4.4 A Mad Tea Party - Class 6 - Kumarbharati

Author: Lewis Carroll (Adapted from Alice in Wonderland)

Genre: Fantasy / Playful Prose

Textbook: English Kumarbharati – Class 6

Board: Maharashtra State Board

English Summary

The extract A Mad Tea Party from Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland describes Alice’s funny and confusing experience at a tea party. Alice finds the March Hare, the Mad Hatter, and the Dormouse having tea together. Though there is plenty of room, they rudely tell Alice “No room!” but she sits anyway. The March Hare offers her wine when none is present, and the Hatter rudely remarks that her hair needs cutting. Their conversation is full of riddles and silly remarks. The Hatter asks, “Why is a raven like a writing desk?” but admits he does not know the answer. They argue about phrases like “I say what I mean” and twist them into funny contradictions. Alice finds their riddles useless. Later, the Hatter explains that it is always tea-time for them because Time does not cooperate. They keep shifting places at the table with unwashed cups. The March Hare suggests Alice tell a story, but she cannot, so they wake the Dormouse to do it. The passage is humorous, illogical, and filled with nonsense talk, showing the whimsical world Alice has entered.

Theme / Central Idea

The extract highlights the whimsical and illogical nature of the fantasy world. It shows humour, nonsense, and wordplay, teaching us that imagination can create both confusion and laughter.

Character Sketches

Alice

• Curious, brave, and polite.

• Faces rude and illogical remarks but responds with dignity.

• Represents innocence, curiosity, and common sense.

The Mad Hatter

• Silly, rude, and full of strange ideas.

• Asks riddles without answers.

• Talks nonsense but adds humour.

The March Hare

• Rude and mischievous.

• Pretends there is no room though plenty exists.

• Contributes to silly conversations.

The Dormouse

• Sleepy and lazy.

• Used as a cushion by the others.

• Occasionally joins the conversation in his sleep.

Word Meanings

Grammar Questions (5)

1. Infinitive / Gerund

   Sentence: “Alice tried to guess the riddle.”Answer: The infinitive is to guess. It shows Alice’s action.

   
   

2. Passive Voice

   Change the voice: Alice joined the tea party.

   Answer: The tea party was joined by Alice.

   
   

3. Modal Auxiliary

   Use ‘would’ in a sentence based on the lesson.

   Answer: The Hatter said that Time would do anything if treated kindly.

   
   

4. Tense Change

   Change into past tense: The March Hare says there is no wine.

   Answer: The March Hare said there was no wine.

   
   

5. Wh-question framing

   Make a Wh-question for the underlined part: The Hatter asked a riddle about a raven.

   Answer: What did the Hatter ask a riddle about?

   
   

Personal Response Questions (5)

1. Question: Do you enjoy riddles? Why or why not?

   Answer: Riddles are enjoyed because they make me think in creative ways. They are fun, even if sometimes confusing.

   
   

2. Question: How would you react if someone made a rude remark like the Hatter did?Answer: If someone made a rude remark, I would respond politely but firmly, just as Alice did, because politeness shows strength.

   
   

3. Question: What do you find funny in this tea party?

   Answer: The funniest part is that they argue over silly statements and ask riddles without answers. Their nonsense makes the scene humorous.

   
   

4. Question: Do you think nonsense stories are important in literature? Why?

   Answer: Nonsense stories are important because they entertain, spark imagination, and show that not everything has to be logical.

   
   

5. Question: If Time were your friend, what would you do?

   Answer: If Time were my friend, I would ask it to slow down during happy moments and speed up during boring tasks.

   
   

True or False (5)

1. The March Hare truthfully offered Alice wine. → False (He offered wine when there was none.)

2. Alice sat down at the tea party without invitation. → True

3. The Hatter’s riddle had no answer. → True

4. The Dormouse was fully awake and lively. → False (He was mostly asleep.)

5. The tea party was full of sense and order. → False (It was full of nonsense and confusion.)

Probable Board / Exam Questions (5)

1. Question: Who were the characters at the tea party?

   Answer: The characters were Alice, the March Hare, the Mad Hatter, and the Dormouse.

   
   

2. Question: Why was Alice annoyed at the March Hare?

   Answer: Alice was annoyed because the March Hare offered her wine though there was none on the table, which was impolite.

   
   

3. Question: What riddle did the Hatter ask Alice?

   Answer: The Hatter asked, “Why is a raven like a writing desk?” but admitted he had no answer to it.

   
   

4. Question: What explanation did the Hatter give about Time?

   Answer: The Hatter said that Time was a person, not a thing, and if treated well, Time would do anything like moving the clock forward.

   
   

5. Question: Why is the tea party called “mad”?

   Answer: The tea party is called mad because the characters speak nonsense, ask riddles without answers, and behave rudely and illogically.

Appreciation / Reflection Paragraph

The extract A Mad Tea Party from Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland is a humorous and nonsensical piece of fantasy. It shows Alice’s interaction with odd characters who twist language, argue over silly things, and confuse her with riddles. The conversation is filled with humour, wordplay, and illogical remarks, which make it entertaining. The story is memorable because it highlights the power of imagination and nonsense in literature. It teaches readers that sometimes fun and creativity come from breaking away from logic. The tea party reflects the whimsical and unpredictable nature of Wonderland.

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