Characters & Setting
This is the name of the main character who discovers the mysterious compass.
Who is Leo?
The compass was made of this type of metal and appeared "tarnished."
Brass
Great-great-uncle Alistair was known as a renowned what?
an explorer
The riddle says, "I have cities, but no ______."
houses
After deciphering the first clue, where did the compass needle finally settle, pointing Leo towards?
Due North
This relative of Leo lives in the old house "shrouded in ivy and secrets."
Who is Aunt Matilda?
What unusual symbol was intricately engraved on the back of the compass?
Is a single, open eye
What specific item did Leo find hidden behind the wall, along with the riddle?
a brittle, leather-bound journal
The riddle states, "I have mountains, but no ______."
Trees
What specific location within the house does Leo now suspect holds further clues, based on the compass pointing "up" (north) and the riddle's answer?
the attic
This is the specific type of room where Leo spends his summers and where he likely encountered many of Aunt Matilda's "antique oddities."
What is the attic?
What was the initial, seemingly "broken" state of the compass when Leo first received it?
needle was stuck, pointing resolutely northwest
In what month and year was the first page of Alistair's journal dated?
October 1898
The riddle also mentions having "water, but no ______."
Fish
What object in the attic does Leo specifically recall that he believes might be connected to the mystery?
an old globe ("The World in a Sphere")
What two specific elements of the weather did Leo notice outside his window on the night the compass activated, mirroring the excitement in his mind?
What are howling wind and lashing rain (or a storm brewing)?
What two things happened to the compass when a storm brewed outside, indicating it was no longer "broken"?
it felt strangely warm and it began to spin/quiver (or it whispered)
Besides being a directional tool, what did Alistair refer to the compass as in his journal?
a "key to unseen paths"
What is the answer to Alistair's riddle?
A map or a globe
What does the story imply about the "journey" Leo is about to embark on, based on Alistair's writings about a "map, not of paper but of mind"?
it's not a physical journey to a place on a regular map, but a journey of intellect, discovery, or imagination
Describe Aunt Matilda's personality based on her actions and beliefs mentioned in the story.
What is eccentric, curious, and believes every object has a story to tell?
Aunt Matilda stated that the compass would only point the way when its "purpose was truly needed." Based on the story, what specific feeling or state in Leo's mind seemed to trigger this need and activate the compass?
"excitement" (or "insatiable curiosity")
What unique name did Alistair give to the place he was seeking, and what was his belief about the "map" that would lead him there?
the "Whispering Isle," and that the map was "not of paper but of mind"
Explain how the lines "cities, but no houses," "mountains, but no trees," and "water, but no fish" correctly describe the answer to the riddle.
A map shows the locations of cities, mountains, and water bodies, but does not show the actual physical houses, trees, or fish within them.
Based on the ending, what overall feeling or state is the reader left with regarding Leo's adventure and the "Whispering Compass"?
feeling of intrigue, mystery, anticipation, or a cliffhanger