| Plot Summary of Caesar Cascabel |
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"CAESAR CASCABEL recounts the journey of the travelling circus of the Cascabel family, from Sacramento as far as European Russia, while passing by Canada, Alaska, the Strait of Behring and Siberia. The head of the Cascabel household had to start this perilous voyage after the money intended to pay the tickets of the boat, which was to take them along to France from New York, was stolen by thieves. So, Caesar crosses initially the vast forests of Canada. At the border of Alaska, they save the life of Mr Jean, a banished Russian aristocrat who had been just attacked by outlaws. They also make the acquaintance on this occasion of Kayette, a young Indian woman, who had also dashed for the noble Russian.
After having waited a few weeks that the Strait of Behring freezes, all the family finally thrustes upon the sea of ice but, in the medium of the crossing, the temperature of the air increases dangerously and the ice is parcelled out. The caravan of the Cascabels is detached soon from the ice-barrier on an iceberg and our heroes start to drift across the Arctic Ocean. When the Cascabels finally manage to reach the northern coast of Siberia, they are made prisoners by a local tribe who requires from them a ransom for their release that they cannot obviously provide. Next spring, César Cascabel, by using its gift of ventriloquy, frightens the chief of the tribe and manages to obtain his release. The Cascabel company, meanwhile, increased its numbers with two Russian sailors who were also prisoners. These sailors are in fact the two brigands who had attacked Mr Jean in the Canadian forest. They now envisage to rob Cascabel, with the assistance of accomplices, when the company is crossing the chain of the Ural. Meanwhile, Jean and Kayette fall in love and see with anxiety come the time of the separation."
Daniel Staebler, Resident Scholar
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| Review Analysis of Caesar Cascabel |
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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 violence and chases - 10%
Planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 30%
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 30%
How society works & physical descript. (people, objects, places) - 30%
Tone of story
- very upbeat
Time/era of story:
- 19th century
Exploring into the wild
Yes
Plotlets:
- trouble with tribes
Kid or adult book?
- Adult or Young Adult Book
Terrain
- Ice
Main Character
Gender
- Male
Age:
- 40's-50's
How much violence does he/she use?
- none
Ethnicity/Race
- French
How sensitive is this character?
- sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor
- Strong but gentle sense of humor
Intelligence
- Average intelligence
Physique
- very athletic
Main Adversary
Identity:
- Male
Profession/status:
- criminal
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- a moderate amount
Motive of antagonist
- money/treasure
How sensitive is this character?
- hard edged
Intelligence
- Average intelligence
Physique
- average physique
Setting
United States
Yes
The US:
- Alaska
Asia/Pacific
Yes
Asian country:
- Russia
The Americas (not US):
Yes
The Americas:
- Canada
Ice Caps/Sea?
Yes
Where?
- North Pole
Style
Person
- mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death?
- generic/vague references to death/punishment
How many deaths?
- 1
Unusual forms of death
- perforation--swords/knives
Unusual form of death?
Yes
Amount of dialog
- roughly even amounts of descript and dialog
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