Question

Analyzing Wordplay: When Alice uses the word one, she means When Humpty Dumpty uses the word one, he means "I never ask advice about growing," Alice said indignantly. "Too proud?" the other inquired. Alice felt even more indignant at this suggestion. "I mean," she said, "that one can't help growing older." "ONE can't, perhaps," said Humpty Dumpty, "but TWO can. With proper assistance, you might have left off at seven, --Through the Looking-Glass, Lewis Carroll.

What does Alice mean when she uses the word "one"?

A) Inevitable growth
B) Personal growth
C) The number one
D) Assistance

Answer 1

Alice means 'inevitable growth' when she uses the word 'one,' suggesting the natural process of aging that cannot be controlled or avoided.

Step-by-step explanation:

When Alice uses the word "one" in the exchange with Humpty Dumpty in Lewis Carroll's Through the Looking-Glass, she is referring to the universal or inevitable growth that happens to everyone, i.e., growing older is a natural process that an individual cannot control or avoid. In contrast, Humpty Dumpty uses the word "one" in a literal sense to imply that if there were two people, they could help each other to stop growing at a desired age with "proper assistance." This conversation highlights Carroll's play on words and the intricate nuances of language within the text.When Humpty Dumpty responds, he takes a more literal interpretation and suggests that two people can help each other stop growing. However, Alice's meaning is focused on the fact that no one can avoid growing older.