Title character who says "I've often seen a cat without a grin ... but a grin without a cat!" nyt crossword clue

The clue references a famous quote from the character known as the Cheshire Cat in Lewis Carroll's "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland." The full context of the quote highlights the cat's unique ability to appear and disappear, leaving behind only its distinctive grin. The clue mentions "Title character," which indicates that the answer likely refers to the title character of the work, "Alice." She is the central figure in the story, and while the quote is spoken by the Cheshire Cat, Alice is often considered the main character or title character in discussions of the book. Thus, the answer to the clue is: **ALICE** **Analyzing the Clue:** 1. **Quote Recognition:** Recognizing the quote helps to identify the character associated with it. 2. **Context of the Work:** Knowing that the quote is from "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" further narrows down the focus to the main character, Alice. 3. **Wordplay and Direct Mentions:** Since "Title character" is explicitly mentioned, it redirects the focus from the Cheshire Cat to Alice herself, who is indeed the protagonist. **Tips for Solving Similar Clues:** 1. **Famous Quotes:** Familiarize yourself with well-known literary quotes and their characters, as they frequently appear in crossword puzzles. 2. **Character Roles:** Pay attention to the role of characters in stories (protagonist vs. supporting characters) when identifying answers. 3. **Context Clues:** Read the entire clue carefully to determine if it refers to a character, place, or something else entirely, which helps in parsing the question correctly. Overall, maintaining a broad knowledge of literature can greatly assist in solving crossword puzzles that rely on cultural or literary references.