Pat (Alice's Adventures in Wonderland) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pat |
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| Alice character | |
Pat is believed by some to be the ape that appears in the Caucus Race
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| First appearance | Alice's Adventures in Wonderland |
| Created by | Lewis Carroll |
| Portrayed by | Scott Baio, Freddie Earlle, Jason Byrne, Bill Thompson, Jon Glover |
| Information | |
| Species | Guinea pig? Ape? |
| Gender | Male |
| Occupation | Gardener |
| Nationality | Irish |
Pat is a character from Lewis Carroll's famous 1865 book, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. He shows up in the chapter called "The Rabbit Sends in a Little Bill." Pat works as a gardener for the White Rabbit, just like his friend Bill the Lizard.
In the story, the White Rabbit thinks Alice is his maid, Mary Ann. Alice drinks from a bottle and grows very big. The Rabbit thinks she is a monster! He asks Pat to climb down the chimney to get the "monster" out. Pat says no. So, the Rabbit sends Bill the Lizard instead. When Bill goes down the chimney, Alice kicks him. Bill flies out of the chimney and lands back in the Rabbit's garden.
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What Does Pat Look Like?
Lewis Carroll never really describes Pat. This means we don't know if he is an animal, a human, or a bird. Because of this, people have many ideas about what Pat might be.
Is Pat Irish?
Many clues suggest Pat is Irish. He uses phrases that sound Irish. For example, he says, "Sure then I'm here! Digging for apples, yer honour." He also says, "Sure, it's an arm, yer honour!" He even says "arrum" instead of "arm."
Carroll also hints at Pat's Irish background by saying he is "digging for apples." In Victorian times, "Irish apples" was a slang term for potatoes. Pat is also a common Irish name, often short for Patrick.
Pat as a Guinea Pig
Some people think Pat is one of the two guinea pigs. These guinea pigs help Bill after he shoots out of the chimney. If this is true, Pat appears again later. The same two guinea pigs are jurors in the Queen’s court. They get quieted down for cheering too much.
Pat as an Ape
Another idea comes from David Lockwood. He suggests Pat might be the ape seen in the Caucus Race and the Pool of Tears. This idea connects to Pat being Irish. In old cartoons from the Victorian era, Irish people were sometimes unfairly drawn to look like apes. Also, in some Punch cartoons, Arabian workers were drawn like apes and often called Pat or Paddy.
However, the ape character is only in the pictures by Tenniel, not in Carroll's words. So, the ape might just be something Tenniel added.
Other Ideas for Pat's Species
Some theories suggest Pat is just a lizard, like his friend Bill. Many Disney fans sometimes mix up Pat with the Dodo. This is because the characters are combined in the Disney movie. But in the book, there is no proof they are the same character.
Pat in Disney's Animated Film
In the Disney animated movie, Pat's character is combined with The Dodo. The Dodo appears earlier in the film during the Caucus Race. Because of this, some people call the character "Pat the Dodo." However, this name is never used in the movie itself.
In the film, the Dodo is a bossy sailor. This is different from Pat, who is a gardener in the book. Bill Thompson provides the voice for the Dodo.
The Dodo first appears when Alice is floating in the sea in a bottle. The Dodo is singing and does not notice Alice asking for help. Later, on shore, the Dodo is on a rock. He tries to organize a caucus race. This race is supposed to make everyone dry by running around. But big waves keep getting in the way.
The White Rabbit later calls for the Dodo. The Rabbit thinks a monster (which is actually a giant Alice) is inside his house. The Dodo brings Bill the Lizard and tries to make him go down the chimney. Bill doesn't want to at first. But the Dodo convinces him. When Bill goes down, the soot makes Alice sneeze. This sends Bill flying high into the sky!
The Dodo then decides to burn the house down. The White Rabbit is very upset about this. The Dodo starts gathering wood, even furniture, to light the fire. But Alice soon shrinks back to her normal size and leaves the house.
The White Rabbit then leaves. The Dodo asks for matches, not realizing the problem is solved. He asks Alice for a match. When she doesn't have one, the Dodo complains. He then uses his pipe to light the fire.
The Dodo also appears briefly at the end of the movie. He is leading another Caucus Race.
Other Appearances
Pat has appeared in other movies and TV shows:
- In the 1985 television movie, Pat is played by Scott Baio.
- In a 1985 television series, Jon Glover plays Pat.
- In the 1972 film, Freddie Earlle plays Pat.
- In the 1999 film, Jason Byrne plays Pat.
