Little Duke
How does Richard become the Duke of Normandy?
His father, Duke William Longsword is murdered by Count Arnulf of Flanders.
What kind of creature is Pagoo? And how does he grow?
A hermit crab! Pagoo grows by molting. Because his outer skin is like a hard suit of plastic armor, it cannot stretch. When he gets too tight, he has to crack open his old skin and crawl out of it. Underneath, his new skin is soft, allowing him to stretch bigger before it hardens.
Who hires Bilbo and why?
Gandalf - dwarves - burglar
Who are the four main animal friends in the story?
Mole, Ratty, Toad, and Badger.
What is a nomad and why did they wander?
A person who wanders or roams from place to place, never settling down in one permanent home. They had to follow the herds of animals they hunted and search for wild fruits, nuts, and berries to eat.
Why does King Louis of France take Richard?
King Louis claims he wants to educate Richard at the French court, but he actually takes him hostage to gain control over Normandy
Who is "Old Pal"?
"Old Pal" is Pagoo's instinct. Because Pagoo's parents are not there to raise him, nature gave him a "voice" inside his head. This voice tells him automatically how to swim, what to eat, and when to hide from predators.
What does Bilbo name his sword and why?
Sting - spiders
Why does Toad get thrown into a dark prison castle?
He stole a motor car and drove it recklessly!
What is the title of the King of Egypt and how was he buried?
Pharaoh - mummified and during in pyramid tomb
How does Richard escape?
His loyal squire, Osmond, smuggles Richard out of the French castle by wrapping him up in a bundle of straw/hay and carrying him past the guards.
Who are Pagoo's predators in the book?
Octopus, sea star, sea gulls and shorebirds, larger crabs fighting for his food or shell
How does Bilbo win the riddle game against the sneaky creature Gollum?
He accidentally wins by asking a normal question out loud: "What have I got in my pocket?" Gollum tries three times but cannot guess that it is the magic ring.
What is Ratty’s absolute favourite thing to do?
Messing about in boats in the river
What is the Egyptian paper and writing called?
The Egyptians mashed the stalks of a reed plant that grew along the Nile to create thin, portable sheets called papyrus. Heiroglyphics.
Tell the story of the relationship between Little Duke & Carloman - and Lothaire. What are they like and how does the relationship grow?
Carloman is the younger prince. He is a gentle, timid, and sickly boy who is bullied by older brother.
Lothaire is the eldest prince, the heir to the French crown, and spoiled, arrogant, and violent bully to his younger brother. Richard becomes Carlomans "protector" and stands up to Lothaire. Carloman grows attached to Richard b/c hetreats him with kindness and gentleness. Richard remembers his father's lessons on Christian mercy. Richard remembers his father's lessons on Christian mercy. Later in the book, when the tables turn and Richard has the power to get revenge on a captured, terrified Lothaire, Richard chooses to forgive him and protect him, showing Lothaire the brotherly kindness and safety that Lothaire never even gave to Carloman
Describe Pagoo's adventures in finding a new shell.
Pagoo carefully inspects a new shell with his feelers and claws. He rolls it around to make sure it is empty, checks deep inside to see if mud or an enemy is hiding there, and quickly flips his soft tail into it to make sure it fits. Every time a hermit crab grows too big, it must find a larger shell. If one crab finds a new house, a whole line of other crabs will often line up to try on the leftover shells, just like a game of musical chairs!
Why does Bilbo give away the Arkenstone?
Bilbo originally conceals the Arkenstone from Thorin and takes it for himself due to a desire to curb the dwarves’ greed. Later, as Thorin and the dwarves launch their claim to keep all the treasure for themselves, Bilbo gives Bard the Arkenstone to use as leverage against the dwarves. Knowing that Thorin treasures this gem above all others, Bilbo hopes that he can prevent the coming battle.
What is Toad like at the beginning of the book?
What does he say to the barge woman who pokes fun at him?
BIG FAT BARGE WOMAN!
Tell the Chinese legend of how silk was discovered.
Emperor Huang Di's wife, Lei Zu discovered that silkworms spin cocoons made of long, thin silk threads, which could be unwound and woven into beautiful cloth
What did Little Duke's father's want for him to learn and why? What kind of king did Richard become?
He wants Richard to learn Christian values—like patience, justice, and forgiveness—so Normandy can become a peaceful, civilized land rather than a war zone (which was what the Vikings were all about). He wanted to break the cycle of violence.
When Richards father's murderer is finally captured, instead of executing him, Richard chooses to forgive him, honoring the Christian lessons taught to him by his father and Father Lucas. He becomes a wise, patient, and deeply merciful and honourable leader called Richard the Fearless.
Why are hermit crabs important for tide pool life?
Hermit crabs are crucial to tide pool life because they act as the ecosystem's clean-up crew and create homes for other species. Pagoo's job is to eat tiny bits of dead plants, leftover food scraps, and decaying material floating in the water. This acts like a natural vacuum cleaner, keeping the tide pool water clean and healthy for all the other animals
Bilbo is very small and doesn't like danger. How does he show that you don't need to be big or strong to be a hero?
Bilbo uses his brain, his kindness, and his quick thinking to save his friends. Being a hero means doing the right thing even when you are scared.
What are Toad's friends like towards him? And how does he change?
Toads friends prove that friends don't give up on each other even when they make mistakes! They never stop trying to protect him.
By the very end of the book, after his friends risk everything to save Toad Hall from the weasels, Toad finally changes. He becomes humble, quiet, and polite. He even refuses to sing a boastful song at his own victory party, proving he has finally grown up.
What kind of early writing was invented in China?
Pictograms, which were characters or words that looked like actual pictures