Gregor and the Curse of the Warmbloods
Chapter 22
by Suzanne, Collins,The chapter begins with the group’s excitement upon discovering the starshade, a plant believed to hold the cure for the plague affecting the Underland. Gregor is overjoyed, recognizing the plant from a book and confirming its identity by its lemony scent. Despite their eagerness to collect it immediately, Hamnet insists they rest first, emphasizing the need for caution. Gregor, comforted by the leaf’s aroma, falls asleep, hopeful that the cure will save his mother, Ares, and others.
The next morning, Hamnet reveals the final leg of their journey will be perilous, requiring a carefully planned formation for survival. Ripred and Hamnet organize the group, assigning specific roles to each member, including Luxa, who reluctantly rides Lapblood. Boots, curious and playful, interacts with Ripred, prompting a warning about the dangers of trusting rats. Gregor reflects on the cycle of fear between humans and rats but remains silent, focusing on the immediate task.
As they set off, the group encounters a beautiful yet treacherous corridor filled with enchanting silver flowers. The flowers emit a euphoric scent that clouds their judgment, making them laugh and lose focus. Hamnet shouts for them to run, but the vines begin attacking, attempting to drag them away. Gregor, disoriented and laughing uncontrollably, falls off Ripred and is nearly ensnared before being rescued. The group eventually reaches the starshade field, where the plant’s scent helps clear their minds.
In the aftermath, Hamnet explains the flowers’ deceptive nature, revealing their deadly intent. The group, now recovering, prepares to harvest the starshade, with Hazard eager to assist. Gregor and the others reflect on the close call, realizing the importance of following Hamnet and Ripred’s guidance. The chapter ends with a sense of accomplishment but also a reminder of the dangers still lurking in their quest to save the Underland.
FAQs
1. What is the significance of the starshade plant, and how does Gregor react when it is found?
Answer:
The starshade plant is the cure they have been searching for to heal Gregor’s mother, Ares, and others in the Underland. When Hamnet reveals they’ve found it, Gregor becomes extremely excited, nearly jumping up before remembering Boots is asleep on his lap. He examines a leaf, noting its lemon-like scent that seems healing. His enthusiasm shows his desperation to save his loved ones, as he immediately wants to collect it and return to Regalia. However, Hamnet advises caution, insisting they rest first. Gregor’s emotional attachment to the cure is evident as he falls asleep holding the leaf, comforted by its presence.2. How does Hamnet organize the group’s formation for the dangerous journey to the starshade field, and why does Luxa resist?
Answer:
Hamnet designs a strategic formation to maximize their survival chances: Frill leads with the bats and Hazard on her back, Temp crawls beneath Frill, Ripred carries Gregor and Boots on the right, Lapblood carries Luxa on the left, and Hamnet brings up the rear. Luxa resists riding Lapblood, insisting she can run on her own, but Hamnet emphasizes that Lapblood’s speed will be crucial. This reflects Luxa’s pride and lingering distrust of rats, despite the practical necessity. The formation highlights the group’s need for cooperation between species, even when personal biases exist.3. Analyze the effects of the silver-flowered vines on the group and the significance of Hamnet and Ripred’s prior knowledge.
Answer:
The vines emit a scent that induces euphoria and confusion, disorienting the travelers and making them vulnerable to being dragged away and killed. Gregor experiences uncontrollable laughter and hallucinates, while others like Luxa and Nike react similarly. Hamnet and Ripred, aware of the danger, withhold this information to prevent panic or resistance, which would be fatal. Their decision reflects a calculated risk—prior warning might have led to fighting, but ignorance allowed the vines to overpower them. Only Ripred and Hamnet, who had encountered the vines before (with Hazard’s earlier babbling as a clue), remain focused enough to rescue the others. This illustrates the tension between transparency and survival in high-stakes situations.4. How does Boots’ interaction with Ripred reflect the broader conflict between humans and rats in the Underland?
Answer:
Boots innocently pokes Ripred’s head, reciting “R is for rat,” prompting Ripred to jokingly threaten to bite her. While playful, his warning underscores the deep-seated animosity between their species—most rats would harm humans without hesitation. Gregor internally debates this cycle of fear: children on both sides are taught to view the other as dangerous, perpetuating violence. Ripred’s pragmatism (wanting Boots to fear rats for her safety) clashes with Gregor’s hope for reconciliation. The moment encapsulates the generational divide and the challenges of overcoming prejudice in the Underland.5. Evaluate the chapter’s portrayal of danger juxtaposed with beauty. How does this contrast heighten the tension?
Answer:
The silver-flowered vines create a deceptive paradise—their sparkling blossoms, tinkling bells, and intoxicating scent mask their lethal nature. This contrast between allure and peril heightens the scene’s tension, as the characters (and reader) are lulled into a false sense of wonder before the sudden command to “run!” reveals the threat. The beauty disarms their instincts, making the danger more effective. Gregor’s euphoric laughter while being attacked underscores how easily attraction can turn deadly, mirroring broader themes in the story about trust and deception in the Underland’s treacherous landscape.
Quotes
1. “In his hand was life for his mom, for Ares, for all of the Underland.”
This quote captures the emotional weight of Gregor’s discovery of the starshade, symbolizing hope and salvation not just for his loved ones but for an entire civilization. It marks a pivotal moment of optimism in the chapter.
2. “But then … if the humans and rats taught their babies from birth to fear each other … how was anything ever going to get better?”
Gregor’s internal reflection highlights the cyclical nature of prejudice and violence in the Underland, representing a key thematic concern about breaking generational cycles of hatred.
3. “It was like entering the pathway to some magical fairyland. And the smell … oh, the smell of the flowers made him dizzy with happiness.”
This vivid description of the deceptively beautiful yet deadly flower corridor creates strong atmospheric tension, foreshadowing the danger masked by its enchanting appearance.
4. “Those flowers put out a scent that gives a feeling of great happiness and well-being. And then, my guess is, they drag you into the Vineyard and dismember you.”
Hamnet’s chilling explanation reveals the deadly nature of the flowers, contrasting their alluring facade with their true predatory nature - a powerful metaphor for hidden dangers in their quest.
5. “We were afraid you would try to fight them. That would have guaranteed your destruction.”
This line underscores the chapter’s lesson about confronting certain threats - sometimes survival requires submission rather than resistance, a difficult truth for the warrior characters to accept.