The lobster quadrille is a dance. You first get into a line along the sea-shore. Then someone has to move twice, set partners and change lobsters and then retire in the same order. You then have to throw the lobster out into the sea and then go swim after them. There are two lines in the lobster quadrille dance. Each line consists of seals, turtles and salmon. The Mock Turtle is crying because he is upset that he can’t understand the meaning of what Alice recites. He says she should stop reciting if she can not explain the meaning as she recites. The Mock-Turtle and the Gryphon are singing to Alice because she is confused about the dance.