Brandi Beneke

Dr. Burke
ENGL 414A
22 April 2014

Low-Stakes Writing: Fantasy

I think the most appealing element of the novel was DiCamillos use of figurative
language throughout the novel, specifically personification. The Tale of Despereaux is an
animal fantasy with elements of the classical fairy tale, about a small mouse with large
ears who is not interested in learning the fine points of nibbling paper and scurrying for
food like other mice but instead likes to read, loves light and music, and falls in love with
Princess Pea and breaks the strictest of all mice rules enforced by the Mouse Council.
Personification is woven throughout the novel and featuring animals as central characters
is particularly appealing to children in that most children are curious about and fond of
animals and may often find it easier to relate to and empathize with animals over humans.
Animal characters also convey ideas by analogy, ideas which likely have greater impact
to children than if human characters are used. Another appealing element is that Kate
DiCamillo tells The Tale of Despereaux through the voice of an omniscient narratorone
outside the story who knows everything that happens to all the characters, including what
theyre thinking and feeling. The narrator even sometimes speaks directly to the reader
and helps guide him or her through the story. In some cases, the narrators voice
contributes humor to the novel, such as when she says this of Miggery Sow: Reader, as
the teller of this tale, it is my duty from time to time to utter some hard and rather
disagreeable truths. In the spirit of honesty, then, I must inform you that Mig was the
tiniest bit lazy. And, too, she was not the sharpest knife in the drawer. That is, she was a
bit slow-witted (p.152)." In other instances, the narrator speaks directly to the reader
about some powerful themes, including light versus dark (good versus evil) and the
related themes of love, hope, and forgiveness, which help the reader understand things
about the story that they may otherwise have missed. Having the narrator speak directly
to readers as they are reading keeps them engaged and helps readers place themselves
within the story and experience it alongside the characters.