The Tale of Despereaux

Part 1, Chapters 1-15

Reading Check

1. Disappointment (Chapter 1)

2. A bug (Chapter 4)

3. Princess Pea (Chapter 5)

Short Answer

1. Despereaux is an exceptionally small mouse when he is born, is the only mouse of his litter to survive, has large ears, and is born with his eyes open. Lester believes something is wrong because Despereaux is staring directly at the sun after he is born. These details further reinforce Despereaux’s unusual traits as he grows. He loves sunlight and music more than the other mice and is too distracted by the things he loves to learn to be a “proper” mouse. For example, when his siblings try to teach him to nibble the pages of a book, Despereaux instead reads the book. Despereaux’s mouse rebellion becomes the catalyst for his assigned punishment in the dungeon. (Chapter 3)

2. Antoinette may be described as a selfish character. She immediately calls Despereaux a “disappointment” upon his birth, and then swears off having children because it will ruin her appearance. She continues to describe Despereaux as a disappointment and the narrator takes the time to explain that while Antoinette appears sorrowful that Despereaux has been sentenced to death, she did not offer to go in his place—reaffirming her selfish nature.