The Tale of Despereaux: Chapter 3 Summary & Analysis

Furlough tries to teach Despereaux “the art of scurrying.” He demonstrates how a mouse should move side to side, always checking over his shoulder. But Despereaux isn’t listening: he’s staring at the light coming through the stained glass windows. He asks Furlough if they’re in heaven, but Furlough shouts for his brother to move—they’re mice, not men, and they must scurry. Despereaux continues to stare at the light while Furlough disappears into a hole.

Next, Merlot takes Despereaux into the castle library. Light streams in through the tall windows, but Merlot ignores it. She invites Despereaux to come learn how to nibble paper and leads him onto a table with a big book on it. Despereaux dutifully follows his sister and listens as she describes how tasty the glue and the paper are. She nibbles a bit and then asks him to try the “squiggles,” which are delicious. But as Despereaux turns to the squiggles, they become words: “Once upon a time.” Despereaux reads the words aloud, confusing Merlot. She tells him to eat, but Despereaux says he can’t—it would ruin the story.

Merlot is shocked and confused. She says their father is right, and Despereaux isn’t well. Once she scurries angrily away, Despereaux reaches out and touches the words in the book. He then reads the story about a beautiful princess and a knight who “serves and honors her.” At this point, Despereaux doesn’t know that he’ll need to be brave soon, as below the castle there’s a dungeon filled with big, mean rats. Despereaux is going to meet them, as anyone who doesn’t conform—mouse or man—is destined to meet an “interesting fate.”