51 pages • 1-hour read
Kate DiCamilloA modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
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Meet the key characters, with insights into their roles, motivations, and relationships—spoiler-free.
Beatryce is a young girl on the run who wakes up in a monastery with a repressed memory and a dangerous secret: she knows how to read and write, a skill strictly forbidden for women. Suffering from a protective fever, she remembers only her name. She possesses an innate inner strength and relies on her new friends and animal companions to process her past.
Protected by Answelica
Hidden by Brother Edik
Friend of Jack Dory
Companion of Cannoc
Daughter of Beatryce's Mother
Sister of Beatryce's Brothers
Target of The King
Former Student of Beatryce's First Tutor
Former Student of Beatryce's Second Tutor
Answelica is a fearsome goat with large, sharp teeth who resides at the monastery. She is famous for tormenting the monks but displays immediate, uncompromising love and protectiveness toward Beatryce. She serves as a physical anchor for the young girl during dark moments.
Protector of Beatryce
Tolerant of Brother Edik
Initially Hostile toward Jack Dory
Initially Hostile toward Cannoc
Feared by Head Monk
Hostile toward The Soldier
Brother Edik is an empathetic monk belonging to the Order of the Chronicles of Sorrowing. Tasked with illuminating the order's prophecies of death and destruction, he prefers to focus on beauty and light, utilizing glowing, vibrant letters. He struggles with the emotional scars left by his demanding father but consistently chooses kindness over strict adherence to the rules.
Jack Dory is a twelve-year-old orphan with a remarkable memory who works as a messenger in his village. To cope with his painful past, he maintains a cheerful outward demeanor, often performing cartwheels and whistling. Beneath his joyful exterior, he harbors a deep anger toward the people who harmed his family.
Friend of Beatryce
Son of Jack's Parents
Former Ward of Old Woman
Seeking Revenge against The Robber
Messenger for Innkeeper's Wife
Ally of Brother Edik
Ally of Cannoc
Cannoc is an enigmatic man living inside the trunk of a tree in the dark woods. He maintains a carefree, laughing demeanor that quickly wins Beatryce's trust. He harbors a deep understanding of human nature and chooses a simple life in the forest, offering guidance and shelter to those traveling through the woods.
Guide to Beatryce
Instructor of Jack Dory
Fellow Traveler of Brother Edik
Trusted by Answelica
Opponent of The King
Opponent of The Counselor
The Counselor is a manipulative and power-hungry advisor to the current monarch. He uses vague prophecies from the Chronicles of Sorrowing to control the throne and eliminate perceived threats. He views his own rise in status as paramount and holds a deep-seated grudge regarding his lack of noble blood.
Advisor to The King
Enemy of Beatryce
Enemy of Beatryce's Mother
Commander of The Soldier
Opponent of Brother Edik
The King is a paranoid and insecure monarch who relies heavily on the interpretations of his advisor. Terrified of losing his position to a prophesied girl child, he uses his authority to order violent acts to secure his reign. He acts out of a desperate desire to maintain his power.
The Soldier is a violent man employed by the king who carries out brutal orders. Struck down by illness, he requests a monk to record his final confession, carrying a heavy sword that triggers profound fear in Beatryce.
Beatryce's Mother is a progressive, brave woman who defies the kingdom's strict laws by ensuring her daughter learns to read and write. She instills the importance of education in her children while trying to protect them from the dangers of their society.
Mother of Beatryce
Mother of Beatryce's Brothers
Prisoner of The King
Former Employer of Beatryce's First Tutor
Beatryce's Brothers are young boys who share their sister's education. Their lives are cut short during a targeted raid on their family's estate.
The Robber is a dangerous criminal operating in the dark woods. His violent actions set off a chain of events that leave a young boy orphaned and seeking vengeance.
Enemy of Jack Dory
Murderer of Jack's Parents
Edik's Father is a harsh, abusive man who dropped his son off at the monastery. He constantly criticized his child for being sensitive and forced him into frightening situations.
Abusive Father of Brother Edik
The Head Monk of the Order of the Chronicles of Sorrowing prioritizes the monastery's rules over compassion. He fears demonic influence and strongly wishes to rid the brotherhood of the dangerous goat.
Superior to Brother Edik
Terrified of Answelica
Beatryce's First Tutor is an educated man hired to teach the children. He holds regressive views and is eventually dismissed by Beatryce's mother after professing unrequited love.
Former Teacher of Beatryce
Rejected Employee of Beatryce's Mother
Beatryce's Second Tutor is an inspiring educator who fosters the young girl's curiosity and intellect, showing her the wonders of the world before a violent attack on the estate.
Former Teacher of Beatryce
Jack's Parents are loving figures who sacrifice themselves to protect their son from violence, urging him to run away to safety.
Parents of Jack Dory
Victims of The Robber
The Old Woman is a weary villager who takes pity on a traumatized young boy. She provides him shelter and helps ground him in the reality of his survival.
Former Caretaker of Jack Dory
The Innkeeper's Wife manages the local village inn where a dying soldier seeks shelter. She acts as a link between the village and the monks.
Employer of Jack Dory
Host to The Soldier