Heroism, Humanism & Hijinks: Literature in Action - Week 4, Period 5

[no-toast-thanks.livejournal.com]

Dummies' Guide to Alice in Wonderland

"Good afternoon," Thursday greeted from the front of the class. Behind her, as she spoke, a cat started to appear out of nowhere - grin first. "First of all, you should all know that Hamlet Dane is now the TA for this class. This week we're discussing Alice in Wonderland. Those of you from 20th century Earth would at least know it by reputation."

"I have a reputation?" the appearing cat said.

Thursday stepped aside and looked back. "Apparently," she replied. "As promised, we have a guest in our class today. This is the Unitary Authority of Warrington Cat, or the Cat Formerly Known As Cheshire. You would know him from the novel as the Cheshire Cat."

The Cat looked around the room with eyes that just appeared into view. "Does anyone have any Mogglicious cat food?"

Thursday continued without waiting for anyone to answer him. "The Cat is here to prove a point. Last week we discussed the power of words. Today's topic is how words can be used to confuse. Each of you are free to ask the Cat any questions. He will answer as he pleases."

"What if I please not to answer at all?"

"No Mogglicious."

The Cat appeared into full view. "Shall we begin?" he asked with a grin.

Comments

Re: Talk to the Cat

[no-toast-thanks.livejournal.com]

"Then which are you talking about? A straight answer or one that isn't confusing?"

Re: Talk to the Cat

[smartestone]

"I would like to get a straight answer out of you," she clarifies.

Re: Talk to the Cat

[no-toast-thanks.livejournal.com]

"I'm afraid I can't do that without changing the waves into straight lines and it's rude to change sound waves into lines without asking permission."

Re: Talk to the Cat

[smartestone]

"Then you should certainly ask permission," Hermione tells him.

Re: Talk to the Cat

[no-toast-thanks.livejournal.com]

"I'm afraid I don't know their telephone number."

Re: Talk to the Cat

[smartestone]

She knows she'll regret this. "There must bea way to find out."

Re: Talk to the Cat

[no-toast-thanks.livejournal.com]

"I suppose we could ask a bee."

Re: Talk to the Cat

[smartestone]

Hermione hates everything. "Bees don't speak, unless perhaps they're an Animagus, and even then you have to wait for them to return to their true form."

Re: Talk to the Cat

[no-toast-thanks.livejournal.com]

"Bees can speak. They can't speak English, but they can speak."

Re: Talk to the Cat

[smartestone]

"Do you understand the bees' language, then?"

Re: Talk to the Cat

[no-toast-thanks.livejournal.com]

"No, do you?"

Re: Talk to the Cat

[smartestone]

"No! Why suggest asking a bee when you can't talk to them?"

Re: Talk to the Cat

[no-toast-thanks.livejournal.com]

"They're quite knowledgeable."

Re: Talk to the Cat

[smartestone]

"Have you ever heard- in any language you understand- what one was saying?"

Re: Talk to the Cat

[no-toast-thanks.livejournal.com]

"Heard? No."

Re: Talk to the Cat

[smartestone]

"Then how would you know?"

Re: Talk to the Cat

[no-toast-thanks.livejournal.com]

"Because the bee spoke to a translator who wrote it down in cuneiform."

Re: Talk to the Cat

[smartestone]

"Oh, yes, of course, that makes perfect sense."

Re: Talk to the Cat

[no-toast-thanks.livejournal.com]

"The cuneiform did, but the buzzing sound the bee made didn't at all."

Re: Talk to the Cat

[smartestone]

Hermione resists the urge to headdesk. She's not giving the cat the satisfaction.

Re: Talk to the Cat

[no-toast-thanks.livejournal.com]

The Cat stood up and stretched. "Wasps aren't very good conversationalists either."

Re: Talk to the Cat

[smartestone]

Hermione sighs. "Have you spoken with a lot of wasps?"

Re: Talk to the Cat

[no-toast-thanks.livejournal.com]

"Only through sign language."

Re: Talk to the Cat

[smartestone]

"Wasps don't have hands. And don't tell me that they somehow wrote a message on a sign and held it up or anything like that, either."

Re: Talk to the Cat

[no-toast-thanks.livejournal.com]

"They have wings. It's more like semaphore code."