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Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, Chapter 12 summary

Chapter 12 of 12 · 9 min to read the chapter

In Chapter 12, Alice disputes the court’s rules and evidence, defies the Queen, and wakes beside her sister when the cards attack her. She describes her dream and leaves for tea, while her sister imagines its creatures around her and pictures Alice preserving her childhood kindness as an adult.

What happens

  1. Alice accidentally overturns the jury box, replaces the jurors, and tells the King she knows nothing about the case.
  2. The King tries to exclude Alice through a rule about height, but she refuses and challenges its validity.
  3. The White Rabbit reads an unsigned poem, which the King treats as evidence against the Knave despite Alice’s objections.
  4. Alice rejects the Queen’s demand for punishment before a verdict, and the cards attack when she dismisses their authority.
  5. Alice wakes beside her sister, describes her dream, and runs off for tea.
  6. Her sister imagines the dream’s creatures within the surrounding sounds and pictures Alice sharing stories and sympathy with children.

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In this chapter

AliceWhite RabbitQueenTheme: Arbitrary authority

What to notice

The Queen reverses the order of judgment and punishment. Alice openly rejects this demand, bringing their conflict to its sharpest point.

Quick check

What does the White Rabbit discover when he unfolds the paper?

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