King of Hearts (Alice's Adventures in Wonderland) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids King of Hearts |
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| Alice character | |
John Tenniel's illustration of the King and Queen of Hearts at the trial of the Knave of Hearts.
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| First appearance | Alice's Adventures in Wonderland |
| Created by | Lewis Carroll |
| Voiced by | Dink Trout (1951) Tony Pope (Disneyland attraction) |
| Information | |
| Gender | Male |
| Occupation | King |
| Spouse(s) | Queen of Hearts |
| Children | Ten Hearts |
| Nationality | Wonderland |
The King of Hearts is a character from the famous 1865 book Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll. He is married to the powerful Queen of Hearts.
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The King in Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
In the original book, the King of Hearts seems to be more sensible than his wife, the Queen. The Queen often orders people to be punished severely, but the King tries to be fair.
For example, when the Queen wants to punish Alice, the King reminds her that Alice is just a child. He also secretly pardons many people the Queen orders to be punished when she isn't looking. This means fewer people actually face severe consequences.
The Croquet Game and Trial
During a game of croquet, only the King, the Queen, and Alice are left playing at the end. This shows how chaotic the Queen's games can be.
Later, the King acts as the judge at the trial of the Knave of Hearts. Here, he sometimes acts a bit silly himself. He might say things like, "Don't be nervous, or I'll have you punished right away!" to the Mad Hatter. He also asks odd questions, like "What are tarts made of?" to the Duchess's cook.
Together, the King and Queen show how childish and confusing the world of Wonderland can be.
The King in Disney's Alice in Wonderland
In the 1951 Disney movie, the King of Hearts is shown as a small man with a very tall crown. He is much less popular than the Queen among their subjects.
He seems a bit less clever in the movie than in the book. For instance, when he first sees Alice, he thinks she is another playing card. He also acts excited when the Queen orders someone to be punished, even though he didn't give the order himself.
The Trial and Alice's Escape
The King appears briefly when the Cheshire Cat causes the Queen to fall during croquet. The King quickly orders the guards to help her, which they do, except for Alice. This makes the Queen blame Alice.
Just as the Queen orders Alice to be punished, the King suggests they have a trial first. The Queen agrees, but she wants to decide the punishment before hearing any evidence. The King stops her again, saying they should call witnesses first.
The witnesses are the Mad Hatter, March Hare, and Dormouse. The Cheshire Cat reappears and scares the Dormouse, causing a mess in the court. The Queen blames Alice again and orders her to be punished.
Alice then eats some mushrooms, which make her grow very big. The King announces a rule that says "all persons more than a mile high must leave the court immediately." Alice feels brave enough to call the Queen a "fat, pompous, bad-tempered old tyrant."
The Queen orders Alice to be punished a third time. As Alice runs away, the King uses his crown like a megaphone to tell the guards to "do as her Majesty says." When Alice shrinks back to normal size, the Queen and other Wonderland characters chase her. This chase ends when Alice wakes up from her dream.
The King was voiced by Dink Trout in the 1951 film. He was also voiced by Tony Pope in the Disneyland attraction.
Other Appearances of the King of Hearts
The King of Hearts has appeared in many other stories and adaptations:
- In the 1933 film Alice in Wonderland, he was played by Ford Sterling.
- The 2009 TV miniseries Alice features a character named Winston Heart, who is the King of Wonderland. He is married to Mary Elizabeth Constance De Villiers Heart, the Queen. Winston loves his wife, but she only cares about power. Like in other versions, Winston tries to lessen the harshness of his wife's orders.
- In the ABC TV show Once Upon a Time, a character named Henry, who is the father of the Evil Queen, is similar to the King of Hearts. His wife, Cora, becomes the Queen of Hearts after being sent to Wonderland.
- The anime and manga series Pandora Hearts includes Arthur Barma, whose sister Miranda Barma is based on the Queen of Hearts.
