Vocabulary-Book One
The Tale of Despereaux:
Being the Story of a Mouse, a Princess, Some Soup
and a Spool of Thread
Ch. 1-The Last One
brilliance
Find it in the chapter…
“The light was shining onto the ceiling in an oval of
brilliance, and he was smiling up at the sight.”
Which definition?
noun 1. intense brightness of light 2. vividness of color
3. exceptional talent or intelligence
Ch. 2-Such a Disappointment
disappointment
Find it in the chapter…
“You are such a disappointment to your mama.”
Which definition?
noun -a feeling of sadness or displeasure when 1.
something doesn’t go the way you wanted or 2.
someone doesn’t do what you want them to do
Ch. 3-Once Upon a Time
dungeon
Find it in the chapter…
“Have I mentioned that beneath the castle there was a
dungeon? In the dungeon, there were rats.”
Does the definition fit?
noun -a dark, underground room in a castle used to
lock up prisoners
Ch. 4-Enter the Pea
instinct
Find it in the chapter…
“The music made him lose his head and act against the
few small mouse instincts that he was in possession
of...”
Does the definition fit?
noun -a natural way of acting or thinking
Ch. 5-What Furlough Saw
ridiculous
Find it in the chapter…
“Is it ridiculous for a very small, sickly big-eared
mouse to fall in love with a beautiful human princess
named Pea?”
Does the definition fit?
adjective -bizarre or very strange, laughable
Ch. 6-This Drum
tribunal
Find it in the chapter…
“He must be punished. He must be brought up before
the tribunal.”
Does the definition fit?
noun -1. a court of justice 2. a seat for judges
Ch.7-A Mouse in Love
honor
Find it in the chapter…
“ ‘I honor you’ was what the knight said to the fair
maiden in the story that Despereaux read every day in
the book in the library.”
Which definition fits?
noun -1. respect that is given someone who is loved 2.
an opportunity to do something that makes you proud
3. a title for a judge or a mayor
Ch.8-To the Rats
perfidy
Find it in the chapter…
“At least Lester had the decency to weep at his act of
perfidy.”
Does the definition fit?
noun -1. an act of betrayal, or of not being loyal
Ch.9-The Right Question
fate
Find it in the chapter…
“He allowed his brother to lead him to his fate.”
Does the definition fit?
noun -1. the future that someone or something will
have
Ch.10-Good Reasons
renounce
Find it in the chapter…
“’But first,’ said the Most Very Honored Head Mouse,
‘we will give you the chance to renounce your
actions.”
Which definition fits?
verb -1. to say that you will not follow or obey any
longer 2. to formally give something up
Ch.11-The Threadmaster Cometh
courtesy
Find it in the chapter…
“You love her with a courtly love, a love that is based
on bravery and courtesy and honor and devotion.”
Does the definition fit?
noun -polite behavior that shows your respect for
someone
Ch.12-Adieu
swoon
Find it in the chapter…
“But his mother, who had an excellent sense of
dramatic timing, beat him to it; she executed a
beautiful, flawless swoon, landing right at
Despereaux’s feet.”
Which definition fits?
verb -1. to become overly excited about something 2.
to suddenly collapse and lose consciousness, to faint
Ch.13-Perfidy Unlimited
abyss
Find it in the chapter…
“They stood, the three mice, two with hoods and one
without, and contemplated the abyss before them.”
Does the definition fit?
noun -a hole so deep, it cannot be measured
Ch.14-Darkness
despair
Find it in the chapter…
“It stank of despair and suffering and hopelessness.”
Does the definition fit?
noun -a feeling of no longer having any hope
Ch.15-Light
ironies
Find it in the chapter…
“You are talking to Gregory the jailer, who, in the
richest of ironies, is nothing but a prisoner here
himself.”
Does the definition fit?
noun -words that mean the opposite of what you
expected