Background and Summary
The Tale of
Despereaux
is a heartwarming tale of honor, chivalry, courage, death, anger, revenge, and
love. The book is divided into four
separate sections, which the author calls books. The first book covers
Despereaux's childhood; the second focuses on Roscuro, a dungeon rat with a
mysterious past; and the third book is about Miggery Sow, a servant girl who is
sold by her father for a red table cloth, a handful of cigarettes, and a hen.
The first three books are set years apart, and each one builds to the fourth
book and the tale’s conclusion.
The story is set in the land of Dor,
where a Princess named Pea lives along with her parents, the King and Queen of
Dor. Despereaux, the hero of the story, is a mouse who loves
music, stories, and Princess Pea. Roscuro
is a rat who lives in darkness but covets a world filled with light. Miggery
Sow is a slow-witted serving girl with a simple, impossible wish to one day
become a princess. These characters embark on a journey that leads them down
into a horrible dungeon, up into a glittering castle, and ultimately, into each
other's lives. Despereaux, the main protagonist of the story, journeys on a
quest to save the kidnapped Princess Pea from the evil hands of Botticelli Remorso,
the vile rat king. Throughout Despereaux’s adventure, he finds himself at odds
with Miggery Sow, Roscuro, Botticelli Remorso, and even the king!
Kate DiCamillo was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, raised
in Clermont, Florida, and currently lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota. A clever,
and creative adolescent author, DiCamillo has written many notable books. Because of Winn Dixie won the Newbery
medal in 2001 and The Tale of Despereaux won
the Newbery medal in 2004. Both books were later adapted for the big screen.
Interest
Young
readers of all ages will enjoy this book. One reason is the story’s setting of
a glittery castle with a gloomy dungeon and it is focused on the lives of three
main characters, Roscuro, Miggery Sow, and Despereaux Tilling. In particular, the
daring heroics of Despereaux would undoubtedly appeal to young boys in upper elementary
and middle school. Boys would also enjoy the writing style, illustrations and
escapades of Despereaux as he fights the evil rat, Botticelli Romorso in order
to save Princess Pea. The daring heroics of Despereaux and his outcast status would
draw in the curiosity of young boys.
But
girls will enjoy this book also. The character of Princess Pea, the castle
setting, and the relationship between Pea and Despereaux appeals to young girls.
The tale of Miggery Sow and Despereaux would connect with young adolescent
girls. The fairy tale setting appeals to girls as they can dream of being a
princess while they read the story.
Despereaux’s
journey to save Princess Pea connects well with both sexes. The adventure theme in Despereaux will appeal to boys, with its call to
live above the mundane with a vision to honor, truth, and courage.
The dream of girls to become a princess will resonate throughout
the tale as well.
The Tale of Despereaux is a wonderful
book for elementary and middle school readers. It introduces a complex plot
that will require the reader pay attention and follow each character. While
this can become difficult and tiresome, readers will feel a genuine sense of
achievement at the conclusion of this book. Despereaux's
tale is interwoven with that of two other characters who see beyond the
oppressively narrow world that tries to engulf them. This complexity within the
story will help young readers learn discernment while reading through various
characters lives and helps introduce them to character and story development.
Coming to terms with his or her physical
body: Named
for the despair and sadness of that time, Despereaux is an oddball among the
mouse community from birth, as he is born with a small body, huge ears, and his
open eyes. He grows up to be very different from the other mice in this tale,
choosing to read books instead of eating them, and he does not learn to scurry
like any other mouse because he would rather walk about like a knight in
shining armor. Through his large ears, Despereaux listens to the music that the
king plays for his daughter Princess Pea, and because of this, he meets and
falls in love with the human princess. Readers would connect with Despereaux’s
coming to terms with his body as he learns to use his oddities to his benefit.
His characteristics that other mice see as unbecoming, he uses them to help in
his heroid journey to save Princess Pea. Despereaux’s acceptance of his own
body is a wonderful model for young readers who have developing bodies as well.
Achieving good
relationships with members of the opposite sex: This is the most prevalent issue the book deals with as Despereaux
strives to save Princess Pea after he falls in love with her. While older
readers will see Despereaux’s love to Princess Pea as unrealistic, DiCamillo
weaves a beautiful tale of love and friendship between Despereaux and Pea.
Young readers will find themselves delighted by the bond that Princess Pea and Despereaux
share. Despereauxs love for Princess Pea empowers him to save her from the evil
rat Remorso. He believes that it is his sole responsibility to save his beloved
Princess Pea as DiCamillo writes in the story; “But you must, when you are
calculating the odds of the mouse’s success, factor in his love for the
princess. Love...is a powerful, wonderful, ridiculous thing, capable of moving
mountains” (223). In the end, Despereaux realizes that his love for the
princess is not possible; instead, the Princess befriends Despereaux after he
saves her and together they live happily ever after in the castle. This ending
relates well with young readers who want closure to the story while adding a
happy ending.
Growing independent of
one's parents:
Despereaux is an outcast. When he is banished by the mouse
council not even his father will speak up for him. Despereaux’s mother often
alienates him as well as she cares to much about her appearance and is too
picky. Despereaux, like all children, is a dreamer. He longs for his family and
for a family who will accept him. Despereaux, after being banished from his
family, feels no connection with them, and he sets out on an adventure to fill
the gap left by his family. Despereaux’s adventure to save the Princess is the
climax of his growing independence from his parents, as he realizes that he can
make a life for himself on his own, and that he does not need his parents to
lead a life full of wonder and adventure. Young readers can relate to this
because like Despereaux, they are realizing as they grow older they can achieve
things on their own, separate from their parents. They no longer need their parents
for every possible task.
Finding a calling: While
this theme may be subtle at first, it is definitely a dominant theme in the
book. Through his adventure, he realizes his own strengths and weaknesses, and
eventually finds his calling in life. Despereaux believes his calling, and the
adversities he has faced are leading him to save the Princess from the evil
rat, Remorso. Despereaux stands alone in living above his circumstances by
keeping his eye on truth and light. Throughout the story he is contrasted with
everyone else, all who are either too scared or too wrapped up in
their own world to ever change anything for the better. One by one, his
actions inspire similar thoughts and actions in others, and the result is a
complete change in the lives of those around Despereaux. Adolescent readers can
relate to Despereaux’s sense of calling because they too are beginning to find
their own strengths and weaknesses in life. Perhaps some of them have faced
physical trials and they too can relate with him, realizing they can overcome
it and persevere.
Potential Issues with this Book
Despereaux’s
threats of death to Botticelli Remorso may be found as inappropriate for some
younger audiences. Violence throughout the book may be found inappropriate as
well, and some young readers may be bothered by it. Notably, Mig cuts off
Roscuro’s tail with a knife. Torture is referenced throughout the book. The
character and life of Miggery Sow is a potential problem in this book. Her life
was horrible. She was sold for nothing and became the slave of an abusive man
who beat her to the point of being deaf and having huge cauliflower ears. DiCamillo,
in portraying Miggery, created a character is made into an embicile and this
may bother young readers, especially girls. Throughout the book, Miggery
develops into a compelling character and finds repentance at the end of the
book when Princess Pea finally asks her what she wants. While Princess Pea
cannot make Miggery a princess, she is reunited with her father and her treats
her like one the rest of his life. Together they live happily ever after. I did
not find the objectionable elements in The
Tale of Desperaux to be detracting from the wonderful story of bravery,
courage, friendship, and repentance. The views of morality and honor are
highlighted above any and all objectionable content.
Recommendations
I
highly recommend this book for classroom use, personal reading, or in a study
group. The style DiCamillo uses in this book is outstanding. With her “dear
reader” style of writing, the reader feels comforted by the narrator’s voice.
The narrator is useful in guiding the reader carefully through each story. The
narrator makes sure the reader has not forgotten about the other characters. For
example, at one point she explains “Again, reader we must go backward before we
can go forward” (125) when moving into another story line and reminds us of
what has previously taken place.
DiCamillo’s
style of writing and the themes in The Tale of Despereaux are the perfect
layout for a fairy tale that could only be conjured in the mind of a young
child. The story is compelling and packed
with adventure. What really drives the book are the characters and their
personal battles within themselves and against the world around them.
emphasis on the character qualities of honor, truth, hope, sacrifice,
forgiveness and courage allow readers to relate with the characters.
Resources for Teaching or Research
The Tale of Despereaux is an
incredibly popular book in the classroom. In my research I found many quality
teacher resources. Scholastic Book distributor published a detailed teacher’s
guide on the Tale of Despereaux. Book
review websites such as bookbrowse.com and webteaching.com highlight the key
elements of the book and provide the teacher with creative and helpful
discussion questions, class activities and classroom instructions. One of the
better teacher guides on the internet can be found at readwritethink.org. It includes
a comprehensive classroom plan that includes detailed lesson plans, student
reflections, preparation and resources, standards for teaching and student
objectives for the class.
Book
Browse, “The Tale of Despereaux: Summary and Book Reviews of The of
Despereaux.” BookBrowse.com,
n.d. Web. 09 Apr. 2013
DiCamillo,
Kate. The Tale of Despereaux: Being the
Story of a Mouse, a Princess, Some Soup, and a Spool of Thread. Cambridge,
MA: Candlewick, 2003. Print.
Scholastic,
“The Tale of Despereaux: Being a Story of a Mouse, a Princess, Some Soup, and a
Spool of Thread.” Scholastic Teachers, n.d. Web. 09 Apr. 2013.
Scholastic,
“Tale of Despereaux Discussion Guide.” Scholastic Teachers.., n.d. Web. 09 Apr.
2013.
Weismann,
Annie. “Teachers Guide – A Tale of Despereaux.” Candlewick Press, 2003. Web.
