Gregor and the Curse of the Warmbloods
Chapter 2
by Suzanne, Collins,In Chapter 2, Gregor attempts to discreetly retrieve a mysterious scroll hidden in a laundry room grate while under the watchful eye of Mrs. Cormaci, his nosy neighbor. His nervous behavior and failed excuses arouse her suspicion, particularly about his family’s unusual laundry habits. After a tense lunch, Gregor seizes an opportunity to return to the laundry room alone, where he finally retrieves the scroll. The note, from Vikus of the Underland, urgently summons Gregor to a meeting, referencing “The Prophecy of Blood,” a dire warning of impending crisis.
The scroll’s message leaves Gregor unsettled, as it reveals the prophecy is already unfolding. Unlike previous messages, this one is a desperate plea for help, omitting details about his missing friends, Luxa and Ares. Gregor’s dread grows as he recalls the prophecy’s ominous verses, which foretell a deadly bloodborne plague threatening all warmblooded creatures in the Underland. The cryptic language hints at a catastrophic fate unless Gregor, the prophesied “warrior,” intervenes alongside the “princess,” possibly his young sister Boots.
Gregor reflects on the prophecy’s recurring themes, including the need for unity between humans and rats (“gnawers”) to find a cure. The verses emphasize the consequences of failure: total destruction of the Underland. He wrestles with his role as the reluctant warrior, resentful of his combat skills yet resigned to his destiny. The prophecy’s ambiguity frustrates him, particularly the repeated stanza about “turning again,” which offers no clear guidance.
The chapter underscores Gregor’s internal conflict and the weight of responsibility thrust upon him. The prophecy’s grim tone contrasts with his longing for normalcy, leaving him to grapple with its implications. As he memorizes the verses, their rhythmic cadence haunts him, symbolizing the inescapable pull of his fate. The chapter ends with Gregor questioning whether the Underland’s survival hinges on his actions, while the urgency of Vikus’s plea lingers.
FAQs
1. What is the significance of the scroll Gregor retrieves from the grate, and how does it impact him emotionally?
Answer:
The scroll contains an urgent message from Vikus, pleading for Gregor’s help as “The Prophecy of Blood” has begun. This prophecy foretells a deadly bloodborne disease threatening all warmblooded creatures in the Underland. Emotionally, Gregor is shaken—his heart pounds with dread as he processes the gravity of the situation. Unlike previous prophecies involving his missing friends, this one is a direct cry for help, leaving him no room to avoid his role as the “warrior.” The message’s urgency and the prophecy’s dire implications overwhelm him, reinforcing his reluctant acceptance of his destined responsibilities.
2. Analyze Gregor’s attempts to deceive Mrs. Cormaci. What do his actions reveal about his character and circumstances?
Answer:
Gregor’s fumbling lies (e.g., claiming his family uses a distant laundromat due to “bigger washers”) and his frantic eagerness to return to the laundry room alone reveal his desperation to hide his ties to the Underland. His poor deception skills highlight his honesty and youth, contrasting with the weighty secrets he carries. Mrs. Cormaci’s suspicion (“She would want to know what it was”) underscores Gregor’s isolation—he cannot confide in even well-meaning adults. This tension between his ordinary life and extraordinary role forces him into awkward, secretive behavior, emphasizing his internal conflict.
3. How does “The Prophecy of Blood” expand the stakes of Gregor’s role in the Underland compared to previous prophecies?
Answer:
Unlike earlier prophecies focused on battles or rescues, this one introduces a pandemic-scale threat (“WARMBLOOD NOW A BLOODBORNE DEATH”) targeting all species, including humans, bats, and rats. The prophecy demands unprecedented cooperation between enemies (“GNAWER, HUMAN, SET ASIDE THE HATREDS”), raising the stakes from personal survival to the fate of entire civilizations. Gregor’s role as the “warrior” now involves mediating alliances and finding a cure, not just combat. The repeated refrain “TURN AND TURN AGAIN” suggests cyclical, escalating danger, deepening Gregor’s dread and the narrative’s urgency.
4. Evaluate Gregor’s attitude toward Bartholomew of Sandwich’s prophecies. How does his perspective reflect his growth since his first Underland journey?
Answer:
Gregor’s ambivalence—”Sometimes he hated them. Sometimes he was grateful”—shows matured awareness. Initially resistant to his “warrior” destiny, he now acknowledges their accuracy (“stopped believing they had gotten the wrong guy”). However, he critiques their cryptic, doom-laden nature (“Did Sandwich ever write a cheerful prophecy?”), revealing his weariness with perpetual crises. His ability to parse the prophecy’s general meaning (e.g., identifying the disease threat) demonstrates his hard-won familiarity with Sandwich’s style, yet his frustration hints at a desire for autonomy beyond predestined roles.
5. What thematic role does the “plate” metaphor play in the prophecy, and how might it foreshadow future events?
Answer:
The line “THE UNDERLAND BECOMES A PLATE” is deliberately ominous and ambiguous. Gregor interprets it as potential annihilation (“everybody got eaten up”), suggesting the disease could reduce the Underland to a platter for death itself. This metaphor reinforces themes of vulnerability and consumption, mirroring the “bloodborne death” described elsewhere. It also foreshadows possible literal or symbolic devouring—perhaps by the rats (gnawers) or the disease itself. The uncertainty heightens tension, leaving Gregor (and readers) to grapple with the prophecy’s open-ended dread.
Quotes
1. ““The Prophecy of Blood” is upon us.”
This urgent message from Vikus marks a pivotal turning point in the chapter, signaling the arrival of a dire crisis in the Underland. The quote encapsulates the looming threat that drives the entire narrative forward.
2. “WARMBLOOD NOW A BLOODBORNE DEATH / WILL ROB YOUR BODY OF ITS BREATH, / MARK YOUR SKIN, AND SEAL YOUR FATE. / THE UNDERLAND BECOMES A PLATE.”
These chilling lines from the prophecy introduce the central conflict - a deadly disease threatening all warm-blooded creatures. The vivid imagery conveys the gravity of the situation and sets the stakes for the coming struggle.
3. “BRING THE WARRIOR FROM ABOVE / IF YET HIS HEART IS SWAYED BY LOVE. / BRING THE PRINCESS OR DESPAIR, / NO CRAWLERS CARE WITHOUT HER THERE.”
This stanza highlights Gregor’s reluctant role as the prophesied warrior and introduces the mystery of the princess’s identity. It underscores the theme of destiny and the interconnectedness of characters in the Underland’s fate.
4. “GNAWER, HUMAN, SET ASIDE / THE HATREDS THAT RESIDE INSIDE. / IF THE FLAMES OF WAR ARE FANNED, / ALL WARMBLOODS LOSE THE UNDERLAND.”
This powerful verse presents the prophecy’s central moral challenge - the need for ancient enemies to cooperate. It encapsulates the book’s recurring theme of overcoming prejudice for survival.
5. “Gregor had to wonder if Sandwich had ever written a cheerful prophecy. Something about peace and joy, with a big old happy ending. Probably not.”
Gregor’s wry observation provides character insight while commenting on the consistently grim nature of the prophecies. This moment of dark humor contrasts with the serious tone of the rest of the chapter.