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The Castle in the Attic
- 496 statements
- 96 feature instances
- 2 referencing feature instances
| The Castle in the Attic | type |
TVTItem | |
| The Castle in the Attic | label |
The Castle in the Attic | |
| The Castle in the Attic | page |
TheCastleInTheAttic | |
| The Castle in the Attic | comment |
It's William Lawrence's 11th birthday. The housekeeper, Mrs. Phillips, who has always taken care of him, supported him, taught him of goodness and nobility and chivalry, and looked out for him while his parents are busy working—even been a spotter for him in his gymnastics routines—is going away. She's homesick for England, believes he is old enough to take care of himself, and thinks he needs to get close to his parents again instead of depending too much on her. Being young, he doesn't take it well...so she gives him a going-away present, a fantastically realistic stone and wood castle which has been passed down through her family for generations. Though he sees it as a bribe and wants to hate it, he can't. One night he goes up to the attic to play with it, and "introduce himself" to its lone toy soldier, the Silver Knight.But when he picks the figure up in his hand, he becomes real and alive...A beloved children's classic by Elizabeth Winthrop in the same vein as The Indian in the Cupboard and Bridge to Terabithia, The Castle in the Attic tells the tale of William, a boy with "a gentle heart" that turns out to be his special gift, and how when he discovers the toy soldier in his model castle is actually Sir Simon of Hargrave, a knight par excellence, he becomes drawn into a world of magic, danger, and fantasy where only he can help bring down Alastor, the Evil Sorcerer who is responsible for Simon's banishment and much worse besides. Oh, and Mrs. Phillips has a role to play too...Though filled with genre tropes and in many respects formulaic, it is notable for its realistic narrative and dialogue, memorable characters, charming feel, and genuinely exciting adventure. The author has a definite artistry in her language that draws young readers in and even can still enspell older ones returning to it after many years. It is not surprising the book was a Children's Choice book and a winner of several awards such as the Dorothy Canfield Fisher Children's Book Award and the California Young Reader Medal. Even Madeleine L'Engle and Lloyd Alexander recommended it.A sequel, The Battle for the Castle, was written almost ten years later, concerning William returning to Simon's kingdom, this time with his friend Jason in tow, where they encounter new characters and have to face off with a darker, more insidious, and disturbing evil than the wizard.The sequel is more of a straight-up adventure story, but does have the same type of cross-cultural charm in the first book, as the modern-day William and Jason interact with the medieval citizens and both are exposed to things far outside the world they know. | |
| The Castle in the Attic | fetched |
2023-06-11T16:59:16Z | |
| The Castle in the Attic | parsed |
2023-06-11T16:59:16Z | |
| The Castle in the Attic | processingComment |
Dropped link to AnAesop: Not a Feature - IGNORE | |
| The Castle in the Attic | processingComment |
Dropped link to ChessMotif: Not a Feature - UNKNOWN | |
| The Castle in the Attic | processingComment |
Dropped link to GenreBlind: Not a Feature - UNKNOWN | |
| The Castle in the Attic | processingComment |
Dropped link to SymbolicHeroRebirth: Not a Feature - UNKNOWN | |
| The Castle in the Attic | processingComment |
Dropped link to TheHerald: Not a Feature - IGNORE | |
| The Castle in the Attic | processingUnknown |
ChessMotif | |
| The Castle in the Attic | processingUnknown |
GenreBlind | |
| The Castle in the Attic | processingUnknown |
Symbolic Hero Rebirth | |
| The Castle in the Attic | isPartOf |
DBTropes | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_13a499b8 | type |
Diabolus ex Nihilo | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_13a499b8 | comment |
Diabolus ex Nihilo: The Rat King not only comes out of nowhere (aside from some early Foreshadowing) but his creation, source, and motivation (other than "kill all humans") is never explained. William theorizes it could be a case of As Long as There Is Evil or an Evil Power Vacuum, but in the end the reader is left with a very unsettling lack of resolution. Whether this is a way to avoid pat endings and obvious answers or is meant as a Sequel Hook remains to be seen. | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_13a499b8 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_13a499b8 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic | hasFeature |
The Castle in the Attic / int_13a499b8 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_1439161f | type |
Heroic BSoD | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_1439161f | comment |
Heroic BSoD: Dick has one once he witnesses the true threat of the Rat King and his army. | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_1439161f | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_1439161f | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic | hasFeature |
The Castle in the Attic / int_1439161f | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_15b2cab3 | type |
Tempting Fate | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_15b2cab3 | comment |
Tempting Fate: "Of course his old friend, Sir Simon, wouldn't go off and leave them if there were any real danger." | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_15b2cab3 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_15b2cab3 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic | hasFeature |
The Castle in the Attic / int_15b2cab3 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_1c4adce1 | type |
The Siege | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_1c4adce1 | comment |
The Siege: The climax of the second book, where William, Jason, and Gudrin join Dick and Brian to hold off the rat horde while holed up in the dungeon, hoping Tolliver on the bicycle can reach Sir Simon and bring back his army (and Deegan and the tokens) in time to save them. And it is surprisingly exciting and suspenseful. | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_1c4adce1 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_1c4adce1 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic | hasFeature |
The Castle in the Attic / int_1c4adce1 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_1d2400e9 | type |
Green-Eyed Monster | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_1d2400e9 | comment |
Green-Eyed Monster: William is jealous of Jason's athleticism, strength, height, and the sort of dad he has, but when they get to Simon's castle Jason is in turn jealous of his heroism and genuine knowledge of the world and history (mocking it as being too "teacherish"). This may explain why he seems all too eager to accept adulation as William's good friend and even become something of a braggart about his skills which serve him so well as a squire. Of course by the end Jason has come to appreciate William's strengths and admit his own weaknesses, while William has realized (again) he may not be as weak as he thinks he is. | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_1d2400e9 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_1d2400e9 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic | hasFeature |
The Castle in the Attic / int_1d2400e9 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_1e12b5b7 | type |
Lawful Stupid | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_1e12b5b7 | comment |
Lawful Stupid: Simon again, sadly. As Mrs. Phillips puts it, "He's a good man with a big heart, but he lacks imagination. My dear husband, Alfred, was the same way. He would attack one problem over and over again like a baby butting its head against the side of its crib." | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_1e12b5b7 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_1e12b5b7 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic | hasFeature |
The Castle in the Attic / int_1e12b5b7 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_1ed05659 | type |
No Hero to His Valet | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_1ed05659 | comment |
No Hero to His Valet: How Jason treats William when he first starts hearing all the tales of how he defeated Alastor and everyone in the land honored him. Subverted once he gets to actually see Simon and his people's genuine praise and hero-worship, and eventually completely undermined by the end when William saves the day and he acknowledges his bravery despite not having jumped the trains. He'll still see him as just his best friend, though. | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_1ed05659 | featureApplicability |
-0.3 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_1ed05659 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic | hasFeature |
The Castle in the Attic / int_1ed05659 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_256eaa53 | type |
Prophetic Fallacy | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_256eaa53 | comment |
Prophetic Fallacy: The legend above the castle gate says a boy will go with Simon to help him reclaim his kingdom. Alastor eliminates Tolliver along with Simon and so thinks he has removed the threat, never considering there might be more than one boy traveling with or loyal to Simon... | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_256eaa53 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_256eaa53 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic | hasFeature |
The Castle in the Attic / int_256eaa53 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_26f924ef | type |
Court Jester | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_26f924ef | comment |
Court Jester: William literally becomes one, Muggins, in order to infiltrate the wizard's castle, but also acts as one in a traditional and literary sense, being much wiser than his lord, commenting upon his failings (at least in his head) and eventually being Alastor's downfall. Another actual one, Deegan, is encountered in the sequel, and hews to the trope even more. | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_26f924ef | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_26f924ef | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic | hasFeature |
The Castle in the Attic / int_26f924ef | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_275773bd | type |
Curse Escape Clause | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_275773bd | comment |
Curse Escape Clause: Alastor is quite fond of this trope, in particular by making it as convoluted and nasty as possible. The only way to make it through the woods without going mad from the noises made by the animals is to distract yourself, whether with conversation or music...but as soon as you attempt to do that, either the monsters try to scare you into looking away or illusions (both sight and sound) of things you desperately long for appear to lure you away from the path. Dick the apple-tree man is trapped in the body of a twisted old man, with the only cure being a single apple growing at the top of a very tall tree. He cannot climb it himself (due to the curse, not just his physical condition), but must ask anyone who comes along to do it for him, without telling them why he needs it beyond something to eat. Anyone who agrees must climb the tree without looking down, and cannot give in to temptation to eat the apple, or else they will disappear, never to be seen again. The dragon guarding the gates of the castle can only be passed if you gaze into its eyes and never look away (its flames then cannot touch you)...but within said eyes will appear images of fire, death, and torment determined to make you avert your gaze. Then, if you make it that far, you can stab it in the thigh (its only vulnerable spot). Played with in that this doesn't break the spell, merely giving you control over the dragon so you can fully pass by. | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_275773bd | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_275773bd | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic | hasFeature |
The Castle in the Attic / int_275773bd | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_2dc35926 | type |
Ghost Ship | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_2dc35926 | comment |
Ghost Ship: Complete with a cargo of skeletons, drifting against the current or not even moving at all, being a disturbing variation of the Clingy Macguffin, and stuffed to the brim with a horde of rats. Plenty to give one nightmares. | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_2dc35926 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_2dc35926 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic | hasFeature |
The Castle in the Attic / int_2dc35926 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_35e2fb78 | type |
The Mirror Shows Your True Self | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_35e2fb78 | comment |
The Mirror Shows Your True Self: One of the primary weapons of the evil wizard Alastor is a Magic Mirror with this power. It eventually gets turned around on the villain himself, with fairly satisfying results. | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_35e2fb78 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_35e2fb78 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic | hasFeature |
The Castle in the Attic / int_35e2fb78 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_37daf5c5 | type |
Not a Game | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_37daf5c5 | comment |
Not a Game: William at first has to deal with Jason not understanding this; his lecture regarding it (after Jason thoughtlessly uses the token to shrink Deegan) is very effective, as well as showing he's much more mature and awesome than he gives himself credit for. | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_37daf5c5 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_37daf5c5 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic | hasFeature |
The Castle in the Attic / int_37daf5c5 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_3d7ff013 | type |
How Dare You Die on Me! | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_3d7ff013 | comment |
How Dare You Die on Me!: William's rather darkly humorous request to "breathe, blast you, your stupid ship is burning, wake up and watch it" when he is giving Gudrin CPR after her near-drowning. | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_3d7ff013 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_3d7ff013 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic | hasFeature |
The Castle in the Attic / int_3d7ff013 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_434a6d40 | type |
Evil Sorcerer | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_434a6d40 | comment |
Evil Sorcerer: Alastor. While the reader never learns all he is capable of, the magical size-changing amulets which the entire story revolves around (as well as the alchemical disk that can turn someone to lead) were at least obtained and mastered by him, if not created. He also seems to specialize in Forced Transformation spells (turning Calendar's cat into a dragon he enslaves to guard the castle gates and trapping Dick in the form of an old man as punishment for stealing food for his sick son). In addition, he employs curses (the spell on Dick is also woven to include an escape clause wherein only someone who climbs the apple tree for him, without looking down even once or giving in to temptation to eat the apple, can set him free, and the spell which causes any who are tempted to leave the path through the forest to become lost forever is also his doing), and has a Magic Mirror that forces any who look into it to see their worst flaws and weaknesses. | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_434a6d40 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_434a6d40 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic | hasFeature |
The Castle in the Attic / int_434a6d40 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_454e6cf5 | type |
Hypnotic Eyes | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_454e6cf5 | comment |
Hypnotic Eyes: The Rat King has these, enabling him to use Mind Control not only to turn the horde of rats into a Hive Mind of cannibals but to also sap the wills of humans who meet his gaze. | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_454e6cf5 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_454e6cf5 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic | hasFeature |
The Castle in the Attic / int_454e6cf5 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_4a852053 | type |
The Hero's Journey | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_4a852053 | comment |
The Hero's Journey: As usual, Winthrop uses this to great effect since it is a fantasy book, but also subverts or alters the design a little along the way. Begins in William's house (and in fact almost the entirety of the story which isn't in the fantasy world takes place here). Simon, The Herald, brings the Call to Adventure which William initially refuses, then accepts. He receives the Supernatural Aid, the token, from Simon who is also The Mentor. He literally crosses the threshold when he goes over the drawbridge, though the journey through the forest could also be interpreted as this. There is no Symbolic Hero Rebirth, unless you consider William having been shrunk and leaving his world behind to be a form of death, but he certainly has the Road of Trials—see The Three Trials, wherein he encounters The Shapeshifter (Dick, against his will), the "Leave Your Quest" Test (literally in the form of the forest's temptations, but a number of people try to convince him not to face the wizard), and in the castle itself, the Goddess in the form of Calendar (as the Crone). Night Sea Voyage: William has to get into the castle not only to defeat the Big Bad and save Simon, but to retrieve the token which will set him and Mrs. Phillips free. Timeout: occurs when William has his quiet moment with Brian, then sits in his cell with his recorder and asks Mrs. Phillips for help, to guide him in what he now has to do. Apotheosis: William comes to realize his smallness is not a weakness, and that despite his gentleness and kindness he is "a squire with the heart and soul of a knight", partly due to the chivalry Mrs. Phillips taught him but also due to his innate worth and goodness. Realizing this and believing in himself enables him to win by outwitting the wizard, turning his seemingly loyal handmaiden against him through The Power of Love, and then conquering him with his own magic. The only ‘sacrifice’ as such he makes is when he dares to look in the mirror, only to have the above apotheosis proven to him. It was all a Secret Test of Character. Refusal of the Return/The Return: Subverted. While he is asked to stay, could even become a squire and then a lord with his own squire, William refuses, instead being eager to go home and doing so, both to help Mrs. Phillips and because of what he has learned about himself. His subsequent return is then peaceful and uneventful due to the destruction of the evil magic. Freedom to Live: This is what William grants to Mrs. Phillips and himself by bringing back the Ultimate Boon, the other half of the token (marked with keys, no less, which is lampshaded by William). | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_4a852053 | featureApplicability |
-0.3 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_4a852053 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic | hasFeature |
The Castle in the Attic / int_4a852053 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_50ae8e55 | type |
Little Miss Snarker | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_50ae8e55 | comment |
Little Miss Snarker: Gudrin, with a little Mystical Waif thrown in. | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_50ae8e55 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_50ae8e55 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic | hasFeature |
The Castle in the Attic / int_50ae8e55 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_54f999c | type |
AlternateCharacterInterpretation | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_54f999c | comment |
Alternate Character Interpretation: In-universe example: Is Calendar a genuinely prophetic seeress who has visions of the future, or a madwoman who needs to be locked away in a convent? | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_54f999c | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_54f999c | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic | hasFeature |
The Castle in the Attic / int_54f999c | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_58e43f17 | type |
Cats Are Mean | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_58e43f17 | comment |
Cats Are Mean: Completely averted. While the neighbor's cat does try to pounce on the shrunken Mrs. Phillips, it is only acting on instincts, not portrayed as evil. And Calendar’s cat, while transformed into a dragon, only slays those who approach the castle thanks to the spell; once freed, it is perfectly nice and harmless. It also proves rather good against the rats in the sequel. | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_58e43f17 | featureApplicability |
-1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_58e43f17 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic | hasFeature |
The Castle in the Attic / int_58e43f17 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_5b47c8c7 | type |
Magic Mirror | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_5b47c8c7 | comment |
Magic Mirror: Alastor has one of these. | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_5b47c8c7 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_5b47c8c7 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic | hasFeature |
The Castle in the Attic / int_5b47c8c7 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_60194b82 | type |
Spanner in the Works | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_60194b82 | comment |
Spanner in the Works: William himself, since it is his arrival at court that wins the captain of the guard's loyalty, melts Calendar's heart (or gives her the impetus and moment to finally achieve revenge), and provides the skills to bring down Alastor. Not to mention it's his ability to turn the leaden back into flesh (and then his decision to shrink Mrs. Phillips) that enables him to intervene in the first place. | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_60194b82 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_60194b82 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic | hasFeature |
The Castle in the Attic / int_60194b82 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_60fa92ac | type |
Names to Run Away from Really Fast | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_60fa92ac | comment |
Names to Run Away from Really Fast: Alastor. | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_60fa92ac | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_60fa92ac | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic | hasFeature |
The Castle in the Attic / int_60fa92ac | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_61356a74 | type |
Almost Dead Guy | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_61356a74 | comment |
Almost Dead Guy: The wounded fisherman who brings back news of the rat horde, then expires. | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_61356a74 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_61356a74 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic | hasFeature |
The Castle in the Attic / int_61356a74 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_61a503a7 | type |
Hell Is That Noise | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_61a503a7 | comment |
The only way to make it through the woods without going mad from the noises made by the animals is to distract yourself, whether with conversation or music...but as soon as you attempt to do that, either the monsters try to scare you into looking away or illusions (both sight and sound) of things you desperately long for appear to lure you away from the path. | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_61a503a7 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_61a503a7 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic | hasFeature |
The Castle in the Attic / int_61a503a7 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_64e975cf | type |
Manly Tears | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_64e975cf | comment |
Manly Tears: What William eventually concludes, that crying does not invalidate one's bravery and so is acceptable behavior after all. | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_64e975cf | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_64e975cf | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic | hasFeature |
The Castle in the Attic / int_64e975cf | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_6bda9a30 | type |
Meaningful Name | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_6bda9a30 | comment |
Meaningful Name: William (as in, the Conqueror), Elinor Phillips (as in, Aquitaine), Alastor, Calendar (who waited for many years for her lord to return), Simon. | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_6bda9a30 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_6bda9a30 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic | hasFeature |
The Castle in the Attic / int_6bda9a30 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_6c3d1777 | type |
Magic A Is Magic A | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_6c3d1777 | comment |
Magic A Is Magic A: The tokens—one side makes you small, the other side restores you to your normal size. The third, lead token is Exactly What It Says on the Tin, turning people into lead statues, though its reverse side also has the ability to teleport them away. How this causes Simon (and Alastor) to end up in William's castle is never made clear, but it is still consistent in this function. While we never see any other spellcasting, merely the results (Dick, Calendar's cat, the enchanted forest), they all are some form of Functional Magic. | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_6c3d1777 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_6c3d1777 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic | hasFeature |
The Castle in the Attic / int_6c3d1777 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_6c51e9e1 | type |
Fisher King | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_6c51e9e1 | comment |
And of course there is the mirror, complete with what Alastor sees in it, and the Fisher King aspect of the story. | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_6c51e9e1 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_6c51e9e1 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic | hasFeature |
The Castle in the Attic / int_6c51e9e1 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_704d7e91 | type |
No Ontological Inertia | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_704d7e91 | comment |
No Ontological Inertia: The instant Alastor is defeated, the spells on Calendar's cat and the forest are broken and the blighted land is restored to verdant bloom—except for the leaden people, who must be restored individually. | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_704d7e91 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_704d7e91 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic | hasFeature |
The Castle in the Attic / int_704d7e91 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_7095c87e | type |
TheMasquerade | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_7095c87e | comment |
The Masquerade: Before William enters the world of the castle himself, the story concerns keeping the existence of Sir Simon a secret from his best friend and his family, with the requisite number of close calls. | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_7095c87e | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_7095c87e | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic | hasFeature |
The Castle in the Attic / int_7095c87e | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_70ade2c4 | type |
Culture Clash | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_70ade2c4 | comment |
Culture Clash: Jason and William bring their bicycles along, and have to explain to the medievals what these "metal horses" are. Played for Laughs at first, but eventually both Tolliver and Gudrin learn to ride them, the former extremely well, thus proving they are not, in fact, Medieval Morons. The Anachronism Stew this generates is actually quite tolerable, especially once everyone starts accepting the bikes as just another kind of transportation, and leads to quite the funny moment during the jousting scene. | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_70ade2c4 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_70ade2c4 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic | hasFeature |
The Castle in the Attic / int_70ade2c4 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_7131e4c9 | type |
Rodents of Unusual Size | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_7131e4c9 | comment |
Rodents of Unusual Size: While at first it seems like this is due to the magic token in some way (it is even hinted at through Foreshadowing that they may come from the holes in the attic walls), the Rat King and his horde actually are unusually large due to some mysterious darkness or shadow they are imbued with. The tokens are considered as weapons at one point, but not as a means of restoring the balance between the rats and the two differently-sized worlds. In any event, the Rat King at least is described as "six feet tall, as big as a man and walking on its back legs". | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_7131e4c9 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_7131e4c9 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic | hasFeature |
The Castle in the Attic / int_7131e4c9 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_78f5a589 | type |
Supernatural Aid | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_78f5a589 | comment |
He receives the Supernatural Aid, the token, from Simon who is also The Mentor. | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_78f5a589 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_78f5a589 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic | hasFeature |
The Castle in the Attic / int_78f5a589 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_7ea8f5ce | type |
Knight in Shining Armor | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_7ea8f5ce | comment |
Knight in Shining Armor: Quite literally in Simon's case. A good example of this would be that although he quite clearly develops tender feelings for Mrs. Phillips if not falls in love with her, and spends a great deal of time alone with her in the castle, he never once takes advantage of her. | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_7ea8f5ce | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_7ea8f5ce | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic | hasFeature |
The Castle in the Attic / int_7ea8f5ce | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_7fbb2a3 | type |
Nice Job Breaking It, Hero! | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_7fbb2a3 | comment |
Nice Job Breaking It, Hero: Gudrin's plan to destroy the Ghost Ship and break its Curse releases the Rat King and his horde to march on the castle. | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_7fbb2a3 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_7fbb2a3 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic | hasFeature |
The Castle in the Attic / int_7fbb2a3 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_7fe29ba6 | type |
Symbolism | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_7fe29ba6 | comment |
Symbolism: All over the place. The main bit of Functional Magic the plot revolves around, a pair of tokens which can shrink and enlarge living beings, bears the face of the god Janus who looks both ways in time—and he literally has two faces, a sneering one with staves to represent punishment and a smiling one with keys representing freedom. The token which turns people to lead, meanwhile, is marked with the symbol of Saturn. This token, being a disk, could also be considered a coin, fitting since lead comes from the earth... Mrs. Phillips is given the task of weaving the story of William's destiny on a tapestry. The song which William plays to get past the dragon is the Battle Hymn of the Republic (he is even said, when walking into the fire, to be walking into Hell). The crime which gets Dick put under a Forced Transformation , the kind of tree which must be climbed, and the key which can free him, all revolve around...apples. And of course there is the mirror, complete with what Alastor sees in it, and the Fisher King aspect of the story. | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_7fe29ba6 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_7fe29ba6 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic | hasFeature |
The Castle in the Attic / int_7fe29ba6 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_8426d2ac | type |
Inherently Funny Words | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_8426d2ac | comment |
Inherently Funny Words: In-story version, Stow-on-the-wold, England. | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_8426d2ac | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_8426d2ac | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic | hasFeature |
The Castle in the Attic / int_8426d2ac | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_84313b4f | type |
The Three Trials | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_84313b4f | comment |
The Three Trials: Before reaching the wizard's castle, William must 1) make it through the cursed forest without being driven mad by the noise, following the temptations which try to lead him away, or even take his eyes off the path; 2) help Dick the apple tree man defeat his curse; and 3) overcome the guardian dragon. | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_84313b4f | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_84313b4f | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic | hasFeature |
The Castle in the Attic / int_84313b4f | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_859bbabc | type |
The Cassandra | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_859bbabc | comment |
The Cassandra: Calendar, at least in retrospect. Not helped by the fact she was sometimes both a Fainting Seer and a Talkative Loon. | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_859bbabc | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_859bbabc | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic | hasFeature |
The Castle in the Attic / int_859bbabc | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_86b21114 | type |
Badass Boast | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_86b21114 | comment |
Badass Boast: "I am the boy in the legend, Alastor. I have come to take back the Silver Knight's kingdom...I'm here so that lady can go free." | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_86b21114 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_86b21114 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic | hasFeature |
The Castle in the Attic / int_86b21114 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_87c7f99d | type |
Sidetracked by the Analogy | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_87c7f99d | comment |
Sidetracked by the Analogy: Happens when William, fed up over being a small, shrimpy boy, complains about being "too short" for basketball, jumping, and life; his father then replies, "I never heard of anybody being too short for life". The fact this statement sounds almost like an Ice-Cream Koan doesn’t help any, and William informs the reader that his father has problems like this a lot during conversations and debates. | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_87c7f99d | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_87c7f99d | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic | hasFeature |
The Castle in the Attic / int_87c7f99d | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_89631688 | type |
The Chosen One | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_89631688 | comment |
The Chosen One: William, who for some inexplicable reason is the only one whose touch can restore the leaden to flesh. | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_89631688 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_89631688 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic | hasFeature |
The Castle in the Attic / int_89631688 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_90e31482 | type |
Laser-Guided Karma | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_90e31482 | comment |
Laser-Guided Karma: Both heroic and villainous flavors. Because William is "compassionate to the needy" and helps Dick the apple tree man, he is given the secret for how to defeat the dragon. Alastor, meanwhile, falls prey to the very twisted and horrific magic he himself had used so many times on others. | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_90e31482 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_90e31482 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic | hasFeature |
The Castle in the Attic / int_90e31482 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_95428daa | type |
Rite of Passage | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_95428daa | comment |
Rite of Passage: "Jumping the trains." William eventually discovers, and proves to Jason, that there is more than one way of doing this. | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_95428daa | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_95428daa | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic | hasFeature |
The Castle in the Attic / int_95428daa | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_967edd3a | type |
Action Film, Quiet Drama Scene | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_967edd3a | comment |
Timeout: occurs when William has his quiet moment with Brian, then sits in his cell with his recorder and asks Mrs. Phillips for help, to guide him in what he now has to do. | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_967edd3a | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_967edd3a | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic | hasFeature |
The Castle in the Attic / int_967edd3a | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_970c790a | type |
Big Bad | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_970c790a | comment |
Big Bad: The Rat King. | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_970c790a | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_970c790a | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic | hasFeature |
The Castle in the Attic / int_970c790a | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_998360a | type |
Take Up My Sword | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_998360a | comment |
Take Up My Sword: Simon has Jason do this, at least temporarily while he is away. | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_998360a | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_998360a | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic | hasFeature |
The Castle in the Attic / int_998360a | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_9c1f758a | type |
Kill It with Fire | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_9c1f758a | comment |
Kill It with Fire: Gudrin's solution to get rid of the Ghost Ship. It doesn't work...or rather, it works too well. | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_9c1f758a | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_9c1f758a | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic | hasFeature |
The Castle in the Attic / int_9c1f758a | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_9c6ba43a | type |
Values Dissonance | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_9c6ba43a | comment |
Values Dissonance: invoked In-story, Dick (and to some extent Sir Simon as well) have definite ideas about the usefulness, purpose, and place of women which clashes with William's beliefs (and Jason's). This plays into why Calendar and Gudrin are treated as The Cassandra (and in the latter's case, Not Now, Kiddo), as well as their Stay in the Kitchen mentality and a belief that women shouldn't even be educated (though to be fair this last is couched more as a rueful joke). They both get better, thankfully, with a great deal of Simon's change surely being due to the willful Mrs. Phillips. | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_9c6ba43a | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_9c6ba43a | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic | hasFeature |
The Castle in the Attic / int_9c6ba43a | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_9cbf01d6 | type |
Stay in the Kitchen | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_9cbf01d6 | comment |
Stay in the Kitchen: Both Simon and Dick have this attitude toward Gudrin. Thankfully they get better. | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_9cbf01d6 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_9cbf01d6 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic | hasFeature |
The Castle in the Attic / int_9cbf01d6 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_9d12bbc1 | type |
Foreshadowing | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_9d12bbc1 | comment |
Foreshadowing: William's mother mentioning the rat holes in the attic in the sequel...implying just where the Rat King and his army came from. | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_9d12bbc1 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_9d12bbc1 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic | hasFeature |
The Castle in the Attic / int_9d12bbc1 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_9fb5d589 | type |
Not Now, Kiddo | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_9fb5d589 | comment |
Not Now, Kiddo: The dismissive attitude of both Simon and Dick regarding Gudrin's warnings, vouching for her grandmother Calendar's prophecy, and the idea of there being a threat at all is a bit grating, particularly since this is Simon's second time being Too Dumb to Live. They learn their lesson in the end. | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_9fb5d589 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_9fb5d589 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic | hasFeature |
The Castle in the Attic / int_9fb5d589 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_a1591cc3 | type |
Living Toys | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_a1591cc3 | comment |
Living Toys: Initially it seems the story will play out this way, a la The Indian in the Cupboard, but once William devises the idea to shrink Mrs. Phillips, and then follow her, this is quickly dispensed with in favor of a fantasy quest. | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_a1591cc3 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_a1591cc3 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic | hasFeature |
The Castle in the Attic / int_a1591cc3 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_a3c0d670 | type |
Evil Chancellor | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_a3c0d670 | comment |
Evil Chancellor: Alastor played Grima Wormtongue to the old king's Theoden, using guile, honeyed words, and more than a bit of magical influence to first become court wizard, then turn his ruler against his son Sir Simon (exiling him, exactly as happened to Eomer, no less). It's eventually revealed Alastor carried the trope to its logical conclusion, sealing the king up in his tower to take over the castle completely—and by the time the king is found, he has died, either from poisoning, magic, or simple neglect. | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_a3c0d670 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_a3c0d670 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic | hasFeature |
The Castle in the Attic / int_a3c0d670 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_a62dca03 | type |
Year Inside, Hour Outside | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_a62dca03 | comment |
Year Inside, Hour Outside: Played with. To anyone who willingly undergoes the magic of the tokens, they return from the world of the castle the instant that they left, no matter how much time is spent within. Someone changed unwillingly, however, has time pass for them on the inside just as it does on the outside. | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_a62dca03 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_a62dca03 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic | hasFeature |
The Castle in the Attic / int_a62dca03 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_a6c69bd | type |
MacGuffin | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_a6c69bd | comment |
MacGuffin: The magic token, which must be recovered in order for William and Mrs. Phillips to get home again. It becomes this again in the sequel, when Deegan steals it for the fool's competition, thus trapping William and Jason in Simon's world. | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_a6c69bd | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_a6c69bd | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic | hasFeature |
The Castle in the Attic / int_a6c69bd | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_a8a04f6f | type |
And I Must Scream | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_a8a04f6f | comment |
And I Must Scream: While those who are frozen in lead have their world go black and remember nothing until they are freed, the process of petrification itself is described in horrific and excruciatingly painful terms. A case could also be made for Calendar's cat, although since it is technically free to move this might be more a Fate Worse than Death. | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_a8a04f6f | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_a8a04f6f | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic | hasFeature |
The Castle in the Attic / int_a8a04f6f | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_ab2df806 | type |
Red Baron | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_ab2df806 | comment |
Red Baron: The Silver Knight. | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_ab2df806 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_ab2df806 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic | hasFeature |
The Castle in the Attic / int_ab2df806 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_ac4ac8e5 | type |
Idiosyncratic Episode Naming | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_ac4ac8e5 | comment |
Idiosyncratic Chapter Images: Most of the chapters are headed by an image of the Janus token which turns things small. When the time comes for the wizard's defeat, it changes to the token which makes them big again (thus freeing them), and the very last chapter has both tokens together. | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_ac4ac8e5 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_ac4ac8e5 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic | hasFeature |
The Castle in the Attic / int_ac4ac8e5 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_acecb17d | type |
Chekhov's Skill | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_acecb17d | comment |
Chekhov's Skill: William's gymnastics skills, which are explored for a number of chapters throughout the first half of the book (particularly in the fact it was Mrs. Phillips who encouraged him to go out for such a sport and was his spotter). When the time comes to find a way to sneak into the castle and get close to Alastor, it is these skills which let him act as a Court Jester—and, in the end, to bring down the wizard and steal his magical amulets. The fact William is good at music also comes very in handy when he has to play a recorder to make his way through the cursed forest, and again to make it past the dragon at the castle gates. | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_acecb17d | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_acecb17d | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic | hasFeature |
The Castle in the Attic / int_acecb17d | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_add931af | type |
I Choose to Stay | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_add931af | comment |
Refusal of the Return/The Return: Subverted. While he is asked to stay, could even become a squire and then a lord with his own squire, William refuses, instead being eager to go home and doing so, both to help Mrs. Phillips and because of what he has learned about himself. His subsequent return is then peaceful and uneventful due to the destruction of the evil magic. | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_add931af | featureApplicability |
-0.3 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_add931af | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic | hasFeature |
The Castle in the Attic / int_add931af | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_adfd3165 | type |
For the Evulz | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_adfd3165 | comment |
For the Evulz: Seems to be why Alastor does anything, whether it is to gain power and control over others, boredom, malice, or out of wicked delight. | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_adfd3165 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_adfd3165 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic | hasFeature |
The Castle in the Attic / int_adfd3165 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_ae3d6438 | type |
Deadpan Snarker | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_ae3d6438 | comment |
Deadpan Snarker: Though some of this is noticeable in the first book, William really comes into his own in the sequel. Most likely because he seems to have a partner-in-crime in Jason. | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_ae3d6438 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_ae3d6438 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic | hasFeature |
The Castle in the Attic / int_ae3d6438 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_af3ea0e3 | type |
Face–Heel Turn | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_af3ea0e3 | comment |
Face–Heel Turn: Calendar. Originally a loyal courtier to the king, Sir Simon's nursemaid when he was a boy, and a dear friend when he was grown, she eventually sides with Alastor and becomes his servant and font of divination. (Whether she did this merely to save herself or because she had genuinely decided to turn against Simon is left unclear; see the YMMV tab.) In the present-day she eventually realizes the error of her ways at William's urgings (or merely wants vengeance for Simon and Dick's fates), and thus acts as The Mole, advising him on how to defeat the mirror, obtain the tokens, and bring Alastor down. In the end, despite believing she can never be forgiven for her actions, she is welcomed back by Simon with open arms. | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_af3ea0e3 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_af3ea0e3 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic | hasFeature |
The Castle in the Attic / int_af3ea0e3 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_b0bce7aa | type |
Selective Obliviousness | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_b0bce7aa | comment |
Selective Obliviousness / Silly Rabbit, Idealism Is for Kids!: William flirts with this idea in the sequel, trying to convince himself the adventure of the first book never happened, and/or that he had "outgrown the castle". He doesn't fool anyone, least of all the reader. | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_b0bce7aa | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_b0bce7aa | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic | hasFeature |
The Castle in the Attic / int_b0bce7aa | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_b2279346 | type |
RetCon | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_b2279346 | comment |
Retcon: Instead of throwing both Alastor and the tokens over the side of the ship on her way to England, as she promised she would, Mrs. Phillips sends the tokens back to William for his twelfth birthday. This is never explained, except that she had a feeling he would need them. | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_b2279346 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_b2279346 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic | hasFeature |
The Castle in the Attic / int_b2279346 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_b2ad812d | type |
So What Do We Do Now? | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_b2ad812d | comment |
Freedom to Live: This is what William grants to Mrs. Phillips and himself by bringing back the Ultimate Boon, the other half of the token (marked with keys, no less, which is lampshaded by William). | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_b2ad812d | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_b2ad812d | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic | hasFeature |
The Castle in the Attic / int_b2ad812d | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_b58642b1 | type |
Trapped in Another World | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_b58642b1 | comment |
Trapped in Another World: Happens twice, to William and Mrs. Phillips in the first book due to not having the second token, then to William and Jason in the second when Deegan steals it. | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_b58642b1 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_b58642b1 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic | hasFeature |
The Castle in the Attic / int_b58642b1 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_b58b4e3c | type |
Too Dumb to Live | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_b58b4e3c | comment |
Too Dumb to Live: Simon. Though in his defense, he did not quite walk up to the wizard and strike him with his sword, yet he should have guessed that fear or greed might compel people to betray him to Alastor before he could get close enough to defeat him. Made worse by the fact that both William and Mrs. Phillips realize Simon's flaw, but he is too stubborn and convinced of the rightness of his cause to listen to them. To his credit, he realizes this after William frees him...though he doesn’t seemed to have learned his lesson much in the sequel. | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_b58b4e3c | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_b58b4e3c | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic | hasFeature |
The Castle in the Attic / int_b58b4e3c | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_b97a2fa7 | type |
Forced Transformation | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_b97a2fa7 | comment |
The crime which gets Dick put under a Forced Transformation , the kind of tree which must be climbed, and the key which can free him, all revolve around...apples. | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_b97a2fa7 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_b97a2fa7 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic | hasFeature |
The Castle in the Attic / int_b97a2fa7 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_b9d334b2 | type |
Aerith and Bob | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_b9d334b2 | comment |
Aerith and Bob: Unusual names such as Calendar, Alastor, Gudrin, and Tolliver are contrasted with Dick the apple tree man and Brian the sentry. | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_b9d334b2 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_b9d334b2 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic | hasFeature |
The Castle in the Attic / int_b9d334b2 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_c132c0c5 | type |
I Have No Son! | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_c132c0c5 | comment |
I Have No Son!: The old king was manipulated into declaring this toward Simon, thanks to Alastor. | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_c132c0c5 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_c132c0c5 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic | hasFeature |
The Castle in the Attic / int_c132c0c5 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_c2e295cd | type |
Curse | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_c2e295cd | comment |
Curse: The return of the Ghost Ship seems to bring with it a poisoning of the ocean, bad luck for the fishermen, and even causes unexplained disappearances. | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_c2e295cd | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_c2e295cd | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic | hasFeature |
The Castle in the Attic / int_c2e295cd | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_c3accb7c | type |
Double Speak | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_c3accb7c | comment |
Double Speak: In the sequel, to continue hiding The Masquerade from his dad: | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_c3accb7c | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_c3accb7c | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic | hasFeature |
The Castle in the Attic / int_c3accb7c | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_c7ce2860 | type |
Personal Gain Hurts | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_c7ce2860 | comment |
Personal Gain Hurts: Averted. William tempts Jason into going to Sir Simon's world with him, so that he'll have hours, weeks, even months of training, only to come back in an eye blink and suddenly be ten times better than his father at biking and athletics. He does exactly that, and suffers no ill consequences for it. | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_c7ce2860 | featureApplicability |
-1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_c7ce2860 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic | hasFeature |
The Castle in the Attic / int_c7ce2860 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_c852ac43 | type |
Mars and Venus Gender Contrast | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_c852ac43 | comment |
Mars and Venus Gender Contrast: Gudrin contemptuously believes this applies to William when he begs off hearing her list of medicinal remedies as something "boys just aren't interested in"—until he explains to her it has nothing to do with disparaging "women's work" and everything to do with having a mother who’s a doctor and has overexposed him to the field. | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_c852ac43 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_c852ac43 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic | hasFeature |
The Castle in the Attic / int_c852ac43 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_c928d01d | type |
Magic Music | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_c928d01d | comment |
Magic Music: Played with. William's recorder has no magic whatsoever, but its music serves to calm both the beasts of the cursed forest and William's own fears when he confronts the dragon. | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_c928d01d | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_c928d01d | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic | hasFeature |
The Castle in the Attic / int_c928d01d | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_ce1d78bc | type |
Foreign Queasine | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_ce1d78bc | comment |
Foreign Queasine: Averted. In the first book, everything at the feast (except possibly the boar’s head and squirrel stew, and even those might be better than they sound) seems quite delicious. And in the second book, while Jason isn’t sure at first, William finds he can eat everything and enjoy it as long as he "didn’t know what it was". | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_ce1d78bc | featureApplicability |
-1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_ce1d78bc | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic | hasFeature |
The Castle in the Attic / int_ce1d78bc | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_d075311d | type |
ShesAllGrownUp | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_d075311d | comment |
He's All Grown Up: Jason, described as having grown much taller and, thanks to his health-and-exercise-nut father, much more muscular. | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_d075311d | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_d075311d | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic | hasFeature |
The Castle in the Attic / int_d075311d | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_d08049db | type |
Taken for Granite | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_d08049db | comment |
Taken for Granite: Well, lead anyway, but otherwise this trope. Complete with horrific Transformation Trauma. | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_d08049db | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_d08049db | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic | hasFeature |
The Castle in the Attic / int_d08049db | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_d0f63e83 | type |
Magnetic Hero | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_d0f63e83 | comment |
Magnetic Hero: William seems like this even in the first book, with how he is able to get information from Dick, befriend both Brian and Calendar (the latter who was either lost in despair or genuinely The Mole, depending on interpretation), and sway the somewhat insolent Tolliver to his side just by mentioning the Silver Knight. He is even more so in book two, where Dick's Simple Plan (and Heroic BSoD) causes William to have to take over...and thanks to his previous track record in defeating the Big Bad (and simple competence), Brian and everyone else follow him implicitly. Comes close to being The Captain and The Kirk. | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_d0f63e83 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_d0f63e83 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic | hasFeature |
The Castle in the Attic / int_d0f63e83 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_d397657d | type |
Hoist by His Own Petard | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_d397657d | comment |
Hoist by His Own Petard: In the end the Big Bad is defeated by this three times over, since he not only falls prey to his own mirror and the lead token, but he is first brought down by William using the tumbling routine he demanded, from someone the wizard had welcomed into his own court. | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_d397657d | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_d397657d | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic | hasFeature |
The Castle in the Attic / int_d397657d | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_d39e327f | type |
What the Hell, Hero? | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_d39e327f | comment |
What the Hell, Hero?: William's selfish decision to shrink Mrs. Phillips and keep her in the castle is immediately and vigorously denounced by both Simon and Mrs. Phillips. William is suitably chastised and stricken with guilt, and spends the rest of the book trying to make amends. | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_d39e327f | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_d39e327f | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic | hasFeature |
The Castle in the Attic / int_d39e327f | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_d7639dba | type |
Achilles' Heel | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_d7639dba | comment |
The dragon guarding the gates of the castle can only be passed if you gaze into its eyes and never look away (its flames then cannot touch you)...but within said eyes will appear images of fire, death, and torment determined to make you avert your gaze. Then, if you make it that far, you can stab it in the thigh (its only vulnerable spot). Played with in that this doesn't break the spell, merely giving you control over the dragon so you can fully pass by. | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_d7639dba | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_d7639dba | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic | hasFeature |
The Castle in the Attic / int_d7639dba | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_d88e125e | type |
Our Dragons Are Different | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_d88e125e | comment |
Our Dragons Are Different: Extremely different—you can be bathed by their fire unharmed so long as you stare into their eyes and never look away, but said eyes contain horrific visions designed to make you avert your gaze. And they are vulnerable only in the thigh, which once stabbed will place them under your control. Justified by it being the subject of a Forced Transformation whose rules were set by the twisted Big Bad. | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_d88e125e | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_d88e125e | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic | hasFeature |
The Castle in the Attic / int_d88e125e | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_dcb9c541 | type |
Ship Tease | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_dcb9c541 | comment |
Ship Tease: There seems to be some of this going on behind William and Gudrin. | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_dcb9c541 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_dcb9c541 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic | hasFeature |
The Castle in the Attic / int_dcb9c541 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_dfe120e5 | type |
Functional Magic | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_dfe120e5 | comment |
The main bit of Functional Magic the plot revolves around, a pair of tokens which can shrink and enlarge living beings, bears the face of the god Janus who looks both ways in time—and he literally has two faces, a sneering one with staves to represent punishment and a smiling one with keys representing freedom. | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_dfe120e5 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_dfe120e5 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic | hasFeature |
The Castle in the Attic / int_dfe120e5 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_e1cc36 | type |
The Bait | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_e1cc36 | comment |
The Bait: What Dick comes up with as a plan to save the people of the castle—sending them off to safety while he, Brian, William, and Jason stay behind for a Last Stand against the rats. William improves the plan, somewhat. | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_e1cc36 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_e1cc36 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic | hasFeature |
The Castle in the Attic / int_e1cc36 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_e8b0f099 | type |
Dark Is Evil | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_e8b0f099 | comment |
Dark Is Evil / Light Is Good: Shadows give the Rat King his strength, size, and ability to mind control his horde; sunlight not only defeats him and breaks his spell, it burns him and turns him back into a regular rat. | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_e8b0f099 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_e8b0f099 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic | hasFeature |
The Castle in the Attic / int_e8b0f099 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_e8d46c29 | type |
Backstory | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_e8d46c29 | comment |
Backstory: Twice, when Sir Simon relates the story of how Alastor came to power, and when Dick tells William of what has happened in the kingdom since Simon was banished. | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_e8d46c29 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_e8d46c29 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic | hasFeature |
The Castle in the Attic / int_e8d46c29 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_f9636192 | type |
Prophecies Are Always Right | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_f9636192 | comment |
Prophecies Are Always Right: "Two squires shall cross the drawbridge/ Shall put themselves to the test/ Knights know much of battle/ But the maiden knows the rest." | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_f9636192 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_f9636192 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic | hasFeature |
The Castle in the Attic / int_f9636192 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_fe5e40e2 | type |
Gondor Calls for Aid | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_fe5e40e2 | comment |
Gondor Calls for Aid: William sending Tolliver on the bicycle to bring back Sir Simon and his knights and Deegan and the tokens. | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_fe5e40e2 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_fe5e40e2 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic | hasFeature |
The Castle in the Attic / int_fe5e40e2 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_feea5139 | type |
Stay on the Path | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_feea5139 | comment |
Stay on the Path: The only way to get through the forest surrounding the kingdom. Made harder as the forest itself is enchanted to lure travelers off the path with illusions of exits and lost friends. | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_feea5139 | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_feea5139 | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic | hasFeature |
The Castle in the Attic / int_feea5139 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_ffad4e9f | type |
Shown Their Work | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_ffad4e9f | comment |
Shown Their Work: The author clearly knows her fantasy tropes and the Hero's Journey, but she also did research on gymnastics, castles, and mythology. | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_ffad4e9f | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_ffad4e9f | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic | hasFeature |
The Castle in the Attic / int_ffad4e9f | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_name | type |
ItemName | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_name | comment |
||
| The Castle in the Attic / int_name | featureApplicability |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_name | featureConfidence |
1.0 | |
| The Castle in the Attic | hasFeature |
The Castle in the Attic / int_name | |
| The Castle in the Attic / int_name | itemName |
The Castle in the Attic |
The following is a list of statements referring to the current page from other pages.
| The Castle in the Attic | hasFeature |
Chess Motifs / int_7f19d84b | |
| The Castle in the Attic | hasFeature |
Children's Literature / int_7f19d84b |
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Copyright of data TVTropes.org contributors under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported License.