Alice's adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll- page 58

'Stupid things!' Alice began in a loud, indignant voice, but she stopped 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.

• Stupid things: An exclamation expressing disapproval or frustration [ˈstupɪd θɪŋz]
• Alice: Name of the character speaking [ˈælɪs]
• began: Started to speak [bɪˈgæn]
• in a loud, indignant voice: Speaking in a loud voice showing anger or annoyance [ɪn ə laʊd ˌɪnˈdɪgnənt vɔɪs]
• but: Conjunction indicating a contrast [bət]
• she stopped hastily: She stopped quickly or suddenly [ʃi stɑpt ˈheɪstəli]
• for: Because [fər]
• the White Rabbit: Character named White Rabbit [ðə waɪt ˈræbɪt]
• cried out: Shouted loudly [kraɪd aʊt]
• Silence in the court: Order to be quiet in the courtroom [ˈsaɪləns ɪn ðə kɔrt]
• and: Conjunction [ənd]
• the King: Character named King [ðə kɪŋ]
• put on: Placed on his face [pʊt ɔn]
• his spectacles: Eyeglasses [hɪz ˈspɛktəkəlz]
• and: Conjunction [ənd]
• looked anxiously round: Looked around with worry or concern [lʊkt ˈæŋkʃəsli raʊnd]
• to make out: To discern or identify [tɪ meɪk aʊt]
• who was talking: Who was speaking [hu wɑz ˈtɔkɪŋ]

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 neighbour to tell him. 'A nice muddle their slates'll be in before the trial's over!' thought Alice.

• Alice: the name of the protagonist, a young girl [ˈælɪs]
• could see: was able to observe or understand [kʊd si]
• as well as: just as clearly as [ɛz wɛl ɛz]
• if she were looking over their shoulders: even if she was not physically present to see them, she could imagine it clearly [ɪf ʃi wər ˈlʊkɪŋ ˈoʊvər ðɛr ˈʃoʊldərz]
• that: introduces a subordinate clause [ðət]
• all the jurors: every member of the jury [ɔl ðə ˈʤʊrərz]
• were writing down: were in the process of writing [wər ˈraɪtɪŋ daʊn]
• stupid things: the phrase the jurors were writing, indicating their disapproval or frustration; the exclamation mark shows emphasis [ˈstupɪd θɪŋz]
• on their slates: on the small writing boards they used [ɔn ðɛr sleɪts]
• and: connects two clauses [ənd]
• she could even make out: she was able to discern or understand [ʃi kʊd ˈivɪn meɪk aʊt]
• that: introduces a subordinate clause [ðət]
• one of them: one of the jurors [wən əv ðɛm]
• didn't know: did not know; contraction of 'did not' [ˈdɪdənt noʊ]
• how to spell: the correct way to write a word [haʊ tɪ spɛl]
• stupid: the word in question, meaning lacking intelligence or common sense [ˈstupɪd]
• and: connects two clauses [ənd]
• that: introduces a subordinate clause [ðət]
• he had to ask: he was required to ask [hi hæd tɪ æsk]
• his neighbour: the person sitting next to him [hɪz ˈneɪbər]
• to tell him: to tell him the correct spelling [tɪ tɛl ɪm]
• A nice muddle: a considerable mess or state of confusion [ə nis ˈmədəl]
• their slates'll: their slates will; contraction of 'their slates will' [ðɛr slatesll]
• be in: will be in a state of [bi ɪn]
• before the trial's over: before the trial is finished; contraction of 'trial is'; exclamation mark indicates Alice's thought is emphatic [ˌbiˈfɔr ðə traɪəlz ˈoʊvər]
• thought: indicates that the following is Alice's internal thought [θɔt]
• Alice: the name of the protagonist [ˈælɪs]

One of the jurors had a pencil that squeaked.

• One of the jurors: A member of the jury [wən əv ðə ˈʤʊrərz]
• had a pencil: possessed a writing instrument [hæd ə ˈpɛnsəl]
• that squeaked: which made a high-pitched sound [ðət skwikt]

This 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.

• This: referring to the squeaking sound [ðɪs]
• of course: naturally; as expected [əv kɔrs]
• Alice: the name of the protagonist [ˈælɪs]
• could not stand: could not tolerate or endure [kʊd nɑt stænd]
• and: connects two clauses [ənd]
• she went round: she moved around [ʃi wɛnt raʊnd]
• the court: the courtroom [ðə kɔrt]
• and: connects two clauses [ənd]
• got behind him: positioned herself behind the juror [gɑt bɪˈhaɪnd ɪm]
• and: connects two clauses [ənd]
• very soon: quickly; in a short amount of time [ˈvɛri sun]
• found an opportunity: discovered a chance [faʊnd ən ˌɑpərˈtunəti]
• of taking it away: to remove the pencil [əv ˈteɪkɪŋ ɪt əˈweɪ]

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; and this was of very little use, as it left no mark on the slate.

• She did it: She performed the action [ʃi dɪd ɪt]
• so quickly: with great speed [soʊ kˈwɪkli]
• that: introduces a subordinate clause of result [ðət]
• the poor little juror: the unfortunate small juror; 'poor' expresses sympathy [ðə pur ˈlɪtəl ˈʤʊrər]
• it was Bill, the Lizard: parenthetical information identifying the juror [(ɪt wɑz bɪl ðə ˈlɪzərd)]
• could not make out: could not understand or discern [kʊd nɑt meɪk aʊt]
• at all: in any way; completely [æt ɔl]
• what had become of it: what had happened to the pencil [wət hæd bɪˈkəm əv ɪt]
• so: therefore; as a result [soʊ]
• after hunting: after searching [ˈæftər ˈhəntɪŋ]
• all about: everywhere [ɔl əˈbaʊt]
• for it: for the pencil [fər ɪt]
• he was obliged: he was forced or required [hi wɑz əˈblaɪʤd]
• to write: to perform the act of writing [tɪ raɪt]
• with one finger: using a single finger [wɪθ wən ˈfɪŋgər]
• for the rest of the day: for the remainder of the day [fər ðə rɛst əv ðə deɪ]
• and: connects two clauses [ənd]
• this: referring to writing with one finger [ðɪs]
• was of very little use: was not very helpful or effective [wɑz əv ˈvɛri ˈlɪtəl juz]
• as: because; since [ɛz]
• it left no mark: it did not create any visible trace [ɪt lɛft noʊ mɑrk]
• on the slate: on the writing board [ɔn ðə sleɪt]

'Herald, read the accusation!' said the King.

• Herald, read the accusation: A command to the Herald to announce the charges. 'Herald' is a royal officer. 'Read the accusation' means to publicly announce the formal charge or claim against someone. [ˈhɛrəld rɛd ðə ˌækjəˈzeɪʃən]
• said: past tense of 'say', indicating who is speaking [sɛd]
• the King: the monarch or ruler who is speaking [ðə kɪŋ]

On this the White Rabbit blew three blasts on the trumpet, and then unrolled the parchment scroll, and read as follows:—

• On this: Following this action or event [ɔn ðɪs]
• the White Rabbit: A character, specifically a white rabbit, likely acting as a messenger or official [ðə waɪt ˈræbɪt]
• blew: past tense of 'blow', meaning to force air through an instrument [blu]
• three blasts: three sounds made by blowing into a trumpet [θri blæsts]
• on the trumpet: using the musical instrument called a trumpet [ɔn ðə ˈtrəmpət]
• and then: subsequently, after that [ənd ðɛn]
• unrolled: past tense of 'unroll', meaning to open something that was rolled up [ˌənˈroʊld]
• the parchment scroll: a roll of paper made from animal skin, used for writing [ðə ˈpɑrʧmənt skroʊl]
• and read: and recited aloud [ənd rɛd]
• as follows: in the following manner or words [ɛz ˈfɑloʊz]

'The Queen of Hearts, she made some tarts,

• The Queen of Hearts: A playing card character, the Queen of the suit of Hearts [ðə kwin əv hɑrts]
• she: pronoun referring to the Queen of Hearts [ʃi]
• made: past tense of 'make', meaning to create or prepare [meɪd]
• some tarts: plural of tart, a baked dish with a filling [səm tɑrts]

All on a summer day:

• All: Entirely; completely [ɔl]
• on: During [ɔn]
• a summer day: A day in the summer season [ə ˈsəmər deɪ]

The Knave of Hearts, he stole those tarts,

• The Knave of Hearts: A playing card character, the Knave (Jack) of the suit of Hearts [ðə neɪv əv hɑrts]
• he: pronoun referring to the Knave of Hearts [hi]
• stole: past tense of 'steal', meaning to take something without permission [stoʊl]
• those tarts: the previously mentioned tarts [ðoʊz tɑrts]

And took them quite away!'

• And: In addition [ənd]
• took: past tense of 'take', meaning to carry or move something [tʊk]
• them: pronoun referring to the tarts [ðɛm]
• quite: completely; entirely [kwaɪt]
• away: to another place; gone [əˈweɪ]

'Consider your verdict,' the King said to the jury.

• Consider your verdict: Think about and decide on your judgment. 'Consider' means to think carefully about, and 'verdict' is the decision made by a jury. [kənˈsɪdər jʊr ˈvərdɪkt]
• the King: the monarch or ruler [ðə kɪŋ]
• said: past tense of 'say', indicating who is speaking [sɛd]
• to the jury: addressed to the group of people selected to make a legal decision [tɪ ðə ˈʤʊri]

'Not yet, not yet!' the Rabbit hastily interrupted. 'There's a great deal to come before that!'

• Not yet, not yet: Not at this time; not yet ready. Repeated for emphasis. [nɑt jɛt nɑt jɛt]
• the Rabbit: Referring to the White Rabbit character [ðə ˈræbɪt]
• hastily: quickly; with urgency [ˈheɪstəli]
• interrupted: broke into the conversation [ˌɪntərˈəptɪd]
• There's: contraction of 'there is', indicating existence [ðɛrz]
• a great deal: a large amount [ə greɪt dil]
• to come: that will happen or be presented [tɪ kəm]
• before that: before the verdict [ˌbiˈfɔr ðət]

'Call the first witness,' said the King; and the White Rabbit blew three blasts on the trumpet, and called out, 'First witness!'

• Call: Summon; order to appear [kɔl]
• the first witness: the person who will provide initial testimony [ðə fərst ˈwɪtnəs]
• said: past tense of 'say', indicating who is speaking [sɛd]
• the King: the monarch or ruler [ðə kɪŋ]
• and: and then [ənd]
• the White Rabbit: A character, specifically a white rabbit, likely acting as a messenger or official [ðə waɪt ˈræbɪt]
• blew: past tense of 'blow', meaning to force air through an instrument [blu]
• three blasts: three sounds made by blowing into a trumpet [θri blæsts]
• on the trumpet: using the musical instrument called a trumpet [ɔn ðə ˈtrəmpət]
• and called out: and shouted loudly [ənd kɔld aʊt]
• First witness: announcing the first person to testify [fərst ˈwɪtnəs]

The first witness was the Hatter.

• The first witness: The initial person called to give testimony in a trial or hearing [ðə fərst ˈwɪtnəs]
• was: past tense of 'to be', linking the subject to the description [wɑz]
• the Hatter: a character in Lewis Carroll's 'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland', known for his eccentric behavior [ðə ˈhætər]

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

• You ought to have finished: You should have completed [ju ɔt tɪ hæv ˈfɪnɪʃt]
• said the King: the King stated [ sɛd ðə kɪŋ]
• When: at what time [wɪn]
• did you begin: did you start [dɪd ju bɪˈgɪn]

The Hatter looked at the March Hare, who had followed him into the court, arm-in-arm with the Dormouse. 'Fourteenth of March, I think it was,' he said.

• The Hatter: referring to the character the Hatter [ðə ˈhætər]
• looked at: directed his gaze towards [lʊkt æt]
• the March Hare: another character from 'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland' [ðə mɑrʧ hɛr]
• who had followed him: who had come after the Hatter [ hu hæd ˈfɑloʊd ɪm]
• into the court: into the courtroom [ˈɪntu ðə kɔrt]
• arm-in-arm: with their arms linked together [ arm-in-arm]
• with the Dormouse: another character from 'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland' [wɪθ ðə ˈdɔrˌmaʊs]
• Fourteenth of March: the fourteenth day of the month of March [ˌfɔrˈtinθ əv mɑrʧ]
• I think it was: I believe that was the date [ aɪ θɪŋk ɪt wɑz]