Poppy A project by Davis

Poppy Poppy is a deer mouse who goes to New House to find out the reason why Mr. Ocax(see slide 3) isn’t letting her family move to New House. During her travel to New House, she encounters many dangers and meets new friends such as Ereth(see slide 4) and George(see slide 6). She eventually discovers that what Mr. Ocax is afraid of at New House is a fake owl put on the barn to scare away animals that would eat chickens.

Mr. Ocax Mr. Ocax is the self-proclaimed “ruler” of Dimwood Forest. He is feared by the mice and they have to ask his permission to go anywhere outside of their territory, otherwise they will get eaten. He also informs the mice with false information about porcupines. He says he protects the mice from porcupines, but he really wants to eat the mice.  He is killed by a quill from Ereth’s body that fell out and Poppy used as a sword. The quill got stuck in his foot and he careened into the salt lick.

Ereth Ereth is a grumpy, old porcupine who is one of Poppy’s best friends. They met when Poppy was being chased by a fox and she ran into his log for safety. He often uses phrases such as “bug’s bathwater" and “bat bilge”. There is one thing that Ereth loves: salt. The only reason he went to New House with Poppy was because she promised him the block of salt on a salt lick.

Lungwort and Ragweed Lungwort is a deer mouse and father to Poppy. He believes everything Mr. Ocax says and is very by the book. He is very gullible and naive. He has 75 children, 40 grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren, and 12 great –great-grandchildren. He wears a thimble as a cap, and is thoroughly frightened of Mr. Ocax. Ragweed was Poppy’s boyfriend up until the point where Mr. Ocax killed him. Ragweed, was just the opposite of Lungwort. He was a risk-taker and quite a daredevil. He didn’t believe a word Lungwort said about Mr. Ocax, which ended up leading to his death.

Sweet Cicely and George Sweet Cicely is wife to Lungwort and mother to Poppy. She is also gullible and naïve. She is very kind and caring, but she isn’t always considerate of the severity of a situation. George is a farm cat and friend to Poppy. He helps her by telling her about how the owl in the barn is fake. With this information, Poppy taunts Mr. Ocax, and they get in a battle and Mr. Ocax dies.

Conflicts and Resolutions Mr. Ocax not letting Poppy’s family move to New House. Not enough food for Poppy’s family Poppy’s promise to Ereth of the salt on the salt lick RESOLUTIONS Mr. Ocax’s death Mr. Ocax’s death, because then they could now move to New House, where there is food. Mr. Ocax dying, because he flew into the salt lick, and the salt shattered.

Themes and Personal Opinions The reason I liked this book is it is well written. The author uses figurative language and has outstanding vocabulary. Another reason I liked this book is that it had a good plot. That is why I liked Poppy. A theme of this book is to not believe everything you hear. The reason for this is that Mr. Ocax told the mice that Poppy was the reason they couldn’t move to New House, but really he was afraid he would lose his meal of mice to the fake owl. Another theme is that you should stand up for your self. This is because Poppy stood up for herself, and that is why her family now lives at New House.

The Changing of Poppy BEGINNING At the beginning of the story, Poppy was cowardly and fearful. I know this because in the first chapter, she wanted Ragweed to come under the bark with her because her father had said if they didn’t ask Mr. Ocax’s permission to go to Bannock Hill, they would get eaten. END At the end of the story, Poppy is a very courageous young mouse, as apposed to being the small, scared, and timid mouse at the beginning of the book. I know this because in Chapter 18, she killed Mr. Ocax which is something scared and timid Poppy would never do.

Bibliography Poppy by Avi My Brain (opinions)