Redwall

Compare the problem solving, interactions, and attitudes of Cluny’s army and the Redwall army. Consider these points as you reflect on the text to answer the question.

• How does Cluny’s treatment of his army compare to Abbot Mortimer’s treatment of the woodland creatures?
• How do the woodland creatures treat one another in comparison to the way those in Cluny’s army treat one another?
• How does Cluny treat those in the Mossflower district?
• What is the function of the abbey to the woodland community?
• What do the abbey residents value in comparison to Cluny’s army?
• How do the two groups exemplify the novel’s themes of The Nature of Heroism and The Nature of Villainy?

Teaching Suggestion: Because the prompt covers a variety of topics over the course of the entire novel, it may be beneficial for students to use a graphic organizer when comparing Cluny’s methods and the methods of the abbey residents. Students might, for example, draw a plot diagram on poster paper (or use a drawing or presentation program) to show points of comparison along the linear progression of the novel’s events. Students might instead use a 3-column chart representing Books 1, 2, and 3 to note examples and details in response to the bulleted questions, then use these pieces of evidence in discussion.