Major Themes

Question 1

The Mouse and his Child

Answer 1

Russell Hoban
Existentialism
life must be the product of your own conscious effort
mechanical mice - the food chain
despite the toys mechanical nature the world they live in is filled with emotion

Question 2

“be happy said the tramp”

Answer 2

tramp sees being damaged as an analogue for his own existence
changes mice existence in a meaningful way
- they are remade into the image of a social outcast
tramp enables them to break free as the marker of independence is being self winding

Question 3

the mouse and his child - weasels and hawk

Answer 3

all animals think that the world is made for them
they have not taken the time to reflect like the mouse and his child have
linking violence and death with spousal affection

Question 4

the mouse and his child - hawk

Answer 4

• details progression of food chain
  “laws” that govern existence - acting outside of them gives you autonomy
  while the toys are clockwork, paradoxically they are not bound by the clockwork rules
  earth shattering fall is because they are outside of the food chain

Question 5

the princess and the goblin

Answer 5

quests