Jemmy
The Prince
Cutwater and Hold your nose Billy
Miscellaneous
Vocabulary
100
The whipping boy is Jemmy, who formerly lived on the city streets and caught and sold rats to survive. Now Jemmy is the prince's whipping boy; he substitutes for Prince Brat whenever the prince deserves a spanking, and he infuriates the prince by never crying when he is spanked (p. 4). Jemmy lives in fear of displeasing the prince or the king, and possibly losing his life, and he dreams of his past carefree lifestyle.
Describe the whipping boy in the novel. Who is he? What is his job?
100
He plays many jokes at the expense of others; for example, tying the wigs of noblemen to their chairs and greasing the saddles of the knights. He is insolent and mocking towards his tutor, Master Peckwit (p. 5). He refuses to learn from anyone, and makes demands from everyone around him.
Prince Horace is known as Prince Brat by everyone in the kingdom. What are some of the things he does to earn this nickname?
100
They are outlaws. They do not have a job, but instead choose to steal from others. The villagers sing songs about how horrible they are. They are uneducated and live in a shack in the forest.
Describe Cutwater and Hold your nose Billy.
100
They are captured by two cutthroats, Hold-Your-Nose Billy and Cutwater. The bandits hold the two boys hostage in their hut in the forest while plotting how they will demand a ransom from the king.
What happens as soon as Prince Brat and his whipping boy try to run away from the kingdom?
100
genuine
What is real
200
Jemmy is tough, uncomplaining, and strong, as a result of his harsh childhood and years of having to fend for himself. He doesn't cry or flinch when spanked, and he shows courage in even the direst situations. He has many friends from his rat-catching days. As a result of his time spent in the castle, he has learned to read and write well. The prince, on the other hand, has been spoiled since birth, and he has never had to take any responsibility for himself. The prince is willful and defiant. He has been granted his every whim as the son of the king, and so he is known for being spoiled, mean-spirited, and selfish. He doesn't have any friends, until Jemmy, because of his selfish ways, and he has little knowledge of how the world works beyond the castle walls. He is also completely illiterate, because he has refused to learn anything from his tutor.
How are Prince Brat and Jemmy different from one another at the beginning of the novel?
200
Prince Brat learns what friendship means when he begins to trust and respect Jemmy. He witnesses Jemmy's loyalty and self-sacrifice, and he begins to be less self-centered through Jemmy's example. He begins to value learning, since he is ashamed when it is clear that his whipping boy is far more literate than he is. He begins to take responsibility for himself - agreeing at the end of the novel to behave himself and do his own lessons. He also learns how common people live, and gets a sense of real-life justice.
How did the prince change from the beginning of the story to the end of the story?
200
They wanted to get gold from the king. They were holding the boys for a ransome.
Why did Cutwater and Billy not let Jemmy and the Prince go? What did they want?
200
They were taken to the outlaws cabin hidden deep in the forest. It was small and dirty. The outlaws had horrible food and straw on the floor.
Describe where the prince and Jemmy were taken after they were captured by Cutwater and Billy.
200
arrogant
What is thinking you are better than everyone else?
300
Since the outlaws think that Jemmy is the real prince, Jemmy plots to have the real prince (whom the outlaws believe to be the whipping boy) deliver the ransom note to the king. This way Prince Brat will be free, and Jemmy will have fulfilled his duties to serve the prince.
When the boys are in the outlaw's cabin, what is Jemmy's scheme to escape from Hold-Your-Nose Billy and Cutwater and why does he think it will work?
300
The prince refuses to go along with the plan, partly because he is furious to be mistaken for a common whipping boy, and partly because he is not yet ready to return to the castle (p. 34).
Why doesn't the prince go along with Jemmy's plan?
300
When the bandits order Prince Brat to write a ransom note to his father, he must admit that he doesn't know how to write. The bandits can't believe that a real prince doesn't even know how to write his own name, so they assume that his companion Jemmy - who can write - is the real prince.
What causes Hold-Your-Nose Billy and Cutwater to believe Jemmy is the real prince?
300
They attach the note to the royal hourse and they also send the prince's crown.
Since the prince will not take the ransome note to the castle and the outlaws are too afraid to take the note, how do they decide get the ransome note to the king? What else do they send with the note to prove that it is real.
300
defiant
What is to refuse to do something
400
He went to the sewers, because he use to be a rat catcher and he knew that he could find his way through the dark sewers.
At the end of the story, where did Jemmy go to escape from Cutwater and Billy? Why did he choose to go there?
400
He ate root vegtables like potatoes. He carried things and he shook hands with someone else.
What are some things that the prince experienced in the village that he had never done before?
400
He wants him to stay and live in the castle, not as the Whipping boy, but as his friend.
At the end of the story, the prince agrees to be good. What does he want from Jemmy in return?
400
The potatoe man gave them a ride to the village and gave them food to eat. Betsy and her Bear scared the outlaws away. The bear became the official royal dancing bear and Betsy and the potatoe man were given a reward.
Who helped the prince and Jemmy escape from Cutwater and Billy? How did they help them? How did the prince repay them?
400
contrite
What is to feel bad about what you have done?
500
Jemmy learns that even someone as selfish as Prince Brat can grow and change. He learns that he can trust the prince and that the prince really does have the capacity for friendship. Jemmy also learns the the prince is tougher than he thought.
Prince Brat and Jemmy learn a great deal about each other from their experiences in this novel. What does Jemmy learn about the prince?
500
Prince Brat learns that Jemmy is courageous and very quick, especially when in danger. He learns to value Jemmy's loyalty. He wishes that he was brave like Jemmy.
Prince Brat and Jemmy learn a great deal about each other from their experiences in this novel. What does the prince learn about Jemmy?
500
They were attacked by rats in the sewers. Then they jumped into the river and climbed onto a boat sailing to convict island.
What happened to Cutwater and Billy at the end of the story?
500
Perhaps the king, like his son, wishes to see more of the world, especially the way the common people live. From the experience of Prince Horace/Prince Brat, we learn how isolating and limiting the life of a prince in a palace is, and it is likely that the king wishes for broader experience and better relationships. The king probably recognizes the way his son has changed for the better as a result of his experiences outside the castle walls, and he wants to experience the same for himself.
At the end of the book, the king says: "If you boys decide to run away again, take me with you." Why do you think the king says this? What does this tell you about the king?
500
exasperation
What is to feel frustration?
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