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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 is the first thing Despereax notices about the dungeon?

2. What does Despereaux discover the sound to be?

3. What did Furlough not see the Princess do?

4. What incredible thing happens when the Princess smiles at Despereaux?

5. What other crime did he commit that he wasn't caught for?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. What is the outcome of Chiaroscuro's trip into the light?

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

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

5. In what ways do Despereaux's siblings attempt to educate him on how to be a mouse?

6. How does the King respond to the Princess when she declares that she intends to keep Despereaux and that she believes that they will be best friends?

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

8. What is the crime that led to the new prisoner being brought down to the dungeon?

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How does Despereaux cope with being thrown into the dungeon? What does he do to reassure himself? How do his actions save his life? What causes Despereaux to faint for the second time in one day? What is the first thing he sees when he comes to?

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

Why does Lester approach the Mouse Council? What is he hoping to accomplish? What is the fate decreed by the Mouse Council for Despereaux. What members of Despereaux's family are only too happy to participate in Despereaux's punishment?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,037 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample