As Easy as Falling Off a Log Phantom Tollbooth
THE PHANTOM TOLLBOOTH
CHAPTER 3: WELCOME TO DICTIONOPOLIS
Why is the Watchdog called Tock?
The Watchdog is called Tock because he makes a "tickticktick" noise on being wound up. Tock's parents muddled up his and his brother Tick's names when they were born.
According to Tock why was time invented?
Tock tells Milo that before time was invented, people found it very inconvenient because they never knew whether they were eating lunch or dinner. Time was invented to help them keep track of the day and reach places when they should.
What does Tock compare time to?
When he was telling Milo about the importance of time, Tock compares time to diamonds and says "it is more precious than diamonds".
On which day did Milo and Tock arrive in Dictionopolis?
Milo and Tock arrive in Dictionopolis on market day.
"Which is it? You must have come for some reason." Name the speaker. What reason does he give Milo for coming to Dictionopolis?
The speaker of these lines is the sentry at the gateway to the city of Dictionopolis. When Milo did not have a reason for why he had come to Dictionopolis, the sentry gave him an old medallion on a chain from his suitcase. The reason printed on the medallion was "WHY NOT".
Name the King of Dictionopolis. What is his full title?
King Azaz was the King of Dictionopolis. His full title was Azaz the Unabridged, King of Dictionopolis, Monarch of letters, Emperor of phrases, sentences and miscellaneous figures of speech.
Name the five advisors of the King who welcomed Milo to Dictionopolis.
The five advisors of the King who welcomed Milo to Dictionopolis were the Duke of Definition, the Minister of Meaning, the Earl of Essence, the Count of Connotation and the Undersecretary of Understanding.
Mention the figure of speech used by the Earl of Essence when the advisors are talking to Milo.
When the King's advisors are talking to Milo about the use of proper words, the Earl of Essence uses a simile when he says, "Easy as falling off a log," and clumsily falls off a log with a loud thump.
"I never knew words could be so confusing." When can words be confusing?
According to Tock, words can be confusing only when you use a lot to say a little. Milo thought this was the wisest thing he had heard all day.
Give the meaning of "as easy as falling off a log". State another idiom which means the same.
The idiom "as easy as falling off a log" means that something is easy to do or something that is simple and convenient. An idiom which means the same would be "as easy as ABC".
"You must pick your words very carefully and be sure to say just what you intend to say." Explain this statement.
In Dictionopolis, words are given great importance. The people of Dictionopolis know that it is important to choose your words very carefully. In Dictionopolis, expressions are literal. So if you speak one, it actually happens.
When the king's advisors tell Milo that it is their duty to see that the words sold in the Word Market are proper ones that can be used correctly, Milo remarks that choosing words seems simple enough.
The Earl of Essence then says that choosing words is "as easy as falling off a log" before actually falling off a log with a loud thump.
The statement, "You must pick your words very carefully and be sure to say just what you intend to say", highlights the importance of using the correct words when speaking. As the Count of Connotation tells Milo, it is very important to say exactly what you intend to say.
CHAPTER 3: WELCOME TO DICTIONOPOLIS
CHAPTER SUMMARY
The Watchdog apologises to Milo for his gruff behaviour and introduces himself as Tock. Milo remarks that that is a strange name for a dog that always goes "tick tick tick." Tock tells the sad story of how his parents had their first child and named him Tick, only to discover that he said "tock tock tock."
Then, when Tock was born, his parents were determined to get it right and named him for the noise they were sure he would make. Unfortunately, Tock did not follow his brother's path and made the noise "tick tick tick".
Tock also tells Milo about his job of being a Watchdog. Before Time was invented, people found it very inconvenient because they never knew whether they were eating lunch or dinner. Time was invented to help people keep track of things.
Tock tells Milo that after Time was invented, people began to waste time because it seemed like there was much more time than could be used. People did not realize how valuable time was. Tock uses a simile to describe the value of time and tells Milo that "Time was more precious than diamonds". So, the Watchdogs took on the job of making sure that no one wasted time.
When he tells Milo about the importance of Time, Tock describes the continuous nature of Time with the proverb, "Time and tide wait for no man". He means to say that Time never stops and "marches on". This is a lesson to readers and to Milo that once time is wasted, you cannot get it back. This proverb highlights the importance of using our time wisely and productively.
As they approach the city of Dictionopolis, Milo and Tock are welcomed at the gateway by the sentry. The sentry tells them that it was Market Dat in Dictionopolis and asks Milo if he has "come to buy or sell." Milo is confused by the sentry's question and the sentry insists that Milo and Tock must have come to Dictionopolis for some reason.
When Milo tells him that he has no reason for visiting Dictionopolis, the sentry tells him that he cannot get into the city without a reason.
The sentry then searches for an old reason in a battered suitcase to give Milo. He searches in his suitcase and finds a small medallion on a chain. Engraved on the medallion were the words "WHY NOT". He gives this to Milo as a reason for visiting Dictionopolis.
As Milo and Tock enter through the gateway, Milo wonders what the market would be like. They soon arrive at the Word Market which was crowded with many different stalls.
At the Word Market, Milo and Tock meet the five advisors of King Azaz, King of Dictionopolis, Monarch of letters, Emperor of phrases, sentences and miscellaneous figures of speech. The advisors are the Duke of Definition, the Minister of Meaning, the Earl of Essence, the Count of Connotation and the Undersecretary of Understanding.
The advisors have the strange habit of repeating each other's words in synonyms and randomly defining some of the words each of them use.
The advisors explain the function of the Word Market in a complicated fashion. They tell Milo that Dictionopolis is the place where all the words in the world come from.
The advisors job was to make sure that all the words sold in the Word Market were proper ones that could be used correctly.
The Earl of Essence uses an idiom to describe the act of choosing the right words and says it is "as easy as falling off a log". This idiom means that something is easy, simple and convenient.
The earl immediately falls off a log after he utters the idiom. By this, we understand that "you must pick your words very carefully and be sure to say just what you intend to say". It is important to choose your words very carefully. In Dictionopolis, expressions have a literal meaning and if you say something, it actually happens.
The meeting with the King's advisors leaves Milo feeling confused and he tells Tock that he "never knew words could be so confusing". Tock tells Milo that words can be confusing only when you use a lot to say a little. Milo thought this was the wisest thing he had heard all day.
Source: https://syllableblog.wordpress.com/thephantomtollbooth/chapter3/
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