How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #7
He looked fondly at Arthur; then his expression grew more serious. "I'm not going to stop you from going back with the others to the Cheese Hall, but please think about it." (47.29)
Oh man. They've just gotten Grandfather out of his flooded underground home, and he's just now been reunited with Arthur… and Arthur's about to head into battle to stop Snatcher's evil plan to take over Ratbridge. Talk about tense. Grandfather asks Arthur to consider staying back, but Arthur asserts his desire to go and see things through. Again, we're totally in awe of Arthur's bravery.
Quote #8
Encouraged by the obvious fear they were generating, Snatcher chuckled to himself. He hadn't felt this good in years….or ever! Life felt wonderful. (50.3)
Snatcher is like a fear-vampire. When he notices how afraid the townsfolk are of his giant rat and his minion army, he gets this enthusiastic high feeling. But we're thinking that someone who feeds on fear isn't automatically brave themselves—if anything, it makes Snatcher the opposite. When you feel good about someone else's fear, you're probably hiding some deep-down fears yourself.
Quote #9
"Master!" cried Gristle with fright in his voice. "Something weird is 'appenin'…"
"Stand firm!" ordered Snatcher, but the terrified members were now letting go of their blunderbusses and untying their ammunition bags from their belts to avoid being dragged across the square. (50.21-22)
Gristle and the rest of Snatcher's crew seem to lose all courage when their weapons malfunction during their assault on Ratbridge. It doesn't seem to occur to them at first that this is simple magnetism at work; instead, they freak out and try to save their skins. Their courage, if only propped up by holding weapons, doesn't seem so real anymore.