| Plot Summary of A Barrel of Laughs, A Vale of Tears |
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"Roger is a prince who makes anyone who comes into contact with him laugh uncontrollably. So, J. Wellington Wizard decides to send Roger on a quest. He gives him a bag of magic powder that turns Roger into a random animal or object each time he uses it; whenever Roger is transformed, he does not cause people to laugh (it is the only way they can come into close contact with him).
And so Roger goes on his quest, journeying through the Forever Forest, the Mountain of Malice, the Sea of Screams, and other fantastical locales, all the while using his magic powder. On the way, he befriends a hunter named Tom, but their friendship ends and Tom seeks revenge after Roger inadvertently leaves him behind in the Forever Forest.
Tom tries to get back at Roger the only way he can: By destroying Roger's quest. In the process, Tom ends up kidnapping the woman Roger has fallen in love with on his journey, Lady Sadie, and it is up to Roger to save her."
Sarah Bastin, Resident Scholar
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| Review Analysis of A Barrel of Laughs, A Vale of Tears |
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Our unique search engine provides a wealth of detail about books by breaking them down into many different literary elements, all of which are searchable (click here).
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Composition of Book
Descript. of chases or violence - 10%
planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 10%
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 70%
Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places - 10%
Tone of book
- humorous or laughable
FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION?
- fantasy world/fantasy past
Parody
Yes
Lifeform altered?
Yes
Kind of alteration:
- Magically turned into another being
Is this an adult or child's book?
- Kid's book (ages 7-14)
Main Character
Identity:
- Male
Profession/status:
- Prince/Nobleman/King
Age:
- a teen
Is this an ordinary person caught up in events?
Yes
How sensitive is this character?
- sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor
- Strong but gentle sense of humor
Intelligence
- Average intelligence
Main Adversary
Identity:
- Male
Age:
- 20's-30's
Profession/status:
- unemployed
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- an average amount
How sensitive is this character?
- middling sensitive to others' feelings
Intelligence
- Dumb
Physique
- average physique
Setting
Terrain
- Forests
Earth setting:
- during "Tolkien" (fairytime) times
Takes place on Earth?
Yes
Style
Person?
- mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death?
- no torture/death
How much dialogue?
- significantly more descript than dialog
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