Name that Character
All About Roscuro
All About Despereaux
Plot
Vocabulary
Freewheeling
100
Despereaux falls in love with this character
What is Princess Pea?
100
How is Roscuro different from other rats?
He loves the light (most rats like darkness).
100
Why does Despereaux get sent to the dungeon?
He is punished by the Mouse Council for talking to the humans.
100
Name the part of the plot when Despereaux is born and learning how to be a mouse from his siblings (beginning of the story).
Exposition.
100
What is a "clout"?
A punch or hit.
100

What’s your opinion of Despereaux? Support your thinking with examples from the book.

Quality answer with evidence to support thinking from the book. 

200
The jailer who lives in the dungeon
Who is Gregory?
200
Why are some of Roscuro's whiskers missing?
They were burnt off when he chewed Gregory's rope and he lit a match in his face.
200
What did Despereaux look like when he was born?
What is small, big ears, and open eyes?
200
Despereaux discovers that books are wonderful things to...
Read.
200
What does "aspiration" mean?
Desiring or hoping for something (Example: She aspires to be a lawyer one day.)
200

How does the story address the theme of prejudice - (lots of important points to prejudice, but for our purposes of discussion we will use this definition:  preconceived opinion that is not based on reason or actual experience.

Rats are bad; Miggery Sow is stupid

300
This character was responsible for the death of the Queen.
Who is Roscuro?
300
What advice does Botticelli give Roscuro about torturing prisoners?
He says to befriend them, and then betray them.
300
What does Gregory want Despereaux to tell him?
What is stories?
300

How did Miggery Sow end up at the castle?

The guard who was collecting spoons and bowls said her "uncle" couldn't "own" a person.

300
What does chiaroscuro mean?
What is the arrangement of light and dark?
300

Do you believe the king declaring that all rats must be killed is effective? Why or why not? What’s the outcome of his declaration?

 

Men die in the dungeon trying to find the rates -- an outcome of "war"

It's not effective because it doesn't change anything: can't bring back the queen, won't end all rats forever


400
This character is the father of Despereaux
Who is Lester?
400
Who saw Roscuro hanging from the chandelier at the party?
The Princess Pea.
400
How does Despereaux feel about Princess Pea?
He loves her and wants to honor her.
400
What did Miggery Sow's father trade her for?
A red cloth, a handful of cigarettes, and a hen.
400
What does perfidy mean?
Betrayal, disloyalty, or faithlessness.
400

Compare Princess Pea's reaction to Miggery Sow when she waves at her from a distance to when she meets her in person. Why do you think she has two different reactions? Justify your answer with information from the book.

Pea is disgruntled that Miggery doesn't wave back. Yet, when Miggery rocks a long time in her cursy and then falls, Pea is merciful/graceful because they are in the moment together. 

500
This character frequently speaks French words.
Who is Antoinette (Despereaux's mother)?
500

How did Roscuro feel when he heard Princess Pea shout "There's a rat!"

He heard "rat" as a dirty word, a thing of disgrace
500

Give a concrete, compelling word to describe Despereaux's character

brave, courageous, special, heartfelt, honest

500

Name any theme in the book

the meaning of family; courage; almost any other acceptable answer
500
What does "adieu" mean?
Farewell!
500

What’s your opinion of the king's ban on soup. Will it resolve anything? Why or why not? What’s at the root of his reasoning for the ban?

Because soup isn't the problem. He is sad about his wife dying and wants to be mad and gain control. Yet,  banning soup will not fix his hurt. 

As people, we often act on misplaced hurt & anger. 

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