Jennifer Medina

ENG 308

Essay #2

Alices Adventures in Blooms Taxonomy

Alices Adventures in Wonderland written by Lewis Carroll, paints a picture of a

young girl, Alice, who travels down a rabbit hole and comes across many different talking

animals and objects as well as experiences that force Alice to reflect on who she is. The

story has Alice move through the levels of Blooms Taxonomy which include:

comprehension, application, analysis, synthesis, knowledge, and evaluation.

Part II of Alices in Wonderland, The Pool of Tears, Alice finds herself drastically

changing physically but also mentally. Alice begins to think to herself I wonder if Ive been

changed in the night? Let me think: was I the same when I got up this morning? I almost

think I can remember feeling a little different. But if im not the same, the next question is

who in the world am I? (Carroll 24-25). Alice is practicing Blooms Taxonomy learning

stage of evaluation by critically examining who she is and how recent events have affected

her.

Part XII, Alices Evidence, the Knave is being accused of stealing tarts, the only

evidence to prove him innocent is an anonymous letter which the king took to make

meaning of it afte Alice asked it to be explained. The king proceedes to break down the

letter, sentence by sentence. The king is practicing Blooms Taxonomy in comprehension.

The king is trying to understand what each sentence means I seem to see some meaning in
them, after all (Carroll 139). The King makes an effort to interpret the letter and discusses

the letter with the rest of the court.

Part V, Advice from a Caterpillar, Alice is found having a conversation with a

caterpillar who makes Alice question who she is and also makes her repeat You are old,

Father William, as a form of test. As Alice is reciting the poem she is applying Blooms

Taxonomy in knowledge. Alice is recalling information, in this case a poem, to help her

determine if she has changed. According to the caterpillar she has recited the poem wrong

but nonetheless she is using her knowledge of the poem and recalling and telling the

caterpillar about the poem.

Part III, A Caucus Race & a Lont Tale, Alice found herself with a Duck, Dodo, a Lory,

and an Eaglet, as well as other creatures who were all wet as a result from Alices tears. The

group then determines they have to get dry and that is when they formulate a plan to get

dry with a caucus race. As the group composes a plan they are showing Blooms Taxonomy

in synthesis. They are using their critical thinking by inventing this caucus race and no

doubt finding an unusual way to do so.

Part VII, A Mad Tea Party, Alice is having tea with the March Hare, Hatter, and a

Dormouse. The Hatter makes remarks about Alices hair as she replies with you should

learn not to make personal remarksits very rude(Carroll 79). Through Blooms

taxonomy in application, Alice is stating a principle of how certain remarks are rude to be

made. Alice is applying her knowledge of manners towards the Hatter.

Part IX, The Mock Turtles Story, Alice revisits the Dutchess who in turn has a thing

for telling the meaning behind morals. The Dutchess is using Blooms Taxonomy in

analyzing when the Dutchess is connecting the morals to current things that are happening
to Alice or things that Alice happens to mention. The Dutchess is examining and exploring

the relationships between Alice adventures and the morals she has knowledge about.

http://blog.curriculet.com has provided a Blooms Taxonomy diagram that further

explains Blooms Taxonomy and makes it easier to understand and apply each stage of

learning. The diagram is organized as a pyramid which begins with three learning stages:

creating, evaluating, and analyzing. Second stage includes applying, third: understanding,

and fourth: remembering. Each learning stage including key words that help explain each

stage. http://www.teachthought.com also provides a Blooms Taxonomy tool that provides

questions that correspond with each learning stage as well as including key words that

make it easier to understand the learning stages of Blooms Taxonomy.

 Works Cited

Carrol, Lewis (1865) Alices Adventures in Wonderland

http://blog.curriculet.com/wp-content/uploads/Blooms-Taxonomy.png

http://www.teachthought.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/blooms-question-stems.jpg