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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does the beating of the drum tell the Mouse Council members?

2. What could Despereaux smell on the threadmaster's breath?

3. What does Botticelli do when the door opens to admit a prisoner?

4. What does Roscuro stumble into when he leaves the dungeon?

5. What does the threadmaster tell Despereaux to do?

Short Essay Questions

1. What happens when Princess Pea notices him swinging from the chandelier?

2. What fascination does Roscuro develop even though he is told it is not proper?

3. How does Despereaux's behavior get him into trouble?

4. What are the ways in which Despereaux is considered to be a disappointment or different, and by whom?

5. Why was the killing of rats unsuccessful, and what did the King do?

6. How does Antoinette react as the last of her babies is being taken to the dungeon?

7. What does Despereaux do in the all encompassing darkness to make himself feel brave?

8. What causes Despereaux to fall in love with the Princess?

9. What does the King do after his beloved Queen dies?

10. What happens when the Princess begins to cry?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

When is the first time that Chiaroscuro sees light? Why is he shown this light? What happened that caused this incident? How does Chiaroscuro feel afterward? What is the focus of his attention from that point forward and why?

Essay Topic 2

What is the meaning of Chiaroscuro? How is this name ironic given that it was given to a rat and why? What is almost prophetic about this name? In what way are Chiaroscuro and Despereaux very similar? What character traits do they share?

Essay Topic 3

Where is Mig taken? What positions is she given? Which is first and why is she determined to be unsuitable for it? What positions do they try her in afterward? What happens in each of them? What position is she finally deemed suitable for? How does Mig feel about it and why?

(see the answer keys)

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