61 pages 2 hours read

Norton Juster

The Phantom Tollbooth

Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 1961

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Essay Topics

1.

Milo drives thoughtlessly into the Doldrums, and Tock tells him that, to escape, he must begin to think again. Why is any form of thinking, even clumsy thought, better than none at all?

2.

King Azaz and the Mathemagician each believe they’re more important than the other. Pretend you’re Azaz and argue for his viewpoint, and then pretend you’re the Mathemagician and argue for his position. Finally, take the side of Rhyme and Reason and explain why both are important.

3.

For each of the cities Dictionopolis and Digitopolis, give an example of how the citizens have become deranged, and explain how the “insanity” or chaos springs from the loss of Rhyme and Reason.