˈwɪspərd]
• to the Gryphon: Addressed the mythical creature named Gryphon [tɪ ðə gryphon]
• They: Referring to the jurors [ðeɪ]
• can't: Contraction of 'cannot', indicating inability [kænt]
• have anything: Possess nothing [hæv ˈɛniˌθɪŋ]
• to put down: To write or record [tɪ pʊt daʊn]
• yet: At this point in time [jɛt]
• before: Prior to [ˌbiˈfɔr]
• the trial's begun: Before the trial has started [ðə traɪəlz ˈbeɪgən]

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

• They're: Contraction of 'they are', referring to the jurors [ðɛr]
• putting down: Writing or recording [ˈpʊtɪŋ daʊn]
• their names: The names of the jurors [ðɛr neɪmz]
• the Gryphon: The mythical creature named Gryphon [ ðə gryphon]
• whispered: Spoke in a low voice [ˈwɪspərd]
• in reply: As a response [ɪn rɪˈplaɪ]
• for fear: Out of concern or worry [fər fɪr]
• they should forget: The jurors might forget [ðeɪ ʃʊd fərˈgɛt]
• them: Referring to their names [ðɛm]
• before: Prior to [ˌbiˈfɔr]
• the end of the trial: The conclusion of the trial [ðə ɛnd əv ðə traɪəl]