Clever Alice by Dinah Mulock (1876)
A man has a daughter known for her cleverness, prompting her parents to seek a suitable husband. A young man named Hans proposes but insists that she must be prudent. During a task in the cellar, Alice becomes distressed over a hatchet that could fall and harm her future child if she marries Hans. Her crying attracts the attention of her family, who join her in lamenting the imagined misfortune, each exclaiming how clever she is. Hans, witnessing this, decides that her cleverness is sufficient for marriage. After their wedding, Hans goes to work while Alice is tasked with gathering corn. Instead of working, she eats and then falls asleep in the field. When Hans returns and finds her missing, he assumes she is industrious. Eventually, he discovers her asleep and nets her, causing her to wake up confused and doubting her identity. She questions whether she is truly Clever Alice and, upon hearing Hans confirm her existence, panics and runs away, never to be seen again. The story explores themes of perception, identity, and the consequences of overthinking, ultimately leading to Alice's disappearance due to her inability to reconcile her cleverness with her reality.
By Dinah Mulock · First published 1876 · Genre: Children's Literature, Fairy Tale, Adventure · 1,656 words
First lines
ONCE upon a time there was a man who had a daughter who was called "Clever Alice," and when she was grown up, her father said, "We must see about her marrying."
"Yes," replied her mother, "whenever a young man shall appear who is worthy of her."
What this Textopian page supports
Clever Alice is listed on Textopian as a short story by Dinah Mulock, dated 1876 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Dinah Mulock
- Date: 1876 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Children's Literature, Fairy Tale, Adventure, Fantasy
- Length: 1,656 words
- Structure: 1 section, 21 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Clever Alice by Dinah Mulock
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering Clever Alice?
- How does this short story by Dinah Mulock fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Children's Literature first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- Foolish Children by George Macdonald
- The White Cat by Gelett Burgess
- Little One Eye Little Two Eyes And Little Three Eyes by Dinah Mulock
- Prince Cherry by Dinah Mulock
- Granny Canty by George Macdonald
- The Turnip by David Cory
Genres
- Children's Literature — The book 'Clever Alice' was written by Dinah Mulock, as a tale for children. It involves a child protagonist and themes suitable for a young audience.
- Fairy Tale — The story features a young girl named Alice who outwits various characters and undergoes magical adventures, which sets it firmly into the fairy tale category.
- Adventure — In the story, Alice goes through different adventures, encountering various characters and challenges.
- Fantasy — The plot of 'Clever Alice' includes magical elements and creatures, featuring fantastical events which satisfy the standards of the fantasy genre.
Tags
children's literature · fairy tale · adventure · imagination · cleverness · problem-solving · friendship · morality · humor · fantasy · self-discovery · courage