CLEVER ALICE
by Dinah Maria Mulock Craik · from The Little Lame Prince
Adapted Version
Alice is a girl. Mom and Dad call her clever. Is she clever? Let's find out!
Alice lives with her mom and dad. They love her very much. They think Alice is very smart. A boy named Hans comes to visit. Hans wants to be Alice's friend. He likes smart friends.
One day, Mom asks Alice for juice. "Alice, please get juice," Mom says. Alice goes to the kitchen. She sees a big pot. The pot is on a high shelf. "Oh no!" Alice thinks. "What if pot falls?" "What if it hits a head?" Alice sits down. She starts to cry. She cries and cries.
Mom waits for Alice. Alice does not come. Mom goes to the kitchen. She sees Alice crying. "Why do you cry, Alice?" Mom asks. Alice points to the pot. "Oh no! The pot might fall!" Alice says. Mom thinks about the pot. Mom starts to cry too. "Oh no!" Mom says. Dad comes to the kitchen. He sees Mom and Alice. They both cry. "Why do you cry?" Dad asks.
Alice points to the pot. "Oh no! The pot might fall!" she says. Mom says, "Oh no!" She cries too. Dad looks at the pot. "Oh no!" Dad says. He sits down. Dad cries too.
Hans comes to the kitchen. He sees them crying. "Why do you cry?" Hans asks. They tell him about the pot. Hans looks at the pot. He takes the pot down. Hans puts it on a low shelf. "Problem solved!" Hans says. They stop crying. Hans laughs. "You are all so silly!" he says.
One day, Hans speaks to Alice. "Pick apples," Hans says. "Go to the garden." Alice goes to the garden. She eats her snack. Alice feels sleepy. She takes a nap. She sleeps under a tree. No apples are picked.
Hans comes to the garden. He sees Alice sleeping. No apples are in the basket. Hans smiles. He finds a funny hat. It has little bells. Hans puts the hat on Alice's head.
Alice wakes up. She hears jingle jingle. "What is that sound?" she asks. "Am I Alice?" "Alice does not jingle!" She feels confused. Alice runs home fast. "Hans! Is Alice here?" she asks. Hans says, "Yes, she is here." Alice looks confused. "Then who am I?" Alice asks.
Hans laughs a big laugh. He takes off the hat. "You are Alice, silly!" Hans says. Alice laughs too. "Oh! I AM Alice!" she says. Everyone laughs together.
And Alice? She never worried about that pot again.
Original Story
CLEVER ALICE
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.”
At last a certain youth, by name Hans, came from a distance to make a proposal of marriage; but he required one condition, that the clever Alice should be very prudent.
“Oh,” said her father, “no fear of that! she has got a head full of brains;” and the mother added, “ah, she can see the wind blow up the street, and hear the flies cough!”
“Very well,” replied Hans; “but remember, if she is not very prudent, I will not take her.” Soon afterward they sat down to dinner, and her mother said, “Alice, go down into the cellar and draw some beer.”
So Clever Alice took the jug down from the wall, and went into the cellar, jerking the lid up and down on her way, to pass away the time. As soon as she got downstairs she drew a stool and placed it before the cask, in order that she might not have to stoop, for she thought stooping might in some way injure her back and give it an undesirable bend. Then she placed the can before her and turned the tap, and while the beer was running, as she did not wish her eyes to be idle, she looked about upon the wall above and below. Presently she perceived, after much peeping into this corner and that corner, a hatchet, which the bricklayers had left behind? sticking out of the ceiling right above her head. At the sight of this Clever Alice began to cry, saying, “Oh! if I marry Hans, and we have a child, and he grows up, and we send him into the cellar to draw beer, the hatchet will fall upon his head and kill him,” and so she sat there weeping with all her might over the impending misfortune.
Meanwhile the good folks upstairs were waiting for the beer, but as Clever Alice did not come, her mother told the maid to go and see what she was stopping for. The maid went down into the cellar and found Alice sitting before the cask crying heartily, and she asked, “Alice, what are you weeping about?”
“Ah,” she replied, “have I not cause? If I marry Hans, and we have a child, and he grows up, and we send him here to draw beer, that hatchet will fall upon his head and kill him.”
“Oh,” said the maid, “what a clever Alice we have!” And sitting down, she began to weep, too, for the misfortune that was to happen.
After a while, when the servant did not return, the good folks above began to feel very thirsty; so the husband told the boy to go down into the cellar and see what had become of Alice and the maid. The boy went down, and there sat Clever Alice and the maid both crying, so he asked the reason; and Alice told him the same tale, of the hatchet that was to fall on her child, if she married Hans, and if they had a child. When she had finished, the boy exclaimed, “What a clever Alice we have!” and fell weeping and howling with the others.
Upstairs they were still waiting, and the husband said, when the boy did not return, “Do you go down, wife, into the cellar and see why Alice stays so long.” So she went down, and finding all three sitting there crying, asked the reason, and Alice told her about the hatchet which must inevitably fall upon the head of her son. Then the mother likewise exclaimed, “Oh, what a clever Alice we have!” and, sitting down, began to weep as much as any of the rest.
Meanwhile the husband waited for his wife's return; but at last he felt so very thirsty that he said, “I must go myself down into the cellar and see what is keeping our Alice.” As soon as he entered the cellar, there he found the four sitting and crying together, and when he heard the reason, he also exclaimed, “Oh, what a clever Alice we have!” and sat down to cry with the whole strength of his lungs.
All this time the bridegroom above sat waiting, but when nobody returned, he thought they must be waiting for him, and so he went down to see what was the matter. When he entered, there sat the five crying and groaning, each one in a louder key than his neighbor.
“What misfortune has happened?” he asked.
“Ah, dear Hans!” cried Alice, “if you and I should marry one another, and have a child, and he grew up, and we, perhaps, send him down to this cellar to tap the beer, the hatchet which has been left sticking up there may fall on his head, and so kill him; and do you not think this is enough to weep about?”
“Now,” said Hans, “more prudence than this is not necessary for my housekeeping; because you are such a clever Alice, I will have you for my wife.” And, taking her hand, he led her home, and celebrated the wedding directly.
After they had been married a little while, Hans, said one morning, “Wife, I will go out to work and earn some money; do you go into the field and gather some corn wherewith to make bread.”
“Yes,” she answered, “I will do so, dear Hans.” And when he was gone, she cooked herself a nice mess of pottage to take with her. As she came to the field, she said to herself, “What shall I do? Shall I cut first, or eat first? Aye, I will eat first!” Then she ate up the contents of her pot, and when it was finished, she thought to herself, “Now, shall I reap first or sleep first? Well, I think I will have a nap!” and so she laid herself down among the corn, and went to sleep.
Meanwhile Hans returned home, but Alice did not come, and so he said, “Oh, what a prudent Alice I have! She is so industrious that she does not even come home to eat anything.” By and by, however, evening came on, and still she did not return; so Hans went out to see how much she had reaped; but, behold, nothing at all, and there lay Alice fast asleep among the corn! So home he ran very fast, and brought a net with little bells hanging on it, which he threw over her head while she still slept on. When he had done this, he went back again and shut to the house door, and, seating himself on his stool, began working very industriously.
At last, when it was nearly dark, the clever Alice awoke, and as soon as she stood up, the net fell all over her hair, and the bells jingled at every step she took. This quite frightened her, and she began to doubt whether she were really Clever Alice, and said to herself, “Am I she, or am I not?” This was a question she could not answer, and she stood still a long while considering about it. At last she thought she would go home and ask whether she was really herself—supposing somebody would be able to tell her.
When she came up to the house door it was shut; so she tapped at the window, and asked, “Hans, is Alice within?” “Yes,” he replied, “she is.” At which answer she became really terrified, and exclaiming, “Ah, heaven, then I am not Alice!” she ran up to another house, intending to ask the same question. But as soon as the folks within heard the jingling of the bells in her net, they refused to open their doors, and nobody would receive her. So she ran straight away from the village, and no one has ever seen her since.
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Story DNA
Moral
Overthinking and excessive worry can lead to inaction and foolishness, ultimately causing one to lose their way.
Plot Summary
Clever Alice, praised for her supposed prudence, is proposed to by Hans. While drawing beer, she catastrophizes about a hatchet falling on her future child, leading her entire family to join her in weeping. Hans, misinterpreting this as profound foresight, marries her. Later, Alice, sent to gather corn, eats her food and falls asleep. Hans, finding her, places a bell-net on her head. Upon waking, Alice becomes confused about her identity due to the bells and Hans's trick, ultimately fleeing the village forever.
Themes
Emotional Arc
amusement to bewilderment
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
This tale is a variant of ATU 1381, 'The Foolish Wife', common in European folklore, often highlighting exaggerated female foolishness for comedic or cautionary effect.
Plot Beats (10)
- A man and his wife want their daughter, Clever Alice, to marry, and Hans proposes on the condition that she is prudent.
- Alice is sent to the cellar to draw beer and, seeing a hatchet, begins to weep uncontrollably over the hypothetical future death of her unborn child.
- One by one, the maid, the boy, the mother, and the father come to the cellar, hear Alice's reasoning, and join her in weeping.
- Hans, finding the entire family crying over a non-existent problem, declares Alice's 'prudence' sufficient and marries her.
- After marriage, Hans goes to work, and Alice is sent to gather corn for bread.
- In the field, Alice eats her pottage, then decides to sleep instead of working.
- Hans returns home, finds Alice asleep in the field with no work done, and places a net with jingling bells over her head.
- Alice awakens, hears the bells, and becomes confused about her own identity, questioning if she is truly Alice.
- She goes home, asks Hans if Alice is inside, and when he says yes, she concludes she is not Alice.
- Terrified and confused, Alice runs away from the village and is never seen again.
Characters
Clever Alice ★ protagonist
Of average height and build for a young woman of her time, with no particularly distinguishing physical features mentioned, suggesting a common, unassuming appearance.
Attire: A simple, practical peasant dress made of linen or wool in muted colors like cream, grey, or light blue, possibly with a plain apron over it. Her clothing would be functional rather than decorative, suitable for household chores and field work in a rural European setting.
Wants: Initially, her motivation is to fulfill her parents' wishes for her to marry and to be perceived as 'prudent.' Later, it's driven by her own illogical fears and a desire to understand her own identity.
Flaw: Her fatal flaw is her extreme literal-mindedness and lack of practical judgment, which leads her to absurd conclusions and prevents her from completing simple tasks. She is easily confused and overwhelmed by abstract thought or unexpected sensations.
She begins as a prospective bride whose 'cleverness' is misunderstood. She ends up fleeing her home and village, completely confused about her own identity, suggesting a complete breakdown of her already fragile sense of self.
Extremely literal-minded, prone to overthinking simple situations to absurd conclusions, easily distracted, prone to dramatic emotional outbursts (weeping), and utterly lacking in practical common sense despite her 'clever' moniker. She is also quite lazy, preferring to eat and sleep over work.
Image Prompt & Upload
A young peasant woman of average height and build, facing forward, full body visible from head to toe. She has a round face with wide, tearful blue eyes and light brown hair in a simple braid. She wears a plain cream linen dress with a grey wool apron over it and simple leather shoes. She is sitting on a small wooden stool, holding a large ceramic beer jug, and weeping dramatically. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Hans ◆ supporting
A sturdy, practical young man of average height and build, typical of a suitor from a distance, suggesting a hardworking and sensible nature.
Attire: Simple, durable peasant clothing, likely made of homespun linen or wool in earthy tones like brown, green, or grey. Perhaps a tunic, trousers, and sturdy boots, reflecting his working-class background.
Wants: To find a prudent wife for his household. Later, to manage Alice's impracticality and ensure his household runs efficiently.
Flaw: His initial willingness to accept Alice's 'cleverness' at face value, which leads him to marry her despite clear warnings.
He begins as a hopeful suitor seeking a prudent wife. He marries Alice, only to discover her true nature, and then cleverly devises a way to rid himself of her impracticality, becoming more decisive and resourceful.
Practical, patient (initially), observant, and somewhat cunning. He is willing to test Alice's 'prudence' and ultimately uses her own logic to solve his problem with her inefficiency.
Image Prompt & Upload
A young peasant man of average height and sturdy build, facing forward, full body visible from head to toe. He has a plain, honest face with observant brown eyes and short, practical dark brown hair. He wears a simple green linen tunic, brown trousers, and sturdy leather boots. He stands with a purposeful posture, holding a net with small brass bells. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Alice's Father ○ minor
An older man, likely of average height and build, with the weathered appearance of a rural landowner or farmer.
Attire: Simple, practical clothing typical of a rural man of his era, such as a coarse wool tunic or jacket, linen shirt, and trousers in muted, earthy tones.
Wants: To see his daughter married to a worthy young man.
Flaw: His blind spot regarding his daughter's true lack of common sense.
Remains largely unchanged, consistently believing in Alice's cleverness.
Affectionate, somewhat gullible, and proud of his daughter, even if his assessment of her 'cleverness' is misguided. Easily swayed by emotional displays.
Image Prompt & Upload
An adult peasant man of average height and build, facing forward, full body visible from head to toe. He has a kind, weathered face with a grey beard and thinning grey hair. He wears a simple brown wool tunic over a cream linen shirt and dark trousers. He stands with a slightly stooped posture, a look of concern and tearfulness on his face. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Alice's Mother ○ minor
An older woman, likely of average height and a sturdy build, reflecting a life of household management.
Attire: A practical, modest dress made of linen or wool in a muted color, possibly with an apron, typical of a rural housewife.
Wants: To see her daughter happily married and to ensure the household runs smoothly.
Flaw: Her tendency to indulge and overpraise Alice, and her susceptibility to emotional contagion.
Remains largely unchanged, consistently believing in Alice's cleverness and joining in the collective weeping.
Affectionate, prone to exaggeration when praising her daughter, and easily drawn into emotional displays. She is concerned with her daughter's well-being and marriage.
Image Prompt & Upload
An adult peasant woman of average height and sturdy build, facing forward, full body visible from head to toe. She has a kind, slightly plump face with a worried expression and grey hair covered by a simple white linen kerchief. She wears a practical dark blue linen dress with a cream apron. She stands with a matronly posture, her hands clasped, tears in her eyes. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
The Maid ○ minor
A young woman of humble appearance, likely slender from physical labor.
Attire: Plain, functional servant's attire, likely a coarse linen dress in a muted color, possibly with a simple apron.
Wants: To follow her mistress's instructions and to empathize with perceived misfortune.
Flaw: Her gullibility and susceptibility to others' emotions.
Remains unchanged, serving as a foil to Alice's 'cleverness' by mirroring her emotional response.
Obedient, easily influenced, and prone to emotional contagion. She lacks independent critical thought.
Image Prompt & Upload
A young peasant maid of slender build, facing forward, full body visible from head to toe. She has a simple, round face with wide, tearful brown eyes and light brown hair tied back in a simple bun. She wears a plain grey linen dress with a white apron. She stands with a slightly bowed head, hands clasped, a look of distress on her face. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
The Boy ○ minor
A young boy, likely small and nimble, typical of a household servant.
Attire: Simple, worn peasant clothing, likely a coarse tunic and trousers in drab colors.
Wants: To follow his master's instructions and to empathize with perceived misfortune.
Flaw: His gullibility and susceptibility to others' emotions.
Remains unchanged, serving as another example of how Alice's 'cleverness' can sway others.
Obedient, easily influenced, and prone to dramatic emotional displays. He lacks independent critical thought.
Image Prompt & Upload
A young peasant boy of small stature, facing forward, full body visible from head to toe. He has a youthful, round face with wide, tearful blue eyes and short, messy blonde hair. He wears a simple brown linen tunic and patched grey trousers. He stands with a slightly hunched posture, his mouth open in a wail, tears streaming down his face. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Locations
Alice's Family Home
A traditional German half-timbered Fachwerk house, likely with a thatched or tiled roof, where Alice lives with her parents. The interior would feature exposed wooden beams and simple, sturdy furniture. The main living area is where Hans waits for dinner.
Mood: Initially domestic and expectant, later shifts to confusion and slight tension due to Alice's delay.
Hans proposes marriage, and the family gathers for dinner, leading to the cellar incident.
Image Prompt & Upload
A cozy, warm interior of a traditional German Fachwerk house, with sunlight streaming through small, leaded-glass windows, illuminating dust motes in the air. Exposed dark timber beams crisscross the whitewashed walls and ceiling. A sturdy wooden table is set with simple earthenware dishes, and a hearth with a simmering pot is visible in the background. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
The Cellar
A cool, damp, subterranean space beneath Alice's family home, likely with rough-hewn stone or brick walls and a low, arched ceiling. It contains a large wooden beer cask with a tap and a small stool. A hatchet is dangerously lodged in the ceiling.
Mood: Initially mundane, quickly becomes absurdly tragic and filled with exaggerated grief.
Alice, her family, and Hans all gather here to weep over a hypothetical future misfortune, showcasing Alice's 'cleverness'.
Image Prompt & Upload
A dimly lit, cool cellar with rough-hewn stone walls and a low, arched brick ceiling. A large, dark wooden beer cask with a brass tap dominates the foreground, next to a small, worn wooden stool. A single, rusty hatchet is precariously wedged into a crack in the ceiling directly above the stool. The air is still and slightly humid, with faint light filtering from a distant opening. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
The Cornfield
A vast, open field of tall, ripe corn stalks, ready for harvest. The ground is soft earth, and the sun is warm. It's a place of agricultural labor, but for Alice, it becomes a place of leisure and confusion.
Mood: Initially peaceful and productive, later becomes a scene of Alice's idleness and Hans's trickery.
Alice is sent to gather corn but instead eats and sleeps, leading to Hans's prank with the bell-net.
Image Prompt & Upload
A wide, sun-drenched cornfield stretching to the horizon under a clear blue sky. Tall, golden-yellow corn stalks with rustling leaves fill the frame, creating a dense, labyrinthine texture. The ground is dry, cracked earth, with occasional wild grasses peeking through. Warm, golden sunlight bathes the field, casting long shadows as the day progresses. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
