Passage 107 · 1865
Down the Rabbit Hole
Main effectThrough inverted syntax mimicking fall, emphatic negative participle, and embedded indirect question, Carroll creates grammar of impulsive adventure—syntax that performs Alice's headlong plunge into illogic.
Device index
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Tropes
Understatement through negation.
Inverted word order.
Phrase split by intervening word.
Syntax
"In another moment"—prepositional phrase of time. Syntax accelerates narrative pace.
"down went Alice"—adverb-verb-subject order. Syntax mimics tumbling motion through word order.
"never once considering"—present participle with emphatic double negative. Syntax emphasizes thoughtlessness.
"how in the world she was to get out"—embedded question with modal construction. Syntax presents the question she didn't ask.
"was to get out"—semi-modal expressing necessity. Syntax implies future problem unrecognized in present.
"again"—final word emphasizes return, suggesting cycle. Syntax looks forward to consequence.
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Temporal Transition
"In another moment"—prepositional phrase of time. Syntax accelerates narrative pace.
Inverted Subject-Verb
"down went Alice"—adverb-verb-subject order. Syntax mimics tumbling motion through word order.
Participial Negation
"never once considering"—present participle with emphatic double negative. Syntax emphasizes thoughtlessness.
Indirect Question
"how in the world she was to get out"—embedded question with modal construction. Syntax presents the question she didn't ask.
Modal Obligation
"was to get out"—semi-modal expressing necessity. Syntax implies future problem unrecognized in present.
Temporal Adverb
"again"—final word emphasizes return, suggesting cycle. Syntax looks forward to consequence.
Stylistic Effect
Through inverted syntax mimicking fall, emphatic negative participle, and embedded indirect question, Carroll creates grammar of impulsive adventure—syntax that performs Alice's headlong plunge into illogic.