View a FREE sample

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

Short Answer Questions

1. How many mice are in the Mouse Council.

2. What part of Despereaux is complimented by the first human he meets?

3. What does Despereaux's mother put on in honor of her youngest mouse being taken to the dungeon?

4. What does Despereaux wonder about that chills him?

5. What does Despereaux have an unusual interest in?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the job of the threadmaster?

2. What is the vote taken by the Mouse Council and what are the results?

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

4. What are the basic rules of being a mouse that Despereaux breaks when he hears the music?

5. What is the purpose of the Mouse Council?

6. What does the threadmaster ask Despereaux as he is doing his job?

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

8. What does Despereaux suddenly find unbearable, and what does he ask the guards?

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What happens when the soldiers come to the Uncle's house? What items are they dispatched to collect and why? How does he respond to their request? What information does he inadvertently give them that costs him even more? What does it cost him and why?

Essay Topic 2

Who takes an interest in him almost immediately, and why? What does his savior want from him? Why does Despereaux ask to be released? What changes his mind? What is he told about the layout of the dungeon? How does his savior overcome this obstacle?

Essay Topic 3

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?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 975 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample