| Lyra is a servant at Jordan college in Oxford. When her adventurous uncle, Lord Asriel comes to visit, she uncovers a plot by the headmaster to poison Lord Asriel. Lord Asriel evades this sinister plot, and after he leaves the headmaster, he gives Lyra a strange object, an alethiometer, which can predict the future.
She accepts it, but very soon the charming Mrs. Coulter appears. She states that she is Lyra's legal guardian, and she takes Lyra to live with her. She soon discovers not only that her uncle is imprisoned on the isle of Svalbard, but that Mrs. Coulter is the head of a religious organization which is responsible for the disappearance of hundreds of children. She escapes Mrs. Coulter's clutches and joins a band of gyptians, or boat-gypsies. She tells them she wants them to help her rescue her uncle and the vanished children, and since many of the children who had disappeared are of their ranks, they agree to help. Lyra goes with them to the far north where they make acquaintances with a Texan aeronaut and an armored bear, who help them stage a daring assault on the laboratory where the children have apparently disappeared to, and after this is completed, They go to the castle where Lord Asriel is imprisoned and attempt to free him. | ||
|
Plot & Themes Tone of book - suspenseful (sophisticated fear) FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION? - part earth & part fantasy world Spying & Investigations Yes What is main char. doing? - rescue mission/escape from confinement Political plotlets - factions fight within govt for control Is this an adult or child's book? - Kid's book (ages 7-14) Descript. of chases or violence - 20 % planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 30 % Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 20 % Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places - 30 % Main Character Identity: - Female Profession/status: Age: - a kid If magical mental powers: - clairvoyant - can see into the future Really unusual traits? Main Adversary Identity: - Female Age: - 40's-50's Profession/status: Eccentric: Yes How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - a substantial amount How sensitive is this character? Sense of humor - Strong but gentle sense of humor Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters Setting Terrain Earth setting: - 19th century Takes place on Earth? Yes Writing Style Accounts of torture and death? - very explicit references to deaths and torture scientific jargon? (SF only) - an average amount of scientific explanation How much dialogue? - roughly even amounts of descript and dialog |
||